

Back injury has a wide range of causes, but the more common include lifting objects incorrectly, road traffic accidents and falls. Surprisingly, there needn't be any single traumatic event to cause long-term back injury.
There may not be a sudden onset of pain - it might develop over a day or so. Effects can range from slight stiffness to severe disability. Back trauma can also lead to chronic conditions such as arthritis or degeneration of discs. The most severe back injury cases can involve disfunction of other organs such as incontinence or impotence.
At one extreme, a minor back injury such as a mild strain with full recovery can see compensation of up to £4,000. At the other extreme, severe back injury affecting other bodily functions claims can win £50,000 - £80,000.
In the first instance, check that your solicitor’s firm includes lawyers who are accredited members of the two principle legal bodies in this field; the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIC) and the Law Society’s personal injury panel. You should also ask if they have solicitors who belong to associations for the specific injury your claim is about – for example the Spinal Injuries Association or the Headway Panel.
You should also ask your solicitor about their record in personal injury claims. Can they give you any case histories of successful claims similar to yours?
With the exception of medical negligence, legal aid is generally no longer available for personal injury claims. This means you will have to agree payment with the solicitor yourself. Fortunately, solicitors are able to act on a Conditional Fee (“No Win, No Fee”) basis. This means your solicitor bears the cost of the claim until you have been awarded compensation. Depending on the type of agreement you have, your solicitor will then either claim his fees from your opponent, or take a percentage of your compensation as a “success fee”.
Before agreeing to work on a conditional fee basis, a competent personal injury solicitor will assess the merits of the claim. If you and your solicitor decide to proceed you may have to take out an insurance policy to cover both your and your opponent’s solicitors’ fees in the event that you lose your claim.
Our solicitors cover the following towns in Essex:
Alresford, Ardleigh, Asheldham, Baker Street, Bardfield End Green, Barnston, Barr Hall, Basildon, Baythorn End, Beacon End, Beaumont, Beazley End, Birch Green, Blackmore, Blackmore End, Boxted, Bradfield, Bradwell Waterside, Bradwell-on-Sea, Braintree, Bulphan, Canvey Island, Chignall Smealy, Chignall St James, Chipping Hill, Chrishall, Church End, Church Langley, Churchgate Street, Cobler's Green, Coggeshall Hamlet, Coopersale Common, Corringham, Crays Hill, Cressing, Crix, Debden Green, Dedham, Dovercourt, Dunton Wayletts, Edney Common, Farnham, Faulkbourne, Fingringhoe, Fordstreet, Foster Street, Foxearth, Frating Green, Frinton-on-Sea, Goldhanger, Great Baddow, Great Braxted, Great Henny, Great Holland, Great Leighs, Great Maplestead, Great Parndon, Great Sampford, Great Totham, Greenstead Green, Hadleigh, Hare Green, Hatfield Broad Oak, Hatfield Heath, Hatfield Peverel, Hazel End, Heckfordbridge, Hempstead, High Ongar, Hope's Green, Howe Street, Kirby Cross, Layer Breton, Layer Marney, Little Burstead, Little Chesterford, Little Hallingbury, Little Laver, Little Totham, Little Wakering, Littlebury, Littley Green, Lower Nazeing, Margaretting, Matching Tye, Middleton, Monk Street, Navestock Side, Nevendon, New Mistley, North Benfleet, North Weald Bassett, Norton Mandeville, Old Heath, Pool Street, Purleigh, Ramsden Bellhouse, Ramsden Heath, Ramsey Island, Rayne, Rettendon Place, Rickling, Rivenhall End, Rochford, Row Heath, Roydon Hamlet, Rudley Green, Saffron Walden, Shalford, Shortgrove, South Benfleet, St Osyth, Stambourne, Stanford Le Hope, Stapleford Abbotts, Stapleford Tawney, Steeple Bumpstead, Stisted, Stoneyhills, Swan Street, Thaxted, Tiptree, Tiptree Heath, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Major, Upper Dovercourt, West Mersea, Westcliff-on-Sea, Wethersfield, Wickford, Wickham St Paul, Wimbish Green, Woodham Walter, Wormingford, Writtle, Young's End