A guide to spinal cord injury compensation claims

Spinal cord injuries can be a life-changing event, one that impacts not only a person’s physical health but also their emotional well-being, as well as their financial stability and overall quality of life.

Your life might be thrown into chaos post-injury. It can be challenging to navigate, especially in relation to understanding your legal rights and the process of acquiring a compensation package. Aspire Law supports people with spinal cord injuries throughout the entire process. As the UK’s leading law firm dedicated to spinal cord injury claims, they can provide you with the support and expertise you need during this difficult time.

Understanding spinal cord injuries

According to the Spinal Injuries Association, every four hours, a person becomes newly spinal cord injured through an accident, illness, or health condition. This type of injury can occur when damage is caused to the spine during incidents such as traffic accidents, falls, sporting-related injuries or medical negligence.

The term spinal cord injuries encompasses a range of traumatic impacts to the spine, including to the…

• Cervical (neck).
• Thoracic (chest).
• Thoracolumbar, lumbar, lumbo-sacral (lower back).

Spinal cord injuries can also affect multiple levels within the spinal column, which can cause full or partial interruption to the functions of the spine, including mobility or sensation.

Due to the sensitivity of the affected area and its central connection to many areas of the human body, the consequences are often severe and long-term. Additionally, because of the complex nature of this injury, it’s crucial for people affected to understand the medical processes for rehabilitation and recovery, as well as the legal action they can take through a spinal injury claim.

Legal rights following a spinal cord injury

English and Welsh law stipulates the rights of people with spinal cord injuries. Eligible individuals will be able to make a compensation claim, which will provide them with a sum of money. This will be enough to cover any costs associated with your injury and to support your ongoing financial needs. The law is designed to hold responsible parties accountable and empower you to move forward with your life.

Whilst the law is there to protect you, seeking expert support and guidance from specialist spinal cord injury solicitors is essential to ensuring that you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Such firms, including Aspire Law, specialise in these complex cases, ensuring that every legal detail is handled with compassion, care and expertise.

Steps to filing a compensation claim

The process of making a spinal injury claim can be complicated and feel overwhelming. Here are some tips and a step-by-step guide so that you know what to expect:

1. Keep a record: It is likely you will be in specialist care, and it is easy to forget important information at this difficult time. Ask a friend or relative to keep a record of all events relating to your injury, challenges, discussions and care. This record will be very useful to refer back to during the compensation claim journey.
2. Contact a specialist solicitor: Contact a specialist spinal cord injury law firm, like Aspire Law, to give you the best chance of securing the compensation package you deserve.
3. Gathering of evidence: Evidence is vital in building a strong case for your spinal injury claim. Your dedicated solicitor will gather all relevant information, such as medical records, accident reports and witness statements that will support your case.
4. Gathering expert reports: Your dedicated solicitor will obtain expert reports in your case to assess the strength of your claim and to start to build your case if we feel there is a case to still be answered.
5. Notify defendant: Your dedicated solicitor would notify the defendant that there is a claim being looked into and invite them to admit responsibility. If they admit responsibility, we will ask them for interim payments. If they don’t, they usually prepare a response stating why not. If the case continues to have prospects of success, we would at the right time submit a claim to the court.
6. Negotiation and settlement: Most spinal cord injury cases are resolved through negotiation. However, if a fair settlement isn’t achieved, the case may continue to court.
7. Resolution: Upon reaching a settlement or winning at trial, your compensation will be awarded.

Determining liability and proving negligence

Proving that another party’s negligence caused the spinal cord injury is essential in these cases. This could be the fault of various individuals, including a driver, employer, medical professional, or others.

Specialist spinal cord injury solicitors play a pivotal role in gathering the necessary evidence and consulting witnesses to build the strongest case possible for you. Aspire Law excels in this area, leveraging their experience in spinal cord injury cases to achieve successful outcomes for their clients.

