

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 lawyer’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 lawyers 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 lawyer 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 lawyer yourself. Fortunately, lawyers are able to act on a Conditional Fee (“No Win, No Fee”) basis. This means your lawyer bears the cost of the claim until you have been awarded compensation. Depending on the type of agreement you have, your lawyer 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 lawyer will assess the merits of the claim. If you and your lawyer decide to proceed you may have to take out an insurance policy to cover both your and your opponent’s lawyers’ fees in the event that you lose your claim.
Our solicitors cover the following towns in Essex:
Abberton, Abbess Roding, Alphamstone, Althorne, Ardleigh, Audley End, Bacon End, Bardfield End Green, Baythorn End, Berden, Berners Roding, Bishop's Green, Blackmore End, Blacksmith's Corner, Boreham, Bournebridge, Bowers Gifford, Bradfield, Brentwood, Broadgroves, Broadley Common, Chappel, Clavering, Cobler's Green, Cock Clarks, Cold Norton, Copford Green, Corringham, Crockleford Heath, Dedham, Duck End, Dunton Wayletts, Earls Colne, East Hanningfield, Eastwood, Edney Common, Epping Upland, Farnham, Fobbing, Fordham, Fox Street, Frinton-on-Sea, Fryerning, Fuller Street, Fyfield, Galleyend, Gestingthorpe, Good Easter, Gosfield, Great Baddow, Great Braxted, Great Saling, Great Yeldham, High Easter, Hope End Green, Keeres Green, Kirby le Soken, Knowl Green, Lambourne End, Latchingdon, Layer Marney, Leaden Roding, Lindsell, Linford, Little Bromley, Little Burstead, Little Dunmow, Little End, Little Horkesley, Little Laver, Little Sampford, Little Waltham, Little Warley, Loves Green, Maldon, Manningtree, Mashbury, Middleton, Moreton, Moulsham, Nevendon, Nounsley, Oxen End, Parkeston, Pattiswick, Pebmarsh, Peldon, Pond Street, Potter Street, Quendon, Rayleigh, Sewards End, Shelley, Shellow Bowells, Shotgate, Southchurch, Southend-on-Sea, Stambourne, Stanway, Stebbing, Stisted, Stow Maries, Strethall, Sturmer, Terling, Theydon Bois, Thornwood Common, Thorpe-le-Soken, Thorrington, Throws, Tollesbury, Tolleshunt Knights, Ulting, Upper Green, Virley, West Horndon, Westley Heights, White Roding, Wickford, Wickham Bishops, Wickham St Paul, Willingale, Wimbish Green, Wivenhoe, Wix, Woodham Walter