Road traffic collisions
High-speed car, motorbike and cyclist collisions producing burst fractures and dislocations.
A spinal injury claim compensates for lifelong loss of function, care needs and independence following damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots.
Spinal cord injury is one of the most devastating outcomes in personal injury law. Depending on the level of the lesion, cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral, the consequences range from partial loss of function in one limb to complete tetraplegia requiring 24-hour care. Cauda equina syndrome, if not decompressed within hours, can cause permanent loss of bladder, bowel and sexual function.
At Hannah Gold Solicitors we act for spinal injury claimants across England and Wales, coordinating rehabilitation, care and accommodation alongside the compensation claim. Your case is led by a senior solicitor. We charge a 20% success fee, not 25%, and work on a No Win No Fee basis throughout.
£21 million recovered · 15 years specialist practice
£21M+
Recovered for clients
15 yrs
Serious injury experience
20%
Success fee, not 25%
100%
No Win No Fee
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to any part of the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal. It causes changes in strength, sensation and body function below the site of the injury. Recovery depends on the level (how high up the injury is) and whether the injury is complete (no function below the lesion) or incomplete (some function preserved).
“Level of injury (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) and completeness (ASIA A–E) drive the entire valuation.
Highest-level injuries. C1–C4 typically cause tetraplegia with ventilator dependency. C5–C8 preserves some upper-limb function.
Paraplegia with upper-body function retained. Lower-limb paralysis and often bladder / bowel dysfunction.
Variable loss of hip, leg and pelvic-floor function. Cauda equina lesions typically sit at this level.
Complete injury: no motor or sensory function below the level of injury. Incomplete: some sparing, prognosis is more variable and expert evidence is essential to project the true long-term picture.
Spinal injury claims are distinctive because:
“Accommodation, wheelchair-accessible vehicles and 24-hour care packages usually exceed the general damages figure many times over.
Common causes
High-speed car, motorbike and cyclist collisions producing burst fractures and dislocations.
Construction, warehousing and industrial falls, a leading cause of thoracic and lumbar SCI.
Rugby, equestrian and shallow-water diving injuries causing cervical lesions.
Missed or delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome, a common medical negligence claim.
CICA and civil claims following knife or blunt-force spinal injury.
General damages brackets under the JCG 18th edition (including the Simmons v Castle 10% uplift):
| Injury | General damages |
|---|---|
| Minor back injury (full recovery without surgery within 5 years) | Up to £16,520 |
| Moderate back injury | £16,520 – £51,230 |
| Severe back injury (iii) | £51,230 – £92,130 |
| Severe back injury (ii) | £97,980 – £116,820 |
| Severe back injury (i) | £120,340 – £212,670 |
| Paraplegia | £289,420 – £375,540 |
| Tetraplegia (quadriplegia) | £428,850 – £533,720 |
Total compensation always includes special damages: 24-hour care, case management, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, adapted accommodation, wheelchairs and other equipment, adapted vehicles, aids for daily living, and lifetime lost earnings.
“Specialist spinal rehabilitation is covered under the Rehabilitation Code, insurers rarely refuse funding when the claimant is represented.
Insurers reduce spinal injury settlements by underestimating lifetime care hours, projecting unrealistic paid-employment prospects, understating equipment replacement cycles, and disputing accommodation costs. Specialist evidence from care experts, occupational therapists, accommodation surveyors and forensic accountants is essential to recover the full claim value.
“Early neurosurgical intervention influences long-term outcome, obtain the operative note and imaging early.
Free case assessment. Interim payments to fund rehabilitation. 20% success fee.
£21 million recovered · Established 2011
No Win No Fee means you pay nothing upfront and nothing at all if your claim does not succeed. If you win, a success fee is deducted from your compensation. On most personal injury claims we charge 20%, lower than the 25% maximum many firms apply; some lower-value Official Injury Claim portal cases are charged at a different rate, which we always explain clearly before you sign.
Speak with a specialist
0300 373 5366