If you are reading this, you are likely seeking advice on how to claim compensation for a hit and run accident. In such cases, the legal process is different as you cannot take the usual route of claiming compensation from an insurance provider. However, as we will explain, there is another way to make a car accident claim. The compensation awarded in hit and run claims can help claimants reduce their financial stress and prioritise the recovery of their health.

Key Takeaways

• Hit and run claims can be made through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB)
• The MIB pays compensation in cases where it is not possible to claim through an insurer
• You will need to prove that you were the victim of a hit and run and that you sustained injuries
• The amount of compensation awarded depends on the physical and psychological harm that you have suffered. It may also include the financial repercussions that you have experienced as part of your recovery.
• Our solicitors represent hit and run claims on a No Win No Fee basis

One of our advisors can provide further details and potentially connect you with one of our experienced No Win No Fee solicitors. However, you don’t need to worry if you’re unsure about making a claim. All advice is offered with no strings attached, as we understand that you may seek answers before you make any decisions. Contact Legal Expert today:

• Call us on 0800 073 8804
• Complete an online contact form
• Chat with us live using the pop-up in the corner

Jump To A Section

1. Can I Claim Compensation After A Hit And Run?
2. The Average Compensation For Hit And Run Claims
3. How Is Hit And Run Compensation Paid For?
4. What Should I Do After Being Involved In A Hit And Run
5. Research On Hit And Run Incidents 
6. How Can A Solicitor Help Me Claim Through The MIB?
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Learn More

Can I Claim Compensation After A Hit And Run?

You could make a claim for compensation after a hit and run if you can demonstrate your case meets the following criteria:

• Another road user owed a duty of care to you
• They failed to act in accordance with their duty
• This caused you to suffer an injury

All road users owe each other a duty of care. This requires them to use the roads in a safe manner to avoid causing harm. Additionally, they must adhere to the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1980.

When you are the victim of a hit and run, it may be unclear how you can claim compensation. In most road traffic accident claims, you make a claim against the negligent driver, and the insurer will pay any potential compensation.

Since this may not be possible in a hit and run case, you will be able to make your claim through the MIB. This is an organisation that helps compensate victims of uninsured and untraceable drivers.

You can read a later section for more details on this. You can also speak to our team of advisors at any time if you would like a straightforward answer as to whether you can proceed with a case.

The Average Compensation For Hit And Run Claims

The average compensation awarded for hit and run claims will usually involve two heads of loss: general damages and special damages.

General damages compensate you for the injuries you have suffered, both psychological and physical. 

When assessing compensation for your case, legal professionals may read the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This legal document outlines guideline compensation brackets for different types and severities of injury. We have included some of these figures below for you to take a look at.

It is vital that you do not consider the JCG figures as a guarantee of the compensation that you could be owed; these are only provided as guidelines.

Please note that the first figure was not taken from the JCG.

What Factors Will Determine The Amount Of Compensation I Get?

Various factors will determine the amount of compensation you receive under general damages, such as:

• The type of injury you suffered and its severity
• What treatments you have required
• Your experted recovery period

The financial impact that you have suffered due to your injuries can also be added to your case if relevant. This part of the compensation is referred to as special damages. You may be eligible to reclaim the following costs:

• A loss of earnings– sometimes your injuries require you to take time off work so that you can prioritise recovery
• The cost of home adjustments- for instance, you may need a stair rail installed to help you get upstairs
• Medical costs- including prescriptions and private treatments
• Expenses made when travelling back and forth to medical appointments
• Payments for professional care, if this is required to help you go about your daily life

Evidence will need to be provided for these expenses in order to claim special damages. This may include payslips, receipts and invoices.

The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 

If you are seeking compensation for whiplash injuries, the Whiplash Reform Programme will affect how much compensation you will receive for these. The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 specify fixed tariffs based on how long you have suffered from an injury and whether you have experienced psychological harm as well. We have included some of these figures below for your consideration.

If you have any questions about the factors we have discussed and how they impact compensation in hit and run claims, you are welcome to speak with our advisors at any time.

How Is Hit And Run Compensation Paid For?

The MIB pays out compensation in successful hit and run claims. Under Section 95 of the Road Traffic Accident Act (RTA), all insurance companies that provide mandatory insurance are required to contribute to the MIB. This funding is how the MIB is able to provide compensation in cases where there is no insurer to claim compensation from.

Get in touch today if you would like a further explanation of how the MIB operates.

What Should I Do After Being Involved In A Hit And Run

Hit and run claims require you to supply evidence in order to prove your injuries and the negligent actions that led to them. You can prove your case by supplying the following:

• A copy of your medical information- you can request this online (or seek advice from a solicitor on how to access it)
• The findings from an independent medical report
• Photos of your injuries
• Photos or videos of the incident (including CCTV or dashcam footage)
• Contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident happen (they may later be called on to give a witness statement to support your case)
• A copy of a police report

Our advisors are available 24/7, and can help you understand what evidence could help support your case.

Research On Hit And Run Incidents

We have done some research into hit and run incidents in England and Wales. This was done by submitting a Freedom of Information request across various police forces. Not all forces were able to share their data. However, from the ones that were able to provide this, there were a total of around 1,891 hit and run prosecutions between 2023 and 2024.

A hit and run can cause an extremely stressful situation for the victim. You may feel isolated and overwhelmed, but you are not alone in your experience. Speak with our advisors today to find out how hit and run claims help claimants to move forward.

How Can A Solicitor Help Me Claim Through The MIB?

Our solicitors can help make the process of claiming through the MIB much simpler. They have already gained over £80 million in compensation so far for our clients, so we have a proven track record of success. 

You may be eligible to work with one of our solicitors on a No Win No Fee contract. This means that, by signing a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you will not be required to pay for your solicitor’s work:

• Before your hit and run claim begins
• While the legal process is underway
• In the event you are not awarded compensation

However, if you are given compensation, you must pay a success fee. This is a percentage of the compensation that you pay to your solicitor. There is a legal cap in place to protect your interests. Therefore, you can rest assured that you will take the largest share of the compensation yourself.

You may also be interested in the specific legal services that we offer to benefit your case. These include:

• Helping you to gather your evidence and submit it to the MIB
• Handling correspondence with the MIB on your behalf (including the acceptance or negotiation of a compensation total)
• Offering their legal expertise to help you understand any aspects of the process that you are unsure of
• Keeping you updated on the state of your case and explaining factors that may affect how long it takes to settle.

Contact Our No Win No Fee Hit And Run Solicitors

If you have any concerns about starting a case, please contact our advisors today. Although they can potentially connect you to one of our road traffic accident solicitors, they are also available to give you simple, straightforward answers. So, if you want free advice, reach out today at your earliest convenience.

• Call us on 0800 073 8804
• Complete an online contact form
• Chat with us live using the pop-up in the corner

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Claim If I Was Partially At Fault For The Hit And Run?

If you are partially at fault for the accident, this will be referred to as a split liability claim. The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the extent to which you were responsible for the incident. For example, if you were 50% responsible, you would receive 50% of the compensation value. However, if you were fully responsible for the incident, you would not have a valid road traffic accident claim.

What If I Was Hit In A Car Park?

If you were hit in a car park, you can still make a claim for compensation. These types of hit and run claims can be carried out in the same way. In fact, many car parks have CCTV, which can be extremely useful when it comes to providing evidence for your case.

What If I Was Hit On Private Property?

If you were hit on private property, you should get in touch with the owner of the property to find out whether they have any information that could help your case. You can also discuss their responsibilities to you and get a better idea of why the accident may have happened.

It does not matter where you had your accident. The MIB will be able to asses your case, regardless.

How Long Will It Take To Resolve A Hit And Run Claim?

The MIB generally aims to settle hit and run claims within 3 months after submission. However, this cannot be guaranteed. Some cases are more complicated in nature. For example, if the evidence is unclear, the MIB may be required to request a copy of your police report. The police cannot provide this until criminal prosecutions have been settled, so this could lengthen the time taken to claim compensation.

Should you work with one of our solicitors, they will support you throughout the whole process and further explain any factors that may affect the timescale of your settlement.

Do I Need To Report A Hit And Run To The Police?

You are required to report a hit and run to the police, as you would not have been able to exchange details with the other party. You can report the accident to the police online.

Learn More

Read our other guides below:

• Visit our guide on motorcycle insurance claims
• Read about claiming for a rear shunt accident
• Find out how to claim for a road traffic accident knee injury

External resources

• Find out how to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
• Read some statistics on road accident claims where it is not possible to claim from an insurer, as provided by the MIB
• Visit the police webpage for collisions and incidents

Thank you for reading our guide on hit and run claims. 

What is Employers’ Liability insurance (EL insurance), and why is it so important? When you make a personal injury claim, terminology might appear that you don’t fully understand. This is normal, but you don’t need to go through the process blind– We’re here to help, and this guide will take you step-by-step through everything you need to know about EL insurance.

Essential Information

• Most employers in the UK are required to have Employers’ Liability insurance by law
• Failing to take out the appropriate policy can result in monetary fines
• If you make a successful accident at work claim, your employer’s insurer will pay your compensation
• At Legal Expert, our solicitors can work on your accident at work claim on a No Win No Fee basis

Contact Us

We are here to help. If you can’t find the answers that you’re looking for in this guide, feel free to talk to a member of our team by:

• Calling us on 0800 073 8804
• Contacting us online
• Using the live chat feature

Jump To A Section 

1. What Is Employers’ Liability Insurance?
2. What Is Covered By Employers’ Liability Insurance?
3. Is It Compulsory For An Employer To Have Employers’ Liability Insurance?
4. What Types Of Claims Can Employers’ Liability Insurance Cover?
5. How Can Legal Expert Help After An Accident At Work?
6. More Information

What Is Employers’ Liability Insurance?

Employers’ Liability insurance is a kind of insurance policy that your employer can take out to protect them from compensation claims. Most employers are required by law to have a policy that covers up to £5 million, which means if an employee or a visitor makes a claim, they’re more likely to be able to cover their compensation. This is set out by law in the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 (ELCIA).

If your employer fails to comply with the law, they may face monetary fines. For example, they could be fined up to £2,500 for every day that they go uninsured, and face a further £1,000 fine if they are insured but fail to display their certificate.

If you’d like to learn more about the question “What is Employers’ Liability insurance?” keep reading. Alternatively, you can speak with a member of our team if you’ve been injured in a work-related accident.

What Is Covered By Employer Liability Insurance?

Employers’ Liability insurance covers your employer if an employee or a visitor makes a claim. This means it pays the cost of:

• General and special damages, two forms of compensation that address your physical and psychological injuries as well as financial losses, like lost earnings
• Legal fees, like the cost of a solicitor, Court fees, and other costs
• Any other costs that arise throughout the claims process

This can be helpful to be aware of, especially if you work for a small business. A lot of people come to us with the concern that claiming will put their employer in a difficult financial position, but EL insurance means that this is simply a misconception. You don’t need to worry about your compensation coming from their pocket, because their insurance covers it.

If you’re ready to start your claim against your employer’s EL insurance, contact our team today. Or, keep reading for more information on why insurance is so important.

Is It Compulsory For An Employer To Have Employers’ Liability Insurance?

Yes, it is compulsory for most employers to have Employers’ Liability insurance. However, some people are exempt, as per section 2 of the ELCIA. This can include:

• Owners of family businesses and people who only employ family members
• Employers who employ people who do not live or work in Great Britain

Can An Employer Face Charges If They Do Not Have Insurance?

Yes, if your employer fails to provide insurance when required, they can face charges. These are typically monetary fines, ranging from £1,000 for failing to provide a valid certificate to £2,500 per day that they remain uninsured.

Plus, if you make a claim but your employer does not have the insurance that they need, they may be personally responsible for paying your compensation and legal fees. Contact our team today to learn more about this, or keep reading for more information.

What Types Of Claims Can Employers’ Liability Insurance Cover?

