Spinal Injury Solicitors

Specialist Spinal Cord Injury Solicitors

Osbornes Law specialises in helping people who have suffered a spinal cord injury. Read on to find out if you can make a spinal cord injury claim. You will learn more about lawyers, our experience and how we can help you.

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  • “They are able to handle all clinical negligence claims including the very biggest catastrophic brain injury claims.”

  • “Stephanie is absolutely fantastic. She works incredibly hard for her clients and has a great deal of compassion.”

At their worst, spinal injuries are life-changing. Around 2,500 people suffer a spinal cord injury every year and damage to the spine and spinal cord can result in temporary or permanent paralysis. The road to recovery is often long for serious spinal injuries and you may require ongoing medical treatment and support.

This page is dedicated to spinal cord injury. To help you get the most appropriate support we distinguish between back and spinal injury:

  • Back Injury: This is a broad term that can refer to any type of injury affecting the back. Back injuries can range from mild muscle strains, which are common and often heal with rest and conservative treatment, to more severe injuries such as fractures of the vertebrae. Visit our dedicated back injury page.
  • Spinal Injury: This specifically refers to damage to the spinal cord itself, which is a more serious condition. The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of the vertebrae (spine) and carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body. A spinal injury can result in partial or complete loss of motor control and sensation below the site of the injury, potentially leading to paralysis.

Table of Contents

Making a Spinal Injury Compensation Claim

Spinal injuries can have catastrophic long-term effects, requiring extensive psychological and physical readjustment, and can impose significant financial and emotional burdens on both the individual and their family.

Spinal injury claims are complex, and suffering a life-changing injury is devastating. We have built our reputation on being compassionate, thorough, knowledgeable and very supportive. We will treat you and your family with dignity and respect.

Osbornes Law offers specialist services to help navigate the complexities of spinal injury claims, providing expertise in gathering evidence and valuing claims to ensure fair compensation for the injured party.

Expert spinal cord injury lawyers

When you choose Osbornes Law to represent you, you will receive the best legal advice that considers your present and future needs. Our lawyers act exclusively for individuals who have suffered spinal injuries due to medical negligence or personal injury. Stephanie Prior, a former Registered General Nurse with 23 years of experience as a solicitor, leads the department. Stephanie is on the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel and an approved AvMA Clinical Negligence Panel lawyer.

Stephanie and her team will explain the claims process to you and your family, including the NHS complaints procedure. Because of her medical background, Stephanie is able to expertly analyse your medical records and identify any negligent medical treatment you may have received. She will then be able to advise you on whether you can bring a claim.

As spinal injury claims can take a long time to settle, we must ensure you receive a financial award before your claim has been settled. These early payments can help you pay for therapies or cover lost earnings while your claim continues. Our lawyers will secure you the best support and rehabilitation as you adjust to your new situation. We will also connect you with a community of people who are living with a spinal injury. Please call our specialist solicitors today for expert advice or to start your spinal injury claim.

What are the main causes of spinal injuries?

Spinal injuries can be caused by medical negligence or personal injury. Our expertise includes:

In partnership with the Spinal Injuries Association

Osbornes is a longtime supporter and partner of the Spinal Injuries Association. The SIA advocates for exceptional care and quality of life improvements for people with spinal cord injuries. Our team abide by the Spinal Injuries Association Code of Conduct, which is backed by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Our solicitors have received training on spinal cord injury from SIA, so they understand your condition and what you need, to ensure the best outcome from your rehabilitation. We suggest that you speak to one or two other solicitor firms before you make a decision about who will represent you. It is important that you feel at ease with your solicitor and feel confident that they understand your difficulties.

Osbornes Law is committed to accessibility, ensuring our premises are equipped with disabled access facilities to accommodate all clients comfortably and inclusively. However, if it is easier for you, we can visit you at home or in hospital.

Can I change my solicitor?

You will spend many years working with your solicitor and sometimes that relationship may fail. If this has happened then you can seek to change your solicitor. This is a fairly straightforward process and much easier than people think. If you are looking to move to Osbornes Law our solicitors will deal with this for you.

How do I make a claim?

  • Contact our specialist spinal injury lawyers, who will advise you whether you have a valid claim. We will guide you through the claims process and represent your interests.
  • We will help collect relevant evidence such as medical records, financial statements, witness statements, and police reports to establish negligence or liability of the other party.
  • We help you understand how much compensation you may be entitled to. It may be possible to secure interim payments before the final settlement to cover immediate rehabilitation costs.
  • Most claims are settled out of court, but if necessary, we will take the case to court to ensure fair compensation.

Why choose Osbornes Law?

Here’s why spinal-injured clients work with us:

  • Unique medical experience and knowledge of the NHS
  • A reputation for exceptional success, winning six-figure payouts in medical negligence claims
  • Approved Lawyers of AvMA (Action against Medical Accidents)
  • Approved lawyers for the Spinal Injuries Association
  • Members of the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Panel
  • Consistently rated top tier by The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for our reputation as both medical negligence and spinal injury specialists.
  • no win, no fee‘ funding agreements.

Speak to a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811

Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you






    Spinal Cord Injury Claim FAQs

    What classifies as a spinal injury?

    A spinal injury might involve the bones of the spine or damage to the spinal cord, which disrupts signals between the brain and the rest of the body. The most serious injuries occur when the spinal cord is damaged. Within a medical setting, injuries can occur through tearing, severing, stretching, increased pressure, or loss of blood flow. The result is partial or complete paralysis in some cases.

    How do I know if medical negligence caused my spinal injury?

