Suffering a spinal injury due to the negligence of others or in an accident that was not your fault can be extremely difficult to deal with, both physically and mentally. Spinal injuries can range in severity and, in some scenarios, can cause permanent paralysis, significantly altering your way of life.

Our member firms at Major Trauma Group understand the serious consequences that spinal injuries can have on a victim’s life and work together with the victim and their family to obtain the compensation they deserve.

The solicitors on our panel are also extremely passionate about the benefits of specialist rehabilitation therapies following a spinal injury and work hard to ensure our clients receive access to such support during and following the claims process.

If you would like more information on our services or wish to speak to a spinal injury solicitor, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.

What is a spinal injury?

A spinal injury refers to damage to the spinal cord, the bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of your back, transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae (the bones of the spine), but if the spine is injured, it can lead to a range of serious consequences.

Some people may notice a loss of sensation or numbness below the injury site, and others may experience chronic pain due to nerve damage.

In the most serious cases, victims can be left paralysed. The severity and location of the injury can affect the extent of disability. For example, an injury higher on the spinal cord may result in paralysis of the entire body, while a lower injury may only affect the legs.

Common causes of spinal injuries

Spinal injuries can occur in a range of traumatic and serious accidents; some of the most common incidents that we see resulting in spinal injuries include the following:

• Motor Vehicle Collisions: Collisions, rollovers, and other vehicle-related incidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists are also at risk of being struck by a vehicle and suffering a serious spinal injury.
• Falls: Falls, particularly among older adults, can result in significant spinal cord damage. This is especially true if the fall is from a height or involves a direct impact on the head or neck. 
• Acts of Violence: Gunshot wounds, stabbings, and assaults can lead to spinal cord injuries, often resulting in severe and permanent damage. 
• Sports and Recreational Activities: High-impact sports like football, diving, and gymnastics can increase the risk of spinal cord injuries. Accidents involving these activities can result in fractures, dislocations, or direct trauma to the spinal cord. 
• Industrial or Workplace Accidents: Accidents involving heavy machinery, falls from scaffolding, or other workplace hazards can cause spinal trauma.

Examples of spinal injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be classified based on the severity and location of the damage.

Types of spinal injuries include:

• Cervical Spine Injury (Neck Region)
• Thoracic Spine Injury (Upper and Mid-Back)
• Lumbar Spine Injury (Lower Back)
• Sacral Spine Injury (Base of the Spine)
• Spinal Cord Contusion
• Spinal Cord Compression

Some spinal injuries can also be classified as complete vs incomplete, depending on the amount of function that is lost or remains. Complete spinal cord injuries are classified as when there is a total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level. Incomplete spinal cord injuries are when some function remains below the injury point.

What is the process of making a spinal injury compensation claim?

If you have suffered a spinal cord injury due to an accident or negligence that was not your fault, then you may be entitled to make a spinal cord injury claim.

Your health and well-being are the main priority, and as such, you should ensure you seek appropriate medical treatment as soon as possible after your accident. Having your injuries documented by a healthcare professional also means you will have the appropriate documentation to support your claim during the compensation claim process.

Gathering evidence to support your spinal injury claim can significantly strengthen your case. This may involve:

• Photographing the accident scene: Capturing visual evidence can help show the circumstances surrounding the incident.
• Collecting witness information: Contact details of any witnesses can provide valuable firsthand accounts.
• Obtaining medical reports: Your medical records will document the extent of your spinal injury and its impact on your life.
• Gathering other relevant documents: Any additional documents that support your claim, such as police reports or accident logs, should be collected.

Our specialist solicitors will carefully analyse the evidence to determine who is liable for the accident. To make a successful personal injury claim, it’s essential to prove that someone else’s negligence or actions caused your spinal injury.

When we have identified the person or organisation responsible for your injuries, our legal team will negotiate with the party responsible to secure a fair and just settlement. This may include compensation for lost income, your pain and suffering, and any necessary rehabilitation treatments.

The process of making a claim for a spinal injury can be extremely complex and impacted by certain time limits (the claims process time limitations can differ for minors and people lacking the mental capacity, for example), and so working together with an experienced solicitor can significantly increase your chances of making a successful claim.

If you would like to speak to a member of our team regarding making a spinal injury claim, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at Major Trauma Group today.

How much compensation could you receive?

The amount of compensation you could receive for a spinal injury claim varies widely depending on several factors, including the severity of the injury, its impact on your quality of life, and any financial losses or expenses incurred. Compensation for spinal injuries typically falls into two main categories: general damages and special damages.

General Damages: Compensation that is awarded for the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity resulting from the injury. The extent of your disability and the long-term impact on your life will significantly influence the compensation amount.

Special Damages: Special damages cover financial losses and expenses related to the injury. These might include any loss of earnings if you are no longer able to work, any care costs, home modifications or travel expenses due to trips to and from medical appointments. Special damages are typically much easier to quantify than general damages as there is documented proof and receipts of such expenses.

Though our experts can provide a rough estimate of the amount of compensation you may expect to receive, each case is unique and the damages awarded will depend entirely on your individual injuries, situation and circumstances.

It is also worth noting that our solicitors can advocate and negotiate on our client’s behalf to receive interim payments to cover any immediate costs and expenses incurred. This means that clients can feel more comfortable regarding their expenses, even while the claims process is still ongoing.

Rehabilitation for spinal injuries

As previously mentioned, our solicitors can advocate for interim payments during the claims process, which can enable our clients to access specialist rehabilitation therapies at the earliest possible opportunity.

We believe strongly in the numerous benefits early rehabilitation can offer to victims of traumatic injuries. It can encourage both physical and mental healing and well-being, significantly improve quality of life, reduce pain, and enhance independence.

Depending on the nature of your injury, you may work with a range of specialist rehabilitation experts, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to name only a few.

At Major Trauma Group, we understand that the road to recovery after a spinal cord injury can be challenging. Our goal is to empower you with the tools and resources necessary to achieve your maximum potential.

How can Major Trauma Group help?

Our panel of lawyers are experts in all types of personal injury claims, including spinal injuries. We understand that it can be challenging to think about the process involved with claiming during an already stressful and sensitive time, but we work hard to ensure our client’s needs are taken care of throughout the process.

Many of the law firm members at Major Trauma Group will offer their services on a conditional fee basis, which means that if your compensation claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay us anything. For more information on claiming compensation for a spinal injury or to start your no win, no fee basis claim today then please get in touch with us using the information below.