

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 Greater London:
Acton, Acton Green, Aldwych, Alexandra Palace, All Saints, Avery Hill, Baker Street, Barking, Barkingside, Barnes, Bayswater Road, Bermondsey, Bexleyheath, Biggin Hill, Billingsgate, Blackheath, Blackhorse Road, Blackwall, Bostall Woods, Bow, Brentford, Brixton, Camden Lock, Canary Wharf, Capel Manor, Carshalton, Chelsea, Chelsea Embankment, Chingford Green, Chiswick House, Clapton, Cockfosters, Colindale, Cowley, Cubitt Town, Custom House, Docklands, Down House, Downe, Drayton Park, Ealing, East Dulwich, East India, East Sheen, Elmers End, Erith Marshes, Euston, Fairlop Waters, Farringdon, Fenchurch Street, Finchley Central, Finsbury Park, Fleet Street, Furzedown, Gidea Park, Gilwell Park, Golders Hill Park, Goodge Street, Goswell Road, Great North Way, Hackney Wick, Hampstead, Haringey, Harlesden, Harrow, Harrow (N, W and S), Harrow Weald, Hatton, Havering-atte-Bower, Hazelwood, Hendon Central, Heston, Highbury and Islington, Hither Green, Holborn Viaduct, Holloway, Holloway Road, Honor Oak, Hornchurch, Hounslow East, Hoxton, Hyde Park, Ilford, Islington, Kensal Green, Kentish Town, Kew, Kingsbury, Kingston upon Thames, Latimer Road, Lea Bridge, Lesnes Abbey, Lewisham, Leytonstone, Limehouse, London Arena, London Bridge, Lower Clapton, Lower Place, Maida Vale, Manor House, Mill Hill, Mitcham, Monken Hadley, Monument, Mornington Crescent, New Southgate, North Ealing, North Harrow, Northolt, Northwood, Old Kent Road, Old Oak Common, Old Street, Olympia, Orpington, Oxford Street, Parsons Green, Pimlico, Plaistow, Pratt's Bottom, Putney Bridge, Queensway, Rainham, Ravenscourt Park, Raynes Park, Roehampton, Royal Oak, Shepherds Bush, Shoreditch, Sipson, Soho, South Ealing, South Hackney, South Quay, South Woodford, St Luke's, Stepney, Stonebridge, Stroud Green, Surrey Quays, Teddington, Temple, Tower Hamlets, Tower Hill, Trent Park, Tulse Hill, Upminster, Upper Holloway, Upper Tooting, Upper Walthamstow, Upton Park, Walthamstow Central, Wandsworth Town, Wanstead, Warwick Avenue, Wennington, West Acton, West Finchley, West Kensington, Westferry, White City, White Hart Lane, Willesden Green, Willesden Junction, Wimbledon Park, Woodford