What is a spinal injury at work?
[Distinguish: vertebral fractures vs spinal cord injury; incomplete vs complete cord injury; cervical, thoracic and lumbar levels; AIS classification]
What causes serious spinal injuries at work?
[Falls from height (most common) — Work at Height Regs 2005; vehicle rollovers and collisions; heavy objects falling onto spine; being thrown from machinery; crush injuries in manufacturing]
How is a spinal cord injury claim valued?
JCG 17th edition: Paraplegia: £267,340 to £346,890 Tetraplegia/quadriplegia: £338,450 to £493,000 Severe back injury affecting bladder/bowel: £91,090 to £160,980 Very severe disc injury with residual permanent symptoms: up to £181,020 These are general damages only. Future care in serious spinal cases is often the largest head of loss — professional 24-hour care can cost £100,000 or more per year.
What future losses can you recover in a spinal injury claim?
[Cost of care (professional and gratuitous); home adaptations; specialist equipment (wheelchairs, hoists, adapted vehicles); loss of earnings (often total loss of career); case management; future medical treatment; pain management]
What is a provisional damages award?
[s.32A Senior Courts Act 1981; where condition may deteriorate — e.g. risk of syringomyelia or post-traumatic spinal stenosis; claimant can return to court for further award if deterioration occurs]
How long does a serious spinal injury claim take?
[Complex — often 3–5 years; interim payments available; why early solicitor instruction is important to fund immediate rehabilitation]
Frequently asked questions
Questions readers ask about this topic
Can I claim for paralysis caused by a work accident?
Yes. Paraplegia and tetraplegia claims are among the most significant in personal injury law. General damages alone can exceed £300,000, with care and future losses potentially adding several million pounds in the most serious cases.
Can I get an interim payment while my claim is ongoing?
Yes. Where liability is clear or highly likely, courts can order interim payments to fund immediate needs — adapted accommodation, rehabilitation, specialist equipment — before the final settlement.
What if my spinal injury means I will never work again?
Future loss of earnings and loss of pension contributions are recoverable heads of loss. In cases involving young workers, this can represent a very substantial sum calculated using Ogden actuarial tables.
Can you claim? Find out in four quick steps.
Enquiries may be referred to SRA-regulated UK solicitor firms where appropriate. No win, no fee is subject to solicitor assessment of your individual case.
0800 000 0000Where did the accident happen?
Pick the setting closest to your situation.
Sources
- Judicial College Guidelines, 17th edition (2024)
- Senior Courts Act 1981 s.32A
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
- Ogden Actuarial Tables, 8th edition
- HSE — Workplace fatal and nonfatal injury statistics 2024/25
This guide is editorial information about UK law. It is not legal advice and does not create a solicitor–client relationship. For advice on your circumstances, speak to a regulated personal-injury solicitor.