What is the payout for a back injury at work?

Thousands of UK workers suffer back injuries in the workplace every year. They can arise from specific incidents or develop from working practices such as heavy lifting, repetitive tasks and working in confined spaces. Here we look at typical awards where a successful claim for compensation is made.

Even minor back injuries can be debilitating and have a significant effect on your working, social and domestic life.

Compensation guidelines

Typical payouts for back injuries are of course dependent on the impact on the person involved. The compensation brackets below are based on the 14th edition of the Judicial College guidelines. They relate only to the award for the injury itself and do not account for other losses or expenses (eg loss of earnings, medical costs, travel costs)

Severe – where there is serious permanent pain, disability or paralysis: £34,000 to £142,000
Moderate – where the residual disability is less severe: £10,970 to £34,000
Minor – less serious strains, sprains, disc prolapses and soft tissue injuries: £1,500 to £10,970

These brackets are necessarily broad and the best way to assess your claim is to seek legal advice. Our solicitors have vast experience in work accident claims and fighting for successful outcomes for injured workers.

Expert help from our employment law team

When you make a back injury claim with us, we’ll use our expertise to put forward a strong legal basis for your claim and seek compensation that addresses all the losses you have suffered, as well as the pain and suffering of your injury. We can also help arrange any private rehabilitation or care you might need to get back on track.

We offer our services on a No Win, No Fee basis so there is no financial risk to you.

If you’ve been injured at work through no fault of your own, call us for a free consultation today on 0808 256 5184. You can also complete our contact form and we’ll arrange a call back.

Know your rights

A back injury can leave you facing time off work and the financial strain it can bring. Making a claim against your employer’s insurance can feel awkward but it is entirely fair and may even help prevent accidents happening in future.

Latest News

Success Stories

FAQ's

How do I make a claim?

If you’ve had an accident at work, you should get in touch with our specialist team as soon as possible. We’ll take the details we need and explain the next steps. We always recommend you take the following steps, but don’t worry if there’s something here you haven’t done:

Complete an accident report and inform your Health and Safety representative at work
If you are still in pain, shock, or distress when the report is completed, do not sign it.
Keep details of anyone who witnessed the accident.
If possible, as soon as you can, ask your Health and Safety representative to take photos of the scene and make them available to you.
Write down your recollection of exactly what happened in the accident, including the location and approximate time.

How long will my claim take?

Work Claims Bureau prides itself on progressing your claim promptly whenever it is possible to do so. No two claims are the same. How long your claim lasts is dependent on a number of factors, including:

The prognosis for your injuries
The conduct of all parties involved
Whether your employer admits they were at fault or if we need to fight your case on your behalf

Bearing this in mind, work accident claims typically take between 6 months and 24 months to conclude. However, this is not ‘written in stone’, and they can last a shorter or longer time than this.

Can my employer take action against me for making a claim?

Your employer faces further culpability if they take disciplinary action against you or terminate your employment simply because you make an honest claim for personal injury. There is legislation in place to protect you. You are doing the right thing in reporting your accident and formally submitting a claim, both for yourself and for your employer in helping prevent similar accidents happening in the future.

What is the payout for a back injury at work?