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Why make a no win no fee claim for back injury compensation?

Anybody who has suffered from a back injury will know how painful, restricting and depressing it can be. Such injuries can stop you doing the simplest of tasks.

In some cases, the effects of a back injury can be permanent. Even when you can recover, they can take time  and leave you wondering if and when you'll suffer back pain again.

We've seen how much of a financial impact back injuries can have. Long periods off work with lower pay can leave you struggling to keep up with bills, rent or mortgage payments. To us, this feels wrong - but we can help you make it right.

If your injury was caused by somebody else, either by accident or through negligence , then we can help you make a no win no feeback injury claim. We work with a national panel of specialist solicitors who will support you during your claim.

Get in touch with us for free, impartial advice on , or fill in our secure online form to arrange for us to call you back. We'll never rush or pressure you into making a claim - we're here to help you understand whether you could claim and to answer your questions.

What counts as a back injury?

A back injury can look different for each individual. It might involve anything from sprains and strains to severe bruising, slipped discs, fractured vertebrae or whiplash. They can cause people to be in a lot of pain or even immobilised. In severe cases, someone with a serious back injury can experience injuries to their brain ranging from mild concussion to struggles with communicating or experiencing memory loss. 

For many, recovery from a back injury can be an uncertain, lengthy process. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to claim back injury or broken backcompensation.

What are some common examples of a back injury claim?

  • Nerve damage 
  • Strains and sprains
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Bruised coccyx
  • Fractured discs
  • Slipped (herniated) discs
  • Paralysis

What are the typical circumstances where I could make a back injury claim?

Back injuries can occur in any scenario that involves a physical impact or mishap. At work, in a road traffic accident, in a sports accident or due to a slip, trip or fall in a public place.

They can also be caused by medical negligence. This is where by act or omission in surgery or treatment, a health professional damages your spine or makes an existing back condition worse. This is why some sufferers choose to speak with back injury solicitors who are familiar with medical negligence cases.

At their worst, spinal injuries are life-changing and result in temporary or permanent paralysis because of the combined nerve and bone damage. The physical and psychological road to recovery is often long. It can have serious impacts on family who may be caring for you. 

Even a minor back injury, like a sprain or strain, can make it difficult to do the things you took for granted. Where the sustained injury wasn't your fault, back injury compensation can help you keep up with unforeseen costs and recompense any suffering.


Did you know?

Around 2,500 people suffer a spinal cord injury every year and approximately 50,000 of us are living with such life-limiting injuries at any given time.

Source: Spinal Injuries Association, 2020

Although the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) outlines advice on how to prevent back injury at work, it remains a major issue.

Back problems are amongst the most common types of health disorders in UK workplaces. That's not a major surprise. Of all non-fatal accidents reported at work, 56% - over 316,400 - during 2021/22 were caused by:

  • Slips, trips and falls on the same level
  • Handling, lifting or carrying injuries
  • Falls from height

Typically, back injury and back conditions occur in the following circumstances at work:

  • In the office: Poorly designed or inadequate seating that doesn't support the spine, shoulders and necks of employees who spend a lot of time sitting down at a desk. 
  • Lifting and carrying: Insufficient training, wet surfaces and unsafe working practices cause accident injuries or cumulative spinal conditions. Such injuries typically occur in areas like retail, factories, construction, and other physical jobs that involve manual handling.
  • Freight lorry driving: We all know how easy it is for our backs to stiffen up when driving. Long-distance commercial drivers can drive for up to nine hours a day in a fixed position. A poorly -designed or defective driving seat can cause spinal damage. 
  • Standing jobs: Where there's little chance to sit down and rest your back. These include jobs like chefs, kitchen staff, sales assistants and hospital medical staff. Poor working processes, slippery surfaces, inadequate break times, sub-standard training or limited rest space could result in injuries.

Any of the above could make you eligible for back injury at work claims. If your injury was caused by your employer's negligence, we may be able to help you claim for back injury compensation


Call our friendly, personal injury advisors for a confidential chat or start by assessing whether you might have grounds to claim for a back injury at work

You can get started using our back injury compensation calculator.


Road traffic accidents are a common cause of back injuryy and they can often be serious. This means that back injury car crash claims aren't uncommon.

