Guide to Herniated / Slipped Disc Injury Compensation Claims Guide

By Marlon Fawkes. Last Updated 16th March 2023. Welcome to our herniated disc claims and slipped disc claims guide. Here, we discuss matters relating to bulging disc compensation, and explain how herniated disc compensation amounts are calculated.

Herniated Disc Compensation UK Claims – Your Questions Answered

On this page, you will find a full guide to claiming personal injury compensation for a slipped disc, including information about the injury and also the process of making a No Win No Fee compensation claim. This guide will focus on a specific type of disc injury, a herniated disc.

This guide is intended to educate people about the injury itself, and also the process of claiming compensation for it, in a variety of scenarios. This is a fairly common injury, and also one that is often caused by overstressing the back at work. A painful injury that can mean that a person has to remain bedridden for some time. In this guide, we will cover things such as:

  • What a herniated slip disc is, how this type of injury affects a person a number of ways, and how the injury differs from other types of slipped disc in terms of the period of time suffered.
  • The most common causes of a slipped disc, as well as how they occur. As well as some basic statistics on herniated discs.
  • A description of the main symptoms of a herniated disc, including shooting pains and how they can affect the life of the sufferer, as well as a look at some of the potential long-term effects of the injury.
  • A look at the most common types of accidents that lead to a herniated slipped discs, such as slips, trips and falls and lifting accidents.
  • Details on how to make a claim for a herniated slip disc, as well as some information on the amount of compensation that is typically paid for the injury. The No Win No Fee claims service offered by Accident Claims UK is also introduced.

Contact Our Team For Help Claiming Bulging Disc Compensation

Accident Claims UK has a long history going back more than three decades, of claiming herniated disc compensation on behalf of our clients, across a broad range of different types of claims. If you would like to know how we can help you claim personal injury compensation for a herniated disc, then call us on 0800 073 8801 today.

Select a Section

  1. What Is A Herniated Or Slipped Disc?
  2. What Causes A Herniated or Slipped Disc?
  3. Slipped Or Herniated Disc Statistics
  4. What Are The Common Herniated or Slipped Disc Symptoms?
  5. The Long-Term Effects Of Herniated Slipped Disc Injuries
  6. Slips Trips And Falls Causing Slipped Discs
  7. Hernia Lifting Injuries And How To Lift Properly
  8. Reporting Back Injuries
  9. When Can I Make a Herniated Disc Compensation Claim?
  10. Average Payout For Herniated Disc UK
  11. No Win No Fee Herniated Disc Compensation Claims
  12. How To Make A Claim
  13. Why Choose Us To Make A Successful Claim On Your Behalf?
  14. Contact Accident Claims Today And Start Your Slipped Disc Claims
  15. Useful links Relating To Slipped Disc Claims

What Is A Herniated or Slipped Disc?

Welcome to our herniated disc claims guide. Below, you will find the answers to the questions, what is a hernia? and what is a slipped disc? In its most basic form, a slipped disc refers to any disc which has moved out of alignment, been squashed, or displaced in some way. When a hernia, occurs, part of the disc has been forced out from between the vertebrae, as can be seen in the image above.

Diagram showing the hernia intervertebral disc

There are 24 vertebrae in your back, and there is a disc of cartilage between each one, that acts as a shock absorber, and also allows the spine to flex. The spinal cord runs down through the spine. When a herniated disc occurs, the spinal cord and the nerves it contains can be pinched or rubbed, causing severe pain. A herniated slipped disc can happen between any two vertebrae; however, they typically happen in the neck or lower back.

If you have suffered from a herniated slipped disc through an accident, and somebody else was at fault, Accident Claims UK can help you claim compensation up to 3 years after the event.

What Causes A Herniated or Slipped Disc?

If you’re interested in making herniated disc claims, it could help to take a look at what herniated discs actually are.

