£58,000 Compensation Payout For An NHS Worker – Case Study

By Joanne Jeffries. Last Updated 10th November 2021. Welcome to this case study which looks at personal injury claims payouts for NHS workers.

On this page, we are going to examine an actual claim that resulted in compensation for an NHS worker awarded for a work-related injury. We will dissect the personal injury claim for a fractured lower spine, and look at how much compensation was paid for this type of traumatic injury, and other considerations.

Once you have finished reading this guide, you might have questions related to how it correlates with your own potential claim. If this is the case, our claims team can help you. Just give them a call on 0800 073 8801 and they will be able to help you. They can go over your claim with you, and talk you through our new claims process to get your claim started as soon as possible. We could also help with claims such as a slip, trip and fall, a road traffic accident and medical negligence.  If you have suffered any injury or illness you believe was someone else’s fault, we could help you get the compensation you deserve.

NHS worker personal injury claims payouts for NHS workers

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How Did The Claimant Suffer This Coccyx Injury?

The information this case study is based on, was originally published by The Standard in 2017. The case study involves three separate parties. Firstly, the victim, a 29-year-old female pharmacist. Secondly, the perpetrator, a male work colleague. And lastly, the National Health Service (NHS), which both people worked for at the time of the incident.

What started off as a practical joke, ended in disaster and resulted in a compensation claim for £58,000. The perpetrator of the incident took a chair away as the victim was about to sit down on it, intending for her to simply stagger or catch herself when she sensed the chair was no longer beneath her. Instead, she fell back on to the floor quite heavily injuring her coccyx (tail bone).

The victim used a personal injury lawyer to purse a claim against the NHS hospital she was working for at the time, for the injury she sustained. This resulted in fractured lower spine compensation amounts being evaluated by the court, and the final settlement of £58,000 being offered.

How Was The Injury Caused To The NHS Worker?

In this case study, the NHS workplace accident itself was caused by an employee of the NHS. So, this case study shows how it is possible to make a work injury claim against the NHS, based on the actions of one of its employees.

A co-worker sharing a work space with the claimant, decided to play a practical joke on her, and pulled her chair away just as she was about to sit down. The intention was for the claimant to realise the chair was missing and stop herself falling further. However, the claimant was entirely engrossed in her work, and failed to notice the chair was no longer underneath her. She fell back heavily onto the floor and fractured her coccyx.

Even though it was another employee who caused the incident, the NHS could be held liable. We will cover this in a later section.

What Is A Fractured Lower Spine Or Coccyx?

Your coccyx is a remnant left over from human evolution, it is what remains of the tail that our genetic ancestors once had. This is why it is often named the tail bone. Bruising or fracturing the coccyx can be a very painful injury, and can prevent a victim from sitting or lying down comfortably.

One of the most common ways for a coccyx injury to happen, is falling backwards, which is exactly what happened to the claimant in this case study. It is very hard to treat a damaged tail none, but the following treatments can have some benefit:

  • Using a coccyx cushion
  • Avoid sitting down for extended periods
  • Wear clothes that are loose and baggy
  • Use cold and warm packs applied to the coccyx
  • Take laxatives so that passing waste is easier and will not cause pain
  • Take painkillers, either prescribed or over the counter

As you can see, treatment is therapeutic rather than focused on treating the injury. This is because the coccyx is a small bone which cannot be bandages, or put in a cast to prevent it moving whilst a break/fracture heals.

If you were to suffer a back injury, such as an injured coccyx at work, you too could have a valid reason to make a compensation claim. Speak to our claims team today to learn if your case could be valid and to find out how to proceed with a injured coccyx a work claim.

When Could You Claim Against An Employer?

One of the things that you will need to do, in order for a personal injury solicitor to process a workplace accident claim for you, is to prove liability. In the case of the work-related injury we discussed in the case study, the victim claimed that her work colleague failed to fulfil the duty of care they had towards all employees they work with. This breach in duty of care directly resulted in the NHS accident at work being filed by the claimant.

This demonstrates how a company is responsible for the actions of their employees. When an employee does something that causes harm to a member of the public, or as in this case, a work colleague, a claim could be possible. If it can be proven an employee of the company was directly or indirectly responsible for causing harm to another person, a valid claim could well exist.

This holds true regardless of the reason the employee caused harm to another party. It could be due to a lack of training, insufficient supervision, or any other reason. If you have been injured in an accident at work that was caused by another employee, then you may well have the basis of a valid compensation claim. Speak to a member of our claims team to get your claim started today.

The Case For Compensation For An NHS Worker

When it comes to making personal injury claims, the claimant must be able to prove they were injured by a third party, and also demonstrate why they are eligible for damages. In this case study, the victim made a claim against the NHS for a fractured coccyx.

Liability was proven, as the NHS did not refute that one of their employees had caused the incident that resulted in the injury that the claimant suffered. The ultimate result of this, was that the claimant received £58,000 in compensation.

This compensation was paid for a variety of reasons which would include pain and suffering, as well as non-physical losses such as missing out on earnings while the victim recovered from the injury.

If you would like to find out what damages you could potentially claim for in your own circumstances, please speak to one of our claim advisers today.

Compensation Calculator For Coccyx And Lower Back Injuries

It is impossible to work out an average for fractured lower spine compensation payouts. Every claim and the injury as well as accident it is based on, has unique characteristics so that no two cases are the same. However, you can use the table below, which has been created based on the UK Judicial College Guidelines used to calculated compensation settlements by courts and insurance companies. It shows possible compensation ranges for a number of different injuries.

