No Win, No FeeSlipped discs are one of the most common spinal injuries. They can cause significant pain that lasts for many months and can affect most aspects of your life. If you’ve suffered a slipped disc in a car accident or an accident at work caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering. In this guide about slipped disc compensation claims, we’ll look at the types of injuries that could be claimed for and explain the claims process in detail.
You are entitled to a free consultation if you call our team to discuss a slipped disc injury claim. An advisor will answer your questions and offer legal advice about your next steps. They could partner you with a personal injury lawyer from our panel if your claim has a reasonable chance of success. If the claim proceeds, your case will be managed on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Please call 0800 652 1345 to speak with us today or carry on reading to learn more about slipped disc compensation claims.
What is a slipped disc?
The back is made up of bones called vertebrae. A soft cushion (or disc) of tissue sits between each vertebra to provide shock absorption, allow movement and keep the spine stable.
The disc is made up of a soft nucleus and the outer annulus which is harder. If there is a tear in the annulus, the soft nucleus can protrude through. This is a slipped disc injury which is also referred to as a prolapsed or herniated disc.
For many, a slipped disc won’t cause any symptoms. However, if the disc presses against a nerve, it can be a very painful injury. Slipped discs can occur at any part of the back but are most common in the lower back.
Symptoms of a slipped disc
A slipped disc can cause:
- Pain in the lower back.
- Neck pain.
- Tingling or numbness in the shoulders, arms, hands, legs, feet or back.
- Muscle weakness.
- Difficulty straightening or bending your back.
- Hip, buttock or leg pain caused by a slipped disc pressing on the sciatic nerve.
The NHS advises that you should seek medical treatment for a slipped disc if painkillers are not stopping the associated pain or if the pain continues for more than a month. We would suggest that if you are concerned about your symptoms, you should seek a medical opinion as soon as possible. Receiving a professional diagnosis may be important if you’re to claim compensation for a slipped disc injury.
Can I claim compensation for a slipped disc?
It is important to point out that you won’t always be entitled to compensation for a slipped disc. However, our personal injury solicitors may agree to represent you if:
- You were owed a legal duty of care by the defendant; and
- Their negligence led to an accident; in which
- You suffered a slipped disc.
If you call our team about your claim, they’ll be able to confirm whether you were owed a duty of care quite easily. As such, you should concentrate initially on securing proof to show how your slipped disc occurred. We’ll provide information on what types of proof you could use later on.
Common causes of slipped disc compensation claims
A slipped disc injury claim could be necessary for any type of accident so long as it was caused by someone else’s negligence. For example, some common causes of slipped disc injuries include:
Road traffic accidents
Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, or other types of road collisions can result in a forceful impact that causes a slipped disc. If you slipped a disc in a collision with another road user who was speeding, not paying attention or driving dangerously you could claim compensation.
As well as drivers and passengers, cyclists and pedestrians could also be entitled to make a slipped disc injury claim for accidents caused by someone else.
Workplace accidents
Laws such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 mean that your employer must take steps to try and keep you safe in the workplace. If they fail to uphold their duty, they may be deemed to have acted negligently. If you’ve suffered a slipped disc at work because of your employer’s negligence, you could have grounds to claim compensation for your injuries.
Lifting heavy objects, repetitive bending or twisting motions, or accidents involving heavy machinery or equipment can lead to a slipped disc at work. As such, some examples of negligence that could lead to a workplace slipped disc compensation claim includes:
- Slipped discs caused by a lack of manual handling or safety training.
- If a faulty or poorly maintained piece of machinery caused your back injury at work.
- Where your back was injured after poorly stacked stock fell onto you.
- If your employer failed to provide you with personal protective equipment or specialist tools to try and prevent spinal injuries.
- If you were asked to push or pull equipment beyond your physical capabilities and suffered a slipped disc as a result.
You can’t be fired or disciplined for making a claim against your employer so please feel free to contact us if you’d like to take action. If your claim is accepted, your solicitor will liaise directly with your employer’s insurers so you won’t need to discuss the claim at work.
Sports injuries
Contact sports, such as football, rugby and basketball, or high-impact sports, such as weightlifting or powerlifting, can cause trauma to the spine and result in a slipped disc. While some sporting injuries can’t be avoided, you could claim for a slipped disc caused by poor coaching advice, damaged equipment or an unsafe playing environment.
Slips, trips and falls
Slip and fall accidents especially falls from heights or on hard surfaces, can cause the spine to twist or bend unnaturally, leading to a slipped disc. If you suffered a slipped disc from a fall on a pavement or from a ladder for example, and someone else caused the accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
Recreational activities
Activities such as skiing, snowboarding, or horse riding can result in falls or sudden jolts that can cause a slipped disc. If negligence was the cause, for example, you suffered a herniated disc after falling from a horse during a lesson because the horse riding school had failed to replace a faulty saddle, you could lodge a claim against them for compensation.
Whether we’ve discussed your accident here or not, please contact us if you’ve suffered a slipped disc and believe someone else should compensate you for your suffering.
How much compensation for a slipped disc?
A slipped disc injury can have a huge impact on your physical and mental well-being. It can also cause financial problems. All of these factors should therefore be considered in any personal injury claim.