Of all types of hernia injuries, a herniated slipped disc is the most debilitating. The slipped disc pain can be very severe and mean that the sufferer has to keep completely immobile for long periods. For people who have to let their slipped disc heal on its own, rather than have surgery to fix it, then it could be months before they can even stand. The most common causes of this injury are:

  • Advanced age – as people become older, the cartilage that makes up the disc loses its flexibility, and it also begins to erode away. This can lead to a herniated slip disc.
  • The stress of exercise – especially for sportsmen such as weightlifters, rowers, or anyone who uses their back. failing to warm up before exercise is a prime way that a herniated slipped disc happens.
  • Lifting heavy objects – especially if the lifting is not done properly. This is the single most common way that a herniated slipped disc happens in the workplace.
  • Constant vibration – can ease the disc out from between the two vertebrae, causing a herniated slipped disc. Operating heavy machinery or driving for many hours are examples of how this injury happens.
  • Obesity – a herniated slipped disc is common in larger people, especially if they lead a generally sedentary life.

What Jobs Could Lead To Claims For Herniated Disc Compensation In The UK?

There are a number of job roles that expose workers to the risk of a herniated disc injury more than others, and these include:

  • Long distance lorry drivers
  • Warehouse workers
  • Construction workers
  • Landscape gardeners
  • People working in a manufacturing plant.
  • People working in a heavy industry such as mining or steel works.

If you have suffered a herniated slipped disc injury at work, then Accident Claims UK can help you to claim the compensation you are entitled to through slipped disc claims.

Slipped or Herniated Disc Statistics

A slipped disc is a very common back injury. It most commonly occurs in people who are aged between 30 and 50 years old. Men more commonly suffer this injury, possibly because males often work in job roles that require heavy lifting. Men are 50% more likely to suffer a slipped disc. 95% of all herniated slip discs happen in the lower back. Of all the people who undergo slipped disc surgery to solve the problem, around 10% of them still have severe pain once the disc has been put back in place.

If you have suffered an accident that has resulted in a herniated slipped disc, then Accident Claims UK can help you get the maximum compensation possible from your herniated disc claims. Call us at the number at the bottom of this page to begin your claim today.

What Are the Common Herniated or Slipped Disc Symptoms?

For most people who suffer a herniated disc, the hernia symptoms can be extremely severe, leaving no doubt that something is wrong. Typically, the mains symptoms of a herniated disc are:

  • Severe back pain – usually in the lower back. This is not a mild pain, it can be agonising, people have described it as “having a knife stuck in their back”. Most people suffer so much pain that they simply dare not move.
  • A tingling sensation or numbness – this can happen in any of the extremities, such as the hands or feet, and is caused by the spinal cord being squashed or pushed on.
  • Severe neck pain – similarly to the back paid outlined above, people who have a herniated disc in their neck will suffer a similar level of pain. However, they may still be able to move, as simply standing up will not make the pain worse.
  • General weakness in the muscles – this symptom is again caused by the spinal cord being pinched or squashed.
  • Pain in the legs, hips or buttocks – this will only occur if the herniated disc is pressing down on the sciatic nerve.

If you have had an accident, which has resulted in these symptoms, you could have a herniated disc and should visit the hospital immediately. To learn whether you could be able to make herniated disc claims or slipped disc claims for your suffering, please continue reading.

The Long-Term Effects of Herniated Slipped Disc Injuries

If you need to make herniated disc claims, the answer to the question, how much can I claim for a hernia? will depend on the severity of the injury, and also the long-term effects it will have on your life.

  • People who suffered a herniated disc, whether it is allowed to heal on its own, or is fixed through surgery, will be at a high risk of the injury recurring.
  • In cases where surgery has been used to solve the problem, and the prescribed procedure was fusing the two affected vertebrae together, then additional strain will be put on the discs on each side of the repair, which could lead to further back problems.
  • If the spinal cord was damaged in some way, there could be long-term implications such as sciatica, numbness, or tingling in the extremities.
  • Around 10% of people who have undergone surgery to repair a herniated disc, will still suffer from severe pain afterwards. This pain will need to be treated with medication, potentially for the rest of the life of the sufferer.

If you are suffering from the long-term effects of a herniated disc injury, then any compensation claim that you make will need to take this into account. Accident Claims UK can help you claim for long-term compensation for loss of earnings and the effect of the injury on your quality of life. Call us at the number at the bottom of this page to learn how we can help make slipped disc claims.

