Being left paralysed, whether it be one part of your body or multiple limbs, can have devastating impacts on your mobility and quality of life. Paralysis can be temporary or permanent, and often involves weakness, numbness and the inability to move certain body parts, and is considered as a serious injury. Therefore, if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident or received substandard medical care that resulted in paralysis, a paralysis compensation claim could be made.
Key Takeaways
- There are different types of paralysis, such as quadriplegia (affecting all four limbs) and paraplegia (affecting the lower half of the body)
- You may have suffered a paralysis due to another driver’s lack of care or the negligent actions of your employer, an occupier or a healthcare professional.
- If you suffered paralysis injuries due to a violent assault, you could make a criminal injury claim against the perpetrator, or via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
- If a loved one has become paralysed, you may be able to make a claim on their behalf.
- Compensation can also cover the associated financial losses you suffered de to your paralysis, such as rehabilitation fees.
At Public Interest Lawyers, our friendly advisors are here to help you. Following a free eligibility assessment, you could be connected with one of the expert No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel. To start your paralysis compensation claim today, please get in touch today:
- Call us on 0800 408 7825
- Contact us by filling out our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I Make A Paralysis Compensation Claim?
- Common Accidents That Could Lead To Paralysis
- Can A Claim Be Made For Paralysis Caused By Medical Negligence?
- What If Paralysis Was A Result Of Criminal Assault?
- How Much Compensation Can Be Awarded For A Paralysis Claim?
- How Can Compensation Help After Paralysis?
- What Evidence Will Help To Prove Paralysis Claims?
- Is There A Paralysis Compensation Claim Time Limit?
- No Win No Fee Paralysis Compensation Claims
- Learn More
Can I Make A Paralysis Compensation Claim?
Yes, you could make a paralysis compensation claim, provided that you can prove the paralysis injury was caused by someone else’e negligent actions.
Essentially, to have a valid compensation claim, you must demonstrate:
- You were owed a duty of care by another party (this is a legal responsibility to ensure your reasonable safety)
- This party breached their duty of care
- You suffered a paralysis due to the breach
Moreover, you could also make a paralysis claim on behalf of a loved one, by acting as a litigation friend. These roles are usually fulfilled by parents, guardians or solicitors who work to prioritise the claimant’s best interests throughout the process. As litigation friends, their duties typically include:
- Holding funds on behalf of a claimant
- Making key legal decisions on the claimant’s behalf
- Assisting in evidence-gathering and keeping the claimant as informed as possible
To apply to be a litigation friend, the claimant must be:
- Under the age of 18, or;
- Lacking in mental capacity, and therefore cannot claim by themselves.
To learn more about claiming on behalf of a loved one, please contact one of our friendly advisors today.
Common Accidents That Could Lead To Paralysis
Common accidents that could led to paralysis include road traffic accidents, public place accidents, and accidents at work. Below, we explain the duty of care you are owed in each situation and how a paralysis injury could be suffered if this duty is breached.
Road Traffic Accidents
All road users have a duty of care to ensure the safety of themselves and others when navigating the roads. They must also adhere to the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988 as part of their legal duty. Therefore, you could make a road traffic accident claim if another driver was negligent, resulting in an accident and paralysis injuries. For instance:
- You may have been involved in a rear-collision with another driver who failed to notice you had come to a stop at a red light as they were distracted by their phone. You could therefore suffer a severe back injury, leading to a permanent paralysis.
- You may have been involved in a hit and run accident on a motorway with a negligent driver. Consequently, you could suffer severe neck injuries, PTSD and paralysis.
Public Place Accidents
Occupiers’ (those in control) of public spaces owe a duty of care to any visitors to their premises; as per the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, occupiers must take steps to ensure their premises are reasonably safe to use for their intended purposes. Consequently, you could make a public liability claim if an occupier was negligent, resulting in your paralysis injuries. For example:
- You could slip and fall on a spillage that wasn’t labelled with a wet floor sign at a supermarket. You could suffer with leg injuries and semi-permanent paralysis as a result.
- You could trip over uneven flooring in a library resulting in head injuries and a neck paralysis.
Workplace Accidents
Employers also owe a duty of care to their employees; under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their employees and to prevent them from harm. If your employer was negligent resulting in your paralysis injuries, you could make an accident at work claim. To illustrate:
- You could be injured in a scaffolding accident and fall from a height due to inadequate safety barriers. Consequently, you could suffer severe leg injuries and leg paralysis as a result.
- You could trip and fall over loose wiring in a warehouse, resulting in chest, rib and permanent paralysis injuries.
