Back Injury at Work – Make a Claim

Sustaining a back injury at work can cause a lot of personal and financial issues for the injured person. Back injuries are common in all types of work environments and are one of the main causes of physical pain at work. Back injuries can range from soft tissue damage to serious spinal injuries and can have long term consequences on your life.

Sometimes, there may be no one to blame for your back injury at work; however, many of these types of injuries are caused by an employer’s negligence. If this is the case, you may be interested in making a claim for a back injury.

If you have injured your back at work as a result of negligence, you could be entitled to injury at work compensation. Contact Beacon Law today to get in touch with one of our personal injury solicitors to start your accident at work claim on a no win no fee basis.

Common causes of back injuries at work that lead to claims

Common causes of back injuries at work often stem from the physical demands of certain tasks, unsafe practices, or inadequate training and equipment. Here are some of the most frequent causes that lead to claims:

Manual handling and lifting: Improper lifting techniques, excessive weight, or lifting heavy weight without the right equipment can put undue strain on the back. This can lead to muscle strains, ligament sprains, and spinal disc issues.

Repetitive strain: Repetitive tasks that require repeated bending, twisting, or other continuous movements can wear down the back over time. This often leads to conditions like repetitive strain injuries (RSI).

Prolonged Sitting or poor ergonomics: Sitting roles, particularly when workstations aren’t ergonomically optimised, can contribute to poor posture and muscle strain.

Slips, trips, and falls: Falls from heights or slips on wet or uneven surfaces can cause serious back injuries, including fractures or spinal cord damage.

Heavy machinery and equipment use: Jobs involving vibration-heavy equipment or awkwardly shaped tools can strain the back and contribute to long-term issues.

Inadequate training: Workers who haven’t been properly trained on lifting techniques, safe body mechanics, or the use of safety equipment are at greater risk of injury.

Types of back injuries

Back injuries vary widely in severity and type, often depending on the activity involved and the specific cause. Here are some of the most common types of back injuries that can occur at work:

• Muscle Strains and ligament sprains
• Herniated or slipped disc
• Fractured vertebrae
• Spinal cord injuries
• Degenerative disc disease
• Compression fractures

Your employers’ responsibilities

Safety at work is extremely important. Your employer has a duty of care towards you and is obligated by law (the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974) to reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace.

Your employer must always provide appropriate training and where necessary the correct and suitable equipment to help you perform your duties safely. If an accident does occur in the workplace then your employer must report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Health and safety laws and legislation have significantly increased the level of protection open to employees. There are numerous written health and safety regulations and laws designed to prevent injuries in the workplace and any breach of these regulations can cause accidents with undesirable consequences. The Health and Safety Executive have set out guidance on their website for employers to assist in the implementation of Health and Safety Legislation on the workplace.

If you have suffered a back injury at work as a result of your employer failing to put safety measures in place, you will have grounds to make a workplace injury claim.

What is the process of making a back injury at work claim?

During your initial consultation, our specialist injury solicitors will provide you with legal advice about back injury at work claims and will inform you about the relevant limitation rules.

Our personal injury lawyers will then ask you for details about your accident and the initial injuries that were suffered as a result. This will help our injury lawyers to assess the likelihood of your claim being successful.

During these initial stages of your claim for compensation for a back injury, it is vital that you gather the relevant evidence to support your claim. Relevant evidence may include CCTV footage of the incident, medical records, accident books, photographs of your injuries, and witness statements.

Your solicitor may also ask that you undergo an official medical examination in order to receive medical reports about the injuries that you have sustained. These medical reports will provide vital medical evidence of the nature and extent of your injuries. Even if you have received other medical care prior to starting your claim, a more thorough medical assessment may still be needed to produce detailed, accurate, and reliable medical reports.

If we think that your back injury at work claim would be likely to succeed, we will offer a no win, no fee basis; if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay any legal fees.

What are the time limits for a back injury at work claim?

Before starting your claim, it is important to note that there are strict time limits on personal injury claims. From the date of the accident that caused the injuries, the injured party will have 3 years to commence proceedings for claiming compensation.

It must be noted, however, that there are some exceptions to this rule:

For example, if the claimant was under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, they have until their 21st birthday to make their compensation claim. In the meantime, provided that the claimant is still under the age of 18, a litigation friend such as a parent, guardian, or close family member could claim compensation on their behalf.

Another exception to the 3 year time limit occurs when the claimant who has suffered an injury does not have the mental capacity to begin their accident claim. Rather than being limited to making a claim within 3 years from the date of the incident, the claimant is entitled to begin their compensation claim at any moment in time once they regain the mental capacity to do so.

How can Beacon Law assist?

Beacon Law are a law firm of specialist personal injury solicitors. We have helped many of our clients with back injury at work claims.

You can request an initial consultation by completing the online help form, and an experienced solicitor will contact you to discuss your case. Alternatively, you can call us on 0330 1332 857, and we will be happy to assist you with your query.

Beacon Law are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. To find out about our no win, no fee funding options, have a look at the funding section on our website.