Slips Trips and Falls Causing Slipped Discs

Slips, trips and falls are the single most common types of accidents in the world. They can happen anywhere, for a massively wide range of reasons. They are also a common accident at work that sees people needing to make herniated disc claims.

Although the most common injuries that people sustain following a slip, trip or fall accident are damage to the hands, arms or legs, a herniated disc is always a risk, especially if the person has tried to catch themselves falling by grabbing something such as a piece of furniture or a railing, wrenching their back. The elderly are also much more likely to suffer a herniated disc due to a slip, trip or fall.

If you have been the victim of a slip, trip or fall accident, in a place where somebody was responsible for keeping the paving or walkway safe for the public, then Accident Claims UK can likely help you with slipped disc claims.

Hernia Lifting Injuries and How to Lift Properly

Injuries caused by lifting heavyweights in the workplace can result in an employee making herniated disc claims or slipped disc claims for their injuries, such as inguinal hernia workers compensation.

Every company in the UK is required by law, to provide a safe workplace for its employees. It is also required by law to make sure that every task a person has to perform as part of their job, is done safely. Meaning the employer needs to make sure that workers are trained properly in manual handling and how to lift safely. Lifting a heavy load incorrectly is a very common cause of a herniated slipped disc.

The links below give good information on how to live heavy loads properly, and also on the NHS guidelines on lifting in the workplace:

NHS information on lifting heavy weights

Health & Safety tips on living heavy weights

If you believe that your herniated disc injury, that was caused by an accident at work, is a valid reason to claim compensation, then please contact Accident Claims UK today on the number at the bottom of this page.

Reporting Back Injuries

“I got a hernia at work what should I do?” Before you even begin considering making herniated disc claims, the answer to this question is to, first of all, make sure the injury is treated and reported. This is so that farther down the line if the injury is serious, you will be in a better position to claim settlement for hernia surgery.

As part of their Health & Safety protocol, every company is required by law to keep an accident book. Every accident leading to an injury, no matter how minor, must be recorded in the company accident book. If you have had an accident that has caused a herniated disc, if the accident that caused it has been entered into the company accident book, you will have a much higher chance of claiming compensation form your employer. Accident Claims UK can help you, simply call the number at the bottom of this page to begin your claim.

When Can I Make a Herniated Disc Compensation Claim?

You can make herniated disc claims or slipped disc claims any time after the injury has been diagnosed, so long as it’s been no more than 3 years, which is the personal injury claims time limit. You will need to provide us with details of how the injury happened, and the accident that caused it occurred.

Once we have all of the information we need, we can decide whether there is a valid reason to claim compensation from a third party. This could be your employer for an accident at work, a company for allowing a slip, trip or fall accident to happen, or a private individual for causing a road traffic accident.

Average Payout For Herniated Disc UK

The average payout for a herniated disc in a UK claim may not be helpful to you as many factors are considered when determining a person’s compensation award.

There are two forms of compensation that you could seek for your disc injury.

The first is general damages which is compensation for your pain and suffering. Several factors will go into determining this award, including medical evidence of your injury and the personal testimony you could provide.

In the table below, we look at potential compensation for a spinal injury. The compensation examples come from the Judicial College Guidelines, though they are not guaranteed. They are compiled using previous payouts in personal injury claims. This publication may be used when legal professionals are valuing your injury.

Edit
Injury Severity Amount Notes
Back Injury Minor £350 -£9,850 Short-term recovery
Back Injury Moderate £8,750 – £30,750 Long-term recovery
Back Injury Severe £30,750 – £123,300 Permanent impact on quality of life
Neck Injury Severe i) In the region of £139,210 Incomplete paraplegia
Neck Injury Severe ii) £61,710 to £122,860 Serious damage to discs
Neck Injury Severe iii) £42,680 to £52,540 Fractures or dislocations
Neck Injury Moderate i) £23,460 to £36,120 Fractures or dislocations
Neck Injury Moderate ii) £12,900 to £23,460 Soft tissue or wrenching-type injuries
Mental Anguish N/A Around £4,380 Fear of impending death

You can reach out to one of our advisers for free information about how your spinal injury compensation may be determined.