EL insurance covers your employer for a lot of common claims, including:

• Slips, trips, and falls
• Falls from height
• Faulty equipment claims
• Claims for injuries caused by a lack of training or a lack of PPE
• Serious injury claims
• Psychological injury claims

Additionally, EL insurance can also cover your employer if a visitor is involved in an accident while on the premises. This means it also covers certain types of public liability claims.

We understand that the personal injury claims process can seem daunting, but we are here to help. Keep reading to find out how our expert solicitors could help you, or contact our team today if you’re ready to get started.

How Can Legal Expert Help After An Accident At Work?

At Legal Expert, our clients are our top priority. As part of our cutting-edge client-forward approach, every single one of our solicitors offers a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a kind of No Win No Fee contract that allows anyone to access the services of a solicitor, regardless of their financial status.

Under this kind of agreement, your solicitor will do everything they can to secure your compensation payout, without:

• Taking any upfront fees for their work
• Taking any payment as their claim is ongoing
• Taking payment for their work at all if your claim fails

If you do make a successful claim, and your solicitor helps you receive compensation, then they’ll deduct a small portion of this as their success fee. This is taken as a small percentage, but there’s no reason to worry: the percentage they can take is capped by law, which means you keep the larger share of your payout.

Our solicitors are experts in accident at work claims, and they’ve got over thirty years of combined experience. They’ve already secured over £80 million worth of compensation for their clients, and you could be next.

Contact Our No Win No Fee Workplace Injury Solicitors

Contact us today to learn more by:

• Calling us on 0800 073 8804
• Contacting us online
• Using the live chat feature

More Information

For more helpful personal injury claim guides:

• Learn about After The Event insurance
• Find out more about Conditional Fee Agreements
• Learn about the number of personal injury claims that go to court

Or, to get more information:

• Government information on getting ready to employ someone
• Learn when to call 999 from the NHS
• Find out if you could be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Thank you for reading our glossary guide. We hope we’ve successfully answered the question, “What is Employers’ Liability insurance?”

Have you suffered with a muscle injury as a result of an accident or an assault? Are you wondering whether you could make a claim? If so, please read our helpful guide and learn how you could receive muscle injury compensation by making a personal injury claim.

In this guide, we aim to provide you with all the information you will need to know about making a claim for personal injury compensation. Firstly, we explore the eligibility requirements you will need to fulfil to claim for accidents at work, in public places, on roads and from assaults. Moreover, we look at the different compensation you could be entitled to.

Furthermore, we explore the claim time limits, as well as the different types of evidence you may need to provide. We also explore different types of muscle injuries and how they may give rise to personal injury claims. Lastly, we look at how one of our specialist No Win No Fee solicitors could help you achieve a compensation pay-out.

At Legal Expert, our advisors are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to answer any questions you may have about making a claim. As part of the free services that we offer, our advisors could provide a free case check to look at the merits of your claim. Therefore, if you have a strong claim, you could be connected with one of our experienced No Win No Fee solicitors. To start your claim, please contact us:

• Call us 0800 073 8804
• Contact us by filling out our online form
• Use our free live chat feature

Jump To A Section

1. Can I Make A Muscle Injury Claim?
2. How Much Muscle Injury Compensation Can I Get?
3. How To Make Muscle Injury Claims
4. The Most Common Muscle Injury Examples
5. Types of Muscle Injuries 
6. What Are The Symptoms Of An Injured Muscle?
7. How Legal Experts’ Solicitors Can Help You
8. Can I Make A No Win No Fee Muscle Injury Claim?
9. Learn More

Can I Make A Muscle Injury Claim?

Yes, you could make a claim for muscle injury compensation provided that you meet the personal injury eligibility requirements. The following criteria, otherwise known as the principle of negligence, must be satisfied:

• You were owed a duty of care
• A third party has breached this duty of care
• You suffered from an avoidable muscle injury as a result of breach

Therefore, if you’ve suffered a muscle injury as a result of a third party’s breach in duty of care, you could make a personal injury claim. Moreover, there are many scenarios where a duty of care is owed, such as:

• In the workplace
• In public spaces
• On the roads
• Between people

Please keep reading our helpful guide to find out how you could make a claim for muscle injuries in the above scenarios. To find out more about your eligibility, please contact one of our friendly advisors today.

Muscle Injury At Work

If you suffered a muscle injury at work, you could be eligible to make a claim if your employer breached their duty of care, resulting in your injuries.

In essence, all employers have a duty of care to ensure the safety of their employees in the workplace. This duty is outlined by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Examples of employers adhering to their duty of care may include conducting safety training and providing staff with personal protective equipment.

For instance, you may have suffered a muscle lifting injury at work due to handling heavy equipment without any training. As a result, you could bring an accident at work claim against your employer for the muscle injuries you sustained.

Muscle Injury In A Public Place

If you’ve experienced a muscle injury in a public place that could’ve been avoided, you could be eligible to make a public liability claim.

All occupiers of public spaces have a legal duty to ensure the reasonable safety of any visitors to their premises. This duty is set out by the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. To illustrate, occupiers should reduce the risks of dangers by erecting safety barriers and locking doors that shouldn’t be used.

Therefore, you may have fell down a set of stairs at a library due to a leaking roof that hasn’t been fixed. Consequently, you could bring a public liability claim against the occupier for the injuries you suffered.

Muscle Injury In A Road Traffic Accident

If you’ve sustained a muscle injury in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be eligible to make a road traffic accident claim.

Ultimately, all road users owe each other a duty of care to navigate the roads safely and to avoid causing harm to others. Moreover, all road users should adhere to the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988 under their duty of care. For example, road users should adhere to speed limits and comply with road signs as part of their legal duty.

You could therefore make a road traffic accident claim if a third party driver was negligent, resulting in your injuries. For instance, you may have been involved in a rear shunt accident after a third party driver failed to break in time, resulting in your muscle injuries.

Muscle Injury From Assault

If you’ve suffered a muscle injury due to an assault, you could make a criminal injury claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

For instance, you may have been non-provokingly attacked by a third party in a bar and suffered Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) and muscle injuries as a result. You may have also suffered with PTSD due to the violence that was inflicted on you.

You could therefore make a criminal injury claim with CICA for the assault you experienced. Notwithstanding, you may be able to make a claim against the bar for failing to ensure your safety on their premises under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 instead.

If you choose to make a CICA claim, it’s essential that you co-operate with the police in identifying the attacker. Moreover, if you make your claim through CICA, please note that there are tariffs that will dictate your compensation pay-out, rather than the Judicial College Guidelines.

To learn more about how you could claim for criminal injury compensation, please contact one of our friendly advisors today.

How Much Muscle Injury Compensation Can I Get?

In successful injury claims, you could receive general damages as part of your muscle injury compensation. In essence, general damages aim to compensate for with any pain and suffering you experienced as a result of the accident.

Commonly, the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are used by lawyers and other legal professionals when assigning values to different types of injuries.

All entries in the table below, aside from the first entry, have been taken from the JCG for common muscle injuries. Please take note that they are merely guidelines and therefore don’t provide a guarantee of how much compensation you will receive.

Do you want to find out how much you could receive for your unique situation? Please contact one of our friendly advisors today.

How Is Compensation For Muscle Injury Claims Calculated?

Following a successful claim, you could receive both general and special damages as part of your settlement. Unlike general damages, the award of special damages will recompense you for any financial losses you experienced as a result of your injuries. For instance, you could have paid out-of-pocket expenses for long-term physiotherapy sessions and resulting travel expenses.

Please see the following examples of special damages that you could include in your claim:

• Loss of earnings
• Home modification costs
• Childcare costs
• Travel expenses
• Medical expenses

It’s also essential that you support any special damages with evidence to include them in your claim. Evidence could be provided in the following forms:

• Receipts
• Bank statements
• Invoices
• Payslips

To find out what special damages you could claim for, please contact a member of our team today.

How To Make Muscle Injury Claims

To make a claim for muscle injury compensation, it’s essential that you provide evidence to support the injuries suffered. For instance, evidence could be provided in the following forms:

• CCTV footage of the accident. You have a legal right to request CCTV footage of yourself.
• Contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident or negligent treatment who could later support your version of events
• A copy of an accident report form
• X-rays, scans and test results
• Your medical records that details the injuries

As per the Limitation Act 1980, you will typically have up to 3 years to make your personal injury claim. Moreover, the time limit runs from the date of accident, apart from in the following scenarios:

• If the claimant is a child, they cannot claim by themselves. Instead, they will need to wait until their 18th birthday. From this date they will have until their 21st birthday to make a claim.
• If the claimant is lacking in mental capacity, the time limit will be suspended indefinitely. If the claimant regains their capacity, the 3 year time limit will begin.

Furthermore, you could claim on behalf of a loved one in the above scenarios by assuming the role of a litigation friend. In essence, litigation friends could be parents, guardians and even solicitors who help prioritise a claimant’s best interests. To find more about how you could make a claim on behalf of a loved one, please contact one of our friendly advisors today.

Types of Muscle Injuries

Notably, a ‘muscle injury’ is a broad term that covers many different types of damage and harm to muscles all over the body. For instance, muscle injuries could include:

• Strains and soreness of muscles due to stretching a muscle beyond its capacity.
• Tears or ruptures
• Muscle contusion or haematomas
• Rhabdomyolysis

To find out if you could receive muscle injury compensation, please contact our team today.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Injured Muscle?

Muscle injuries may present many different types of symptoms, which may include the following:

• Pain or tenderness of the muscle
• Bruising
• Redness
• Swelling
• Muscle spasms
• Muscle cramping
• Difficulty moving the muscle

For more information on how to claim muscle injury compensation for your accident, please contact one of out helpful advisors today.

How Legal Experts’ Solicitors Can Help You

Our experienced advisors are available around the clock to answer any questions you may have about muscle injury claims. Moreover, if you’re connected with one of our specialist solicitors, you could enjoy the following benefits:

• A free eligibility assessment
• Help with evidence-gathering such as witness statements and medical records
• Communications with the defendant’s solicitor and keeping you informed throughout
• Regular claim updates
• Assurance that all legal deadlines are met
• Explanations of key legal terminologies
• Negotiations with the defendant in attempt to achieve a settlement
• Help with arranging an independent medical report to determine the extent of your injuries
• Support with any ongoing injuries with rehabilitation

To discuss the full benefits of making a claim with Legal Expert, please contact our friendly advisors today.

Can I Make A No Win No Fee Muscle Injury Claim?

Yes, you could make a No Win No Fee muscle injury claim following a free case check from our advisors. If they deem that you have a strong claim, you will be connected with one of our solicitors to start your claim for muscle injury compensation. By using a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you could experience the following advantages:

• You won’t be required to pay any solicitor service fees if your claim is unsuccessful.
• You won’t be required to pay for any upfront or ongoing fees for your solicitor’s work
• If your claim is successful, you will only be required to pay a small success fee for your solicitor’s work. Please be advised that the success fee will be deducted from your compensation, and the percentage amount is capped by law. Consequently, you will always receive the bulk of your compensation.

Please contact one of our friendly advisors to start your claim for muscle injury compensation today.

Contact Our Solicitors

To ask any questions about making a claim, please get in touch with our helpful team today. Contact us by:

• Calling us 0800 073 8804
• Contact us by filling out our online form
• Using our free live chat feature

Learn More

To learn more about personal injury claims, please see some of our other guides:

• Get help with broken glass accident cut compensation claims
• See the following advice about spleen injury compensation claims
• Learn about doormat slip trip accident injury claims

Additional external resources:

• Get help with treating sprains and strains from the NHS
• See the following advice about sick leave and return to work from HSE
• Learn about statutory leave and time off from Gov.Uk

Thank you for reading our useful guide about how to claim for muscle injury compensation.

If you have been harmed by poor or substandard medical care provided by the NHS you could claim compensation. Whether caused by surgical errors, diagnostic delays, misdiagnosis or hospital negligence, you could be owed compensation. But how much compensation are those harmed by medical negligence awarded? In our NHS compensation payouts guide, we look in detail at figures provided by NHS Resolution in their supplementary annual statistics.