Neck and spinal injuries for drivers and passengers range from whiplash damage to soft tissues, muscles and ligaments through to spinal cord trauma, resulting in life-changing paralysis or fatality.  

Vulnerable road users like cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and horse riders are particularly at risk of severe spinal injury in an accident. 

If you've been injured by a road traffic accident wasn't your fault, call us on . We can help you find out if you may have grounds to make a back injury compensation claim. 


What are the common types of neck and spinal injury in a road accident?

The impact forces in a vehicle accident are huge, even at low speed. The types of spinal injuries caused, and therefore the compensation for back injury claimsafter a car accident, can include:

Whiplash 

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries, causing damage to soft tissues, muscles and ligaments in the neck and shoulders. It often occurs in rear-end shunts where the head and neck are jerked forward sharply while the body stays still.

It can take hours or days for symptoms to appear. They might include pain, stiffness, dizziness, fatigue or blurry vision. It often requires physiotherapy during recovery if these symptoms are severe. 

Spinal fracture

Spinal fractures often occur in accidents where the seatbelt doesn't hold you in place properly. The lower half of the body remains still, but the torso and head are jerked around, sometimes causing compression fractures in the vertebrae. Symptoms can include painful breathing, numbness, a general sense of weakness and bladder issues. 

Treatment can range from rest through to surgery. If you experience lower back pain after a car accident, you could be owed compensation if the accident wasn't your fault.

Herniated discs

Herniated discs are also known as slipped discs. The soft, jelly discs between your vertebrae can be squeezed very hard in an accident. They can move and compress nerves causing severe pain and numbness that takes time to heal. Treatment usually involves physiotherapy and pain relief, with surgery in more serious cases.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is when a stress fracture forces vertebrae out of position and spondylolisthesis occurs. It squeezes nerves in the spinal cord, causing pain, numbness and difficulty walking. Treatment depends on the severity and location of the damaged vertebrae. However, it's usually either done by physiotherapy or surgery. 

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis isn't usually caused by a road accident directly, but can cause someone with asymptomatic spinal stenosis to develop symptoms. The condition is usually found in people over 60 and is where the spinal column narrows around the spinal cord and compresses sections of nerve tissue. A spinal specialist will be able to assess if your accident triggered the symptoms and then determine the right course of treatment. 

Spinal cord injuries (SCI)

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) - are often the most serious. They occur when the cord itself is bruised, torn or severed. They can happen even in low-speed accidents. SCI injuries can result in various forms of paralysis and can be permanent, involving loss of feeling and movement in some or limbs. Broken back compensation could help to support you and your loved ones during this difficult time. 

Brachial plexus injury

Your brachial plexus is a network of nerves in your spine that sit between your shoulder blades. Damage to this nerve network due to brachial plexus injuries can cause an injury called brachial neuritis, also known as Parsonage Turner syndrome. The damage to your nerves can lead to numbness or tingling, as well as pain in the arms and hands.


The rules for making a small personal injury claim following a road traffic accident changed on 31st May 2021. The government introduced a tariff for whiplash claims linking compensation awards to the duration of the injury. They are designed to reduce the number and cost of exaggerated or fraudulent claims plus reduce motor insurance premiums for drivers. The changes mean:

  • The small claims general damages limit will rise for road traffic accident injuries from £1,000 to £5,000.
  • Compensation for soft tissue and whiplash injury claims is now fixed, banded by severity, and lower than before.
  • People can no longer recover their legal costs from the other side in a small claim. These will now be deducted from compensation awards up to £5,000.'
  • Some other minor road traffic accident injuries - like simple fractures - are now classed as a small claim.
  • People now have the option to make a small road traffic accident claim themselves online, without needing help from a solicitor.

The changes do not affect vulnerable road users (like pedestrians or cyclists) and do not apply to other types of personal injury claim like accidents at work, accidents in public or medical negligence cases


We know it can be difficult to cope with the seen and unseen effects of an injury that wasn't your fault, so that's why our friendly helpline advisors will help you through an emotional and important part of the recovery process. We want to make sure your back injury claim isn't as daunting as you might expect.

