Between 800 and 1200 people suffer a traumatic spinal cord injuries each year just in the United Kingdom, the greatest risk are the age group between 15 and 25 years. Most cases lead to permanent paralysis. In total, there are something like 40,000 people living with the effects of spinal cord injury in the United Kingdom, equivalent to approximately 1 in 1,500.

Most of them are wheelchair users full time. According to a survey by the British Association of Spinal Cord Injury Specialists (BASCIS) in 2000, the most common causes of spinal cord injury are traffic accidents, domestic accidents and incidents, while sports . His study of the figures for that year were:

Road traffic accidents 36%

Falls 42%

Sport 12%

Another 10%

Spinal cord injuries are about at all times very severe, and usually cause some degree of paralysis. The location of the lesion and the degree of damage are the two main factors determining the resulting disability. Serious injuries in the neck can lead to paralysis in the arms, legs and torso, with respiratory problems and other impediments to bodily functions. This is called quadriplegia or tetraplegia. Injuries at or below the chest, usually affect only the legs and lower body. This is called paraplegia. Catastrophic spinal injury occurs in only a small percentage of accidents. However, if you have experienced this type of injury as a result of the actions of another party, it is important to start filing a complaint as soon as possible. The sooner we begin a case, the easier it is to establish the facts about the accident. You can gather evidence and witness statements prepared. The more time that elapses after the fact, the poorest one witness report is likely to be. There is a period of 3 years in most cases, in which the process should begin the dispute.

There are three main elements of any claim for compensation. You should be able to demonstrate that:

1. Who suffered a spinal injury or spinal cord.

2. Actions of another person who caused the injury.

3. The other person is at least partly to blame.

You have to prove that the party claiming a duty of care and breached that duty. You also need to demonstrate that the type of injury was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence. Medical evidence will be needed to support your case. With paraplegia and quadriplegia will have ongoing care needs and mobility. It is essential that a person of the future needs are taken into account in any solution. Most of the settlement will go to things like:

1. Adaptations of the house.

2. Medical expenses, equipment and rehabilitation.

3. Care costs.

4. Loss of future income.

There will also be an element of compensation for loss of amenities. “This refers to pain and suffering, and the degree of disability after the accident. Even if you think you may have been partly to blame, you may still be able to claim. For example, a player who suffers an accident and not wearing seat belts is seen as a contributing factor in 25% of negligence. You can opt for a “double jeopardy” in which the liability issue is resolved first, leaving the question of the value of the solution to most afternoon. Split tests have the advantage that, once liability has been decided, a damages claim can be made pending a final settlement. It is also possible to receive a structured settlement consisting of a lower flat rate, plus an annual rent, rather than a single lump sum award.