Nerves are cable-like structures which transmit messages back and forth between your brain and other parts of the body. Sensory nerves detect things such as pain, temperature, and touch. Whilst motor fibres transmit impulses to the muscles, telling them to contract and move. Many nerves contain both types of fibres. When nerves become damaged, these messages can be degraded or stopped entirely. Sensation and movement may be reduced or even lost. Nerve damage compensation claims enable victims to seek damages for the impact this type of injury has had on them.

Personal injury claims can be made for accidents at work, in public places, and on the road. Medical negligence claims could be made where substandard treatment caused or worsened nerve damage to a patient. To make a claim for nerve damage in any of these circumstances, you must show that the other party failed to meet their responsibility to ensure your safety, or to provide medical care to the correct standards.

At Accident Claims UK, one of our expert No Win No Fee solicitors could help you secure the compensation you deserve. Please speak to an advisor about your case if you have any questions, or learn more in our guide below.

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Can I Claim Compensation For Nerve Damage?

You can claim compensation for nerve damage, such as a spinal cord injury, if another party failed to meet their responsibility towards your safety. When using the road, at work, in a public space, or receiving medical care, another party may have a responsibility towards your safety.

1. There Was A Duty Of Care
A road user, occupier of a public space, employer, medical professional, or other party must have had a legal duty of care towards you. Per this duty, they had a responsibility to take reasonable steps to keep you safe or to provide appropriate medical care.

2. This Party Breached Their Duty Of Care
You need to show that their action or inaction breached the duty of care owed to you. They may have failed to repair a known hazard which caused you to fall, or allowed you to use machinery without appropriate training, or a medical professional may have avoidably severed a nerve during surgery.

3. You Suffered Nerve Damage
Finally, you need to show that you suffered nerve damage. In the scenarios above, you may have suffered a crushed nerve, had one trapped, or even seen a crucial nerve (such as the vagus nerve) being severed.

Please contact our team if you believe someone else was responsible for your nerve damage injury. Our specialist personal injury solicitors have experience supporting nerve damage compensation claims.

An image illustrates nerve pain in the brain, radiating down the body.

Nerve Damage Compensation Claims Examples

Examples of nerve damage compensation claims could include those dealing with employees suffering machinery accidents, collisions on the road, falls in public places, and negligent medical care.

Nerve Damage At Work

Nerve damage at work could be caused by accidents involving machinery, work vehicles, trips and falls, or a lack of protective equipment. Such accidents could cause nerve injuries such as spinal injuries and damage to the sensory or motor nerves.

Examples of nerve damage at work could include:

  • You are asked to operate machinery without sufficient training or protective equipment. Your hand is caught in the machinery, suffering a motor nerve injury.
  • A worker slips from a ladder which has not been properly secured. They land, striking their lower back, crushing nerves in their back.

Learn more about accident at work claims here.

Public Place Nerve Damage Injuries

Public place nerve damage injuries could be caused by occupiers failing to properly maintain their premises and/or facilities. Examples of how you could suffer nerve damage in a public place can include:

  • Gym accidents. A gym operator fails to properly maintain a cable fitness machine. The cable snaps during use, causing the weight to crash down. The user suffers nerve damage in their neck, shoulder, and upper back.
  • A shopper in a DIY store is struck by a heavy falling object which has been improperly stored overhead. The item strikes, pinning them and damaging the peripheral nervous system in their arm and leg.

Find out more about public liability claims here.

Road Traffic Accident Caused Nerve Damage

Nerve damage could be caused by road traffic accidents where vehicles are involved in high-speed impacts, sudden deceleration, or where vulnerable road users are struck by cars. Victims could sustain herniated discs, brain and spinal cord damage, whiplash, and other types of nerve damage injury.

  • A driver fails to pay due care and attention when approaching a junction. The crash into the back of a stationary vehicle stopped at a red light. The driver in the stopped vehicle suffers whiplash and other damage to the nerves in their neck.
  • A cyclist is struck by a passenger opening a car door into their path. They strike the door, suffering multiple injuries, including severed nerves in their arms.

Discover more about liability for road traffic accidents here.