If you win a slipped disc compensation claim, you could be compensated for:
- Physical suffering (pain and discomfort).
- Depression, anxiety and other forms of psychiatric suffering.
- Lost income (this could include future losses too for long-term back problems).
- Loss of enjoyment of your normal hobbies such as sports, walks and socialising.
- Private medical expenses.
- Care costs.
- Travel expenses.
- Mobility aids like wheelchairs and the cost of modifying your home to make it easier to cope with your spinal injury.
If your claim is handled by one of our specialist solicitors, they’ll make sure that all of the suffering caused by your slipped disc are considered before your claim is filed with the defendant.
Slipped disc compensation amounts
Slipped discs can result in long-lasting back pain even from seemingly minor injuries. The Judicial College, a respected body that compiles historical compensation awards, provides guidelines that are often referenced by courts and solicitors when calculating compensation for personal injuries, including slipped discs. While these guidelines do not have legal standing, they serve as a basis for estimating compensation amounts for slipped disc injuries.
Compensation for neck injuries:
- Serious injury to discs in the cervical spine of the neck: £65,740 – £130,930.
- Moderate injury to discs in the cervical spine of the neck: £13,740 – £24,990.
Compensation for back injuries:
- Serious injury to discs in the back: £38,780 – £69,730.
- Moderate injury to discs in the back: £12,510 – £38,780.
- Minor injury to discs in the back: £7,890 – £12,510.
You may also be entitled to compensation if the accident worsened a pre-existing spinal injury.
Providing proof for slipped disc compensation claims
Our solicitors will typically lodge a slipped disc compensation claim against the defendant’s insurance policy. If you’ve ever had to make an insurance claim, you’ll know that you’re unlikely to receive a payout unless there’s ample proof to show why the defendant was to blame for your herniated disc and how you’ve suffered as a result.
As such, your solicitor will try to collect as much proof as possible to substantiate your claim. This could include:
- Medical records. A key piece of information used to prove the extent of your injuries is a copy of any medical notes. These can be obtained from the hospital or back specialist that treated you.
- Accident report forms. Any workplace accident or accident in a public place should be reported. Legally, an accident report form should be filed and your copy will make it very hard for the defendant to deny where and when you injured your back.
- Witness statements. In some cases, your solicitor may need to ask others about what led to your slipped disc. So, if anybody else was nearby when you were injured, ask for their contact details.
- Camera recordings. It can be easier to prove how an accident occurred if it was recorded by a security camera or dashcam. As such, you should ask for a copy of any footage as soon as possible (as it may be deleted quite soon after your accident).
- Photographs. Where possible, you should try to take pictures at the accident scene. If you’ve suffered a slipped disc during the accident, this might be difficult so you may wish to ask someone else to take photographs on your behalf.
The types of proof listed above can be used in conjunction with a personal statement about what happened and details of any expenses you’ve incurred because of your herniated disc.
Even if you haven’t collected any proof to support your claim yet, it may still be worth speaking to us. If your claim is strong enough and accepted by a solicitor from our panel, they’ll work hard to find any information they need to prove what happened.
No Win, No Fee claims
The thought of paying a solicitor to represent you and then losing a slipped disc injury claim can seem rather offputting. However, our solicitors are happy to take on the bulk of any financial risks by offering a No Win, No Fee service for all slipped disc compensation claims.
If your claim is accepted after it has been reviewed, you’ll be sent a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This contract will make it clear that:
- You don’t need to pay legal fees before your solicitor will begin working on your claim.
- You won’t have to pay your solicitor if the claim is lost.
If there is a positive outcome to your personal injury claim and compensation is awarded, your solicitor’s work will be covered by a success fee. This is a deduction from any compensation you receive that is legally capped at 25 per cent.
Once you’ve both signed the CFA, your solicitor’s main goals are to:
- Explore your claim in more detail to see how you’ve suffered.
- Request medical records and collect supporting proof.
- Contact the defendant to let them know about your slipped disc compensation claim.
- Handle all communication on your behalf so you won’t need to speak to the defendant’s representatives directly.
- Keep you informed about how your claim is advancing.
- Try to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation possible.
If you’d like a No Win, No Fee solicitor to represent you in a slipped disc compensation claim, please call today to discuss your options.
Slipped disc injury claim time limits
As you may know, slipped disc injury claims in the UK have a 3-year limitation period. Generally, the time limit will begin from:
- The date you suffered the slipped disc in an accident; or
- When a doctor diagnosed a slipped disc injury.
We believe that it’s best to start a claim as soon as you can. As well as making it easier to find the proof needed to support your claim, beginning early could mean that the defendant will make an interim payment to pay for private medical treatment. They may agree to this to help you to recover sooner which, in turn, would mean they’d pay less compensation (a win-win situation).
Start a slipped disc compensation claim today
Are you ready to claim compensation for a slipped disc injury? If so, call us on 0800 652 1345 for free legal advice. We’ll consider your claim in detail and answer any questions you have about the claims process.
If one of our solicitors believes that you’re entitled to compensation, they’ll represent you on a No Win, No Fee basis. Knowing that legal fees don’t need to be paid unless you are compensated should make the process a lot less stressful.
Please get in touch via live chat or call us if you’d like to know anything else about slipped disc compensation claims, or arrange your free consultation here.
