A slipped disc at work is a common injury in the back that can be extremely painful and debilitating. It occurs when a vertebral disc becomes compressed and bulges out from between the bones in the spine. While there are various causes of slipped disc injuries, if you suffered a slipped disc in the workplace due to the negligence of your employer or another party, you may be eligible to claim compensation.

In this guide to claiming compensation for a slipped disc at work, we’ll look at how much compensation you could potentially claim, and how the claims process works.

Please continue reading to learn more about claiming compensation for a slipped disc at work. If you’d rather get in touch with us right away, please call 0800 6524 881.

Common Causes Of Slipped Discs At Work

Slipped disc injuries at work can be caused by a variety of different reasons, but often are due to incorrect lifting techniques, lifting objects that are too heavy and also sometimes due to excessive vibration. In fact, any type of work that results in putting the spine under pressure can potentially result in a slipped disc injury.

Some common causes of slipped discs at work are:

• Heavy Lifting – Nowadays, lifting heavy objects is usually done using special lifting equipment or machinery. However, sometimes manual lifting is required. If an employee hasn’t been trained in the correct lifting technique to prevent back injuries, or the load is above the legal weight limit, or perhaps the working area is cramped, untidy or generally unsuitable for lifting loads, the employee will be at greater risk of suffering a slipped disc.
• Excessive Vibration – The continuous use of heavy machinery or driving heavy vehicles over a period of time, can sometimes result in an employee experiencing excessive vibration which can then potentially cause a vertebral disc to become displaced.
• Repetitive Movements/Awkward Positions – Some occupations will involve having to work in awkward positions or carry out tasks that require repetitive movements. If these positions or movements are those that put extra pressure on the spine, over a period of time, a slipped disc could occur. Measures, such as regular breaks, for example, should be in place to help prevent injury from occurring.

Relevant training should be provided to all employees to ensure the regulations and preventative measures are adhered to. If you suffer a slipped disc due to the negligence of your employer, you could potentially make a claim for compensation as we’ll explain next.

Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For A Slipped Disc At Work?

Employers have a duty of care to their employees to provide safe working conditions. They should have appropriately set health and safety rules and regulations to ensure that preventative measures are in place to reduce any likelihood of an employee becoming injured.

If you’ve therefore suffered a slipped disc at work caused by your employer’s negligence, you may be eligible to make a claim against them. The best way to find out if you are eligible to claim is to have a free consultation with a personal injury solicitor such as ours for professional advice.

If you call us, an advisor will first try to verify that:

• Your employer failed to fulfil their obligations to ensure your safety; because
• They were negligent; and
• Due to their negligence, you suffered a slipped disc at work.

If it’s established that you have a strong case, we may offer to make your claim on your behalf on a No Win No Fee basis. Simply put, this means that we will fund your claim throughout the process. If it is successful, we will deduct a set percentage of the compensation awarded as payment. If the claim is unsuccessful, we will not charge you at all. This way, you get to make your claim with professional help and guidance, but without paying anything out of your pocket up front, and therefore with no risk of losing any money.

Occupations At Higher Risk Of Slipped Discs

Some of the most common occupations that pose a higher risk of suffering a slipped disc include:

• Factory workers.
• Construction workers.
• Landscape gardeners.
• Warehouse workers.
• Long-distance lorry drivers.
• Long-distance truck drivers.
• Heavy industry workers such as those in mining or steel works.

If you’ve suffered a slipped disc at work as one of the above, please contact us to see if we could help you get compensated.

What Should I Do If I’ve Suffered A Slipped Disc At Work?

If you are at work and suddenly experience an intense pain in your back preventing you from carrying on with your duties, there’s a good chance you may have slipped a disc. Alongside the pain in your back, you may also suffer symptoms such as neck pain, and painful pins and needles in your buttocks, hips and down your legs. The pain is often severe enough that you may feel that you cannot move.

With a back injury, it is very important to seek medical attention immediately in order to prevent it from becoming worse. Therefore, you should ask a colleague to take you to the nearest hospital, or if you feel completely immobile, ask for an ambulance to be called.