Nerve Damage After Medical Negligence

Substandard medical care could lead to nerve damage, such as severed nerves, damage to the central nervous system, and chronic pain, loss of sensation or paralysis. Improper surgical techniques, or the improper prescription/ administration of medications or chemotherapy drugs. For example:

  • A patient is wrongly diagnosed with cancer. Doctors administer an unnecessary course of chemotherapy drugs. These have serious side effects, avoidably damaging the patient’s central nervous system.
  • A surgeon makes an avoidable mistake due to poor surgical technique, nicking a nerve. This causes permanent numbness, pain, and weakness.

View our clinical negligence claims guide.

Our solicitors are personal injury and medical negligence experts, and a member of our team could assist you in these and other similar cases. The first step is to speak to one of our advisors about nerve damage compensation claims now.

We see a woman with tooth pain.

What Different Types Of Nerve Damage Can Compensation Be Claimed For?

Compensation claims can be made for various types of nerve damage, such as chronic pain, weakness, numbness, loss of sensation, and even paralysis. Claims could be made for a sensory nerve injury, autonomic nerve injury, or other form of nerve damage. These can include:

  • Facial or dental nerve damage can be caused by negligent tooth extractions. Patients may be left with facial numbness, weakness, loss of sensation, or pain.
  • Spinal cord injuries, these are among the most serious nerve injuries leading to temporary or permanent paralysis. This may be partial or full.
  • Peripheral nerve damage affecting the nerves outside the spinal cord/ brain. They can leave people with numbness and tingling sensations.
  • Optical nerve damage in which the nerves in the eye are damaged, leading to sight loss and blindness.

These are some examples of the different types of nerve damage compensation claims that can be made. Contact our advisors to discuss your nerve damage now and the team at Accident Claims can assess whether you have a valid reason to move forward with a claim.

How Much Damaged Nerve Compensation Can I Claim For?

How much compensation for nerve damage you could claim will depend on the injuries you sustained and whether these caused you any financial losses. The more severe the injury and greater the financial losses suffered, the more you can claim.

Compensation awards may be calculated based on guideline figures from the Judicial College (JCG), a resource used by solicitors and other legal professionals. It contains a list of different injuries in varying severities with a corresponding compensation bracket.

Below we have taken figures from the JCG. We’ve also included a figure in the top row (not from the JCG) that shows how you can be compensated for multiple injuries plus related expenses. This table is only intended as guidance. For a more specific estimation based on your circumstances, speak to a member of the Accident Claims team.

InjuryNotesCompensation
Multiple injuries + special damages for care costs, medical expenses, and lost income.Most severe injuries.Up to £1,000,000+ with special damages.
Paralysis, tetraplegia.Injuries may also be associated with brain damage.£396,140 to £493,000.
Paralysis, paraplegia.Sexual dysfunction, age, and pain can impact compensation.£267,340 to £346,890
Back injuries, severe (i).Including spinal cord and nerve root injuries.£111,150 to £196,450.
Back injuries, severe (ii)Including nerve root damage and lost sensation.£90,510 to £107,910.
Back injuries, moderate (i).Crush/ compression fractures with reduced mobility and nerve root irritation.£33,880 to £47,320.
Damage to teethSignificant and chronic tooth pain.Up to £46,540.
Leg injury, less serious (i).Fractures including some nerve damage.£21,920 to £33,880.

Can Nerve Damage Compensation Claims Pay For Financial Losses?

Nerve damage compensation claims can take financial losses, such as lost income, into consideration. Damage to your nerves can cause long-term or permanent symptoms, including weakness, paralysis and chronic pain, so you can be compensated for the current and future impact of your injury.

As such, these financial losses can be significant. For example:

Loss of Income, Future Earnings, Opportunity And Career Progression.

Nerve damage can affect your ability to work. At a minimum, you have needed to take time off to recover. It can also limit your ability to pursue promotions, training or require you to change your career. At worst, nerve damage can prevent you from returning to your previous role altogether. You can claim for time off sick, reduced earning capacity if you can return in a limited role or future income losses if you cannot work at all.

Medical Care And Rehabilitation Costs.

Treatment for nerve damage may be ongoing/ As such, special damages can include neurological assessments, physiotherapy to improve range of movement, pain management and prescriptions, as well as psychological support.

