Living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) can feel overwhelming. Symptoms are real, often unpredictable and can affect every part of daily life – from work and mobility to confidence, finances and relationships.
If your FND started after an accident or another traumatic event caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to claim compensation. This can help with treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, care and longer-term support.
FND is a condition affecting how the brain and nervous system send and receive signals. A person can have very real symptoms even where scans or tests do not show any organic or structural damage. Symptoms may include weakness, tremor, seizure-like episodes, speech problems, sensory changes, pain, fatigue and difficulties with memory or concentration.
At Hugh James, we support people whose FND symptoms began or became significantly worse after road traffic collisions, accidents at work and public liability accidents. We work to secure compensation alongside access to treatment, rehabilitation and practical support.
If you believe you have an FND claim, get in contact with our experts today.
An FND compensation claim is a legal claim for damages where Functional Neurological Disorder has been caused, triggered or made materially worse by someone else’s negligence.
As part of a personal injury claim this may cover pain and suffering, loss of earnings, treatment costs, rehabilitation, care and assistance, travel expenses, accommodation needs and other financial losses linked to the condition.
FND symptoms vary from person to person. Some people experience weakness, tremor, balance problems, altered walking patterns, falls or reduced coordination.
Others have numbness, pins and needles, altered sensation, limb heaviness, pain or unusual bodily perceptions.
Some people experience dissociative episodes or seizure-like attacks, sometimes described as non-epileptic attack disorder. These episodes can be frightening, exhausting and very disruptive.
Speech, swallowing, visual and hearing-related symptoms can also occur. Many people also report fatigue, headaches, brain fog, poor concentration and memory difficulties.
Because symptoms can fluctuate, FND can be especially hard to explain to employers, insurers, family members and even healthcare professionals unfamiliar with the condition.
FND can make it difficult to work, manage a routine or stay independent. Even simple daily tasks may become tiring or unsafe.
Mobility can be affected by weakness, dizziness, tremor, poor balance or seizure-like episodes. This may affect walking, driving, using public transport and getting to appointments.
People may need help with washing, dressing, cooking, cleaning, childcare or shopping. Some require supervision because of falls, blackouts or unpredictable episodes.
FND can also affect social life and confidence. Many people withdraw from hobbies, family events or community activities because symptoms are unpredictable or misunderstood.
It is also common for people to experience anxiety, low mood, trauma symptoms or loss of confidence alongside FND, particularly where the condition has had a major impact on work, relationships and independence.
You may be able to claim if your FND started, was triggered or became significantly worse after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Examples include a road traffic collision, an accident at work, a slip or fall in a public place.
These cases are often complex. We look closely at when symptoms began, how they developed, what the medical evidence shows and whether the negligent event caused or materially worsened the condition. Where appropriate, we also seek early rehabilitation and interim payments to support recovery.
Evidence may include medical records, witness statements, employment records, care evidence and expert reports. Depending on the case, experts may include neurologists, neuropsychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatrists, pain specialists, occupational therapists, care experts and employment experts.
Our serious injury team has extensive experience in catastrophic and medically complex claims, including cases involving brain injury, spinal cord injury, pain conditions, functional symptoms, delayed diagnosis and disputed causation.
We understand that FND claims need careful preparation and the right expert evidence. We take symptoms seriously from the outset and build claims around the real impact on daily life, work, care needs and future security.
Jeremy Barker: After a motorway collision, Jeremy developed dizziness, poor balance, tinnitus, blurred vision, fatigue, headaches, hearing loss, nausea, cognitive problems and Functional Neurological Disorder with motor impairment. The case involved contested causation and overlapping vestibular, neurological and psychiatric issues. It settled at a highly contested mediation for a significant sum, reflecting the long-term impact of his injuries and ongoing need for treatment and support.
Jo Newsham: Jo was injured in a road traffic collision and, in the context of previously undiagnosed cervical stenosis, suffered acute spinal cord damage with life-changing neurological consequences. She later developed Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder and Functional Neurological Disorder. After her case transferred to our specialist team, the evidence established the true mechanism and impact of her injuries. The claim settled at a Joint Settlement Meeting in March 2025 for a substantial amount.
Yes – in some cases, you can. The key question is whether the evidence shows that the accident or negligent event caused, triggered or materially worsened the condition.
It depends on liability, the complexity of the medical evidence and whether your long-term prognosis is clear, as symptoms may change over time. It is often important not to settle too early.
Depending on the facts of the case, compensation may include damages for pain and suffering, lost earnings, treatment and therapy, care and case management, aids and equipment, transport, accommodation needs and other reasonable past and future expenses.
Mark Robinson
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