Spinal injury claims

In most cases the damage caused by a spinal cord injury is irreversible and can have a catastrophic impact on you and your family. Our spinal injury compensation specialist solicitors can help you obtain the best possible care and treatment to help you regain your independence.

How do serious spinal cord injuries occur?

A spinal injury can happen in many different ways, whether during a road traffic accident, work place accident or because of a fall from height. Traumatic spinal injuries have life changing implications for an individual and their family. Quality care, treatment and rehabilitation are essential to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of a spinally injured person.

If your injury or that of a family member was caused by an accident that was not your fault, or was only partially your fault, or you were criminally attacked, you are entitled to make a claim for compensation.

To find out if you have a claim it is important to speak to a law firm that can prove real expertise and experience in this complex and specialist area. One that puts your interests first and can advise you how to proceed and get your life back on track.

Spinal injury compensation claim process

The process of claiming compensation can be lengthy. It’s crucial to get the best possible advice and guidance. Our spinal injury solicitors are happy to answer any questions you may have, free of charge and without obligation.

To begin, you will need to appoint a specialist to represent you or your family member. Making a successful compensation claim is dependent on obtaining the necessary evidence to prove that another person is at fault, either fully or partially. We will also seek evidence highlighting the nature and extent of the injury along with the effects upon the person.

If fault can be proven, your solicitor will gather further evidence regarding the severity of the spinal cord injury and investigate likely care and medical needs. The spinal injury compensation process will be managed by a team of specialists who will deal directly with those at fault, namely the defendant.  If your claim is successful the defendant will pay the agreed compensation package, which commonly includes:

• General compensation for the spinal cord injury sustained
• Financial loss, including loss of earnings
• The cost of specialist equipment such as wheelchairs, vehicles and specially adapted housing
• A periodical payment order (PPO), giving an annual payment for life for day to day living expenses, future equipment needs and ongoing medical treatment.

How much can I get for a spinal cord injury compensation claim?

We will look at the compensation for your injury as well as the financial losses that you have and will face as a result of the accident. Compensation is made up of general and special damages.

General damages

General damages are to compensate you for the injury itself; the pain and suffering that you have gone through and that you continue to go through. They also take into account what you would have been able to do had it not been for the accident.

In order to accurately inform you of the levels of damages that you may be awarded, we will arrange for medico-legal reports from various leading specialists. They will examine you and have access to your medical records and be able to provide an accurate diagnosis and prognosis within their report. Once this evidence is in place we will be able to notify you as to how much we think that your claim is going to be worth.

Special damages

Special damages are to compensate you for any past or future losses that have incurred or will incur as a direct result of the accident which caused your injuries.

Past losses include:

• private medical treatment and rehabilitation;
• prescription charges/medication;
• the purchase of aids and appliances;
• loss of earnings;
• travel expenses;
• care costs;
• personal belongings and clothing damaged in the accident; and
• housing adaptions.

Future losses can include:

• future loss of earnings;
• loss of pension;
• accommodation costs;
• future private medical treatment and rehabilitation;
• aids and appliances.

This list is not exhaustive and we will consider very thoroughly and include all items that you may need to make a claim for in the future.

We suggest that you start to keep a list of things that you have had to pay for since, and as a direct result of the accident. We will need to prove the financial losses and documentary evidence such as wage slips, receipts and invoices will be very important in proving your special damages claim. In addition it may also be sensible to keep a log or brief diary of problems that you encounter.

How am I going to pay for long-term care?

Whilst we aim to maximise your spinal cord injury compensation in the shortest possible time, we can also help with the immediate issues which you may face in the days and weeks following your accident. We can also support you with any future legal requirements that you may have.

We will work with you to ensure that you obtain the best private rehabilitation right from the beginning of your claim. At Hugh James we are very experienced in utilising funding for rehabilitation for you, often before liability has been accepted by the defendant.

We have always believed that access to rehabilitation is one of the most important aspects of your recovery and is the foundation for the next chapter of your life. We will seek to obtain funding to provide you with therapeutic services and case management support.

Immediate assistance

• access to Hugh James Emergency Fund
• welfare benefits advice
• arranging payment holidays on mortgage, loan and credit card repayments
• checking your life and insurance protection policies
• local authority assistance
• arranging powers of attorney
• advice on funding your claim

Short-term assistance

• arranging private access for rehabilitation
• interim payments
• housing adaptions or more appropriate housing
• care and support
• transport and mobility
• assistance with employer

Long-term assistance

• periodical payments
• independent financial advice about investment of compensation
• other legal services e.g. conveyancing, wills etc.

Why choose Hugh James spinal cord injury solicitors?

Hugh James has extensive experience in handling compensation claims for people who have suffered spinal cord injuries. Our team of specialist spinal injury solicitors provide expert advice and services to ensure that you receive the highest possible level of compensation. We will ensure that you get the best care, treatment and rehabilitation following a spinal cord injury.

We are members of the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and members of the Law Society. Our solicitors have been consistently ranked in the top tiers by the independent legal guides, Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, as leaders in the field of personal injury and specifically spinal cord litigation.

We have offices in London, Cardiff, Southampton, Manchester and Plymouth and can represent clients without the need for lengthy face-to-face meetings.

Our specialist team includes welfare benefits advisors and a qualified social worker to ensure that your case has the best possible chance of success. We offer free advice and guidance, without obligation and no win, no fee agreements.
Our specialist solicitors can advise you on the following:

• the Hugh James Emergency Fund and how it can assist you and your family;
• obtaining private rehabilitation;
• your damages;
• interim payments;
• welfare benefits and emergency funding;
• employment concerns;
• charities that can assist you;
• wills, trusts and power of attorney;
• dealing with your mortgage, credit card and loan providers following a spinal cord injury;
• investigating any potential insurance cover that may benefit you;
• social services and local authority funding for care and equipment; and
• human and disability rights.