Types of compensation available

Successful spinal cord injury compensation claims can cover a wide range of expenses, including:

• Medical expenses: Past, ongoing, and any future treatment costs.
• Rehabilitation and therapy: This includes physical therapy and psychological support.
• Loss of wages: For time off work or permanent inability to return to employment.
• Pain and suffering: Non-economic centred damages for reduced quality of life.
• Home adaptations and equipment: Necessary for improved daily living and quality of life.
• Care and support costs: Including professional and familial care services.

Aspire Law ensures that all aspects of your injury are considered when pursuing your spinal injury claim, helping you receive the compensation you’re both entitled to and deserve.

The role of personal injury solicitors

It’s crucial that you invest time in choosing the right legal representation for you. Personal injury solicitors specialising in spinal cord injury claims bring invaluable expertise, ensuring your case is handled with the precision it deserves.

Aspire Law and their services truly stand out. Their leading law for spinal cord injury compensation claims means their understanding of the injury and its real-life impacts is unmatched. With a commitment to the care of their clients, Aspire Law provides bespoke legal strategies that are personal to you and your position, so that they can give you the support you need.

Time limits for making a claim

Typically, in England and Wales, you will need to make a spinal cord injury claim within three years from the date of your accident, or the date you could have reasonably known you were injured caused by someone else’s negligence. However, there are different guidelines for children under the age of 18, people injured by a criminal act and those injured in aviation, maritime or overseas claims.

Whilst these time limits may sound like a lot of time, it’s in your best interests to act as quickly as possible in order to build the most compelling case for your compensation claim. Consulting with a specialist spinal cord injury law firm, such as Aspire Law, promptly will enable them to collect valuable CCTV evidence, as well as witness statements, which will be the most accurate soon after your injury.

In order to make a successful claim and acquire the compensation package you deserve, your legal representatives will need to prove that the defendant was to blame for your accident. The sooner law firms like Aspire Law can collect relevant evidence for your claim, the stronger your case will be.

How Aspire Law can assist you

As the leading law firm that specialises in spinal injury claims, Aspire Law is uniquely positioned to help people with spinal cord injuries. As part of their services, they offer:

• Tailored legal advice: Aspire Law understands that every case is different. They provide solutions that meet your unique requirements and circumstances.
• Client-centred service: You are the top priority. With Aspire Law, your goals, rehabilitation, and well-being.
• Access to industry-leading experts: Aspire Law’s personal injury solicitors are here to guide you throughout your rehabilitation journey. Additionally, clients will have access to their partner charity, Aspire, which means that you can gain support for assistive technology, housing needs, welfare benefits, financial advice, and so much more.
• No win, no fee representation: Aspire Law knows that typical legal processes can be very expensive. That’s why they fund their cases with Conditional Fee Agreements, thus reducing your risk during what can be a stressful financial time.

Real-life success stories

Aspire Law has secured large sums in spinal injury compensation for clients across the UK. In one notable case, a mother who was seriously injured at work received a substantial seven-figure settlement.

Ms A was in her late 20s when she sustained a severe spinal injury, resulting in paraplegia. A busy working mum with two children, she was working in a London pub when the accident happened. Ms A was in the middle of a busy shift when someone left the trap door open to the cellar after they had gone to change a barrel. As a result, she fell 20 feet and sustained a severe Spinal Cord Injury that caused paraplegia. Ms A’s family instructed Aspire Law very soon after the accident. That allowed them to take detailed and accurate witness statements. They also obtained CCTV footage that showed their solicitors exactly how the accident happened. The employer quickly admitted liability, and that enabled Aspire Law to obtain early interim payments to pay for the very best care and rehabilitation for their client. Ms A was awarded a substantial seven-figure settlement in compensation. The award has allowed her to live independently with her two children.

Begin rebuilding your life

Although a spinal cord injury can entirely displace life as you know it, you don’t have to go through it alone. Empower your recovery by gaining a firm grasp on your legal rights, which can be achieved by working with experienced spinal cord injury solicitors, like those at Aspire Law. These expert legal advisors will help you take the necessary steps to rebuild your life and bring security to your future.

Don’t hesitate to contact Aspire Law today if you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury. You will gain a free, no-obligation consultation and begin your journey towards the compensation and support you deserve.