There are three main elements of any claim for compensation. You must be able to prove that:

1. You have indeed suffered a spinal injury.
2. Another person's actions caused that injury.
3. The other person was at least partly to blame.

You will have to show that the party you are claiming against owed you a duty of care, and breached that duty. You will also have to show that the type of injury that you sustained was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence. Medical evidence will be required to support your case.

Our team of specialist personal injury solicitors at the South West Accident Helpline will be able to guide you through every step of your claim. With paraplegia and quadriplegia there will be ongoing requirements relating to care and mobility. It is essential that an individual's future needs are properly taken into account in any settlement. The bulk of a settlement will go towards things like:

1. Adaptations to the home.
2. Medical expenses, equipment and rehabilitation.
3. Care costs.
4. Loss of future income.

There will also be a general element of compensation relating to ‘loss of amenity’. This refers to the pain and suffering endured, and to the degree of incapacity after the accident.

Even if you think you may have been partly at fault, you may still be able to claim. For example, a claimant who suffers a road traffic accident and is not wearing a seatbelt would normally be considered to have contributed a factor of 25% to the negligence.