As NHS Resolution reported £2.8 billion in compensation paid out in the year 2023/24 (along with associated costs), it is crucial you understand your right to make a clinical negligence claim. In this guide, you can find information on how medical negligence claims work and how a specialist solicitor from our team could help you.

For help and guidance with your claim, please get in touch with our team.

• You can send a message to us over our live chat.
• Contact us via our form.
• Or call 0800 073 8804 to talk to an advisor.

We are here 24/7 and ready to help with your claim against the NHS or other healthcare provider.

Jump To A Section

• Examples Of The Highest NHS Resolution Payouts
• NHS Compensation Payouts Guide – The Average Settlement Amounts
• How Can I Start A Claim For NHS Compensation?
• Get Help From Legal Expert
• More Information

Examples Of The Highest NHS Resolution Payouts

Examples of the highest NHS Resolution payouts may be found in the supplementary annual statistics provided on their website. These figures reflect damages paid to claimants for instances of negligence in various medical specialities.

In the following sections we examine how much compensation was paid out by different departments or medical specialities in the year 2023/24.

Obstetrics

£716,563,876 (CP/BD) was paid out in instances of obstetrics cases which resulted in brain damage or cerebral palsy with a further £92,686,096 being paid out for other types of claim. Obstetrics is concerned with pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. It may cover a very wide range of circumstances impacting a mother or child.

Birth injuries could include those caused by surgical errors during a caesarian section or where signs of foetal distress are not spotted by a midwife.

Pediatrics

A total of £129,629,985 was paid out in 2023/24 to those impacted by negligent pediatric care. Pediatric medicine deals with care for infants and children.

Claims could arise in cases where an infant’s condition was misdiagnosed, leading to delayed treatment causing developmental issues.

Emergency Medicine

NHS Resolution records £141,768,927 compensation awarded for avoidable harm caused by emergency medicine over this period. Emergency medicine involves urgent and emergency care services. These may include services provided by an A&E department or Urgent Treatment Centre.

NHS negligence claims could arise due to failures to correctly triage severe symptoms or avoidable and unnecessary delays, worsening patient outcomes. For example, failing to recognise clear symptoms of meningitis with a delay in treatment resulting in the patient needing an amputation. They would not have required this amputation had they been treated promptly.

Surgical Compensation Amounts

Surgical compensation amounts are separated into three categories:

• £80,973,861 awarded for Orthopaedic Surgery,
• £48,391,585 in compensation for General Surgery,
• and Neurosurgery compensation amounted to £47,125,423.

Surgery is a very wide field, encompassing different specialities and types of operations. As such, there are numerous ways in which surgical errors could present and cause harm to patients.

For example, a surgeon may carry out surgery on the wrong arm, causing a patient harm and delaying treatment on the correct limb.

General Medicine

£27,536,823 was paid out in compensation over this period for harm experienced in the provision of general medicine. General internal medicine deals with a very wide range of long-term and acute conditions. Areas covered may include cardiology, endocrinology and diabetes management.

Clinical negligence claims could arise where a doctor fails to correctly diagnose the symptoms of a cardiac problem. Their condition gets progressively worse, resulting in the need for more invasive treatment.

Gynaecology

A total of £38,918,751 in compensation was paid to claimants for negligent gynaecological care. NHS Gynaecology services provide care for women’s reproductive health. This could include the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of different conditions.

Gynaecology negligence may occur where a doctor does not carry out a satisfactory examination of a patient. They fail to diagnose the clear signs of cervical cancer. The patient’s diagnosis is delayed and their condition gets worse, requiring more invasive and intensive treatment.

Radiology

Settlements paid to those harmed by negligence in radiology totalled £45,872,653. Radiology involves using diagnostic imaging (such as MRI’s and X-rays) to diagnose and monitor various diseases and conditions. Such imaging may be used by many of the other branches of medicine covered in this NHS compensation payouts guide.

An example of negligence may be where a radiologist missed a fracture on a patient’s femur, by taking an x-ray at the wrong angle. The patient was told they did not have a fracture and continued to walk on it while the fracture became more severe.

Neurology

Neurology negligence settlements paid to claimants over this period totalled £30,373,283. This is according to the NHS compensation payouts guide provided by the Resolutions website. Neurology deals with the treatment of conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord and other nerves.

Negligence may occur where a medical professional fails to correctly interpret test results and does not diagnose a patient’s brain tumour. This leads to the patient suffering a more severe degree of brain injury.

Psychiatry / Mental Health

Those who suffered harm due to substandard psychiatric or mental health care were paid a total of £26,536,325. Mental health and psychiatric services may deal with a wide range of patients and conditions.

Substandard medical care provided by a doctor could lead to them missing the clear signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. The patient is subsequently diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their mental health then worsens due to being provided with inappropriate treatment for the condition they actually have.

Ophthalmology

Cases where people were harmed by negligent ophthalmic care were paid a total of £30,856,036 in compensation. Ophthalmology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions.

A doctor may fail to correctly diagnose diabetic retinopathy. This delayed diagnosis leads to the condition progressing and the loss of sight in one eye.

Cardiology

Successful claims for cardiology negligence were awarded a total of £15,201,195 in this period. Cardiology is the branch of medicine dealing with diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the cardiovascular system.

A doctor may fail to diagnose an initial, more minor, heart attack as gastrointestinal distress. The patient’s cardiac condition worsens and they have a subsequent serious heart attack which could have been prevented.

Ambulance

Victims of ambulance and paramedic negligence were paid a total of £9,396,349 for harm suffered. Paramedics and ambulance staff provide emergency care to victims of accidents or those with emergency symptoms.

A paramedic may provide negligent medical treatment where they administer the wrong medication to a patient. This both makes the patient sick and worsens their original condition.

Gastroenterology

£15,345,168 was paid out to those harmed by substandard medical care in gastroenterology. This branch of medicine focuses on treating conditions affecting the digestive system, stomach, liver, pancreas and intestines.

A doctor fails to properly review a patient’s medical records, misdiagnosing a serious condition, such as Crohn’s disease, as a less serious illness, such as irritable bowel syndrome. The patient continues to suffer symptoms which could have been managed with proper treatment as well as permanent damage.

Urology

Settlements for negligent urology care totalled £15,182,191 in 2023/24. Urology is a branch of medicine focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the urinary tract.

Medical negligence could include instances of a surgeon causing avoidable damage to the urinary tract during surgery. The damage causes the patient to suffer nerve damage and urinary incontinence.

Other

Other medical negligence payouts not fitting in these categories totalled £272,392,468.  Medical specialties not covered above may include anaesthetics and clinical oncology.

Compensation claims could involve instances such where the wrong dose of anaesthetic was administered or where an oncologist missed the clear symptoms of cancer.

The total amount paid out in compensation across all specialities was £1,784,750,996 during this financial year. If a medical or health professional provided you with substandard care you could have a valid claim for compensation. Please contact our team for an assessment of your case.

NHS Compensation Payouts Guide – The Average Settlement Amounts

To find the average settlement amount, you would need to find out how many claimants in the given timeframe and divide it by the total compensation awarded in any given speciality. However, knowing that figure won’t be of any particular use to you or your claim due to the differences between clinical negligence cases.

For example, a claimant who suffered a severe brain injury could be eligible to claim between £344,150 and £493,000 in clinical negligence compensation. Whereas someone with less severe brain damage could be awarded between £18,700 and £52,550. These figures are guideline amounts found in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Additionally, there are other factors to be considered when deciding on a settlement amount.

As we have seen in this NHS compensation payouts guide, settlements may vary depending on the nature of the harm suffered. Furthermore, medical negligence claims may be awarded 2 types of damages.

The first of these is general damages. This compensates claimants for their pain and suffering. Solicitors may refer to the JCG and your medical records when assessing the impact of substandard medical care on you.

Below you can find a table of JCG amounts for different forms of harm which may be applicable to NHS compensation payouts. Please note that the headline figure was not taken from the JCG. Additionally, this table is only included to act as a guide. If you don’t see the type of harm you suffered, please speak to an advisor for a free estimate of your claim.

How Are NHS Payouts Calculated?

NHS payouts may be calculated by taking both general damages (as discussed above) and special damages into account. Special damages are only awarded if you can provide evidence that you experienced these financial losses in connection with the harm you suffered.

You may be compensated for expenses and losses such as:

• Your loss of earnings. Depending on how you were harmed you may have had to take time off work or no longer be able to work as you did before. In some cases loss of earnings could form a large part of your final settlement. By claiming for these losses you can ensure your ability to provide for your family during your recovery and beyond.
• Medical expenses. You may have had to pay for medical care, treatment or medication to aid in your recovery.
• Care costs. In addition to medical care, you may have required either residential or domestic care. This could include the cost of help in the home with domestic tasks such as cooking and cleaning or childcare as well as nurse visits.
• Travel costs. You could claim for the cost of traveling to and from necessary medical appointments.

These are some examples of financial losses and expenses you could claim for. For any of these losses to be taken into consideration, you must provide evidence such as invoices, payslips, estimates or receipts. An advisor could assess your compensation claim and help you determine what you could be eligible for.

Interim Payments

Additionally, you could be able to claim an interim payment. This is a payment made in advance of your final settlement and deducted from it. Interim payments could help you meet immediate expenses, such as paying for necessary medical care, physiotherapy or related costs.

Please get in touch with our team for a comprehensive assessment of your clinical negligence compensation claim.

How Can I Start A Claim For NHS Compensation?

To start a claim for NHS compensation, you must first ensure that your case meets the eligibility criteria. To make any type of medical negligence compensation claim, whether against the NHS or a private healthcare provider, you must clearly show that:

1. You were owed a duty of care by a medical or healthcare professional. This will be automatically owed whilst under their care.
2. This medical professional breached their duty of care to you.
3. The breach caused you harm which was avoidable or unnecessary.

When you seek medical attention, the providers treating you must ensure that the care reaches the correct standard. This is the duty of care automatically owed to you. Should the correct standard fail to be met, you could suffer unnecessary harm.

Once you have ensured that you meet the eligibility criteria, the next steps in the claims process may be to ensure that you are within the time limit and collect supporting evidence.

Time Limits

The Limitation Act 1980 sets a 3 year time limit in which any compensation claim must be filed. This time limit begins on the date of knowledge. This may be the date on which the negligence took place, or when the claimant discovered they were harmed by medical care.

The time limit does not apply to individuals who are unable to manage the claims process themselves. This includes:

• Minors under the age of 18. The time limit will only begin once the harmed party turns 18.
• Those without the mental capacity to manage a claim. The time limit will only begin if they recover this capacity. If it is never regained, then a time limit will not apply.

In either case, a litigation friend may act on the claimants behalf while the time limit is not in place. Please speak to an advisor for more information.

Evidence

Supporting evidence could include:

• Copies of your medical records, obtained from your GP, hospital or other healthcare provider.
• An independent medical expert’s report. A solicitor could organise for you to be examined by a relevant medical expert who could create a report detailing the impact on your health.
• Witness statements, such as accounts from others present during your diagnosis or treatment, could be provided in support of your case.
• Diary of treatments and symptoms.
• Correspondences between yourself and medical provider, such as appointment letters.

Contact us if you have been affected by the circumstances discussed in this NHS compensation payouts guide.

Get Help From Legal Expert

You could get help from Legal Expert if you have been harmed by substandard medical care. Having a dedicated medical negligence solicitor could give you the best chance of securing a medical negligence compensation payout.

To date, our solicitors have helped people to claim over £80 million in compensation. They have decades of combined experience in helping people make successful claims. They could offer you a No Win No Fee service under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). With a CFA there are no upfront solicitors’ fees. There also won’t be anything to pay for your solicitor’s work if your claim is unsuccessful. You’ll actually only pay for your solicitor’s work if the case has a successful outcome. You won’t need to worry about this, though, because your solicitor will take a success fee as a percentage of your compensation. Furthermore, a legal limit is placed on this percentage, ensuring that you receive the majority of your compensation.