How we approach sensitive calls

We know it can be difficult to cope with the seen and unseen effects of an injury that wasn't your fault, so that's why our friendly helpline advisors will help you through an emotional and important part of the recovery process. We want to make sure your back injury claim isn't as daunting as you might expect.

No two cases are the same and so back injury compensation claim amounts vary. We look at each case on an individual basis. We then decide the best way to help you and pair you with the most suitable back injury solicitor for your claim.

Because of this, we can't tell you exactly how much compensation you might receive. However, you can get an estimate by using our back injury compensation calculator.

We'll work hard to make sure you get the full amount of compensation you're owed. Your solicitor will take anything caused by your injury into consideration when putting together your back injury claim.

For example, they'll consider:

  • Any medical treatment, medication costs, or adaptations made to your home.
  • Any care you've received, even if given for free by a family member.
  • Lost earnings due to time off work.
  • The effect your injury has had on your social life and hobbies.
  • The wider effects on your family.

Your back injury compensation can't take away what you've been through, but it can help you get as much of your independence back as possible.


More customer stories

If you're unsure whether you could make a back injury claim, contact us free on . Our personal injury advisors will listen to everything you have to say and will be able to tell you whether they think you have a claim.

First and foremost - we're here to offer advice. We'll never rush or pressure you into claiming.

If you do decide you'd like to go ahead, we can connect you with one of our specialist solicitors. We take the hard work out of finding the right solicitor so that you can focus on your recovery.

Your solicitor will be the point of contact throughout your claim - we monitor the standards of their service so you can be sure you'll receive the best possible service. They'll keep you up to date and will be on hand to answer any questions you might have.


Are there time limits for making a back injury compensation claim?

Yes there are. To qualify for making any no win no fee back injury compensation claim, you must have been injured within the last three years. The accident must also have been wholly or partially the fault of someone else.

  • If you were 18 or over when the injury occurred, you have three years to make a personal injury claim from the accident date. 
  • If you were under 18 at the time and no claim was made, you have three years from your 18th until your 21st birthday to claim.

There are exceptions to the three-year limitation, for instance if the claimant has experienced such severe injury they can't make the claim themselves or if they lack the psychological capability to do so.

If you've got any questions about making a no win no fee compensation claim, contact us for free and impartial advice on . We'll listen to what you've been through and let you know if we think you could make a no win no fee claim. Alternatively, you can try our eligibility verifier which asks some simple questions about your experience and will let you know whether we think you may be able to make a back injury claim.

It's important to add that we'll never rush or pressure you. We're here to give you impartial and free no win no fee compensation advice so you can decide what to do next.


How much is the average settlement for a back injury compensation claim?

Back injury compensation claim amounts vary according to severity and the circumstances of your accident. It's not possible to give you an accurate idea of how much back injury compensation you might receive in a successful claim until your solicitor has investigated all the details. You can see more details about how compensation is determined in the upcoming section.


How much compensation could you get for a back injury at work?

Again, this will depend on your case and whether your employer is proven to have acted negligently. 

To get an estimate of the amount of back injury compensation you may be owed for an accident at work, on the road or elsewhere, use our compensation calculator. It will give you an estimated figure of how much compensation you could receive, given your circumstances.


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How will my back injury compensation amount be determined? 

Your back injury compensation amount will be determined by general damages and special damages:

General damages

These would cover intangible losses, including pain or emotional suffering. 

The Judicial College is a government department in the Ministry of Justice. One responsibility it has is to set the guide amounts for general damages. These are known as the Judicial College Guidelines.

Special damages

These would cover more ascertainable losses, ranging from medical expenses to lost wages.

Below are some examples of the latest compensation award ranges for back injury claims. If you've suffered any financial losses (for instance, loss of income), these will be added to your award if your claim succeeds.


How do I pay for making a back injury compensation claim?

You do this with a no win no fee arrangement, also known as a conditional fee agreement. It's the contract between you and your no win no fee specialist back injury compensation solicitor.

There are no upfront costs or hidden charges. If your claim succeeds we guarantee we'll never deduct more than 35% of your compensation.

These costs will only be deducted when your compensation is paid, and may include: 

  • A ‘success fee' which compensates the solicitor for the risk they take, as if your claim is unsuccessful they won't be paid at all.
  • Any other legal costs or expenses not recovered from the other side, such as the costs of any legal expense insurance.

