Paralysis Compensation Claim

Paralysis is a condition defined by an inability to move some or all of your body. For some people, it’s temporary, while others have long-term paralysis. According to the SIA, 4,400 people in the UK suffer a spinal injury each year and many experience paralysis or a lack of mobility.

Paralysis occurs in varying degrees, with some people experiencing temporary symptoms and others dealing with lifetime paralysis.

• Facial Palsy: Facial paralysis occurs when the muscles in your face weaken. However, injuries to the face can also lead to temporary paralysis.
• Monoplegia: When you cannot move one limb, it’s called monoplegia.
• Diplegia: Individuals with diplegia usually have paralysis of one limb on both sides of the body.
• Hemiplegia: Hemiplegia impacts one side of the body and often occurs after a stroke. For example, the individual might be unable to move both their arm and leg on the left side but have complete mobility on the right.
• Paraplegia: Serious injuries to the spinal cord can cause a total loss of mobility. Paraplegia impacts the bottom half of your body, including the trunk and legs.
• Quadriplegia: As the most severe spinal cord injury, quadriplegia paralysis everything from the neck down. You might have heard of it as tetraplegia.

The three most common causes of paralysis are strokes, head injuries and spinal cord injuries. If you’ve suffered an injury to the head or spinal cord which has resulted in paralysis, and the negligence of another party brought about the accident which caused the injury, then, no matter what the precise circumstances, you have a right to pursue the compensation required to allow you to maximise your quality of life now and in the future.

Any injury to the spinal cord can cause paralysis, making it impossible to list them all. However, the most common accidents include:

• RTAs: Being involved in a road traffic accident can lead to a range of injuries – including paralysis. Motorbike users are more at risk because they don’t have the protection of a car.
• Sporting Injuries: Sports-related injuries can occur in contact sports, such as football and rugby. Professional athletes have higher risks than people who play sports recreationally.
• Work Accidents: Employers have a duty of care to their employees, but that doesn’t mean work-related injuries are rare. Falls from heights, crush injuries and spinal cord damage caused by poor training can all lead to temporary or permanent paralysis.
• Medical Negligence: If your medical treatment went from and you suffered paralysis as a result of it, the doctor is at fault. Most clinical negligence cases that cause paralysis occur during surgery.
• General Accidents: Unfortunately, something as small as a fall in a supermarket or tripping over a pavement can lead to paralysis. You can claim compensation if you can prove you weren’t at fault.

Paralysis injuries can vary in severity, from minor localised paralysis to generalised paralysis, and can impact a person’s life in many ways. Unfortunately, these injuries are prevalent among younger people, and many will require a lot of care and support for the rest of their lives.

As you can see from these statistics, paralysis is an ongoing issue in the UK:

• Treatment for a general spinal cord injury costs over £5,000 per person. Treating paralysis is much more expensive, with specialists estimating the annual cost to be £1 billion (Statista).
• Strokes are common contributors to paralysis, and one in six people will experience at least one in their lives (GOV.UK).
• Research states that 50,000 people in the UK are living with a spinal cord injury, but specialists suggest the numbers might be much higher (SIA).

As with all personal injury claims, the key to claiming compensation is proving that you weren’t negligent in the accident. For example, if you’re driving recklessly and end up in a wheelchair, the incident would be your fault, but if the other person is driving carelessly, they’re negligent.

Your personal injury solicitor will evaluate the following:

1. Whether the at-fault party breached their duty of care
2. If someone else’s negligence caused the accident or injury
3. Whether your paralysis is related to the accident in question

Your solicitor must be able to prove that the negligent party failed in their duty of care. Depending on the situation, negligence can be determined under the following guidelines:

If you were injured in an accident at work, your employer may be liable under the Health and Safety at Work 1974 Act. The legislation outlines the precautions an employer must take to protect you in the workplace, including offering proper training and prioritising health and safety.

Employers that cause injuries by not providing personal protective equipment or offering ongoing training are negligent for your paralysis.

