

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.
If you have suffered an injury which wasn’t mainly your fault, the law says you are entitled to compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. You may also gain compensation for loss of earnings and additional expense incurred due to the injury.
Personal injury law has established a duty of care on the part of people, companies and organisations to ensure they do everything reasonably possible to avoid causing injury to others. As examples, if land owners allows the public access to their property, they should ensure that walkways are adequately maintained. Shopkeepers should keep aisles clear of objects shoppers might trip over, and clean up spillages promptly to prevent slips. When playing sports, the law expects people to behave responsibly and not inflict injury on others. There is also specific employment law which lays down the duties of employers to minimise the risk of personal injury.
If your injury claim is to succeed, the law says you must be able to prove “on the balance of probabilities” that your injury is due to negligence by another party. Note that this does not necessarily mean that you have to be entirely fault-free; you need only demonstrate that the other party is more than 50% responsible for your injury. If you can do this, you may then be able to win compensation under the law.
Amounts are determined by legal decision on a case by case basis. In England and Wales, Judges have issued broad guideline figures for different types and degree of injury, laid down in the Judicial Studies Board Guidelines. This has been built up from case law in personal injury claims. Information is given on this site under individual types of injury.
Our solicitors cover the following towns in Somerset:
Abbots Leigh, Adsborough, Alhampton, Ash, Ashington, Athelney, Backwell, Barwick, Bason Bridge, Bathealton, Berkley, Bishop's Lydeard, Bishopsworth, Bower Hinton, Bratton Seymour, Brompton Ralph, Buckland St Mary, Burnham-on-Sea, Burton, Cameley, Cannard's Grave, Chaffcombe, Chantry, Chard, Charlton Horethorne, Charlton Mackrell, Chewton Keynsham, Chewton Mendip, Chilcompton, Chilton Polden, Chipley Park, Chipstable, Chiselborough, Christon, Churchill, Churchingford, Clandown, Clapton, Clutton, Cocklake, Compton Dando, Cothelstone, Cricket Malherbie, Curload, Curry Mallet, Dinnington, Doniford, Downside, Dulcote, Dundon, Dundry, Dunkerton, East Cranmore, East End, East Harptree, East Huntspill, East Pennard, Enmore, Evercreech, Fiddington, Fitzhead, Ford, Forton, Frome, Greenham, Greinton, Halse, Ham Green, Hardington, Hardway, Hatch Beauchamp, Henbury, Henlade, Henstridge, Henstridge Marsh, Highbridge, Hillfarrance, Hinton Blewett, Hinton St George, Holywell Lake, Horton, Horton Cross, Hunstrete, Hutton, Icelton, Isle Brewers, Kingsbridge, Kingsdon, Kingston Seymour, Kingston St Mary, Kingweston, Knighton, Knowle, Langley Marsh, Laverton, Lilstock, Limpley Stoke, Lower Aisholt, Lower Godney, Lower Vexford, Luccombe, Lympsham, Mark, Marksbury, Marsh Street, Mells, Middlezoy, Midford, Midsomer Norton, Milborne Wick, Milton, Monksilver, Nempnett Thrubwell, Nettlecombe, North Barrow, North Cheriton, North Petherton, Norton St Philip, Nunney, Nunnington Park, Nynehead, Odd Down, Old Cleeve, Orchard Wyndham, Over Stratton, Peasedown St John, Pensford, Pibsbury, Pitney, Pitsford Hill, Polsham, Porlock Weir, Portishead, Preston Plucknett, Rockwell Green, Rowberrow, Shapwick, Shepton Mallet, Shoscombe, Sidcot, South Petherton, St Audries, Stanton Prior, Star, Stawley, Steart, Stocklinch, Stoke St Mary, Stoke Trister, Stowell, Templecombe, Thorngrove, Timberscombe, Tintinhull, Tolland, Trull, Tytherington, Upper Godney, Upton, Vobster, Walton, Weare, Wellington, Wellow, West Camel, West Harptree, West Lyng, West Porlock, West Stoughton, West Town, Westbury-sub-Mendip, Westcombe, Westhay, Whitelackington, Winford, Witcombe, Withycombe, Wookey Hole, Woolavington, Wootton Courtenay, Wrantage, Wrington, Yeovilton