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.
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