If you’re injured in a road traffic accident and left paralysed, then the claim will be launched against any negligent party, whether it’s the driver of another car or the driver of a vehicle in which you are the passenger.

Demonstrating negligence will involve gathering evidence detailing the precise circumstances of the accident, including police reports, CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts and, if possible, photographic records of the scene of the accident.

You can still claim compensation with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau if the negligence of an uninsured driver caused your injury.

If you’re injured during a sporting event and negligence was involved, the responsibility might lie with either the venue, the body responsible for organising the event, or an individual participant whose reckless behaviour led to your injury.

Sports clubs are covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act unless run by volunteers. However, even volunteers are responsible for the safety of any premises or equipment over which they have control.

Doctors who make mistakes during surgery, public authorities who don’t maintain pavements and private landowners can all be deemed negligent if they don’t take proper precautions.

Remember, a paralysis claim can only be successful if your solicitor proves the negligent party breached their duty of care.

You can discover whether you’re eligible to claim paralysis compensation by calling 0800 234 6438 or filling out the online form. A specialist legal adviser will assess your case, learn about your injuries, and then decide whether you’re eligible for compensation.

No win no fee paralysis injury claims are the most popular way to file for compensation, as they don’t require upfront fees. If you opt for a traditional solicitor, you’ll need to pay an hourly fee, but there’s no guarantee that the lawyer will win your case.

With no win no fee paralysis claims, you don’t pay anything unless the solicitor wins your case. They’ll receive a percentage of your compensation, and you’ll receive the rest of the money.

Your solicitor will gather evidence on your behalf, but you can speed up paralysis compensation claims by providing them with the necessary evidence. The most important forms of evidence that prove negligence include:

• Reports: Medical negligence is often investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or police. The no win no fee solicitor will obtain these reports as proof of your injuries.
• Photographs: Taking photos of the accident site can determine negligence. Photographs can be particularly beneficial for a car accident.
• CCTV: If you can access CCTV, it accurately depicts your accident.
• Witnesses: Statements from witnesses can be invaluable for proving negligence. Ensure you ask people for their contact details, as your solicitor will need them.
• Medical Records: Your personal injury claim will only be successful if your solicitor can prove that the negligent party caused the injuries. That’s why they’ll ask for your medical reports.
• Expenses: Personal injury claims use two categories when calculating compensation. One of these categories is your expenses, including anything from medical to travel expenses and lost earnings.

The vast majority of personal injury compensation claims relate to injuries from which the victim manages to make a full or at least substantial recovery. Even injuries that might initially seem ‘minor’ can significantly impact the victim’s life, limiting mobility and reducing the power to earn a living. This is why it’s so crucial that the no win no fee system allows all victims to access the means to seek justice.

Underlying this fundamental principle are the cases at the other end of the spectrum, those in which the victims of accidents suffer serious injuries, up to and including paralysis.

In cases such as these, the person paralysed and their family are going to be severely affected for the rest of their life, with everything from their living space and capacity to work to their social life and state of mind being impacted.

• Compensation for paraplegia – Between £267,340 and £346,980
• Compensation for quadriplegia – Between £396,140 and £493,000

Becoming paralysed is a hugely traumatic event, but the no win no fee system of personal injury claims at least means that anyone stricken in this manner will be able to seek the money required to make the rest of their life as comfortable and fulfilling as possible.

Paralysis can devastate the individual’s – and their family’s lives – but compensation can help you secure financial support. Personal injury solicitors are highly experienced in handling these cases, and their expertise will guide you through the process.

Please feel free to get the ball rolling on your claim today by using the online form or calling 0800 234 6438. A specialist legal advisor will learn about your injuries and refer you to a solicitor if they feel your claim will be successful.

Yes, you can – as long as they cannot file the claim due to their injuries. Some people might lack the mental capacity to be in a coma, but their next of kin can initiate the paralysis injury claims process. Parents can also make claims on behalf of their children.

As with other personal injury claims, you’ll have three years to file for compensation from your accident. Children can claim compensation from turning 18, which gives you plenty of time. However, as these claims can drag on, it’s best to file as soon as possible.