If you suffered from a back injury through no fault of your own and due to negligence by your employer, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Garratts’ team of personal injury solicitors is highly experienced in handling back injury claims. Fill in our contact form or call us on 0161 665 3502 to find out if you’re eligible to make a claim.
What is a back injury?
A back injury may result from damage or trauma to the upper and/or lower back including nerve irritation (sciatica), slipped discs or fractures to the spine’s vertebrae.
If left untreated, commonly occurring back pain may, in severe cases, lead to back injuries. For this reason, the person suffering from back pain should monitor for any of the following;
- If the pain improves within 2-3 weeks after the accident;
- If back pain prevents them from completing daily life chores or work-related tasks;
- If the pain worsens and becomes stronger;
- If the back pain affects the individual’s mental health and wellbeing
What are the causes of back injuries at work?
The HSE advises that back pain and back-related injuries may result from the following:
- The lifting of heavy or bulky objects
- Repetitive strain tasks, i.e. packing orders
- Frequent bending or crouching
- One-sided or one-handed carrying of heavy loads
- Staying in the same stance/position for too long
- Physical overtiredness
- Long car journeys for work especially if the seat isn’t adjustable
How can employers reduce the risk of manual handling back injuries?
Set out in the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, UK employers are responsible for effectively managing and dealing with risks from manual handling operations. These include the avoidance of any hazardous manual handling operations, assessing them if they can’t be avoided and reducing any risk of injury as practicably reasonable (MOHR 1992).
What are the different types of back injuries?
Back injuries are generally classed as one of the following and based on the location of a range of medical symptoms.
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Sprains and strains
A sprain or strain may result from acute or long-term pain in the back. The difference between a sprain and a strain is that the latter may happen to be caused by a muscle being pulled or twisted; whereas a sprain usually occurs from a fall or joint trauma.
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Prolapsed (‘bulging’) and herniated (‘slipped’) discs
A herniated, or slipped disc happens when there is a tear or crack in the cartilage’s outer layer and the soft inner cartilage pushes through this. With prolapsed, or bulging disks, no tears or cracks occur but instead, the outer cartilage of the disk may reverse-push into the spine. Both conditions may result in nerve damage, ligament pains or numbness.
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Paraplegia
Serious back injuries may result in paraplegia whereby the affected person may not be able to move lower parts of their body.
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Fractured vertebra
Often the result of a fall, i.e. from heights, a fractured vertebra (or compression fracture) may result in spinal damage whereby the spine weakens or ages (StElizabeth.com).
I hurt my back at work. What should I do now?
Here at Garratts, we have got decades of experience in handling back injury claims in a discrete, highly professional manner. If you wish to discuss your claim with one of our personal injury solicitors, you can get in touch via 0161 665 3502 or fill in our contact form to start the claims process today.
How long have I got to make a claim?
Providing you are aged over 18 years old and a UK resident, you will have three years from the date of your back injury to claim compensation. Contact our offices as soon as possible if your accident happened in the last three years.
You may also claim on behalf of an under-18-year-old who may have completed an apprenticeship, work experience or was in part-time employment when the accident occurred. In this case, there is no time restriction until their 18th birthday.
How much compensation can I expect for my back injury?
The amount of compensation awarded to you will vary based on the type of back injury you sustained and how it has affected your personal and professional life including any loss of income. In any case, our work accident solicitors always have your best interests at heart and will aim to get you the highest amount of compensation for your claim.
