Can I claim compensation for a back injury at work?
Back injuries can happen in all types of workplaces, including health and social care settings, offices and construction sites.
Injuries are often caused by lifting something heavy or lifting a person. They are also caused by repetitive activities or activities that involve keeping your body in one position for a long time.
Your employer has a legal responsibility to prevent or minimise health risks to you in the workplace, particularly where there is any manual handling involving heavy lifting. They cannot dismiss you for making a personal injury claim, and making a claim is likely to lead to changes in the workplace to make improvements that may benefit all employees.
If you have suffered a back injury at work, please talk to us. We can offer you advice with no obligation, and we will answer all your questions and concerns.
How much back injury compensation can you claim?
The Judicial College has set the figures below as a guide for back injury claims. How much compensation you ultimately receive depends on the extent of the injury you have suffered and the impact it has – and may continue to have – on your life.
| Severe injury which has caused damage to the organs or lower parts of the body. Possibly paralysis. |
£36,390 – £151,070 |
| Moderate injury. This covers a range of injuries, including soft tissue damage, constant pain or discomfort and damage to the ligaments. |
£11,730 – £36,390 |
| Mild injury. These are injuries with a shorter recovery time that have less of an impact on your life. This includes strains, sprains and slipped discs. |
Up to £11,730 |
In addition to compensation for the injury, you would also be entitled to recover any financial losses caused by the back injury, such as loss of income.
