Compare Back Injury Claims
If you’ve suffered a back injury, you’ll know how painful and debilitating it can be. Unfortunately, in some cases a back injury can have long-lasting consequences and may require treatment by a physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath or psychologist. In a few cases, surgery may even be needed to resolve the problem. Back pain caused by injury may also affect your ability to work. In fact, back pain is one of the most common reasons for not being able to go to work, with over 12 million working days being lost annually in the UK because of this health problem. If you’ve hurt your back through no fault of your own, you may have a claim for back injury compensation. At Compare Compensation Claims, we can help you to find a specialist solicitor who will assess your claim and help you to get the money you’re entitled to.
Types of back injuries
There are several different types of back injuries. Here are some of the most common:
Herniated discs (also known as a slipped, ruptured or bulged disc): This is when a cushion of tissue between your vertebrae slips out of place. Pain is caused when it puts pressure on or pinches nearby nerves.
Strains and sprains: If a ligament is torn or a muscle is overstretched, the surrounding area can become inflamed. This can cause spasming, which can result in pain and difficulty moving.
Fractured vertebrae: This happens when one of the bones in your spine breaks.
Do I have a back injury claim?
If you’ve injured your back through no fault of your own, you could be in a position to make a claim for compensation. To help you determine this, keep reading.
Back injuries in the workplace
People in all lines of work can experience back injury but workers in occupations that involve a lot of heavy lifting can be more vulnerable, such as construction workers and nursing and care home staff. However, there are many different work-related activities that can put your back at risk of injury, including:-
- Working without breaks
- Working in uncomfortable positions, such as one-sided postures
- Working without the proper equipment
- Working without properly adjusted chairs
- Working in bad weather conditions
- Poor working conditions
- Bending, stretching, stooping, reaching and twisting
- Repeated lifting
- Repetitive tasks
- Driving long distances
- Staying in the same position for long periods.
Your employer’s responsibilities
By law, your employer must try to prevent or minimise the risk of workplace accidents. They should have a written safety policy that sets out how they do this. Your employer is responsible for keeping any lifting or moving you need to do to a minimum. They must also provide equipment and manual handling training where necessary . It doesn’t matter if you work in an office, in a hospital, on a building site or at a variety of locations, your employer is responsible for preventing and reducing the risk of injury wherever you’re working. If you can prove that your employer did not take the steps required to prevent or reduce the risk of a workplace accident, you may be entitled to make a claim.
Back injuries in public places
If you injured your back in an accident in a public place, such as a supermarket, leisure centre, car park, school, street or sports stadium, the owner of the land or the building where it happened may be liable. For example, if you slipped on a wet floor in a hair salon, you may be able to claim for compensation from the business. Similarly, if you experienced a fall due to a faulty escalator at a train station, you may be entitled to claim from the owner or operator of the station. These are known as public liability claims.
The responsibilities of businesses, property owners and public bodies
Businesses, property owners and public bodies that are responsible for premises have a duty of care to keep their land or premises as safe as possible for the public. They can fail in their duty of care in a variety of ways. For example, they may fail to display wet floor signs, remove trip hazards or maintain a public pavement to an adequate standard. If reasonable steps were not taken to keep the public safe on public property and you were injured as a result, you may be able to take legal action.
Back injuries as a result of road traffic accidents
Car, motorbike and other road accidents can cause a variety of injuries that can affect your back, from whiplash and herniated discs to spinal cord injuries . If you have injured your back in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. This is the case whether you were a driver, motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian when the accident occured.
Back injuries as a result of criminal injury
Being the victim of an assault or other form of criminal injury can be psychologically distressing and physically painful. Such an attack can even leave you with serious or long-lasting health issues. If you’ve been the victim of a violent attack that has left you with back injuries, you may have a criminal injury claim. You may be eligible for compensation even if your attacker has not been convicted or charged with a crime. However, in order to get the compensation you deserve, you must report the incident to the police.
‘How much compensation could I be entitled to for a back injury?
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on a range of factors, including how the injury took place, how serious your injury is, how you’ve been financially affected by your injuries and how your quality of life has been impacted. Any medical or care requirements will also be taken into account. To get an idea of how much you could be entitled to, check out our claim calculator.
Get specialist advice
You shouldn’t underestimate the value of enlisting a specialist personal injury solicitor when making a back injury claim. Taking legal action can be complicated and you might feel intimidated or overwhelmed by the prospect. With the right lawyer by your side, however, you are in the best position to get the payout you deserve to cover the costs of any treatment you need and compensate you for any loss you’ve suffered. We make it our mission to make finding the right legal representation as painless and hassle-free as possible. Compare personal injury solicitors today to find a lawyer who will assess your claim and provide expert, trustworthy advice. They will be able to give you an accurate estimate of how much money you’re rightfully entitled to and fight your case so you receive the maximum payout possible.