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Accidents at Work/ Back Injuries

Back Injury At Work Claims

When you are at work, your employer has a legal duty to protect you from harm and ensure your safety. However, if they have failed to perform this duty and you have sustained a back injury at some point, you might be entitled to claim compensation.

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Causes of back injuries at work

Unfortunately, in the UK, back injuries are consistently the most commonly recorded injury to happen in the workplace. The causes of back injury at work can range from anything such as lifting heavy objects to not having sufficient back support whilst sitting at a desk. Back pain is more common in tasks that involve things such as:

  • Lifting heavy or awkwardly-shaped objects
  • Repetitive tasks, such as packing boxes or cleaning the floor
  • Driving for a long distance or over uneven ground
  • Bending, crouching or slouching
  • Lengthy periods sat or standing in one position
  • Movements such as reaching or twisting
  • Working when physically fatigued

What should I do if I have a back injury at work?

If you have ongoing back pain or a diagnosed back injury caused by your occupation, you could be entitled to claim compensation. If your back injury was caused by one of the above examples, or something similar, you may be able to claim compensation from the business or individual “legally responsible” or “legally at fault”.

The amount you will be able to claim will depend on the severity of your injury. For instance, if you have a minor back injury such as a muscle strain where symptoms of pain last between 6 weeks and 18 months, you will receive less than someone who has a major back injury such as spinal cord injury or paralysis.

No matter what caused your back injury or how severe it is, if you believe your back pain was caused in the workplace, contact First Personal Injury to find out how to begin legal proceedings.

Amount of Compensation

All personal injury cases are unique and so the amount of compensation that is awarded in each case is also unique. Compensation is understood by looking at two specific factors: general damages and special damages.

GENERAL DAMAGES

The pain and suffering that your injuries have caused are main factors that are used to determine how much general damage compensation you are owed. This will usually be determined by undergoing a medical examination, from which a report is created that highlights the length of time the injuries will take to heal as well as their severity. Our compensation calculator will give you an indication of how much general damage compensation you might be entitled to based upon your injuries.

SPECIAL DAMAGES

In addition to receiving compensation for your injuries, you may be able to reclaim any financial losses that you might have suffered as a result of your injuries. Compensation for financial losses is known as special damages compensation. This can include losses such as loss of earnings due to not being able to return to work, the cost of treatment as well as travel to treatment. It is important that you keep any receipts or evidence of additional losses in order for these to be reclaimed.

With the exception of children, there is a three-year time limit on making a personal injury claim. This time limit begins from the date that the accident initially occurred. Therefore, you should contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible to assess your case.