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Injury Severity Information Compensation
Neck Minor Injuries at the lower end of the severity scale such as lacerations and cuts, minor burns, and trivial soft tissue injuries. The injuries would heal very quickly. Up to £7,410
Moderate All injuries that would heal completely within a year from diagnosis. Sprains, strains and less serious fractures and vertebrae damage. £7,410 to £36,120
Severe Injuries that would result in long-term pain and suffering, sometimes with permanent symptoms. All soft tissue injuries as well as fractured vertebrae, damage to the spinal column or spinal nerves. £42,680 to £139,210
Back Minor Injuries at the lower end of the severity scale such as lacerations and cuts, minor burns, and trivial soft tissue injuries. The injuries would heal very quickly Up to £11,730
Moderate All injuries that would heal completely within a year from diagnosis. Sprains, strains and less serious fractures and vertebrae damage. £11,730 to £36,390
Severe Injuries that would result in long-term pain and suffering, sometimes with permanent symptoms. All soft tissue injuries as well as fractured vertebrae, damage to the spinal column or spinal nerves. £36,390 to £151,070

If you want some more information about compensation payouts, for example, you would like to find out how much you could claim in your own case, then please speak to a member of our claims team today.

No Win No Fee Compensation For An NHS Worker

If you choose to use the services of a No Win No Fee lawyer, you will have taken steps to mitigate financial risks associated with making a claim for compensation against a negligent third party. This is because the lawyer will not collect their pre-agreed fee, until such time as they have received a compensation payment for you. Put simply, unless you win your claim you don’t pay a thing.

When the lawyer starts working on your claim, they won’t expect to be paid a fee. They also will not collect ongoing fees during the time it takes to process your claim. If the lawyer can’t get you any compensation at all, you still pay nothing.

If you need more information about the way this fee structure works, then please reach out to our claims team today. A claims adviser can go over the concept of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) with you, and discuss whether it is a good fit for your own claim.

Could I Make A Compensation Claim?

We believe that we offer a very straightforward and simple personal injury claims process that everyone can follow easily to get the legal help they need, when they need it. To get your claim started, just follow these three simple steps:

  • Call our claims team, you can find the phone number in the section below. They will answer any questions you have, and also provide you with critical information such as the personal injury claims time limit that will apply
  • A claim adviser will evaluate your claim for you, and let you know what your legal options are, they can also arrange for a solicitor to process your claim for you if applicable
  • A solicitor will begin processing your claim under a No Win No Fee agreement. Trying to get you the maximum level of compensation they can

As you can see, this is a very simple new claims process, so call us today to get your claim underway.

Start Your Workplace Accident Claim And Receive Personal Injury Claims Payouts For NHS Workers

Have you been injured in a workplace accident? If you have, you may have questions about the claims process, whether your claim is valid, compensation amounts, etc. No matter what help you need related to your claim, we can assist you. Please contact our claims team on 0800 073 8801 for further help and advice.

Could I receive personal injury claims payouts for NHS workers who have lost their lives?

If you are the loved one of an NHS worker who has lost their life due to an accident at work, we could help you. Sadly, there are accidents at work that happen in the UK that lead to loss of life. The HSE figures for 2020- 2021 show that 142 people were killed in work related incidents, as you can see from the following chart.

 

personal injury claims payouts for NHS workers statistics graph

We completely understand that it could be traumatic to relive the events that led to your loved one’s death. However, while we understand also that no amount of compensation could make up for the loss of someone you love, compensation could help you financially at what could be a difficult time. As part of your claim, you could receive a bereavement award, as well as assistance towards funeral expenses, and even financial support if you were dependant on the person you lost. You would need to be able to evidence that their employer’s negligence and breach of duty of care towards their employee had led to their fatal accident. Having a personal injury solicitor on your side to help you make such claims could take away some of the stress of claiming. A specialist solicitor with over 30 years of experience could fight for the maximum settlement possible for your claim. They would know how to build a strong case and negotiate for the maximum amount of compensation achievable for your claim.

Could I receive personal injury claims payouts for NHS workers if they are under the age of 18?

If your child works for the NHS whether they are under an apprenticeship scheme, or are volunteering at the hospital, it may be possible for you to make a claim on their behalf if they are injured due to someone’s negligence or breach of duty of care towards them. When you are making a claim on behalf of a child you would be acting as their litigation friend. A personal injury solicitor could still assist you with the claim, but you would be expected to decide on some aspects of the claim yourself on behalf of your child. When the compensation comes through, it would be put into a trust for your child to access once they turn of age. Alternatively, if your child is nearing the age of 18, they may wish to claim for themselves once they reach that age. If you would like support and guidance on whether to go ahead with a claim or whether to wait, we would be delighted to provide you with all the information you need  to make a fully informed decision.

Would I need a local personal injury solicitor to get personal injury claims payouts for NHS workers?

You don’t have to live near to your lawyer to make a claim for compensation with them. Much of your claim could be handled over the phone, and by email and letter.

Claims Guides Relating To Personal Injury Claims Payouts For NHS Workers

You may find that reading these external pages can provide some useful information:

NHS Information On Tailbone Injuries

Advice For Victims Of Accidents At Work

UK Government Information About Work-Related Injuries

These other guides that we have published elsewhere on this site could also be of use to you:

Making A Claim For An NHS Accident At Work As An Employee

The Procedure For Making An Accident At Work Claim

A Guide To Claiming For A Back Injury At Work

Thank you for reading this case study on personal injury claims payouts for NHS workers. Whether you are under NHS employment and have suffered an NHS injury due to a breach of health and safety that has led to needlestick injuries causing loss of earnings or a back injury as an NHS staff member that has let to you being unable to return to work, please call our team for advice.