A solicitor could guide you through the claims process, explain complex terms, negotiate your settlement and handle court proceedings. Our team could also help to organise,

• An independent medical assessment.
• Rehabilitation and other support services, such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy.
• An interim payment to help cover immediate expenses.

We offer a nationwide service and could help you.

Contact Our Solicitors

Contacting us connects you with experts who are ready to help pursue your claim. Our team is available 24/7 and could offer a free, no-obligation assessment of your case. Our legal team has years of high-level training and are committed to providing claimants with an exceptional service.

To begin your claim or for answers to any questions raised by our NHS compensation payouts guide, please,

• Phone our advisors on 0800 073 8804
• Send a message using our contact form.
• Talk to us now over our live chat.

More Information

Here you can find more information which could help you to make a successful claim for medical negligence.

• You can learn more about what to do if affected by GP negligence in this guide.
• Learn more about medical negligence in private hospitals here.
• Check how to make a complaint about medical care in this guide.

References.

• You can find information on fundamental standards in healthcare in this resource from the Care Quality Commission.
• The NHS Constitution for England sets out your rights as a patient.
• You can read more about your rights and responsibilities as a patient in this guide.

Thank you for reading our NHS compensation payouts guide. If you have any further questions, please contact our team.

Cauda equina syndrome claims are a way to seek compensation if poor or substandard medical care caused or worsened your condition. Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is considered a medical emergency. It happens when the cauda equina nerves at the base of the spinal cord are compressed. These nerves control bowel and bladder function. They are also responsible for sensation in your back passage and genitals. When compressed, their function can be affected. This can lead to severe pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and even lower body paralysis. If not urgently treated it can result in permanent nerve damage. If your condition was misdiagnosed or your diagnosis was delayed, you could have grounds to claim compensation.

This guide explains how to make cauda equina negligence claims. We begin by looking at the criteria medical negligence claims must meet. Then, our guide covers the factors affecting how much compensation you could be owed, as well as how long you have to file a claim. Next, you can find information on the reasons why people may claim compensation and how to prove your claim. Finally, we explain how one of our dedicated medical negligence solicitors could help you claim compensation.

To make a medical negligence claim:

• Call our team on 0800 073 8804.
• Talk to us online using our chat.
• Fill out our contact us form for a call back.

Jump To A Section

• Can I Make A Cauda Equina Syndrome Claim?
• What Is The Average Cauda Equina Syndrome Claims Compensation?
• Is There A Time Limit For Cauda Equina Claims?
• What Are The Common Reasons To Claim Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation?
• What Evidence Will I Need For My Cauda Equina Claim?
• Get Help From Cauda Equina Syndrome Claim Solicitors
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Information

Can I Make A Cauda Equina Syndrome Claim?

Cauda equina syndrome claims may be made if you can show that a healthcare professional caused you avoidable harm by breaching their duty of care. This may include harm caused by delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome.

We must note that not all instances of delayed or misdiagnosis by healthcare professionals may be classed as negligent. To be eligible to make a cauda equina syndrome compensation claim, you must show that:

• A medical or healthcare professional owed you a duty of care.
• They were in breach of this duty of care. Such as by failing to diagnose a patient presenting with red flag signs of cauda equina.
• The above breach resulted in avoidable harm. This may include permanent nerve damage or sexual dysfunction.

All healthcare practitioners must meet expected professional standards whether working in the NHS or private sector. They should meet expected standards for diagnosis and treatment provided. This may include meeting standards set by professional bodies, such as the General Medical Council.

An advisor from our team could review your case and help determine your eligibility to claim compensation. Following this, they may connect you to one of our specialist cauda equina solicitors.

What Is The Average Cauda Equina Syndrome Claims Compensation?

To find the average compensation awarded in cauda equina syndrome claims, you would need to add together the settlements awarded to successful claimants and divide this figure by the number of settlements made during that time period. However, knowing this figure is unlikely to be of any use to you due to the differences between claims.

For example, a case where someone suffered lower body paralysis (paraplegia) could be awarded between £267,340 and £346,890 in compensation. How much compensation may be awarded for paraplegia, or any other form of harm, may depend on several factors.

The figure above has been taken from the Judicial College Guide (JCG). Solicitors and others working on medical negligence claims may review these guidelines when estimating compensation for your pain and suffering (general damages). Your medical records may also be taken into account.

Below we present further figures from the JCG which may be relevant to this type of case. Please be aware that the first figure was not taken from the JCG. We have added this figure to illustrate a settlement including both types of damages discussed in the following section.

How Is Cauda Equina Compensation Calculated?

Cauda equina compensation may be calculated by taking two heads of loss into account. The first of these is referred to as general damages, which may be awarded for your pain and suffering. It may be calculated in line with the JCG, as discussed above. The more severe the degree of pain and suffering experienced, the higher a settlement may be. A successful claim will be awarded general damages.

The second head of loss is called special damages. Such damages compensate you for financial losses. These are not awarded automatically and you must present evidence which shows the financial loss you experienced and its connection to the harm you suffered.

Compensation may be claimed for:

• Loss of income or earnings. You can use bank statements and payslips to prove any past loss of income. You may also be able to claim for projected future losses, such as if you are no longer able to work due to the harm you suffered.
• Rehabilitation or care costs. Invoices may be used as proof of domestic care costs. These may be tied to care you needed during your recovery or long-term care in the home or for rehabilitation.
• Medical bills. Again, invoices can be used to show what medical care you paid for in connection to your cauda equina syndrome. For example, you may have had to pay for specialist treatment, or require ongoing medication.
• Travel expenses. Receipts and tickets for travel to essential medical appointments may be provided.
• Home alterations. If you sustained a severe or permanent disability, you may have had to make adaptations to your home. For example, you may have had to adapt your home to accommodate wheelchair access or to install a stairlift. Estimates, receipts and invoices for renovations can be submitted.

Other losses may also be taken into account, if you can show they were incurred due to the harm you suffered. It is important to retain copies of relevant bank statements, invoices, estimates and receipts.

One of our cauda equina syndrome solicitors could help to ensure that you claim for reasonable losses connected to your case. Please contact us for an explanation of how cauda equina syndrome claims may be valued.

Is There A Time Limit For Cauda Equina Claims?

Cauda equina syndrome claims are subject to strict time limits. Typically, this is 3 years from the date on which the negligent treatment took place. However, the time limit could also start from the date that you should have been expected to realise that negligence occurred, otherwise called the ‘date of knowledge’. This time limit is set by the Limitation Act 1980. You must file your claim within this time limit, unless exceptional circumstances apply. Acting and filing a claim promptly can ensure you exercise your eligibility to claim whilst able to do so.

There are exceptions to time limits for suing the NHS or private healthcare providers.

• For minors under the age of 18, the 3 year time limit does not begin till their 18th birthday.
• For those with a reduced mental capacity, no time limit is applied, unless they regain this capacity. At this point the 3 year limit would be applied.

In these cases, a suitable adult could apply to act on the claimant’s behalf. If successful, they would be appointed by the court to act as a litigation friend. Their role may include liaising with a solicitor and ensuring the claimant’s wishes are followed.

Please speak to a member of our team to learn more about cauda equina compensation claims time limit.

What Are The Common Reasons To Claim Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation?

As stated, CES is a medical emergency requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. The longer the condition goes untreated, the more severe the outcome may be. Cauda equina negligence claims may arise due to errors in the diagnosis, treatment or post-operative care.

Below we look at reasons why cauda equina syndrome claims may be brought and highlight instances of negligence.

Misdiagnosis / Delayed Diagnosis

A medical professional may misdiagnose CES, delaying its correct diagnosis and treatment. Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis may occur where a doctor negligently attributes red flag symptoms to a different condition, such as sciatica. The negligent delay in starting treatment may result in avoidable and irreversible harm.

Scenario: A patient presents to their GP with leg pain and bowel incontinence. The GP misdiagnoses this as sciatica and does not immediately order an urgent MRI scan. The patient presents at A&E a short time later and is diagnosed with CES. The delay in being diagnosed results in permanent bowel and bladder incontinence.

Surgical Errors

Negligent surgical errors could occur during lumbar decompression surgery. This procedure may be used to relieve nerve compression. Errors during spinal surgery could lead to further damage to the cauda equina nerves.

Scenario: A surgeon operates on a patient with CES. They carry on the operation on the wrong site (at the wrong spinal level). This exacerbates the nerve compression and results in a more severe degree of sexual dysfunction.

Post-Operative Complications

Post-operative complications may arise due to negligent aftercare. It may be caused by medical staff failing to manage issues such as infections or blood clots. These could lead to a patient’s symptoms being worsened or developing new symptoms.

Scenario: A hospital misses a post surgical blood clot in a patient’s leg. This causes worsened nerve damage to their leg.

Inadequate Examination

A doctor may carry out an inadequate physical examination or fail to take an accurate medical history. This may lead to their missing red flag symptoms of CES.

Scenario: A doctor fails to carry out an applicable neurological examination of a patient’s lower limb weakness. This leads to the condition not being diagnosed and leaving the patient with severely impaired bowel control.

Birth Injuries

Whilst rare, birth injuries can lead to cauda equina syndrome. Errors during the delivery of a baby, such as through the use of forceps, could cause harm to the baby’s cauda equina nerves or the mother may suffer compression of these nerves.

Scenario: Midwife negligence may occur where they use grossly excessive force when delivering a baby with forceps. In addition to the baby suffering birth injuries, the mother suffers a back injury causing cauda equina syndrome.

These are just some examples of how cauda equina symptoms may be missed or where harm may be caused during the treatment of this condition. If you have been harmed in one of these or another scenario, please contact our team.

What Evidence Will I Need For My Cauda Equina Claim?

You will need a strong body of evidence to make a successful cauda equina claim. This should include proof that you were under the care of a medical professional. It should also show that they breached this duty of care, causing you harm.

Evidence cauda equina syndrome claims may require:

• Medical records, including information on cauda equina syndrome diagnosis. This may include the results of any MRI scans, surgical records, GP notes and other relevant information.
• Independent medical assessments. You may be asked to visit an independent medical expert who will assess your current symptoms as well as review your medical notes. Their report may be submitted as part of your claim.
• Witness contact details may be taken in advance of a solicitor later requesting they provide a statement. Witnesses may have seen your initial diagnosis and treatment, such as seeing a doctor fail to carry out a proper physical examination.
• Correspondence related to your case. You may have letters, emails and other correspondence with a hospital, GP surgery or other medical practice. This may include letters in which a GP refuses to refer you for an MRI scan.
• Financial records. As already highlighted, you must submit evidence such as bank statements or invoices to prove financial losses.

If you choose to work with one of our cauda equina syndrome solicitors, they could assist you in collecting these and other forms of evidence.

Get Help From Cauda Equina Syndrome Claim Solicitors

You could get help from one of our expert cauda equina syndrome lawyers. They could support your claim for spinal cord damage caused by negligent treatment. Our solicitors have decades of combined experience in helping people to make successful medical negligence claims. To date, they have already secured over £80 million in compensation.

We could offer those impacted by cauda equina syndrome negligence:

• A comprehensive No Win No Fee service. We could help you pursue your cauda equina claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement, with no upfront solicitors’ fees. If the claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing for their work. If you are, you pay a capped success fee, which is taken as a legally limited percentage of your compensation.
• Expert guidance throughout the claims process. From gathering evidence to negotiating your settlement and even communicating with the court if necessary, our team could help you.
• Comprehensive claims support. Whether organising rehabilitation services or arranging an independent medical assessment, our team could help you.
• Help securing interim payments to ensure you can meet immediate medical, care and other related costs.

Contact Legal Expert

Contact Legal Expert today. An advisor could review your case and, if they think you are eligible to claim, connect you to one of our expert solicitors. Our team is available 24/7 and ready to discuss your case. With years of high-level training, we are experts in making cauda equina claims.