    Medical negligence happens when the care you receive falls below the professional standard of a competent medical practitioner. Many actions and inactions may fall within this definition. The main ways in which medical negligence can lead to a spinal injury include:

    • Failing the diagnose an injury
    • Failing to perform the proper scans and tests, for example, an MRI to investigate a suspected disc prolapse
    • Ambulance crew ‘manhandling’, where suspected spine injuries are not properly immobilised 
    • Surgical and treatment errors
    • Failing to inform the patient of all the risks associated with treatment

    These events are not mutually exclusive and spinal injuries can often be caused or worsened by a series of medical events. Proving what caused the injury is often the most complex part of a medical negligence spinal injuries claim. It requires experience, skill and knowledge from a specialised team that has your best interests at heart

    What are the time limits for making a spinal injuries claim?

    The time limit for bringing a medical negligence claim is three years. The time limit begins on: 

    • The date you were injured; or
    • The date when you realised that your injury potentially was caused by medical negligence.

    There are some important exceptions to the three-year rule. Where a child has been injured, the three-year limit does not start until the child’s 18th birthday. In other words, you have until the child is 21 years old to make a claim. 

    There are also special rules for people who have a mental disability. In this instance, the three-year period does not start until the disability ends. In most cases, this means there is no time limit at all.

    How much compensation will I receive for a spinal injuries claim?

    The amount of compensation you could receive will depend on the seriousness of your spinal injury and the impact it has on your life. No two awards are exactly the same.

    We work hard to negotiate the maximum compensation and have a reputation for securing multi-million-pound compensation awards for our most seriously injured clients. You can put the compensation you receive towards the costs of:

    • Lost earnings
    • Ongoing treatment and therapy costs
    • Assistance with everyday tasks
    • Specialist equipment
    • Changes to your home
    • Travel expenses to therapy sessions
    • Financial support for your family

    Can I get help with costs before my spinal injury case reaches a conclusion?

    With a serious spinal injury, you may have lost earnings or you may have to pay for rehabilitation, home adaptations or specialist equipment.  This can place an unreasonable burden on your family, beyond the challenges caused by the injury itself. 

    For serious injury cases, we can usually arrange for interim payments to be made in advance of the final decision. This can help you get the right help going forward, including the rehabilitation you need.

    Interim payments are only available when the NHS or private medical provider has admitted they are to blame for your spinal injury. We can help prove liability and secure interim payments early in the case. Please contact us to establish your legal position today. 

    • Osbornes is a very respected firm in the marketplace.

      Chambers UK 2024

    • They handle really complex cases very well

      Chambers UK 2024

    • The clinical negligence team are knowledgeable and professional in their approach and demonstrate a high level of skill in litigation work.

      Chambers UK 2024

    • Osbornes Law offers experience in obstetric and fatal claims as well as niche cauda equina cases.

      Chambers UK 2024

    • Osbornes Law is an established firm which handles a breadth of complex and high-value clinical negligence matters.

      Chambers UK 2024

    • Osbornes has a skilled team of solicitors advising clients on a wide range of clinical negligence matters.

      Legal 500 2024

    • Hard working, approachable, good knowledge of clinical negligence and clients’ specific conditions

      Legal 500 2024

    • A joy to work with and always 100% client focused at all times.

      Legal 500 2024

    • The clinical negligence team at Osbornes is much lauded for its ability to ‘represent the diverse range of London-based clients

      Legal 500 2024

    • “The team is very quick and efficient in responding."

      CHAMBERS UK 2023

    • "Obsbornes Law is always client-focused and works tirelessly to obtain the best outcomes for clients."

      CHAMBERS UK 2023

    • ‘They are ambitious for their clients and expect high standards from all who work with them.’

      Legal 500 2023

    • "Osbornes somehow combine the accessibility of a local firm, with the professional standards of a national or city outfit."

      Legal 500 2023

    • "Osbornes, is described as having ‘superb judgement and a medical knowledge that is second to none."

      Legal 500 2023

    • Stephanie has developed a particularly strong reputation for her handling of birth injury claims, as well as cases concerning surgical negligence and delays in surgery.

      Chambers UK

    • "An excellent firm which achieves fantastic outcomes for clients."

      Legal 500 2021

    • "Stephanie Prior takes on complex cases and gets excellent results. She has a background in medicine which serves her clients well and is a realistic but tough litigator."

      Legal 500 2021

    • "Stephanie Prior is hugely dedicated, adored by her clients, tenacious, efficient and extremely knowledgeable."

      Legal 500 2021

    • "Stephanie Prior is very good with troubled clients and is easily able to make them feel at ease."

      Legal 500 2021

    • "Stephanie shows sensitivity and deals with things in an understanding way."

      Chambers UK 2021

    • Osbornes provides a very intimate and personal client service which is increasingly rare in this sector.

      Legal 500 2020 - Clinical Negligence

    • The lawyers in the team are highly experienced and will drive cases very hard on behalf of their clients.

      Legal 500 2020 - Clinical Negligence

    • "Stephanie Prior has a realistic attitude to the complexities of the cases. She wins the trust of her clients and goes the extra mile to ensure they get the best outcomes."

      Legal 500 2020 - Stephanie Prior

    • "Stephanie Prior... manages a varied caseload, including obstetric claims, child and adult brain injury cases and fatal and non-fatal spinal cord injury cases."

      Chambers UK

    • "Stephanie is experienced, knowledgeable of all aspects of clinical negligence work, and strategic in running cases."

      Chambers UK

    • "An exceptional outfit. They take on difficult cases, fight hard and win."

      Chambers UK

    • "The team were extremely professional in putting my needs first. There was a joined-up approach to catering for the client, and all lawyers involved were briefed and constructive."

      Chambers UK

    • Stephanie Prior is always very professional and kind. Highly recommended.

      Medical Negligence Client

    • Quite simply excellent, with a highly competent and well-rounded team. They understand complex medical litigation and have been our lifesavers, and we will always owe them our immense gratitude.

      Medical Negligence Client

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