By Danielle Jordan. Last Updated 30th September 2024. Welcome to our guide on slipped disc claims. A slipped disc injury can be a painful and even debilitating injury. Commonly known as a ‘slipped disc’, they are caused by the combination of several factors coming together. These injuries are more common in people who spend a lot of time lifting heavy objects.
How a slipped disc injury affects a person can vary quite considerably, and for some people, it will be a very painful injury that causes long-term discomfort and from which they do not completely recover. The extent of the injury will help to determine the amount of compensation that can be claimed.
If you have had a herniated or slipped disc that was not your fault, you may have the right to claim compensation. In this guide, we take you through all you need to know about the personal injury claims process, and the compensation you may deserve.
To speak to an advisor about making a personal injury claim for a herniated or slipped disc, you can contact the Legal Expert team online or on the phone. Our advisors can offer you free advice for your slipped disc injury claim. You can reach us by:
- Using our contact form
- Reaching out through our 24/7 live chat service on our website
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
Select a Section
- What Is The Average Payout For a Herniated Disc In The UK?
- When Can I Make A Slipped Disc Compensation Claim?
- What Are The Causes Of A Slipped Disc Injury?
- Claim Slipped Disc Compensation With Our No Win No Fee Solicitors
- Useful Links On Slipped Disc Compensation Claims
To learn more, please keep reading. You can also watch our video which gives you the key points from the guide:
What Is The Average Payout For a Herniated Disc In The UK?
Herniated disc compensation is valued on a case-by-case basis. This means that every payout is unique, so it can be hard to establish an average amount of compensation. However, we can give you more information on how this compensation is calculated and what it could consist of.
You could receive up to two heads of loss for a successful slipped or herniated disc compensation claim. The first is general damages, which covers the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. General damages also consider how your injuries have affected your day-to-day life by covering loss of amenity.
Those valuing this head of your claim may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them. This document provides a list of guideline compensation amounts for different injuries, including slipped and herniated disc injuries.
In the list below, you can find some examples of these guidelines. Please note that these amounts aren’t guaranteed, and that the first figure has not been taken from the JCG.
- You could potentially receive up to £250,000+ for suffering multiple severe injuries plus special damages.
- You could potentially receive between £80,240 to £159,770 for a severe neck injury, where disc damage in the cervical spine leads to considerably severe disabilities (such as loss of function in 1 or more limbs).
- You could potentially receive between £16,770 to £30,500 for a moderate neck injury, where disc lesions lead to cervical spondylosis.
- You could potentially receive between £47,320 to £85,100 for a severe back injury, where disc fractures lead to chronic conditions and disabilities that remain even after surgery.
- You could potentially receive between £33,880 to £47,320 for a moderate back injury, where a prolapsed intervertebral disc requires surgery.
- You could potentially receive between £15,260 to £33,880 for a moderate back injury, where a prolapsed disc requires a laminectomy.
- You could potentially receive between £9,630 to £15,260 for a minor back injury, where recovery without surgery takes between 2-5 years
What Else Can I Claim For A Herniated Disc?
Additionally, you may be able to claim back any of the financial losses you suffered due to your injury under special damages if you make a successful slipped disc injury claim.
Some examples of the financial losses and costs that could be compensated for under special damages include:
- A loss of earnings if you required time off work due to your back injury.
- Medical costs, such as paying for over-the-counter pain relief rehabilitation such as physiotherapy.
- Travel expenses, such as paying for taxi or train fares to medical appointments.
You will need to present evidence of these losses with documents such as payslips and invoices.
Contact our advisors today if you still have any questions regarding how much compensation you could receive for a successful slipped disc compensation claim. They could also provide you with a free valuation of your case and may connect you with a personal injury lawyer.
When Can I Make A Slipped Disc Compensation Claim?
To be eligible to claim slipped disc compensation, you must show that negligence has occurred. Negligence can be defined as when a duty of care is breached, and this results in you becoming injured.
As such, here are the slipped disc compensation claims eligibility criteria:
- You were owed a duty of care by a liable third party.
- The liable third party breached their duty of care.
- You were injured as a result of this breach.
There are numerous third parties that could owe you a duty of care in different settings. For example:
- At work – your employer has a duty of care to do what can be reasonably expected to ensure your health, safety and welfare at work. This is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
- On the road – all road users have a duty to follow the rules in The Highway Code and The Road Traffic Act 1988 in order to keep each other safe and without risk of injury.