To find out more about cauda equina syndrome claims:

• Phone our team on 0800 073 8804.
• Use our online chat.
• Use our contact us form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below we address frequently asked questions about cauda equina syndrome claims relating to symptoms, treatment and the impact the condition could have on you.

What Can Cause Cauda Equina?

Cauda equina may be caused by trauma or conditions which compress the cauda equina nerves in the spinal cord.

• Herniated, slipped or prolapsed discs in the lumbar spine. This can exert pressure on the cauda equina and may trigger cauda equina syndrome.
• Spinal stenosis, an abnormal narrowing of the spinal cord (which may be age-related or congenital) could compress the nerve root.
• Spinal tumors growing in the lumbar area may grow and exert pressure on the nerve.
• Spinal fractures could lead to swelling and bleeding, disrupting nerve function and creating pressure.
• Traumatic accidents and injuries which compress the cauda equina nerve.
• Errors during spinal surgery damaging the nerve.

What Are The Cauda Equina Symptoms?

Cauda equina symptoms may develop gradually or present suddenly. They require urgent care to avoid irreversible harm. Symptoms may include:

• Loss of sensation/ tingling in the genital area or inner thighs.
• Numbness around the back passage or changed sensation when wiping with toilet paper.
• Difficulty with urination and/or reduced sensation when urinating.
• Unintentional leakage of urine.
• Loss of control of and/or lack of feeling during bowel movements.
• Sexual dysfunction.

Can Cauda Equina Syndrome Be Treated?

There are several treatment options for cauda equina syndrome. These may include:

• Urgent spinal decompression surgery. This must be performed within 24-48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Surgery is carried out to relieve pressure on the cauda equina.
• Cauda equina treated by medication.
• Rehabilitation. Following surgery you may require occupational therapy or post-surgical physiotherapy. In addition, you may require pain management.
• Ongoing care. Patients may require ongoing specialist care and support for persistent issues. These may include problems with bladder dysfunction.

The patient’s degree of recovery may depend on the degree of nerve damage and how soon treatment is obtained.

The Impacts Of Cauda Equina Syndrome

The impact of cauda equina syndrome may be life-altering. Potential impacts may include:

• Permanent nerve damage which could lead to chronic problems, such as bladder and bowel incontinence and sexual dysfunction.
• Impaired mobility due to numbness or weakness in the lower limbs (legs).
• Emotional distress. The impact of the condition could lead to depression and anxiety due to dependency on others or the inability to work and participate in everyday activities.

If you have any further questions about cauda equina compensation claims, please speak to a member of our team.

More Information

Further helpful guides on our site.

• View our guide on hospital negligence claims here.
• Here we look at how to claim if affected by a delay in treatment.
• We look at how to prove medical negligence in this guide.

References.

• Read more about lumbar decompression surgery in this NHS resource.
• Find out how to view your NHS GP health record here.
• Learn more about Statutory Sick Pay in this government resource.

Please contact us if you have any further questions about cauda equina syndrome claims.

You may be wondering what After the Event insurance (ATE) is and what the policy covers? If so, please read our helpful guide and we will explore how After The Event Insurance can highly benefit and provide a safety net for your claim.

This guide aims to supply you with all the information you will need about After the Event insurance policies. Firstly, we look at how ATE works and whether you will need to purchase the policy yourself, or whether it’s financed by a solicitor. Moreover, we discuss how much ATE would cost, and we furthermore explore the multiple benefits of including this policy in your claim. Lastly, we discuss how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you make a claim for compensation.

Our advisors work around the clock to provide the best service to anyone with questions about making a claim. Furthermore, our advisors could provide a free eligibility to look at the strength of your claim. Please get in touch:

• Call us on 0800 073 8804
• Use our free live chat
• Contact us by filling out our online form

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Is After The Event Insurance (ATE)?
2. Will I Need To Purchase ATE Myself?
3. Am I Responsible For Paying ATE?
4. How Much Does ATE Cost?
5. What Are The Benefits To Using ATE?
6. What Legal Expert Can Do For You
7. Learn More

What Is After The Event Insurance (ATE)?

Ultimately, After the Event insurance ensures that any costs incurred by you or your solicitor are financially covered in the event that your claim is unsuccessful. In essence, an ATE policy will ensure that you will not be liable for the following disbursements:

• Paying court fees if your claim fails
• Paying witness expert costs
• Paying any evidence-gathering costs such as medical records or CCTV footage for personal injury claims
• Paying travel expenses related to the claim
• Paying for any paralegal or secretarial staff time related to the claim

An ATE policy furthermore ensures that the above legal costs can be covered even if the claim is abandoned, settled or lost at trial. Without an ATE policy, you would be required to pay for the defendant’s legal costs if your claim is unsuccessful.

If you want to find out more about the definition of After the Event insurance, please contact our friendly advisors today.

Will I Need To Purchase ATE Myself?

Essentially, you will not need to purchase an ATE policy yourself if you make a claim with Legal Expert. If you’re connected with one of our experienced solicitors, an After the Event insurance policy will be purchased at the very beginning of your claim by a solicitor. This way, any significant legal costs incurred afterwards will be covered under the policy.

Therefore, you will not need to worry about purchasing an ATE policy yourself when making a claim. To find out more about how to start your claim, please contact our advisory team.

Am I Responsible For Paying ATE?

In essence, you will only be responsible for paying an ATE insurance premium if your claim is successful. Therefore, the ATE policy will be deducted from your compensation at the end of your claim.

However, in the event that your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay for an ATE policy. Ultimately, the policy acts as a safeguard for any outcome of a claim, and covers adverse legal costs and disbursements. Notably, if you’re connected with one of our solicitors, they will work meticulously to try and ensure a successful outcome for your claim.

To find out more about how the ATE policy is covered if your claim is unsuccessful, please contact one of our friendly advisors today.

How Much Does ATE Cost?

Fundamentally, the premium for an After the Event insurance policy is determined on a case-by-case basis, dependent on an insurer’s risk assessment. For example, insurers could offer a percentage premium, which calculates a figure based on the amount of damages you receive. Alternatively, a monetary premium is usually a fixed rate cost that is applied to all claims.

At Legal Expert, you could benefit from a low ATE premium so you won’t incur large costs if your claim is successful. To find out more details about the ATE insurance premium that we offer, please contact our advisory team today.

What Are The Benefits To Using ATE?

As we previously discussed, an After the Event insurance policy acts as a safety net for your claim by covering legal costs regardless of the outcome. Please see below some further examples of an ATE policy being added to your claim:

• If your claim is unsuccessful, the risk of paying the defendant’s legal costs are completely removed.
• Any disbursements such as medical reports and court fees will also be covered by the ATE policy. This may benefit those who are worried about being subject to heavy legal fees after a claim has settled. Therefore, ATE provides access to justice for people regardless of their financial situation.
• You will not have to purchase an ATE upfront
• You will only pay for an ATE policy if your claim is successful
• It could motivate the defendant to settle the claim before a trial. For example, if a defendant is aware that you have an ATE policy, they will know that you have nothing to lose by escalating your claim to court. Therefore, the defendant may be willing to settle during negotiations.
• It may also motivate the defendant to settle as they will know that your claim has high chances of success. For example, they will know that your case has been analysed and taken on due to its strong evidence. Therefore, this may encourage the defendant to settle early rather than incur further legal costs.

To discuss the benefits of an After the Event insurance policy in more detail, please contact one of our experienced advisors today.

What Legal Expert Can Do For You

At Legal Expert, our friendly advisors are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to provide advice about making a claim. As part of our free services, our advisors can provide the following:

• An estimation of the compensation you could be entitled to
• You could also discuss what types of special damages you may wish to include in your claim, which are any financial losses you suffered. For example, under personal injury compensation, you may wish to include loss of amenity and loss of earnings.
• They could advise on the time limits of making a claim. For example, the whiplash compensation claim time limit is 3 years from the date of the accident.
• They could provide a free case check to advise on the strength of your claim

Furthermore, if they deem that you have a strong claim, you could be connected with one of our experienced No Win No Fee solicitors. Ultimately, our solicitors function under a Conditional Fee Arrangement (CFA), which means that:

• If your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t be required to pay solicitor’s fees
• You won’t be required to pay for any solicitor’s fees at the beginning of your claim, or as it progresses
• If your claim is successful, you will only pay a small success fee for your solicitor’s work. The percentage is deducted from your compensation and is capped by law, so you will always receive the bulk of the compensation.

If you’re connected with one of our experienced solicitors, you could also enjoy the following benefits:

• Regular case updates as your claim progresses
• Help with evidence-gathering to ensure a strong claim
• Explanations of legal terminology to make sure you understand
• Ensuring specialist support with any ongoing injuries such as arranging physiotherapy
• Ensuring the signing of legal documents and that they’re filed on time
• Handling of negotiations with the defendant

Contact Our Advisors

To start your claim with an After the Event insurance policy, please contact our helpful advisory team today. Our advisors are able to provide support and assistance for any queries you may have about making a claim. Please get in touch:

• Call us on 0800 073 8804
• Use our free live chat
• Contact us by filling out our online form

Learn More

To learn more about making a claim, please see some of our other guides:

• Please see the following advice on how to obtain CCTV for personal injury claims
• Learn about public liability claims
• Get help with road traffic accidents claims

Additional external resources:

• See the following advice about claiming on behalf of someone who can’t handle their own case as a litigation friend from Gov.UK
• Get help with managing sick leave and return to work from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
• Learn about when to call 999 from the NHS.

Thank you for reading our guide about After the Event insurance policies.

The legal sphere is laden with tricky terms and complicated jargon. While we do our best on our site to keep things as simple as we can, you’ll encounter a whole range of these terms when reading our guides. As you may not be familiar with them, we’ve put together this handy legal glossary to help you bust some jargon.

If any questions crop up, or you’d like to learn more about making a claim in your circumstances, then we operate a 24/7 advisor service that you can connect with at a time that suits you. 

Use any of the contact information provided here to talk to a member of our team:

• Call an advisor on 0800 073 8804.
• Contact us by completing a contact form.
• Use the live chat window on your screen now. 

Legal Glossary 

This legal glossary does not contain every term that could possibly crop up when looking to make a claim or once the case has gotten underway. Nevertheless, we’ve tried to be as thorough as possible and give you an overview of some of the most common terms you may encounter during the claims process.

If you would like further advice or to get a free eligibility assessment, get in touch with our team today using the details given at the end. 

Admission Of Liability

An admission of liability is where the defendant accepts responsibility for what occurred. This acknowledgement may happen straight away, or at a later stage during the claim. Defendants may also admit partial liability, accepting responsibility for certain occurrences while disputing others.

After The Event Insurance

After the Event (ATE) insurance is a policy that covers the legal costs that may arise during a claim. A solicitor will discuss what level of coverage you may need and then find a policy that works for you.

The term refers to how this insurance policy is put in place ‘after the event,’ essentially following an accident but prior to any significant expenses. 

Barrister

A barrister is a type of specialist lawyer who has been trained in advocacy (addressing a court of law). If a claim goes to trial, it is most commonly a barrister who will present that case before the judge. The majority of barristers are self-employed and work out of chambers. There are 2 types of barristers who are not:

• Crown Prosecution Service: CPS barristers are employed directly by the government to act as prosecutors in criminal cases. 
• In-house counsels: Refers to barristers who work exclusively for a company as their “in-house” counsel.

Breach Of Duty

A breach of duty is where a person or organisation has failed to uphold their legal responsibility for the safety of others. This breach may occur because of a third party’s action or inaction. 

Causation

The chain of reasoning that explains how the actions of the defendant caused another to suffer injury or harm. You’ll sometimes see this referred to as the ‘but for test.’ Legal professionals examine a situation and ask, ‘But for X, would Y have occurred?’

For instance, if you had received proper manual handling training at work, would you have attempted to lift a load that should have been carried by 2 people and torn a ligament in your shoulder?

