Spinal cord injury claims Manchester

A spinal cord injury occurs when a portion of the spinal cord or the surrounding nerves at the base of the spine have been damaged. Generally, the closer the spinal cord injury is to the brain, the more severe the damage and the more parts of the body will be affected.

Injuries to the spinal cord can severely impact many aspects of a person’s life, with paralysis, incontinence and loss of the upper body and arm use among the potential consequences. The extent of the disability will be determined by the level of the spinal cord injury and whether it is complete or incomplete.

For spinal cord injury claims, you can make a claim within a time limit of three years from the date you received the injury.

For children, a claim can be made up until their 21st birthday. However, after the child reaches 18, they will have to make a claim on their own behalf.

Spinal injury compensation claims often require several years to reach a settlement. This extended timeframe is necessary to fully grasp how you envision your long-term lifestyle. We prefer to wait until your rehabilitation is complete in order to accurately assess the resources you will require for the rest of your life. Taking the time to comprehend the ramifications of your injury is essential, as the compensation is intended to sustain you for a lifetime. Settling prematurely risks undervaluing your claim.

However, this doesn’t mean that you’ll have to wait years for any form of compensation. In numerous instances, we are able to secure early or interim payments while your case is ongoing. Such payments are possible when the entity you’re claiming from acknowledges liability at an early stage. Interim payments can alleviate immediate financial burdens and can also be utilised for items and services that facilitate your daily living and rehabilitation, such as purchasing a wheelchair or covering the cost of physiotherapy sessions.

When pursuing spinal injury compensation claims, it is vital to engage a solicitor who specialises in the field. If you have reservations or are dissatisfied with the service you’re receiving, you have the freedom to seek a second opinion. Our team of expert solicitors specialising in spinal cord injuries have the requisite experience to secure the compensation you are rightfully due for your spinal injury claim. We can also help you access specialist support to not only assist with your legal proceedings, but also facilitate your rehabilitation. We offer an initial consultation at no cost to evaluate the handling of your spinal cord injury claim and the amount of compensation being pursued. Should you decide to entrust us with your case thereafter, the transition is straightforward; we will liaise with your current solicitor on your behalf.

Safeguarding your means-tested entitlements

Receiving compensation alters your financial landscape, potentially putting your means-tested benefits in jeopardy. Nonetheless, you can secure your eligibility for these benefits by establishing a personal injury trust. Our expert solicitors specialising in spinal injuries are on hand to guide you through this, if relevant.

Prompt medical treatment and rehabilitation

In many spinal injury compensation cases, immediate medical intervention – be it surgery, physiotherapy, counselling or care – can positively influence both your current health status and future wellbeing. Rather than awaiting the resolution of your claim, we have established connections with medical and rehabilitation service providers to kickstart your recovery process at the earliest opportunity.

Known as the vertebral column or spinal column, the spine is a fundamental part of the human body that houses and protects the spinal cord. The spine is comprised of protective bones called vertebrae, which start at the skull and make their way down to the lower back.

The vertebral column is divided into five distinct regions:

• Cervical spine – there are seven vertebrae in this portion of the spine. They are located in the neck and allow for movement of the skull forwards and backwards.
• Thoracic spine – the area in parallel with the thorax (the area between the neck and the abdomen). The thoracic spine has twelve vertebrae in total.
• Lumbar spine – this part of the spine is located in the lower back and contains five vertebrae. Some of the largest non-fused spinal discs are located in this section of the vertebral column. It is also worth noting that the spinal cord does not extend past this point of the spinal column.
• Sacral spine – located in the lower part of the back, these five vertebrae are typically fused together to form a solid structure.
• Coccyx – at the bottom of the spinal column is the coccyx, a part of the body commonly referred to as the tailbone. It is made up of four vertebrae.

Humans rely on the spinal column for core internal support. It plays a key role when we stand, bend and turn, all the while protecting the spinal cord from serious injury.

Built into the spinal column is the spinal cord, a complex series of nerves that start at the bottom of the brain and run down the vertebral column, all the way to the backbone. The spinal cord, along with the brain, is a significant part of the central nervous system.

The spinal cord works as part of the central nervous system, and has an important role to play in the following areas:

• Walking – this activity is coordinated by the brain and the spinal cord. Groups of muscles in the legs have to coordinate to extend and contract repeatedly, with neurons called central pattern generators sending signals to the leg muscles to make this happen.
• Electrical communication – electrical signals are sent up and down the spinal cord, facilitating communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
• Reflexes – involuntary movements that are governed by external stimuli and the brain. For instance, the instinctive reaction to touching something hot is to withdraw the part of the body affected immediately.

How do spinal cord injuries impact day-to-day living?

Suffering a spinal cord injury is life-changing for everyone concerned, and the prospect of full recovery for the victim is often limited at best. For families, watching a loved one suffer and struggle with the consequences of a serious injury places on them enormous stress and daily challenges.

When planning for life after a spinal cord injury, you may have to think about:

• Carers to assist with day-to-day tasks
• Specialist equipment to assist with bodily functions such as breathing, urinating or defecating
• Rehabilitation to retrain your body to perform tasks such as walking or holding an object
• Making alterations to your home to improve access and comfort
• Therapy to come to terms with the nature of the injuries sustained

Spinal cord injuries are categorised by where the injury has been sustained, because the spinal column can be broken down into distinct areas, with each portion housing specific functions.

Sustaining an injury to a higher part of the spine generally results in more serious consequences for the victim.

High-cervical nerves (Upper neck, C1 – C4)

• Severe paralysis is often the result, with hands, legs and torso all paralysed
• The victim may not be able to breathe independently
• Assistance may be required with routine daily activities, such as eating, dressing and getting in and out of bed

Low-cervical nerves (Lower neck C5-C8)

• Responsible for nerves controlling arms and hands
• Typically, people with this type of injury will be able to breathe independently and speak uninhibited
• The victim is likely to be paralysed in the legs and have limited control over their arms
• Many people with this type of spinal injury will have little or no control of their bowels and bladder
• A moderate level of personal care is required for people with this type of injury

Thoracic nerves (Higher, T1 – T5)

• Damage sustained here affects muscles, the upper chest, the mid-back and abdominal muscles
• Injuries usually affect the legs, resulting in paraplegia – paralysis or loss of feeling in the legs or lower body
• The victim can use braces or crutches to walk, as arm and hand function is typically unaffected
• The patient is usually capable of using a wheelchair

Thoracic nerves (Lower, T6 – T12)

• Damage to this area results in loss of function and feeling in the abdominal and back muscles, depending on the nature of the injury sustained
• Upper body movement is usually unaffected
• Many people with this type of spinal injury will have little or no control of their bowels and bladder
• Injury to this area of the spinal cord can result in lower limb paraplegia

Lumbar nerves (L1 – L5)

• Usually leads to a loss of function in the hips and legs
• Injury results in partial or complete loss of control of the bowel and bladder, but the patient can use equipment to manage their condition without care
• A wheelchair may be needed if there is not enough strength in the legs, otherwise, leg braces may be an option

Sacral nerves (S1 – S5)

• Results in some loss of function in the hips and legs
• Many people with this type of spinal injury will have little or no control of their bowels and bladder
• In comparison to damage sustained in other areas of the spinal cord, people with an injury to this area are more likely to be able to walk