- In public – the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 sets out the duty of care that occupiers of land or buildings have to ensure visitors are reasonably safe whilst on their premises.
If you think you meet the eligibility criteria, then please contact us today. You can talk to an advisor directly about your claim enquiry and potentially connect with a specialist solicitor.
Time Limits For Slipped or Herniated Disc Compensation Claims
It’s important to make sure that you begin your compensation claim for slipped disc injuries within the correct time limit. The time limit for starting a personal injury claim is generally three years from the date of your injuries, in line with the Limitation Act 1980.
However, this time limit only applies to those aged 18 or over. If you are injured as a minor, then the time limit is frozen, and you won’t be able to claim for yourself until the time limit comes into effect on your 18th birthday. However, a litigation friend can begin proceedings for you at any time while the limit is frozen.
Likewise, the time limit does not apply to those who lack the capacity to claim for themselves. In these cases, it is suspended indefinitely and will only come into force if the claimant recovers the appropriate mental capacity. However, a litigation friend can start proceedings on behalf of the claimant at any time while the limit remains suspended.
Our team can help you find out whether you are within the time limit to make a herniated disc claim when you get in touch today.
What Are The Causes Of A Slipped Disc Injury?
There are various ways in which you could suffer a slipped disc. However, in order to be eligible to seek compensation, you must prove that a liable party breached the duty of care they owed to you.
Here are a few situations that can result in a slipped disc:
- Inadequate manual handling training at work. As part of their duty of care, your employer should provide you with manual handling training if this is required to safely carry out your work duties.
- A car accident. The jerking movement if you are hit from behind can cause a back or neck injury.
- Falling from a height. For example, a hard landing can result in a disc injury.
- A slip, trip and fall can also cause a spinal cord injury. Your torso may twist out of place while slipping and tripping, which can cause the injury, as can a hard landing.
If you have any questions about the average payout for a herniated disc or to discuss the incident that caused your injury, speak with an advisor from our team.
Evidence That Can Support Herniated Disc Injury Claims
Now that we’ve discussed the meaning of a slipped disc as well as the potential causes of a slipped disc, you might be ready to make a personal injury claim. However, you’ll need evidence that can prove you have been injured and that the defendant breached their duty of care.
Below are examples of evidence you could gather for a claim after suffering a slipped disc in your back:
- You could request CCTV footage of the accident that caused your injury. This may be applicable if your accident happened in a public place, such as a restaurant.
- Speak to witnesses and ask for their details so that your solicitor can contact them for a statement during the claims process.
- Getting a diagnosis from a medical professional can offer evidence of your injuries. One of our solicitors could arrange an assessment for you if you work with us.
- Anything that can prove special damages you may be able to claim for, such as a bank statement, receipts, invoices or your wage slip.
Once you have gathered evidence, your claim could be eligible for personal injury compensation. If you are wondering what compensation you could receive, we’ll discuss potential figures in the next section. However, if you would like to speak with us, get in touch at any time.
Claim Slipped Disc Compensation With Our No Win No Fee Solicitors
After a slipped disc injury, you might benefit from hiring a No Win No Fee solicitor to help you put together your personal injury claim. Personal injury solicitors who work under this arrangement will offer you a form of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement. One advantage of this is that you won’t need to pay your solicitor for their services should your claim fail.
Usually, under this agreement, there are no upfront legal fees whilst ongoing costs accrued during the claims process are covered too. A success fee is deducted from your compensation if your claim succeeds, but you won’t be overcharged as the fee is capped under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
If you have suffered a prolapsed or herniated disc, and would like to work with a No Win No Fee solicitor, we could arrange this for you. Furthermore, our expert solicitors can use their experience to let you know the average payout for a personal injury in the UK. To receive free legal advice from our advisors, you can:
- Call us at any for free on 0800 073 8804
- Request a free call back by completing the online claim form
- Use our 24/7 live chat service using the widget on your screen
Useful Links On Slipped Disc Compensation Claims
- Compensation for a Moderate Back Injury
- Lower Back Injury Claims
- Army Back Injury Claims
- Stolen Vehicle Accident Claims Guide
- Personal Injury Claims Guide
- Read this to learn more about claiming for neck pain after a car accident
- Learn how to make heavy furniture lifting injury compensation claims with our helpful guide.
- Get compensation if a driver ran over your foot. Learn about the claims process with our guide.
- Advice on claiming for a soft tissue injury. Learn more about the soft tissue injury claims process with our guide.
- Get more information on the minimum speed for a whiplash claim by reading our informative guide.
