What back, lumbar or spinal injuries can I claim for?
Back injuries as a result of carrying out your job of work
This often depends upon what task you were carrying out, where you were carrying it out and for whom you were carrying out the task. In order to claim compensation for your injury someone, or some organisation or business must have been responsible. This applies to all ways in which you receive a back or spinal injury at work, whether due to carrying out a task at work, or in an accident at work.
Back injuries as a result of an accident in a public place
A lumbar, spine, neck or back injury as a result of an accident at work, or in a public place, such as on the roads, playing sport, or even at a night club, may be eligible for a claim for compensation. You will need to seek expert advice to establish whether your injury is eligible for a claim.
Below is a list of typical situations where you should usually be able to claim for a back or spinal injury. Sometimes it can be very difficult to establish who is responsible for your injury and it can be difficult to prove to a court that any person or organisation is responsible. This is another reason why you need a specialist back and spinal injury expert solicitor to handle your claim.
To find out if you have a claim for your back injury contact us now, don’t delay, most claims are time limited. Phone us on 0114 256 0111, email us or fill in the form on the right to find out if you have a claim for your back injury.
Claiming for back injuries at work
RSI (repetitive strain injury) back injury at work
Back injuries aren’t just caused by dramatic, sudden accidents, they can be the result of accumulated poor practice that has gone un-corrected, caused either by poorly set up equipment, inadequate training or monitoring of the work place and staff practices.
Lifting injury at work
It is the employers responsibility to ensure staff are correctly trained, and that appropriate equipment is used to lift heavy or awkward loads. Don’t think this is restricted to lifting. You may be injured as a result of pushing, lowering or pulling. In fact any injury you receive as a result of an activity that you have been required to do as part of your work by a supervisor or employer, or in order to carry out your normal work, that results in an injury to your back may be grounds for a compensation claim.
Injury from falling from a height at work
A fall from a height, either a ladder, an inadequately protected platform, scaffolding or any other situation where through inadequate training, monitoring or equipment a fall occurred resulting in a back injury. It is an employers legal responsibility to ensuer adequate training and protection is given and a faliure to do this can render them laible to compensate for any injury subsequently caused.
The above are only examples of the kind of back injury at work you may claim for. But any injury to your back or spine as a result of you carrying out your normal work duties, or as a result of being instructed to do something at work by a supervisor, manager or employer may be eligible for a compensation claim.
To find out if you have a claim for your back injury contact us now, don’t delay, most claims are time limited. Phone us on 0114 256 0111, email us or fill in the form on the right to find out if you have a claim for your back injury.
Claiming for back injuries out and about in public places, and on transport
If you are involved in an accident that was not your fault, and it happened in a public place such as a road, a gym, a shopping centre or a night club, you can probably make a claim for compensation for your back injury. The following are examples, but if your situation is not listed that doesn’t mean you can’t make claim. Contact us as soon as possible and we’ll be able to advise you whether you can make a claim.
Back injury on Public transport such as a train, bus or coach, either by a traffic accident or sudden movement or tripping.
Back injury by tripping or slipping in a public place, be it a supermarket, a gym, a disco or any public environment.
Back injury in a RTA (Road Traffic Accident) involving a car, motorbike, bicycle, taxi either as a driver or passenger
Back injury incurred whilst playing sports. This can be at a sports centre, on a track, a football field, a health club, a gym, a golf course – any non-private place where sports activities are carried out.
This list is not the full and final list, to find out if you can make a claim for compensation for a back injury and any associated losses you may have suffered Phone us on 0114 256 0111 for your free consultation, or email us or fill in the form on the left now to find out if you have a claim for your back injury.
Further information about the causes, diagnosis, types and symptons of back, lumbar, neck and spinal injuries
How can a back pain be caused?
A back pain can be caused by accident, strain or injury.
How is a back injury diagnosed?
A doctor will interview you to obtain a complete history of the injury/accident/strain and will conduct a physical examination. Medical investigations can include;
- X-ray scans, these can show details of bone structure and any trauma to the bones.
- MRI scans, these can supply detailed information on the nerve roots and discs.
- CT scans, these are typically used to detect soft tissue damage such as a slipped disc or Spinal Stenosis.
What are the main types of back or spinal injury?
The main types of injury are:
- Sprains and strains
- Spinal fracture
- Spondylolithesis
- Cervical Radiculopathy
Sprains and strains
A sprain or strain usually occurs when the muscles in the back stretch too much, lift too much weight or move in way that causes minute tears in the muscle tissue or the ligaments. These injuries usually produce a microscopic amount of bleeding and this bleeding causes swelling and pain.
The damage done can vary greatly and whilst the body can often heal the injuries itself without the need of surgery, there will usually be the need for complete rest followed by some kind of therapy such as massage, physiotherapy or TENS. If the back doesn’t heal and pain persists then other courses of action may be required such as back surgery or chronic pain therapies.
Spinal Fractures
Spinal fractures are when the bones in your back, the vertebrae, crack, break or collapse. This happens after trauma such as a bad fall or a car accident. However fractures can also happen due to underlying medical factors such as osteoporosis or cancer.
The symptoms of a spinal fracture, or VCF, can include the sudden start of back pain that then lasts longer than a few days. You must see a doctor as back pain can be caused by a variety of things and it is essential to get a correct diagnosis.
A neglected spinal fracture can heal badly and this can have serious long term consequences for your health and well being.
Spondylolithesis
This is a slipping of a vertebra which usually occurs at the base of the spine. Spondylosis is the fracture of one or both of the wing shaped parts of the vertebra, and can result in the slipping of a vertebra forward or backward over the vertebra below.
Symptoms of Spondylolithesis
Symptoms include
- lower back pain
- stiff or tight muscles
- pain in the buttocks
- pain in the legs
- weakness in the muscles
Cervical Radiculopathy
This is the damage or compromise of nerve function which happens when a nerve root is compressed. Damage to nerve roots in the cervical area can cause pain, weakness and loss of function in other parts of the body such as neck, shoulders and arms.
Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy
The main symptoms of cervical radiculopathy are pains in the neck, chest arm or shoulders. You muscles may feel weak or numb and you may experience tingling. A lack of co-ordination, especially in the hands can be another symptom.
None of the information on back injuries on this page is given as a substitute or replacement for qualified medical advice. If you think you have experienced any injury to your back, or are feeling any back pain or discomfort, in your back, neck, limbs or pelvis you must seek proper medical advice from a qualified medical practitioner as quickly as possible.