Claimant

Claimants are the party that is suing a defendant for damages. So, if you decide to pursue compensation, you will be referred to as a claimant. 

Compensation Or Damages

There are 2 different heads of claim under which compensation may be paid out: General and special damages.

Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU)

The Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) is a body of the Department of Work and Pensions that is responsible for recovering benefits from claimants who have won compensation.

Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA)

A type of No Win No Fee contract that our solicitors can offer their services under. A key feature of a CFA is that there are no upfront or ongoing solicitor fees during a claim. 

No solicitor fees are paid when a claim fails, but a success fee is charged for the work performed on a case if it wins. It is taken as a percentage of a claimant’s compensation and is capped at 25%. These contracts were first brought in under The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.

Contributory Negligence

This term refers to a claimant who has contributed to their injuries in some manner. A straightforward example to illustrate this concept is not wearing a seatbelt. So, say you were using a forklift to unload a delivery truck and a lack of maintenance work caused a brake failure.

You aren’t responsible for the accident, but because you aren’t using a seatbelt or other restraining system, you are more seriously injured than you would have been.

Counsel

Under English and Welsh law, ‘counsel’ may refer to:

1. A person who argues a case in court. It is often applied to a barrister, but not in every instance.
2. An in-house counsel hired by a company to be its legal representative.
3. Senior barristers who are appointed by the current monarch to be a King’s or Queen’s Counsels (KC/QC). This reflects excellence in their area of practice and highlights the substantial knowledge and experience they possess. The appointment to KC/QC is sometimes known as ‘taking silk’ in reference to the black gowns that are worn.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is an executive agency sponsored by the Ministry of Justice that was set up to give the victims of violent crimes a means of claiming compensation. In criminal injury cases, compensation is awarded according to a tariff set by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. 

Defendant

A defendant is the individual or organisation against whom the claim is made. 

Duty Of Care

A duty of care is a legally binding obligation that a third party has to keep others safe. How this duty is approached varies depending on the type of claim, such as those involving public liability or road traffic accidents. 

Employer’s Liability Insurance

Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement for most employers. This insurance will cover the cost of compensation if an employee is injured in a workplace accident and makes a claim. 

Expert Witness

An expert witness is any individual with a high level of knowledge in the field the claim is about. Experts can be called upon by both claimants and defendants to provide a professional opinion on what occurred. 

Fundamental Dishonesty

Where a claimant withholds information, misrepresents the facts, or makes outright falsehoods about what happened during the claim. If proven, the court may strike out the claim, and the claimant will be liable for any costs the defendant has incurred.

The claimant can also be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service on a charge of contempt of court. While this is a very serious matter, it can be avoided. Your solicitor will help you collect a strong body of evidence and make sure that whatever you are claiming can be proven. 

General Damages

General damages are the first of 2 heads of claim that compensation may be awarded under. This head compensates an individual for the physical and psychological harm they have suffered.

Solicitors can look at your medical evidence alongside the guidelines from the Judicial College (JCG) to calculate the potential value of this part of a claim. The JCG is a publication that compiles suggested compensation brackets for various injuries.

Injury

An injury is the harm that has been caused to the claimant. In medical negligence cases, this is referred to as ‘harm.’ For data breach cases, it’s ‘non-material damage,’ but they all mean the same thing.

Interim Payments

Interim payments can be awarded in cases where a claimant has costs that mean they need some of their compensation paid out early before a claim is settled. These payments can happen in circumstances where compensation seems likely, or a defendant admits liability.

Say, for example, you’d been out of work for some weeks because you’d broken your leg. Your rent or mortgage is due, but you can’t pay as you haven’t been earning. An interim payment could be made to help you cover this cost. Any payment will be subtracted from your compensation.

Issue of Court Proceedings

Where a claim cannot be resolved through negotiation, it is heard in a court of law. The claimant’s solicitor will complete a claim form and submit it to the court. That form is served to the defendant as an official issuing of court proceedings.

Judgement

A Judgement can refer to either:

1. The final decision of a court case.
2. A written summary of what happened in the court and what decision was made.

In civil cases, there isn’t a jury most of the time, so the decision is made by the judges themselves. Juries are, however, usually present for criminal cases heard in Crown Courts. 

Letter Of Claim

This letter is sent as a formal notification to a defendant that a claim is being opened against them. The letter should set out the grounds on which the claim is being made, a summary of the facts, and what compensation is being sought. 

Limitation Period

A limitation period or time limit is the length of time you have to start a claim. It is typically 3 years from the date of the incident as per the Limitation Act 1980. 

Different limitation periods can apply in certain cases and there are some exceptions to the standard 3-year time limit. You can speak to an advisor about the time limit in your specific circumstances. 

Litigation

Possibly the simplest definition on our list. Litigation is the process of a claim being taken to court.

Litigation Friend

If a person cannot seek compensation by themselves, such as if they’re a minor or lack sufficient mental capacity, then a litigation friend can be appointed to claim on their behalf. The role can be filled by any suitable adult, typically a loved one or solicitor.

Loss Of Amenity

A loss of amenity refers to how your injuries have affected your quality of life. For instance, you may no longer be able to partake in sports, help your children, attend social gatherings, or enjoy your hobbies. Claiming for a loss of amenity attempts to put a financial value on this impact. 

Motor Insurer’s Bureau (MIB)

The Motor Insurer’s Bureau (MIB) is a non-profit organisation that all car insurers in the UK must be a member of. It’s funded by premiums paid by insured motorists. You can claim through the MIB if you are involved in a road traffic accident caused by a driver who is uninsured or cannot be traced (such as a hit-and-run incident).

Negligence

Negligence is when the inaction of an individual or organisation has caused some form of harm. When it comes to making a personal injury claim, you’ll need to show that a breach in the duty of care caused you to experience injuries.

No Win, No Fee Agreement

In No Win No Fee agreements, the solicitor only takes a fee for their work if they win the claim for the client. Our solicitors offer their services to eligible claimants under a specific type of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement.

Occupiers’ Liability

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those in control of public spaces must take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of any visitors. 

Pre-Action Protocols

The Pre-Action Protocols are the steps that must be followed during the claims process. There are different protocols for each type of claim and it’s important that the correct protocol is followed.

These steps can seem a little technical and intimidating. If you choose to claim using one of our solicitors, they can do a lot of this work for you and provide continued support through the others. Get your free eligibility check today by talking to one of our advisors. 

Protective Proceedings

When a claim is approaching the end of the limitation period, court proceedings may be issued protectively in order to prevent a time bar. 

Public Liability

A public liability claim could be started if you can show you were injured because an occupier did not take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of visitors. This is often interchangeable with occupiers’ liability.

Settlement

The compensation award that is agreed upon by all parties to the dispute. Once a settlement has been accepted, then the matter is considered resolved. 

Solicitor

Legal professionals who have specific qualifications and training that allow them to conduct certain reserved legal activities. These activities include wills and probate, litigation, and land registration. If you start a personal injury, medical negligence, data breach, or wrongful death claim, a solicitor will be handling the case in most instances.

Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

This organisation is the professional regulator for all law firms in England and Wales. The Solicitors Regulation Authority set a code of conduct all solicitors are expected to uphold and has the power to take disciplinary actions against those who do not meet the professional standards expected of them. 

Special Damages

Financial losses in personal injury and medical negligence claims are compensated under special damages. As this head of claim may take into account both past and future losses, payouts can be higher than any compensation for the injuries themselves. 

Split Liability

If an individual contributed to an accident, then they may be able to claim on the basis of split liability. This is most commonly seen in road traffic accident cases. For instance, a pair of vehicles might collide while merging because they both failed to pay attention to their surroundings.

In split liability claims, compensation is reduced by the degree to which a person is deemed to be responsible for the accident. So, if the driver in the above scenario is found to be 25% at fault, then compensation will be reduced by 25%.

Statement Of Evidence

The statement of evidence is a written summary of the facts of the dispute. It is submitted to the judge so they know what evidence will be presented for consideration by each party.

Success Fee

A success fee is paid to the solicitor for their services if a claim is won. The exact amount that comes out of a claimant’s compensation will vary depending on the particular agreement signed between the solicitor and their client. However, the percentage charged is capped at 25%.

Time Bar

A time bar occurs when a claim has reached the end of its limitation period, and the claimant is now barred from pursuing compensation. 

Trial

A trial happens when a case is heard in a court. It is important to note that the majority of claims do not end up going to trial, as most are settled out of court. Given that they can be lengthy and potentially costly, it suits all parties involved to settle outside of court if at all possible.

For a civil matter, the solicitors for the parties will instruct barristers to present the case before a judge (typically in the County Courts) and then a ruling will be given. For criminal trials in the Crown Courts, the jury will usually decide the verdict.

Witness

Persons who saw the incident take place could provide a witness statement. You can provide a solicitor with their contact details so that they can collect accounts of what happened to use as part of your evidence. 

Wrongful Death

A wrongful death, or an avoidable death, is when someone dies as a result of another’s negligence. This can apply to both personal injury and medical negligence cases. 

The deceased’s estate or a qualifying dependant may be able to make a fatal accident claim. You can find out more by talking to our advisory team today. 

Speak To Legal Expert’s No Win No Fee Solicitors

If you would like to speak with one of our expert No Win No Fee solicitors, and we definitely recommend that you do, get in touch with our advisors for a free eligibility consultation today.

While we hope you’ve found this page useful, we fully appreciate that we’ve given you an enormous amount of information, and you no doubt have questions.

Contact Our Solicitors

For further guidance on the claims process or to get a free eligibility assessment, contact our team today using the details provided below:

• Call an advisor on 0800 073 8804.
• Contact us by completing a contact form.
• Use the live chat window on your screen now. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our legal glossary.

If you have suffered an injury when you stood on a nail at work, you likely already know that the potential consequences can be far-reaching. Even if a nail injury appears minor, it may still cause life-threatening conditions like tetanus and lead to serious financial loss. That is why we have created this guide detailing the steps involved in claiming personal injury compensation.

We begin this guide by first outlining the eligibility criteria for making a claim. Then, we discuss the question of compensation, including what it can cover and the factors that may be considered when calculating payouts in the event a claim succeeds.

Our guide will also take a look at how poor health and safety standards in the workplace can lead to someone stepping on a nail. We’ll provide some examples of the common injuries that may cause and the reasons why they can result in a potentially valid compensation claim.

As you near the end of this guide, you’ll learn more about the claims process and what evidence you might need. We finish this guide by discussing the benefits of working with one of our expert solicitors. They have many decades of combined experience, helping win compensation for clients across the country on a No Win No Fee basis.

Are you ready to find out whether you can make an accident at work claim? It’s easy to get in touch, and there is no obligation to speak with one of our advisors. Get started by:

• Calling us on 0800 073 8804
• Using the live chat feature
• Contacting us online

Jump To A Section

1. Can I Claim Compensation If I Stood On A Nail At Work?
2. How Much Could I Get After Standing On A Nail?
3. How Could Stepping On A Nail At Work Be Caused By Negligence?
4. What Injuries Could Standing On A Nail Lead To?
5. What Should I Do After I Stood On A Nail?
6. Get Help From Legal Expert
7. More Information

Can I Claim Compensation If I Stood On A Nail At Work?

Yes, you can claim compensation if you stood on a nail at work so long as you satisfy certain eligibility criteria. This criteria requires you to demonstrate the following:

• You were owed a duty of care.
• Someone breached that duty of care.
• As a result of that breach, you suffered an injury.

Your employer has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure your safety, health, and wellbeing in the workplace. This responsibility is referred to as a duty of care and is laid out by the Health and Safety at Work etc, Act 1974 (HASAWA). We’ll discuss how an employer might breach their duty of care later on in this guide.

To see if you’re eligible to claim, please contact one of our team members. They can give you a free case assessment and answer any questions you might have.

How Much Could I Get After Standing On A Nail?