Settlement For A Herniated Disc – More Examples

You could also be eligible to receive special damages. This is when you could be reimbursed for any financial impact that your injuries have had on you. For example, if you sustained a herniated disk in a car accident, then the injury may mean you are unable to work until you recover. This may result in a loss of earnings, which you could be compensated for via if you have evidence such as a payslip.

Another example could be if your personal property was damaged or destroyed in the accident. For example, you may need your phone or laptop replacing. Medical costs are another instance where you could be compensated if you have had to spend money on prescriptions or private healthcare.

For more information on how much your claim could be worth, get in touch today.

No Win No Fee Herniated Disc Compensation Claims

If you have suffered a herniated disc injury through an accident that somebody else was to blame for, we can help you claim compensation for hernia operation under a No Win No Fee agreement. There really is no charge to begin making your claim, and we don’t levy any fees at all until you claim comes to a conclusion. If this conclusion is that we failed to make your claim, then you don’t have to pay us any legal fees at all. The only time that we will ask you to pay your legal success fees, is when you receive a compensation payment.

Please continue reading for more information on herniated disc claims and slipped disc claims.

How to Make A Claim

Making slipped disc claims for an injury that was caused by an accident that a third party was responsible for, is a very simple process. All you need to do is contact Accident Claims UK (our phone number is at the bottom of this page) and we will take it from there.

Firstly, we will ask you all the details of your injury and the accident that caused it. Once we have all the details, we will evaluate your claim, and give you some free legal advice on what we think your next move should be.

In most cases, we will recommend that the claimant uses our No Win No Fee herniated disc claims service (detailed above) as the simplest, most risk-free and effective way to claim personal injury compensation for a herniated slipped disc.

Evidence in slipped disc claims

In any type of compensation claim, you will require evidence that shows:

  • That somebody who owed you a duty of care was negligent; and
  • Caused an accident to happen; and
  • You sustained a slipped disc as a result.

Securing Evidence When Claiming Herniated Disc Compensation In The UK

You can’t simply make an accusation that these things are true though so you must act to secure evidence quickly. Therefore, when making slipped disc claims you should:

  • Take pictures or videos of the accident scene as soon as possible. It is advisable to try and capture the cause of the accident before it is removed or replaced.
  • Report the accident if you were in a public place or at work. A copy of the accident report (required by law) could help you to prove the date, time and location of the incident.
  • Take a note of any witnesses and ask for their details. A solicitor could use a witness statement to corroborate your version of events.
  • Seek treatment for your injuries. This is very important as medical records will show the extent of your injuries.
  • Try to obtain copies of CCTV footage if the accident scene was being recorded.

Once you have as much evidence as possible, you could contact Accident Claims UK. Our advisors can review slipped disc claims for free and could connect you with a specialist solicitor if the claim is suitable. For any claim that we agree to work on, your solicitor will reduce your financial risk by working on a No Win No Fee basis. Want to work with us? If so, please call today.

Why Choose Us to Make A Successful Claim on Your Behalf?

Accident Claims UK has a proven track record spanning more than 30-years of claiming significant amounts of compensation for our clients, for both herniated disc claims and slipped disc claims. We have tackled thousands of personal injury claims, across a very wide range of cases.

We always keep you informed of what we are doing for you and use plain and simple English, we don’t dress things up on legal speak. Our aim is to win you the most compensation possible, without doing anything at all that will jeopardise your chance of successfully making a claim.

We operate legal teams across the UK and are able to help you get a local medical examination to support your claim. We may also be able to arrange for one of our legal team in your area to make a home visit to discuss your claim.

Herniated Disc Claims and Slipped Disc Claims FAQs

What is a herniated disc?

There are 24 vertebrae in your back, and there is a disc of cartilage between each one, that acts as a shock absorber, and also allows the spine to flex. The spinal cord runs down through the spine. When a herniated disc occurs, the spinal cord and the nerves it contains can be pinched or rubbed, causing severe pain. A herniated slipped disc can happen between any two vertebrae; however, they typically happen in the neck or lower back.

How much compensation do you get for a herniated disc?

Without assessing the details of your case, it’s impossible to say, as compensation is valued case-to-case.

How is compensation calculated?

