A Guide to Spinal Cord Injuries – Could you claim compensation?
If you have suffered from a life-changing spinal cord injury, you need a legal team with exceptional experience by your side.
At Calio Claims, our lawyers have many years of experience in helping clients make successful claims for compensation for spinal cord injuries. We understand all of the ways in which you have suffered loss and may continue to suffer loss in the aftermath of your injury. We will fight to obtain the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. We are also able to assist with rehabilitation and aftercare, should this be required.
It is estimated that someone is paralysed by a spinal cord injury in the UK every four hours.
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most common types of injuries suffered after accidents. These injuries can range in seriousness but can cause sufferers extreme pain and discomfort. A spinal cord injury can limit mobility and can be difficult to treat.
In this guide, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions from clients who have suffered from a spinal cord injury
Please be aware that every case is different. If you are considering making a claim, it is important to discuss your particular situation with our spinal cord injury claim lawyers. Do not hesitate to contact us for advice and support with your case.
The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and is made up of a thick bundle of nerves. Nerves then carry messages from the brain to the rest of our body. The messages help our body move, feel pressure and control essential functions such as breathing, blood pressure, bowels and bladder. If the spinal cord is injured, communication between the brain and the body is disrupted, which results in loss of movement and sensation from below the level of injury.
The length of the spinal cord and function in keeping you upright makes it an easy target for damage when accidents happen. Spinal cord injuries often occur when there is a sudden impact, causing jarring of the spinal cord. This can happen as a result of a sudden impact either directly to the spine – for example, a workplace accident, such as an object hitting the spine. It could also result from a sudden movement back and forth of the body such as from another vehicle running into the back of your vehicle, causing whiplash. Whiplash is very common in road traffic accidents, with around 50% of patients admitted to hospital following a road traffic accident.
The severity of an injury depends on the part of the spinal cord that is affected. The higher the injury on the spinal cord, or the closer it is to the brain, the more effect it has on how the body moves and what one can feel. More movement, feeling and voluntary control are generally present with injuries at lower levels.
The most serious spinal cord injuries can result in permanent loss of muscle function from the neck down (tetraplegia). This occurs where a severe injury has occurred to the spine around the neck region. Paraplegia (loss of muscle function in the lower body and legs) results from injuries to the spinal cord in the upper or middle part of the spine below the neck.
If you have sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident or due to the negligence of a medical practitioner, Calio Claims can assist you in determining if you are entitled to seek compensation. Our specialist spinal cord injury lawyers are on hand to assist you throughout the claims process and are dedicated to ensuring you receive the compensation that you deserve.
Making a claim can be a daunting experience. However, at Calio Claims, we have a uniquely client-focused approach. Our aim is to develop the relationship and the trust so that you feel comfortable and confident with the process. Suffering from a spinal cord injury is painful enough. Our specialist spinal cord injury lawyers believe in making the process of getting compensation as painless as possible.
We will conduct full and thorough assessments to obtain a clear picture of ways in which your injury will and has had an impact on your life and build a robust case to allow you to get back to enjoying life again. Compensation will be available not only for immediate treatment of injuries but should also include additional costs such as past and future loss of earnings, rehabilitation, home modifications or even having to move home as a result of the injuries sustained.
Above all, your health is the most important factor. We understand that injury, like a spinal cord injury, can seriously impact your quality of life, work, the ability to look after your dependents, or even carry out simple household tasks. When assessing your claim, we will ask you questions relating to your injury, treatment and symptoms, as well as how they have had an impact on your everyday life. We can put you in contact with our own expert rehabilitation experts to ensure that your recovery is being looked after as best as possible, while the financial side of matters is taken care of.
The time limit for making a claim is three years from the date you sustained your spinal cord injury. After three years have passed, you may be prevented from making a claim. This is why it is crucial to act quickly if you think you have suffered a spinal cord injury and you think you may have a claim.
There are some exceptions to the three-year time limit, for example, in the following circumstances:
- If you are claiming compensation on behalf of a child, then there is no time limit until your child turns 16 (from the age of 16, the three-year rule applies)
- If you are claiming on behalf of someone else who does not have the mental capacity to claim for themselves, then there is no time limit for making a claim
The length of time required to get compensation can vary significantly depending on the details of each case. Many cases can be settled within a matter of months, while some more complicated cases may take longer. However, during the claims process, we can assist with putting in place rehabilitation, care packages and arranging adaptions to you home to assist you with leading your life to the fullest going forward. We will ensure things progress as quickly as possible to bring matters to a successful conclusion. We can also seek interim payments to assist you while the case is ongoing. Should your case result in legal proceedings, we will be there to support you and your family through this difficult process.
Compensation for spinal cord injuries generally attracts higher compensation than most other types of injury. This is because compensation will not just include an award for the injury itself but also other associated costs such as future loss of earnings, home modifications, care packages and rehabilitation. Our lawyers understand the life-changing impact a spinal cord injury can have for not only you but your family too, so we are here to help. We are experienced in dealing with spinal cord injury claims and have previously settled a claim for our client who sustained a catastrophic and life-changing spinal cord injury.
Contact our spinal cord injury solicitors in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee today
If you have suffered from a spinal cord injury and think you may have a claim, please contact us to discuss the matter on 0800 988 8082 or complete our online enquiry form and a member of our team will get back to you right away.