If your injury is due to somebody else’s negligence in the workplace, you may be able to make a slipped disc compensation claim. In order to make sure your claim is as successful as possible, there are a few other things you can do after an accident at work which will help provide some of the evidence for your claim. including:

• Ensure your slipped disc injury is written into the work’s accident book. This is a legal requirement for specific incidents and injuries. Make sure to list all the relevant details such as the time, date, and place of the accident, and also include what you were doing at the time of the accident.
• If possible, take some photos of where the accident took place and what may have caused the accident to happen.
• Speak to a personal injury solicitor to see if you have a viable compensation case.

All compensation claims need to be proven in order to be successful. Therefore, in the section here, we’ll look at what evidence can be used to claim compensation for a slipped disc at work.

What Is The Treatment For A Slipped Disc?

Slipped discs can vary in severity and so treatment can be slightly different from one person to the next. However, the treatment for slipped discs is generally the same. It includes:

• If movement is difficult initially due to the pain, then you should rest first.
• Take painkillers. It’s recommended to alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen (although you should always consult with your doctor or pharmacist first to check they are safe for you to take).
• Once the level of pain allows, movement and gentle exercise should be encouraged, this will help speed up the healing process so long as you don’t overdo it by doing too much, too soon.
• Gradually build up activity and be active whenever possible.
• Physiotherapy can also be of help.

If you have to pay for medicines and treatment these expenses could be claimed back as special damages.

Evidence To Support A Compensation Claim

The type of evidence that can help prove the liability of your employer with regard to your slipped disc includes:

• Medical records that show the type of injury you have sustained.
• The report from the work’s accident book.
• Any CCTV or other camera footage of when the accident took place and the moments beforehand.
• Photographs showing any other injuries, if visible, and of where the accident took place.
• Any statements from witnesses who saw what happened to you.
• Keep a record of any expenses you may have had to pay as a result of your slipped disc injury. If you make a claim and it is successful, you may be able to have these expenses reimbursed to you.

Our personal injury team can advise you further on the evidence needed for a slipped disc injury claim and even assist you in collecting it.

How Much Compensation For A Slipped Disc At Work Could I Claim?

There is no fixed amount that is awarded to all claimants who experience a slipped disc at work. The compensation you will receive will depend primarily on the severity of your slipped disc injury (general damages) and your actual monetary losses (special damages).

Some of the varying factors may include:

• The severity of your slipped disc injury.
• The length and type of treatment required.
• The impact the injury has had on your usual hobbies and activities (loss of amenity).
• If there has been any loss of earnings or any expected future loss of earnings as a direct result of being injured at work.
• If you have developed any mental health issues caused as a result of your injuries such as PTSD.
• If you have had any medical costs you have had to pay.
• If you have had any travel costs you have had to pay.
• If there have had to be any adaptions to your home or vehicle as a result of the injury, this too could be included.
• If you had to pay for care whilst recovering from your injury.

If you decide to claim compensation for a slipped disc at work through us, a solicitor will carefully review every detail to try and ensure you get a fair settlement.

Slipped Disc Compensation Amounts

To demonstrate what levels of compensation are currently advised for injuries to discs, we’ve listed some examples below. These compensation amounts relate to general damages only as special damages need to be calculated by our solicitor as every slipped disc claim is unique.

By speaking with one of our personal injury solicitors, you can be sure that everything that should be included in your claim will be to make sure you receive the amount of compensation you deserve.

Time Limit For Claiming Slipped Disc At Work Compensation

There is a time limit of three years for accidents at work starting from either:

• The date on which the slipped disc happened; or
• The date that the slipped disc injury was diagnosed.

Starting your claim as soon as possible is paramount. This then gives plenty of time to build a strong case.

Starting The Slipped Disc At Work Compensation Claims Process

To determine your eligibility for a No Win No Fee claim, contact our advisors on 0800 6524 881. Our team will evaluate your case and provide you with complimentary legal guidance on your options.

For additional inquiries regarding the process of making a slipped disc at work compensation claim, feel free to use our live chat service.