The extent of your suffering will determine the value of your claim. Generally, the more you suffer as a result of your accident, the more you’ll likely be entitled to.

How can I prove the extent of my suffering?

Typically, the report from your medical assessment with an independent expert can help prove how you’ve been impacted by your accident. This will detail everything from your physical suffering, mental suffering and quality of life/

How can I prove liability?

Liability can typically be established if negligence is at play, which is usually defined by the following criteria:

  1. A third party owed you a duty of care
  2. They failed to uphold this duty
  3. You suffered as a result of this failure

How can a No Win No Fee agreement benefit me?

Simply put, you won’t have to pay your lawyer until they win your compensation for you. This way, there’s no financial risk.

Where can I find a No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor?

At Accident Claims, we work with a panel of No Win No Fee injury solicitors with more than 30 years of experience in the claims process.

How can I get in touch with Accident Claims?

Please see below for contact details.

What affects herniated disc compensation amounts?

Various factors affect herniated disc compensation amounts. If you could prove that your herniated disc was caused by someone’s negligent breach of their duty of care towards you, factors influence compensation could include:

  • The level of severity of the injury
  • Your pain and suffering
  • Any long-term effects, such as the risk of arthritis
  • The impact on your ability to work
  • Any effects on your ability to enjoy life (loss of amenity)
  • Costs and losses you’ve incurred due to the injury

To get an idea of what you could claim, please call our team. Then, we could speak to you in detail about your bulging disc compensation.

Can I claim herniated disc compensation in the UK if I was injured abroad?

You could claim herniated disc compensation in the UK if you were injured abroad in some cases. For example, if you were injured on a package holiday due to someone’s negligent breach of their duty of care to you, you could claim against the tour operator.

If you were injured working abroad, you could claim against your employer if you could prove their negligent breach of duty of care led to your injury.

You could also claim compensation for accidents on school trips, on foreign roads, and in hotels, if you could prove someone else breached their duty of care towards you, which caused your injury. If you’ve suffered an injury in an accident abroad, please call our team for advice. We would be happy to help.

Could I make slipped disc claims relating to a road traffic accident?

You may not already be aware of this, but every year many people are injured on UK roads. It’s important to ascertain who’s at fault in a road traffic accident if you intend to make a claim for a slipped disc injury as a result of such an accident. You would need to provide evidence of your injuries and of the accident too. It could, therefore, be useful to photograph the scene of the accident as well as taking drivers’ details and witness details. All this could help strengthen your claim for compensation. If you would like a solicitor with years of experience that is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to take on your slipped disc claim for you, we would be happy to provide you with such a solicitor.

Road traffic accident statistics 2020

It may surprise you to learn how common road traffic accident casualties are. In 2020, despite there being four months’ worth of national lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic, there were still over 115,000 people who suffered injuries on UK roads. You can see the statistics below as they relate to the year before.

Casualties by type of road user in Great Britain between 2019 and 2020

Whether you suffered injuries as a passenger, pedestrian, cyclist or other road user, we could help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. We could provide you with a specialist solicitor who could fight for the maximum compensation for your case. What’s more, all our solicitors could take on your claim on a no win no fee basis.

Contact Accident Claims UK Today and Start Your Slipped Disc Claims

If you are ready to begin making herniated disc claims following an accident that caused a herniated disc injury, please call Accident Claims UK today on 0800 073 8801.

Solicitor talking to a client with a herniated disc injury

We will go over the details of your claim, and then assist you by making a recommendation on what we believe your next course of action should be. In most cases, our No Win No Fee claims service is the way we recommend that our customers claim the compensation they are eligible for.

Useful Links Relating To Slipped Disc Claims

Detailed information published by the NHS that covers slipped disc injuries including the causes, symptoms and treatment.

NHS slipped disc information

Detailed information published by the UK Health & Safety Executive on lifting injuries at work, and best practices for people who work in an environment where heavy lifting is a requirement.

We have also provided a full and detailed guide to claiming personal injury compensation for people who have been injured in an accident at work. This will be useful information for people who received a herniated disc due to an accident in the workplace.

A guide to making personal injury claims for accidents that happen at work

Thanks for reading our herniated disc claims guide.