Care And Daily Living Assistance. 

If your nerve injury is very severe, you may need help with everyday tasks. For example, dressing, washing, cooking and carrying out household chores. Your claim could include compensation for professional care and support and gratuitous care (help from friends and family). This can be temporary or permanent.

Home Adaptations And Mobility Aids. 

Nerve injuries can affect your mobility and independence. You may need adjustments to your home, such as stairlifts, ramps and handrails. Additionally, you may require specialist equipment to help with daily living.

You must submit financial records, such as bank statements or invoices, in order to claim for any of these losses.

These are only a few examples of items that might be included in nerve damage compensation claims. One of our advisors can discuss what costs you can recover in your circumstances.

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What Will Be Needed When Pursuing A Claim For Nerve Damage Compensation?

Pursuing nerve damage compensation claims requires evidence showing how the accident occurred, who was responsible, what nerve damage you suffered, and its effect on you.

Key steps you can take when pursuing a nerve damage claim include,

1. Getting Medical Help

Getting treatment for your nerve injuries should be your first priority. Treatment for nerve injuries may be sought from paramedics, hospital A&E departments, or GP surgeries. Options could include tests, physiotherapy, or surgery.

2. Secure Evidence

Next, secure as much evidence as possible showing where, when, and how the accident happened, who was responsible and how you were harmed. Evidence can include medical records, details of witnesses, proof of financial losses, and accident reports.

3. Report The Incident

Report the accident or incident of medical negligence to the appropriate party. This may be an employer, party controlling a public space, the police (in the case of road accidents), or to a healthcare provider (in the case of medical negligence). You should retain a copy of this report to use as evidence.

4. Keep An Injury Diary

In this diary, you can record the impact of your nerve injuries, what treatment you have had to attend, and whether you suffered any financial losses. You can note down how the nerve damage affects you on a day-to-day level, such as preventing you from carrying out domestic tasks.

5. Talk To A Personal Injury Solicitor

A specialist personal injury solicitor can assess your case, help you understand your options, and explain how they could help you secure a compensation settlement.

6. Be Aware Of The Time Limit

All personal injury claims are subject to a time limit set by the Limitation Act 1980. Under this act, adults making a claim for themselves must do so within 3 years of the date of the incident. There are exceptions in which this limit may vary. Learn more in our guide to the limitation period here.

You can read more about the evidence needed for personal injury claims in this dedicated guide, or by contacting a member of our team.

We see a man with lower back nerve pain.

Nerve Damage Compensation With Accident Claims

Accident Claims can help with a variety of different nerve damage compensation claims, such those involving accidents on the road, at work, in public spaces, and due to poor medical care. What’s more, one of our solicitors could assist you on a No Win No Fee basis.

Why Choose Our Expert Solicitors To Claim For Nerve Damage?

By choosing one of our expert solicitors, you gain access to their wealth of experience and expertise in handling nerve damage compensation claims. Our solicitors are experts in personal injury claims. The service is bespoke, but some of the ways they help claimants include:

  • Organising an independent medical examination and assessment of your nerve damage.
  • Help accessing specialist support services, such as a physiotherapist with specialist knowledge of nerve injuries.
  • An explanation of the claims process and any legal terms you may not have heard before.
  • Individualised support on a No Win No Fee basis.
  • Expert negotiation to help secure the nerve damage compensation that you deserve.

Can I Claim For Nerve Damage On A No Win No Fee Basis?

You can claim for nerve damage injuries on a No Win No Fee basis with one of our specialist solicitors. One of these solicitors could provide their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This enables them to help you without asking for solicitors’ fees upfront or during the claims process. You also won’t pay these service fees if your claim is not successful. However, if your nerve damage claim succeeds, they will take a success fee out of your compensation. The law places a cap on the percentage that can be taken as a success fee and it will be fully discussed with you when they agree to take on your case.

Contact Accident Claims To Get Started

Contact Accident Claims today to get started.

A solicitor works on nerve damage claims.

Learn More

Learn more about nerve injury claims in these resources.

References.

Please talk to our team about nerve damage compensation claims.