Cervical Spine Injury Compensation: No win, no fee

What is a cervical spine injury?

A cervical spine injury refers to damage caused to the cervical vertebrae, the bones in the neck region of the spine. The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae (C1 to C7) that support the head, protect the spinal cord, and allow for a range of head movements.

Injuries to this area can range from minor, such as strains and sprains, to severe, such as fractures or dislocations, which can potentially damage the spinal cord and result in paralysis or other serious complications.

There are several different types of neck injuries and cervical spine injuries, including:

• Fractures: Breaks or cracks in the cervical vertebrae, often due to trauma like car accidents or falls.
• Dislocations: When one or more vertebrae are forced out of their normal position.
• Herniated Discs: When the soft material inside a spinal disc pushes out through a tear in the disc’s outer layer, possibly pressing on the spinal cord or nerves.
• Sprains and Strains: Overstretching or tearing of ligaments (sprains) or muscles and tendons (strains) in the cervical region can cause a range of soft tissue damage.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord within the cervical region, which can result in loss of sensation, motor function, or paralysis (tetraplegia or quadriplegia) below the level of the injury.

Our solicitors have many years of experience in dealing with all types of personal injury cases including those surrounding serious spinal injuries. We can work with clients to gather the evidence they need to make a claim, negotiate with defendants and provide support through the recovery process.

If you would like more information on spinal or neck injury claims then please get in touch with us today. Our team of solicitors can advise you of the process and oversee your claim for compensation for a spinal injury.

Common causes of cervical spine injuries

Cervical spine injuries can result from various causes, often involving trauma. Some of the most common causes include:

• Road Traffic Accidents: High-impact collisions can cause whiplash, fractures, and dislocations in the cervical spine.
• Falls: Falls, especially from significant heights or in older adults, can lead to fractures and other cervical spine injuries.
• Sports Injuries: Contact sports (like football and rugby), diving into shallow water, and other high-impact sports can result in cervical spine injuries.
• Violence: Physical assaults, including blows to the head or neck and gunshot wounds, can cause severe cervical spine injuries.
• Recreational Activities: Activities like skiing, snowboarding, and other adventure sports pose risks for cervical spine injuries due to falls and high-impact crashes.
• Workplace Accidents: Workers in certain industries, such as construction and manufacturing, are at higher risk of suffering spinal cord injuries due to the nature of their work.
• Clinical negligence: Negligence by medical professionals can lead to spinal cord injuries during surgical procedures or other medical treatments. Our medical negligence team have the experience and expertise to assist you in making a claim against a medical professional.

What is the process of making a cervical spine injury compensation claim?

The first thing a person should do after suffering an accident that has resulted in a spinal injury is to seek the most appropriate medical treatment, whether it be at a hospital or your local GP. It is important to document all of your injuries and keep ahold of any official documentation outlining your diagnosis and/or medical treatments.

Our personal injury lawyers can then talk you through the process of making a claim, including the time limit regulations and an evaluation of the chances of your claim being successful. It is then important to gather all relevant evidence that can be used to support your claim for compensation. Evidence could include medical records, police reports, witness statements, CCTV footage and photographs of the scene of the accident.

Our team of spinal cord injury solicitors will then file the claim on your behalf and inform all of the relevant parties to the case, such as the person responsible for your injury or their insurance company. We work tirelessly to achieve the best outcomes for our clients and negotiate on their behalf to obtain the most appropriate compensation and medical care for their injuries.

If a settlement cannot be reached between the parties then a claim can be progressed to court for a judge to decide the final outcome of the case.

The process of making a personal injury claim can be complex, and it’s important to work with an experienced solicitor who can guide you through the process and help you achieve a successful outcome. Our spinal injury claim solicitors are highly experienced and offer no win no fee agreements, meaning you will not have to worry about the legal costs of making a claim if you are not successful.

How much compensation could you receive?

The compensation for a cervical spine injury can vary widely based on the severity of the injury, the impact on the victim’s life, and the circumstances of the incident. Compensation typically falls into two main categories: general damages and special damages.

General Damages

General damages cover the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by the injury. The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) provide a framework for awarding compensation in personal injury cases, including cervical spine injuries.

Generally, the more severe an injury, the higher the amount of compensation awarded. As such, minor neck injuries may settle a lot lower than a spinal injury that causes permanent paralysis, for example.

Special Damages

Special damages cover financial losses and expenses incurred as a result of the injury. These can include:

• Medical Expenses: Costs for private treatments, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
• Loss of Earnings: Compensation for lost wages due to inability to work, including future loss of earnings if the injury impacts long-term employment.
• Travel Expenses: Costs of travelling to medical appointments.
• Adaptations: Costs for home modifications or assistive devices if needed due to the injury.
• Care and Assistance: Costs for any care provided by professionals or family members.

Our team of experienced personal injury solicitors will be able to provide you with a rough estimate of the settlement amount you may expect to receive once you have discussed the details of your case with us. Please get in touch with our team today to find out more regarding the compensation amounts for a neck injury compensation claim.

What are the time limits for making a cervical spine injury compensation claim?

The standard time limit for making a personal injury claim is three years from the date of the injury or the date you became aware that your injury was linked to the incident.

However, there are certain rules and exceptions. For children, the three-year limit starts from their 18th birthday, and they are given until their 21st birthday to file a claim. Additionally, if the injured person lacks mental capacity, the time limit does not commence until (and if) they regain capacity.

For fatal accidents, the time limit is three years from the date of death or the date it was established that the death was linked to the incident.

Claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for injuries resulting from criminal acts must be made within two years of the incident.

Why choose Beacon Law?

Our team of cervical spine compensation claim solicitors are highly experienced and capable of assisting clients on a wide variety of cases. We work tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for our clients, continually providing a high standard of service.

To find out more about our no win, no fee claims funding and legal fees, please have a look at the funding section on our website.

If you have been injured at the fault of someone else, then please contact us today at 0330 1332 857 to start your claim or complete our contact form at the top of the page to request a call back from a member of our personal injury team.

Beacon Law are a Solicitors registered in England and Wales with our registered office based in Manchester. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.