How much compensation you could get after standing on a nail will depend on factors like how your injuries have impacted your life and whether they’ve led to a disability. These injuries are covered under general damages, the first of 2 heads of loss in a personal injury compensation claim. The other head compensates for the financial losses that your injuries have caused, referred to as special damages.

General damages are often assessed by using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a resource that compiles suggested compensation brackets for various injuries. Solicitors may use this publication alongside medical evidence to help put a value on this part of a compensation claim.

Below, you can find some guideline figures from the publication. The table is not a guarantee of compensation, and the lead figure isn’t sourced from the JCG.

What Would Determine The Amount Of Compensation I Get?

Various considerations may be taken into account when determining the amount of compensation you might get in a successful claim. For instance, general damages might factor in the severity of your injury and how it has affected your enjoyment of life and ability to perform activities. This impact, which is referred to as a loss of amenity, might mean you can no longer work your job or do certain tasks without help from others.

As touched on, special damages can also influence compensation payouts. Under this head, you can claim for any loss that is provably connected to the injuries you sustained after you stood on a nail at work. So long as there is supporting evidence like payslips or invoices, special damages can cover costs like the following:

• Physiotherapy/Occupational therapy: You might need help with rebuilding muscle function and strength if your injury leads to a tetanus infection.
• Medical expenses: These expenses can include private treatments and medications. If you suffered mental injuries after you stood on a nail at work, you may also be able to claim for the cost of therapy or counselling.
• Income: Special damages can cover past and future loss of earnings for things like time taken off and missed promotions.
• Travel: Costs related to attending essential appointments, such as parking fees, petrol, and bus tickets.
• Home/Vehicle modifications: In some instances, there may be a need to make adaptations to accommodate things like a breathing tube or mechanical ventilation.

Whether you suffered a major or minor injury after standing on a nail at work, our advisors are here for you. They’re available 24/7, ready to answer your questions about compensation or give you a free case assessment.

How Could Stepping On A Nail At Work Be Caused By Negligence?

Stepping on a nail at work might be caused by negligence if someone fails to uphold their duty of care. As well as the Health and Safety at Work etc, Act 1974, employers must comply with other legislation as part of their duty of care, including:

• Management Of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: These regulations outline the steps employers must take to manage occupational health and safety, such as conducting risk assessments and providing workers with training and information that is adequate.
• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992: This set of regulations places a duty of care on employers to take reasonable steps to ensure that their workers are supplied with suitable PPE.

You can speak to one of our advisors to learn more or to get a free case assessment.

What Injuries Could Standing On A Nail Lead To?

Standing on a nail can lead to a range of injuries, some of which are potentially life-threatening. In the following sections, we’ll discuss some of the more common injuries and the circumstances in which they could lead to a valid compensation claim.

Tetanus

Also known as lockjaw, tetanus is a serious condition caused by a bacterial infection. It affects the muscles and nerves, with symptoms that can include difficulties breathing, jaw stiffness, painful spasms, and seizures. In severe cases, tetanus may be life-threatening, leading to issues like a pulmonary embolism and respiratory failure.

• Example: You are not provided with reinforced boots by your employer despite working on a construction site where there is a need for such PPE. As a result, a protruding rusty nail pierces your shoe, leading you to develop tetanus and suffer kidney damage.

Infections

Nails are fertile ground for bacteria, which can lead to serious infections if they enter the bloodstream. These infections can quickly deteriorate and result in a life-threatening condition like sepsis.

• Example: Carpeting is pulled from floors during office renovations. However, no warning signs are placed to inform workers about potential hazards, including the risk of exposed nails. Management also does not provide staff with an alternative environment in which to work. Due to this, you step on a nail, resulting in a bone infection (osteomyelitis) that leaves you in permanent and severe pain.

Lacerations

Depending on their extent and depth, laceration injuries can lead to substantial bleeding or cause damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves.

• Example: Despite knowing for some time that the floor surface is in serious disrepair, supermarket management fails to take any steps to make repairs or alert others about the potential hazard. Subsequently, you step on an exposed nail, causing deep lacerations that damage your nerves.

Puncture Wounds

A puncture wound usually creates a small hole, but this type of injury often goes deep and is difficult to clean, increasing the risk of infection. Such wounds may affect mobility, cause excessive bleeding, damage nerves, and even lead to amputation.

• Example: Management fails to conduct regular risk assessments at the warehouse where you work, leaving multiple nails strewn through walkways. You step on one of these nails while manually handling a package, suffering a deep puncture, the force of which causes serious nerve damage with a permanent effect on mobility.

These examples aren’t intended to be an exhaustive list, so please get in touch to see if you have grounds to make a personal injury claim.

What Should I Do After I Stood On A Nail?

If you’ve stood on a nail at work, you should first get immediate medical attention. As we’ve seen, this type of accident has the potential to lead to life-threatening conditions like tetanus.

Depending on how large your employer is, you’ll also want to ensure that the incident has been recorded in an accident book. Companies can use it to inform the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Great Britain’s workforce health and safety regulator, of certain reportable injuries. This requirement is set out by a piece of legislation called the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).

To specifically help your claim, you’ll need to ensure that you have sufficient evidence and are within the correct time limit. We’ll discuss both in the following sections.

Evidence

In order to support your accident at work claim, you will need evidence showing how you meet the eligibility criteria that we outlined earlier in this guide. You might find the following examples to be of use:

• Medical records: This information can show the extent of your injuries and the suffering caused by them. These records can also provide a timeline of your treatments and what the overall prognosis is. For instance, you might have severe injuries that have led to permanent mobility issues, affecting your overall quality of life.
• Witnesses: If your accident was witnessed by others, such as colleagues, then you could collect their contact details and pass them on to your personal injury solicitor. They can use those details to collect statements in support of your claim.
• Visual record: Photographs can not only show your visible injuries but also document the scene where you stood on a nail at work. If you developed tetanus, you could take videos showing your muscle spasms and jaw stiffness. Additionally, there may be CCTV or other video footage showing the accident happening.

Gathering evidence is an important part of the claims process, one which can benefit from the expertise of a personal injury solicitor. If you work with a solicitor from our panel, they will be able to help you from the outset with obtaining proof for your claim.

Time Limits

Personal injury claims have 3 years in which to be started, as established by the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit, also referred to as a limitation period, usually begins from the date of an injury, but there are exceptions to this. Specifically, children and mentally incapacitated adults are exempt from the time limit as neither group can make a claim on their own.

In such circumstances, the standard 3 years will only take effect if:

• A child turns 18, at which point they have till their 21st birthday to launch a claim.
• If an individual’s mental capacity returns. Then, the 3-year window begins from the date of recovery.

However, a litigation friend can be used to help someone from one of the above groups make a claim whilst time limits are on hold. This role may be filled by any adult, including loved ones and solicitors.

For more information on the limitation period and how to prove an accident at work, feel free to speak to an advisor. They’re here to help, and all advice given is free and confidential.

Get Help From Legal Expert

You can get help from one of our expert personal injury solicitors and benefit from their years of experience advocating for clients nationwide. Our solicitors work to the highest professional standards, offering services like:

• Negotiating tirelessly to secure a settlement for you.
• Helping collect evidence, including witness statements.
• Connecting you with specialists, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
• Providing clear, regular advice and answering any questions you have about the claims process.
• Handling all communications on your behalf.

With a commitment to represent all clients regardless of their financial situation, our solicitors work under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement. Often known simply as a CFA, it means you won’t face paying upfront or ongoing fees for your solicitor’s work. If you don’t get any compensation, you don’t pay any solicitor fees at all.

Under a CFA, you do pay a success fee if you win compensation. The fee is payment for your solicitor’s service and comes out of your compensation, but the percentage taken is capped by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.

Contact Our Accident At Work Solicitors

If you’re ready to find out whether you can claim for being injured after you stood on a nail at work, our advisory team is here to assist. They’re available 24/7 and can provide further guidance on the claims process. Get in touch by:

• Calling us on 0800 073 8804
• Using the live chat feature
• Contacting us online

More Information

You may want to check some of our other guides, including:

• Frequently asked questions about accident at work claims.
• How to claim as a cleaner injured at work.
• Find out about making an unsafe work area claim.

As well, we’ve gathered some useful external resources:

• A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) overview of employer responsibilities.
• HSE guidance on using personal protective equipment.
• Government information on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

If you’ve been injured after you stood on a nail at work, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our advisory team to see if you can claim compensation.

Our guide today will discuss who is able to make an endometriosis compensation claim. We’ll also look at how compensation could be awarded for successful gynaecology negligence claims.

We then move on to discuss what endometriosis is, some of the symptoms and how negligence can worsen this condition. If you decide to seek compensation, we will look at some of the items you could gather to help strengthen your case. We’ll also explain the time limits in place for launching medical negligence claims.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) in a recent report found that an average of 2% of reproductive age women were found to have an endometriosis diagnosis. However, they also found that the average age at diagnosis was 35 years. This figure doesn’t consider women living with endometriosis that remains undiagnosed and, therefore, untreated. If you’ve been affected by gynaecologist negligence, one of our solicitors could help you. Read on to learn how our solicitors could help you make an endometriosis compensation claim today.

Contact Us

To find out more about endometriosis compensation, contact us by:

• Call us on 0800 073 8804
• Fill out our claim online form
• Use our live chat

Jump To A Section 

1. Am I Able To Make A Claim For Endometriosis Compensation?
2. How Much Endometriosis Negligence Compensation Can I Get?
3. What Is Endometriosis?
4. What Are Some Endometriosis Medical Negligence Examples?
5. How Can I Claim For Endometriosis Compensation?
6. Our No Win No Fee Endometriosis Negligence Solicitors
7. More Information

Am I Able To Make A Claim For Endometriosis Compensation?

In order for you to be able to make an endometriosis compensation claim, we must be able to prove that medical negligence occurred.

To do this, three factors must be present:

• A medical professional owed you a duty of care
• They breached this duty
• The breach led to you sustaining harm that wouldn’t have otherwise occurred.

The duty of care that is owed to you is by every medical professional who treats you, whether this be a doctor, nurse or midwife. In line with their duty, they must treat you with the standard expected of them.

In endometriosis compensation claims, a lot of the time, those struggling with the condition may have gone undiagnosed for a long period of time. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including how the symptoms of endometriosis present themselves, as a few other conditions have similar symptoms. Additionally, the medical professionals who had treated the patient may not have properly considered their symptoms or concerns and hadn’t ordered further testing where necessary. This would constitute a breach of their duty of care.

If you believe you received a substandard level of care, contact us today to see how we could help.

How Much Endometriosis Negligence Compensation Can I Get?

The amount of endometriosis compensation you could get is dependent on a few factors, which we discuss below.

Your compensation in medical negligence claims is generally made up of two sections. These are called general and special damages.

Your general damages are compensation for the pain, suffering and any loss of amenity you have experienced as a result. So, if your condition has left you unable to engage in hobbies the way you did beforehand, this will be taken into consideration.

Special damages are a head of claim for the financial impact that your endometriosis has had on you. This includes any loss of earnings if you haven’t been able to attend work because of your condition. It also considers things like short or long-term medical costs, prescription costs and even travel costs.

In order to claim special damages, you must have evidence that shows how your condition has financially impacted you. This could be:

• Payslips to show a loss of earnings
• Prescription receipts
• Travel receipts

The table below offers guideline compensation amounts for this type of claim. These figures have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which are a framework used by professionals to help calculate an appropriate sum of compensation.

Please note that these are guideline amounts, and the first figure hasn’t been taken from the JCG.

What Factors Will Affect The Amount Of Compensation?

In an endometriosis compensation claim, the factors which will be considered when your general damages compensation is being calculated are:

• The severity of your pain and suffering
• The duration of your condition, as a number of endometriosis cases go undiagnosed
• Any impact on fertility
• The impact that endometriosis has had on your quality of life
• The extent of treatment you will need to manage your symptoms and pain

The factors which will impact your special damages could be things like the requirement for care costs, medical help and prescription costs.  Another factor which might affect your special damages could be the loss of income, if your endometriosis symptoms have left you unable to work.