To discuss your unique experience with one of our friendly advisors, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today.
Can A Claim Be Made For Paralysis Caused By Medical Negligence?
Yes, you could make a paralysis compensation claim for medical negligence; you must be able to demonstrate that a healthcare professional breached their duty of care, resulting in your paralysis.
All healthcare professionals have a duty to meet the minimum expected standard of care when providing treatment to patients. Therefore, you could make a medical negligence claim if you or a loved one experienced paralysis due to substandard medical care. For instance:
- A surgeon could make a surgical error by using excessive force with equipment during a leg operation. As a result, you could suffer nerve damage and a semi-permanent leg paralysis.
- A doctor could misdiagnose a spinal tumour as a pulled muscle, leading to a delayed diagnosis of cancer. Due to this, the tumour may have spread to certain nerves, causing a permanent paralysis of your lower body.
To learn more about how to make a medical negligence claim, please contact our helpful advisory team today.
What If Paralysis Was A Result Of Criminal Assault?
If you were paralysed as a result of criminal assault, you could make a criminal injuries compensation claim; this claim would be made via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA are a government body that provides compensation to victims of violent crimes in the UK.
To illustrate, you may have experienced the following:
- A third party may have non-provokingly attacked you at a bar, causing you to fall back and hit your head. You could suffer severe head, neck and tetraplegia injuries as a consequence.
- A criminal may have attacked you in the street, resulting in GBH to your chest and a permanent paralysis to your lower body.
What Are The Possible CICA Paralysis Payouts?
Following a successful CICA claim, you will be awarded with criminal injury compensation; CICA compensation valued in line with fixed tariffs as set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012.
Please see the table below which has been taken from the fixed CICA tariffs. Please note that the top entry displays the maximum amount that can be claimed through CICA.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe criminal injuries with special expenses | Severe | Up to £500,000 |
| Quadraplegia | Substantially complete to both upper and lower limb levels | £250,000 |
| Substantially incomplete to complete to lower limb level | £175,000 | |
| Substantially incomplete injury to both upper and lower limb levels | £44,000 | |
| Paraplegia | Substantially complete | £175,000 |
| Moderate but substantially incomplete | £110,000 | |
| Minimal | ££27,000 | |
| Hemiplegia | Severe | £110,000 |
| Moderate | £55,000 | |
| Mild | £27,000 |
To learn more about how to make a paralysis compensation claim through the CICA, please contact us today. Our helpful team of advisors are here to answer any questions about your eligibility to claim.
How Much Compensation Can Be Awarded For A Paralysis Claim?
How much compensation can be awarded for a paralysis claim will depend on the type of paralysis you have suffered, your prognosis and what financial losses you have suffered.
In a successful claim, you will be awarded with general damages as part of your settlement. The award of general damages aims to compensate you for any physical and mental pain and suffering you may have experienced due to your paralysis injury.
A solicitor will use your medical report and the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) when valuing your general damages. This is because the JCG sets out compensation guidelines or a range of injuries, including paralysis.
All figures in the table below, aside from the first entry, have been taken from the JCG. Please note that they are merely guidelines and do not guarantee how much you compensation you could receive.
| Injury | Severity | Estimated Compensation Pay-out |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with financial losses | Sevvere | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis | Tetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia) | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 | |
| Shorter Durations | £60,210 | |
| Brain Damage | Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderately Severe | £267,340 to £344,150 | |
| Moderate (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 | |
| Back Injuries | Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Severe (ii) | £90,510 to £107,910 | |
| Severe (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 | |
| Neck Injuries | Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
To discuss the potential value of your paralysis injuries in further detail, please contact one of our helpful advisors today.
How Can Compensation Help After Paralysis?
After suffering with paralysis, compensation could not only help you gain a sense of justice, but also help you with any associated financial losses you suffered.
Special damages is the head of loss that aims to reimburse you for financial losses suffered due your paralysis.
As such, please see the following examples of special damages and how they could help you following a paralysis injury:
Lost Earnings
If you’ve experienced any loss of earnings due to your paralysis, you could include the following in your claim:
- Any loss of current or future earnings
- Loss of a bonus
- Loss of overtime pay
- Loss of workplace benefits, such as company pension schemes and medical insurance
Medical Expenses
You may have sought private medical care due to long waiting times to aid your injuries. As a result, you could include the following in your special damages:
- The costs of private medical appointments
- Prescription costs
Cost Of Care And Rehabilitation
Due to immobility that paralysis creates, you may have incurred care costs for yourself or family members. As such, you could include the following costs in your claim:
- Care costs for yourself, such as help with cooking, dressing, cleaning and medications
- Childcare or elderly care costs for family members. For instance, your disabilities may have left you unable to look after close ones, resulting in third-party care expenses.
