Back injuries claims

The back is a part of the body which is vulnerable to injury or disease. Many people suffer from a bad back for a variety of reasons which includes an accident at work.

We use our backs to perform a wide range of movements such as bending, twisting or turning and do this without any problems. But a sudden excessive movement can damage the back and cause long term problems.

That is the major problem with back injuries. They tend to be chronic in nature and in some cases can result in a permanent disability.

If you have suffered a back injury at work which is due to another person’s fault then you may be able to claim compensation.

Common types of back injuries at work

These are more common in industrial environments such as factories or warehouses which involved lots of lifting and carrying. However, it is possible to damage your back whilst working in an office.

The most common types of injuries include:

• Trip or slip
• Bending over to lift a heavy object
• Poor handling
• Struck by a falling object

There are other causes of a back injury but these are the most popular. Manual handling in particular seems to be one of the most common reasons for a compensation claim.

Back injuries vary in their severity. Someone may suffer an injury which is relatively mild whereas another person experiences torn muscles or a slipped disc which causes serious problems.

Some back injuries are serious enough to cause paralysis.

You can make a claim for compensation in this case; plus you may be able to claim if you have an existing back injury which has worsened as a result of a workplace accident.

Effects of a back injury

Back injuries are very common and because of that are not always taken seriously. We often hear of people complaining of a bad back and because of that, tend to trivialise this condition.

But there is nothing trivial about a condition which has resulted in a long term disability.

If you have been unlucky enough to sustain a serious back injury then the effects can be devastating for all concerned. It can force you to give up your job which puts an immediate strain upon the family finances.

There is the pain and discomfort of the injury to deal with plus the accompanying mental distress as well. This is more likely to be the case if your injury has resulted in a disability.

Your family has to not only deal with the aftermath of your injury but has to cope with your altered circumstances. This causes a great of stress and anxiety in regard to how they will cope financially; what treatment you will need, how to pay for specialist care and support and so on.

This is where compensation will help. Sadly, it cannot restore full health to you especially if you have been left with a permanent disability but it can help on a practical level. It can be used to pay for treatment and care which would otherwise be too costly.

Making a claim for compensation for a back injury

Find a lawyer or solicitor who has knowledge and experience of the workplace accident field. He or she will have dealt with claims in respect of workplace back injuries and should understand about the many guidelines, health and safety regulations and correct procedures.

This especially applies to cases of back injury following manual handling as there is a raft of information regarding the correct technique and the maximum weights that can be handled.

The lawyer or solicitor will review your claim, looking at the facts and evidence before deciding whether there are sufficient grounds for a claim. If so then he or she will advise you accordingly.

If you want to know more about the claims process then visit our making a claim for compensation section.

Time limit for claiming compensation for a back injury

There are strict deadlines for personal injury claims. In most cases this is set at 3 years from the date of the accident or diagnosis of the illness.

Make a claim for compensation within this 3 year time limit.

There are exceptions to this rule so check first with your lawyer or solicitor.