When you start your claim, your solicitor will take out legal insurance protection on your behalf. This is sometimes called ATE (After The Event) insurance. If your claim is unsuccessful, then the other party's costs will be paid out of this insurance. 

If you don't receive any compensation, then you won't have to pay for the ATE insurance. If your claim is successful, then it'll be paid out of your compensation as part of the fees.

Your back injury solicitor will discuss this with you at the start, so you'll know what to expect when your claim settles. If you don't win your no win no fee claim, you pay nothing to anyone. 


Frequently asked questions...

No. UK employment law protects you from any disciplinary action, whether overt or underhand. Employers are legally required to have insurance in place to cover negligent injury to their people. In a successful back injury compensation claim, the insurance company providing the cover will pay back injury compensation, not the employer. That ensures no-one is hit with a bill they can't pay.

Yes, you can. If they're under 18, you'll need to make the claim on their behalf. This is called being a litigation friend as is usually done by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult. You can also act as a litigation friend if your loved one has been so seriously injured that they are unable to make the claim themselves.

With our no win no fee guarantee, there are no up-front costs or hidden charges. No win no fee arrangements take the risk out of making a claim, because you don't pay anything if you lose your case.

Your accident lawyer may need to take out special legal protection insurance for you, which pays the costs if your claim fails, and ensures claiming is risk free. The cost of this is only taken if you win your case.

It means there's no financial risk for you, no surprises and no unexpected costs. In the exceptionally rare circumstances where the injury solicitor we select for you is unable to work on a no win no fee basis, they'll always let you know beforehand. You can then decide if you still want to go ahead or not.

When you're looking for a personal injury company to help you make your claim, you might be worried about the credibility of the solicitors you'll work with. With us, you're in safe hands.

We work with a national panel of personal injury solicitors who we carefully choose based on specialisms - this means you'll get the legal representation you need for the best chance of making a successful claim.

As well as working on a no win no fee basis, our solicitors will also protect you from upfront costs and no win no fee hidden charges. Our no win no fee charges guarantee means you won't have to pay anything before starting your claim. 

To find out whether you could claim, or for advice and answers to your questions, contact us free on to talk to one of our friendly, personal injury advisors.



Why choose National Accident Helpline?

Experienced - Serving the nation for over years_since years.
Accredited - Personal injury experts you can trust.
Trusted - Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot with more reviews than any other Helpline.
National - Every day, we help 100's of people across the UK who've been injured in accidents.

Why choose National Accident Helpline to make your back injury claim?

  • We'll pair you with a solicitor who's experienced in back injury compensation cases. 
  • Our extensive network of specialist lawyers across the UK means you can tap into expertise across niches. 
  • The solicitor fiorms we work with in England and Wales are signed up to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which sets out the standards that back injury solicitors must adhere to. Our Scottish partner firms are signed up to the Law Society of Scotland.
  • We founded the Ethical Marketing Charter, which seeks to uphold exceptional standards in the personal injury claims sector.
  • We won't ever cold call you or pressure you into making a back injury claim. We only ever contact people who have reached out to us first.
  • We have well over 20,000 reviews on Trustpilot and hold an 'Excellent' rating.

amy-stubbs

What's really noticeable about back injuries is the incredibly disruptive impact they can have on every aspect of daily life. Work and financial worries plus sometimes slow and painful recovery can have a significant psychological impact. It's great to put people at their ease and know there's someone just a click or a call away who really can help with a back injury claim.

Amy Stubbs

Senior Litigator, National Accident Law

We understand you'll need to discuss your options before making a commitment. That's why we encourage you to get in touch for impartial, independent advice so you can assess your options and move forward at a pace you feel comfortable with.


Is National Accident Helpline a claims management company?

No, we aren't. National Accident Helpline is an independent personal injury advice brand owned by legal practice National Accident Law. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the independent professional ethics and standards regulator that licences all solicitors across England and Wales. Our SRA registration number is 655606.

Claims management companies are overseen by a different regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). CMCs do not have their own law practices. We advise on personal injury claims as part of National Accident Law. We also work with a national network of specialist law firms who we choose carefully and check closely to make sure you receive an outstanding customer experience.