Spinal Injury Solicitors
Spinal Injury Claims Specialists
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury caused by someone else, you may be able to claim compensation for your injury.
In addition to meeting clients at our offices in Salisbury and Andover, our Spinal Injury Claim Solicitors can make a home or hospital visits to units including Salisbury’s Duke of Cornwall Spinal Unit.
Our highly specialist Claim Solicitors handle compensation claims throughout southern England including Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Devon and Somerset from our offices in Salisbury, Fordingbridge and Andover.
We always offer FREE initial phone advice and a FREE initial interview for all spinal injury claims.
Can I make a Spinal Injury Compensation Claim?
To claim for compensation you must prove that a person owed a duty to take care of you and that they have broken that duty. For example, a motorcyclist riding along the main road who is hit by a car turning from a side road would have grounds for a claim – as would a person injured at work because they had to work at a great height and was not provided with a proper safety helmet.
You can claim for an accident at work even if you were a contractor or self-employed.
Click here to find out more about work accident claims
How do I prove the accident caused my spinal injuries?
Usually, this is quite easy. There is often a direct link between the accident and the injury, particularly with a severe spinal cord injury.
To prove a link between your spinal injury and the accident, our Spinal Injury Solicitors instruct an independent doctor to examine you and prepare a report.
What compensation can I expect?
Compensation is split into three categories:
- Damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity
- Damages for out of pocket expenses
- Damages for future expenses
Damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity
Spinal cord injuries are extremely serious and have life-long repercussions. You may be confined to a wheelchair and need help to live independently. You may not be able to enjoy the hobbies you were involved in before the accident. You may not be able to return to work. Our medical expert can tell us how you are now and how you will be in the future.
Damages for pain and suffering are based on previous Court cases for people with injuries of similar severity.
Damages for out of pocket expenses
You can recover any expenses you would not have incurred without your accident including:
- your lost earnings
- lost earnings for another family member
- travel by your family to visit you in hospital
- equipment costs including wheelchairs or specialist beds
- prescription and medication costs
- private medical treatment costs
- cost of your family buying food and drinks at the hospital
- childcare costs
- cost of adapting your home so that you can return home or the cost of purchasing a different home
It is very important to keep any receipts and/or correspondence. Our Spinal Injury Solicitors recommend that you or a friend or family member keep a diary listing appointments and expenses.
Future expenses for a spinal injury
This is probably the most important area of your spinal cord injury claim. Your Solicitor needs to ensure that your compensation will meet all your future needs.
Our spinal injury claim solicitors get expert help from the accommodation, nursing and rehabilitation experts to value your future needs. Payment for future expenses will ensure that you receive all of the equipment you need, including replacement wheelchairs and equipment at home.
We cannot value future expenses until independent doctors indicate your likely prognosis and when your condition will stabilize. Although this may take a few years, it cannot be rushed.
Time limits for Spinal Injury Claims
The time limit for spinal injury claims is 3 years from the date of the accident. If a person cannot manage their own affairs then the time limit extends to 3 years from when they are capable of managing their own affairs.
It is important to start your spinal injury claim off as soon as you feel able. Spinal injury claims are high value and complex, and the sooner our spinal injury solicitors start your compensation claim, the more likely you are to receive interim payments to help with any expenses incurred after leaving the hospital.
Spinal Injury Claims for those under 18
If a child suffers a spinal injury, they have until the age of 21 to make a compensation claim.
If the claim starts whilst they remain a child then an adult (called a ‘litigation friend’) will act for them – often Mum or Dad.
Any interim payments or child settlements need Court approval. Any compensation received by a child remains in the Court Investment Account until the child reaches 18. Money can be paid out for the child’s needs before reaching 18, subject to the Court’s approval.
Funding my spinal injury claim
Our Spinal Injury Solicitors help clients fund their compensation claim in the following ways:
- Legal expenses insurance. Many people have such insurance attached to their buildings, contents or car insurance. Provided the insurance policy was in force when you had your accident, the policy will often cover your legal fees.
- ‘No win no fee’ agreements. Our spinal injury solicitors offer ‘no win no fee’ arrangements to spinal injury clients and can arrange insurance to cover the costs if your case does not succeed.
Click here to read more about no win no fee agreements - Private clients. Some clients prefer paying as they go – paying an hourly rate for work done and receiving interim bills every 6 months.
Click here to read more about making a Personal Injury Claim or a Medical Negligence Claim
Contact our Spinal Injury Claim Solicitors as soon as possible
It’s important to get legal advice from our Spinal Injury Claim Solicitors as soon as possible after your accident – time limitation periods apply and it is often easier investigating your compensation claim if you take early legal advice. At your first free interview, our Spinal Injury Claim Solicitors can tell you whether your compensation claim is worth pursuing. Initial interviews are always FREE.
For specialist legal advice about Spinal Injury Claims, contact us FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 or locally on Salisbury [01722] 424426