- Indirect care costs. For example, you could include the lost earnings of a family member who may have taken time off work to look after you.
- Physiotherapy costs
- The cost of any suggested treatments, such as ointments, creams and ligament support.
Home Or Car Adaptations
You may have been left with semi-permanent or permanent disabilities due to your paralysis, forcing you to make new accommodations to your life. Consequently, you could claim for:
- Home adaptations such as chairlifts, hoists, ramps and new doors to accommodate wheelchair access.
- Car adaptations, such as new seatbelts, an accessible passenger seat and a boot to accommodate wheelchair access.
- If home adaptations could not be made, you could also include the costs of home relocation due to your disabilities. This may therefore include removal costs and fees.
Travel Expenses
You may have incurred travel costs due to travelling to and from medical appointments for your paralysis. As a result, you could claim for the following:
- Public transport expenses
- Taxi fares
- Fuel costs
Interim Payments
You could also apply to receive advances on your compensation, also known as interim payments. These type of payments may be allowed by the court provided that:
- Liability has been admitted by the defendant, or;
- Your claim has high chances of success
In essence, interim payments are ongoing supportive payments that ensure you won’t be at a financial disadvantage throughout the claims process. Any interim payments you receive will be taken off your final compensation payout.
It’s also essential that your special damages are evidenced with receipts, invoices and payslips. To learn more about special damages, please get in touch with our helpful team today.
What Evidence Will Help To Prove Paralysis Claims?
Evidence that will help prove paralysis claims includes any documentation that details the paralysis suffered and who was liable for it. Some examples could include:
- Your medical records that details your or your loved one’s paralysis and any treatments provided
- CCTV footage of the accident. You have a legal right to request CCTV footage of yourself
- Dashcam footage of the accident
- Contact details of any potential witnesses who could support your version of events at a later date
- Photographs of any visual injuries or signs of harm
- X-rays, scans and test results confirming a paralysis diagnosis
- A copy of an accident report form
- Correspondence between yourself and the institution where you received negligent treatment
If you’re connected with one of our specialist No Win No Fee solicitors, they could help to gather evidence on your behalf. To learn more about how to provide evidence, please contact us today.
Is There A Paralysis Compensation Claim Time Limit?
Yes, there is a 3-year time limit to start a paralysis compensation claim. In accordance with the Limitation Act 1980, the time limit will begin from:
- The date of the accident or negligence, or;
- The date of knowledge. This equates to the day you registered that the harm you experienced was due to negligent medical care.
Nevertheless, the two following exceptions apply:
- If the claimant is a child, the 3 year time limit will start from their 18th birthday
- If the claimant has insufficient mental capacity, the 3 year time limit will only begin if they make a full recovery and run from this date.
For help with questions about time limits, please contact our helpful team today.
No Win No Fee Paralysis Compensation Claims
Our friendly advisors work around the clock to answer any questions you may have about making a claim. Following a free case check, you could also be connected with one of the expert No Win No Fee solicitors to start your paralysis compensation claim. Working under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you could enjoy the following:
- No solicitor service fees if your claim is unsuccessful
- No fees for your solicitor’s services at the start of your claim, or throughout the process
- If your claim is successful, you’re required to pay a success fee for your solicitor’s services. This fee is taken out of your compensation. Ultimately, the percentage this success fee can be is capped by law, and will also be reduced from your compensation. As such, you’ll always be rewarded with the majority of your pay-out.
In addition to working on your case on a No Win No Fee basis, they could also help you with:
- Gathering supporting evidence
- Handling all legal documentation
- Submitting your claim within the time limit
- Arranging an independent medical assessment
- Negotiating the final compensation settlement
Contact Public Interest Lawyers
To start your paralysis compensation claim today, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
- Call us on 0800 408 7825
- Contact us by filling out our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
Learn More
To learn more about personal injury claims, please see some of our other guides:
- Learn how to claim for toe amputation compensation
- Get help with brain injury claims
- See the following advice on hit by a falling object claims
Additional external resources:
- Learn about the symptoms of paralysis from the NHS
- Get help with managing sick leave and return to work from HSE
- Learn how to apply for statutory sick pay from Gov.Uk
Thank you for reading our useful guide on how to make a paralysis compensation claim.