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a painful medical condition where cells that are similar to those found in the womb grow outside of the uterus, usually in the pelvic area.  It generally affects the fallopian tubes, ovaries and tissue lining the pelvis.

Undiagnosed endometriosis can, in some cases, lead to the growth of cysts called endometriomas. It can also cause fertility issues if it is left untreated.

The Most Common Endometriosis Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of endometriosis are:

• Severe period pain, which impacts your ability to do your usual activities, such as going to work
• Pain in the lower stomach and lower back
• Pain during or after sex
• Extremely heavy periods
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Fatigue

How Should Endometriosis Be Diagnosed?

In order to receive an official diagnosis of endometriosis, the first step is attending a GP appointment.

This is where you would describe your symptoms and how they are impacting your life. Your GP would then perform an examination, of your abdomen as well as as a vaginal exam. They should also perform a blood test here.

Following your initial GP appointment, if they suspect it could be endometriosis, they should then refer you to a specialist gynaecologist for further tests.

If they fail to order further testing and misdiagnose you at this stage, it can delay your treatment and worsen your pre-existing, undiagnosed condition.

The next step in diagnosis is an ultrasound scan and a laparoscopy. This test may help to determine an endometriosis diagnosis.

This type of medical test is where medical professionals will insert a camera into your pelvis. Through the camera, a doctor is able to look for any signs of endometriosis and then they can diagnose.

Treatments For Endometriosis

Endometriosis doesn’t have a cure, but there are ways that it can be managed.

Some treatments include:

• Prescribed painkillers to help manage the physical pain of your condition
• Laparoscopy surgery – this can confirm and diagnose endometriosis, but medical professionals can also destroy some of the endometriosis cells while performing a laparoscopy.
• Hormonal therapy can also help manage some of the symptoms of endometriosis.
• In particularly severe cases, you might consider a hysterectomy or oophorectomy.

The Impacts Of Leaving Endometriosis Untreated

Most people suffering from endometriosis won’t have received any treatment to deal with this until after the diagnosis. This can pose risks of:

• The growth of ovarian cysts
• Chronic pain
• Infertitlity
• Development of scar tissue

The other impacts of leaving endometriosis untreated include a reduction in your quality of life and, therefore, an effect on your mental health.

To discuss your potential endometriosis compensation claim with us at Legal Expert, call us today.

What Are Some Endometriosis Medical Negligence Examples?

In the sections below, we look at some ways medical negligence could occur. In some of these situations, you could be eligible to claim endometriosis compensation.

Misdiagnosis

A misdiagnosis can result in being treated for a condition that you do not have while your initial condition remains untreated. If you presented to your GP with typical endometriosis symptoms and they did not offer you further testing and instead diagnosed you with another condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome, you could be eligible to seek compensation. Furthermore, while your endometriosis remains undiagnosed, it can spread or worsen, leading to damage to your pelvic organs.

Delayed Treatment

A delay in treatment can mean continuous pain and suffering. It can lead to worsened symptoms, causing an impact on your quality of life. Similarly to misdiagnosis, it can also increase the risks of organ damage.

If you suffered due to a misdiagnosis or a delay in treatment, speak to a member our team. A member of our team can review your case and advise on whether you have good grounds to sue for gynaecological negligence.

How Can I Claim For Endometriosis Compensation?

Generally, you have 3 years to start a medical negligence claim. In endometriosis compensation claims, the time limit runs from either:

• The date that the medical negligence occurred
• The date of knowledge – this is the date when you became aware of the medical negligence (or would have been expected to know that negligence occurred).

This time limit is established in the Limitation Act 1980. However, the Limitation Act allows for some exceptions to this time limit. Please speak to an advisor to discuss these.

As well as ensuring your claim is started within the time limit, another important step in any compensation claim is the evidence.

Your evidence in endometriosis compensation claims could be items like:

• Medical records or GP records
• Correspondence with your GP or any medical professional
• Copies of your prescription, to highlight what medication you have been prescribed, or to determine misdiagnosis or delays
• Contact details of anyone who may have witnessed your medical treatment to obtain a witness statement at a later stage
• Diary entries, to demonstrate the severity of your pain and suffering

By instructing one of our expert solicitors, as part of the services offered, they would help you to obtain this useful evidence.

Contact us today if you have any questions about time limits or evidence. Our advisors are happy to answer any questions you might have.

Our No Win No Fee Endometriosis Negligence Solicitors

By instructing one of our solicitors to work on your claim, you can rest assured that you are in expert hands. They work on a No Win No Fee basis, under a Conditional Fee Agreement.

What this means is that you wouldn’t be required to pay for their services at the beginning or during the claims process.

Instead, if successful in claiming endometriosis compensation, a fee would be deducted at the end of your claim as a percentage known as a ‘success fee’. This fee is limited in line with the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, to ensure you receive the majority of your compensation.

Our solicitors have decades of experience advocating to achieve endometriosis compensation for our clients. They could help with obtaining evidence as we have previously discussed, but this isn’t all they could help you with.

Through instructing one of our solicitors, you can expect them to:

• Explain legal language and your claims process to you
• Keep you updated at every step of the claim
• Ensure your claim is started within the permitted time limit
• Advocate on your behalf to achieve a suitable settlement amount

Here at Legal Expert, we completely understand that living with endometriosis can have a huge impact on your quality of life.

Our team are here to support you, and can connect you with medical professionals who could aid you in your recovery.

Contact Us 

We hope that our guide has been useful for you today; however, if you have any questions, you can contact us by:

• Call us on 0800 073 8804
• Fill out our claim online form
• Use our live chat

More Information

Why not read our other guides on:

• How to make birth injury claims
• How to make a hospital infection claim
• How to make a dental negligence claim

Useful External Resources:

• How to claim Statutory Sick Pay from GOV.UK
• NHS Guidance on Endometriosis
• How to file a complaint against the NHS

Thank you for reading our endometriosis compensation guide. If you need any further help about claiming for gynaecology negligence, please get in touch.

Were you affected by the M&S data breach? Are you looking for more information on M&S data breach claims? If so, we are here to help. Thousands of people are estimated to have been affected by the recent data breach, and if you’ve been harmed as a result, you could be eligible for compensation.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything that you need to know about the breach at M&S, from what happened all the way up to how we can help. We’ll cover how many people were affected by the breach, what kinds of data were accessed, and what you should do if you’ve been told that your personal data was affected.

We are experts in data breach compensation claims, and we are here to help.

Contact Us

We hope that our guide will answer any questions you might have about the recent M&S data breach, but if it doesn’t, our team are here to help. Highly trained, sensitive advisors are waiting to take your call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get in touch with our team today by:

• Calling us on 0800 073 8804
• Starting your claim online
• Using the live chat feature

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How Our Data Breach Experts Can Help After The M&S Data Breach
2. What Caused The Marks And Spencer’s Data Breach?
3. How Many People Were Affected By The M&S Data Breach? 
4. What Data Was Impacted In The Breach?
5. What Should I Do If I’ve Received A Letter From Marks and Spencer?
6. Can I Claim Compensation For The M&S Data Breach?
7. Get Help From Legal Expert
8. Learn More

How Our Data Breach Experts Can Help After The M&S Data Breach

At Legal Expert, we put client care at the forefront of all of our work. That means that when you choose to work with us, you always come first. Countless people have been affected by the recent M&S data breach, and we are here to help.

If you choose to work with one of our solicitors on your claim, they can help you:

• Understand what it takes to form the basis of a valid data breach claim
• Gain a deeper understanding of both the data breach claims process and your chances of success
• Gather evidence to support and strengthen your case
• Negotiate the settlement that you deserve
• Ensure that all of your losses are covered by your compensation

Keep reading to find out more about M&S data breach claims, or contact our team today if you’re ready to get started.

What Caused The Marks And Spencer Data Breach?  

The Marks and Spencer data breach was caused by a ransomware attack, according to a report from the BBC. While the exact cause hasn’t been revealed yet, there is speculation surrounding a group called Scattered Spider, which used a service called DragonForce. This service offers affiliate cybercrime software.

The group and the software are also believed to be involved in other recent cyberattacks on well-known brands, including Co-op and Harrods. According to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which is the UK’s independent data protection watchdog, ransomware attacks made up 6% of all reported data security complaints in 2024.

Keep reading for more information on M&S data breach claims, or contact a member of our team if you have more questions.

How Many People Were Affected By The M&S Data Breach? 

The actual amount of customers affected by the breach hasn’t yet been revealed, so we have no way of knowing just how many people have been harmed. But if your personal data has been affected, and this has caused you a psychological injury or financial harm, then you could be eligible for compensation.

Our team are on hand to help, whatever your worries. Get in touch today for more information on M&S data breach claims, or keep reading to find out what kind of data was impacted by the breach.

What Data Was Impacted In The Breach?

The data breach affected the personal data of customers, as confirmed by M&S in a statement. The retailer confirmed that this could involve data such as:

• Contact details, like your phone number or email address
• Date of birth
• Full name
• Postal address
• Online order history

M&S have confirmed that no usable card or payment details were affected in the breach, nor were any account passwords.

If you believe you’ve been harmed as a result of your personal data being affected, contact our team today. We can help you through the M&S data breach claims process from start to finish.

What Should I Do If I’ve Received A Letter From Marks and Spencer?

There are a number of steps that you can take if you’ve received a letter from Marks and Spencer to alert you of a data breach, including:

• Changing passwords: This helps to make sure that you are the only person with access to your account.
• Monitoring your accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts and make sure you don’t notice any suspicious activity, as this could indicate that someone else has access.
• Being wary of suspicious phone calls or emails: If criminals get access to your phone number or email address, they can use phishing schemes to get more of your personal data.
• Seeking legal advice: If you’ve suffered emotional harm or financial harm as a result of the breach, we recommend speaking to an expert. Our advisors can help you get in touch with an expert solicitor.

A data breach can affect people in different ways, and if you’ve been harmed, you may be able to make an M&S data breach claim. Contact us today to learn more.

Can I Claim Compensation For The M&S Data Breach?

Yes, you can claim compensation for the M&S data breach, as long as you can prove that:

• The breach was the retailer’s fault
• Your personal data was affected
• This caused emotional or financial harm — For example, you suffered from anxiety or depression, or lost earnings while taking time off work to recover

This means that you need to be able to prove that the breach occurred because M&S or a third party they employed did not comply with important data protection legislations, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) or the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).

We understand that this might seem confusing, but we are here to help. When you contact our advisors for free, they can evaluate your case and tell you whether or not you could have a valid claim. And if you do, they can connect you with an expert data breach solicitor from our panel.

Get Help From Legal Expert

At Legal Expert, we believe in putting our clients first. This means that everything we do is based around you, from start to finish. Our solicitors have years of experience, training, and education, and they can use these to help you through every step of the data breach claims process.

Plus, our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. They use something called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which means that you can access their expert services without:

• Taking any fees for their work upfront
• Taking any fees for their work as your claim is ongoing
• Taking any fees for their work at all if your claim fails

If one of our No Win No Fee solicitors helps you make a successful claim, then they’ll be due a small percentage of your compensation. This is called a success fee. Furthermore, the percentage is subject to a cap put in place by the law. This is to make sure that the fees are fair and you aren’t overcharged.

Contact Our Team

We are here to help. If you’d like to learn more about making M&S data breach claims, or if you’re ready to get started, contact us today by:

• Calling us on 0800 073 8804
• Starting your claim online
• Using the live chat feature

Learn More

To learn more about making a data breach claim:

• Learn how to make a claim for an energy company data breach
• Find out how to make an estate agent data breach claim
• Get help making a wealth manager data breach claim

Or, for further resources:

• Get information for the public from the ICO
• Find guidance on data breaches from the National Cyber Security Centre
• Learn about anxiety from the NHS

Thank you for reading our guide on M&S data breach claims.