Can You Claim For A Back Injury Caused By No Manual Handling Training?

In this guide, we will provide you with information on how you could pursue a claim if you’ve sustained a back injury caused by no manual handling training in the workplace. We will touch on examples of employer negligence and how these could cause injuries, along with the eligibility criteria that must be met in order to make a claim.

back injury caused by no manual handling training

Can you claim for a back injury caused by no manual handling training?

Furthermore, this guide will explore the potential advantages of using a No Win No Fee solicitor to help with your accident at work claim. In addition to this, we shed some light on the process through which personal injury claims are valued. 

To find out if you have a valid claim after suffering a back injury caused by no manual handling training, then please contact one of our advisors using the details below. You may be connected to one of the expert personal injury solicitors from our panel today:

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When Can You Claim For A Back Injury Caused By No Manual Handling Training?

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that employers have a duty of care towards those who work for them. This means that they must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your safety in the workplace. These steps involve providing adequate training where necessary and conducting risk assessments, and taking action on the results, for example.  

Similarly, The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 sets out more specifically how employers should act in relation to manual handling in the workplace. For example, it states that employees should, wherever possible, be given information about the weight and heaviest side of a load (where applicable).

If you wish to make a personal injury claim, then the following eligibility criteria must be met:

  • Your employer owed you a duty of care at the date and time of your accident
  • The duty of care has been breached 
  • The breach of duty has caused your injuries 

Manual handling back injuries can range in severity; some might cause minor or transient pain and suffering, whereas others could impact your quality of life in a persistent or permanent way. If you’ve suffered a back injury caused by no manual handling training in the workplace and you want to see if you could make a claim, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

How Can A Manual Handling Injury Be The Result Of Employer Negligence?

If your job role requires you to fulfil manual handling tasks, your employer must ensure you are given proper training to prevent you from harm. This training can help you learn how to perform this kind of task in the safest manner.

There are many ways in which someone could sustain a back injury due to receiving no manual handling training. Here are some examples:

  • You may be asked to lift a heavy object without training. You lift using your back instead of your knees which causes a slipped disc injury.
  • You aren’t given training on how to hold and move with an object once you’ve grasped it. This means that you stumble with a heavy load in your arms, and this causes you to fall with the box on top of you. This results in a soft tissue injury to the face. 
  • You’re using a trolley to help you move a stack of boxes. You have not been trained on how to use this trolley, and as a result, when you are turning it around a corner, your fingers become jammed in the handle mechanism. This causes a crushed finger injury.

This list isn’t exhaustive; you could have been injured in a kind of accident that we haven’t touched on. If this is the case, you might want to get in touch with an advisor from our team for a free assessment of your case. Provided you have a valid claim, they could connect you with a legal representative from our panel.

How Much Compensation Could You Get From A Claim For A Back Injury?

If your claim is successful after sustaining a back injury caused by no manual handling training in the workplace, your compensation may consist of two heads of claim. The first is general damages which account for the pain and suffering you’ve endured as a result of your injuries.

Below, we’ve compiled a table to display different back injuries and their compensation guideline brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a publication that is widely used by legal professionals, such as personal injury solicitors, to calculate the value of your injuries.

Please note, all claims will be assessed and valued on a case-by-case basis. As each workplace injury claim is unique, these figures are not a guarantee.

Compensation Guideline Table

InjuryNotesCompensation Guideline Bracket
Severe Back Injury (a) (i)Most severe back injury with damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots. Severe pain and disability as a result. £91,090 to £160,980
Severe Back Injury (a) (ii)This bracket includes injury to the back that causes impaired mobility and a weakened bladder among other effects. £74,160 to £88,430
Severe Back Injury (a) (iii)Abnormal tissue on discs, or fractures of discs with continuing severe pain, despite treatment. Disabilities such as impaired agility and the risk of arthritis. £38,780 to £69,730
Moderate Back Injury (b) (i)Crush fracture to the lumbar vertebrae with continual pain. Could include reduced mobility caused by irritation of the nerve root and damage to one of the discs in the spine. £27,760 to £38,780
Moderate Back Injury (b) (ii)Disrupted ligaments and muscles allowing backache to occur. £12,510 to £27,760
Minor Back Injury (c) (i)This bracket includes less serious injuries such as sprains and soft tissue injuries. Full recovery can be achieved between two to five years.£7,890 to £12,510
Minor Back Injury (c) (ii)Applies to short-term acceleration and exacerbation injuries with full recovery to be expected in one to two years.£4,350 to £7,890
Minor Back Injury (c) (iii)Full recovery takes place in three months to a year, without surgery.£2,450 to £4,350
Minor Back Injury (c) (iv)This bracket is for back injuries that have a full recovery within three months.Up to £2,450

Can Financial Losses Contribute To My Back Injury Claim Amount?

Alongside general damages, special damages may also be included in your accident at work compensation if your case is successful. Special damages reimburse you for any financial losses that have incurred as a result of your injuries. These losses may include:

  • Travel costs to hospital appointments
  • Medical costs
  • Loss of earnings
  • Home or vehicle amendments, if applicable

We do advise that you keep a record of all financial losses sustained, such as payslips, invoices and receipts, in order to provide strength to your claim for special damages.

To see if you can make a claim for a back injury caused by no manual handling training, give us a call and let one of our advisors assist you.

Evidence That Could Help You Sue Your Employer For Negligence

Gathering evidence that may prove that your injuries are a result of employer negligence can be useful in strengthening your claim. Examples of relevant evidence can include:

  • Photographs of your injuries and the accident site where it took place
  • CCTV footage that captured the events
  • Contact details of any witnesses that may be willing to give a statement at a later occasion
  • A diary that includes any symptoms or treatments you may be having as a result of your injuries. Thoughts and feelings can be included as a way of establishing your physical and mental state before and after the accident.
  • Medical records such as X-rays or scans

If you require assistance with collecting evidence, then give us a call today and speak to one of our advisors. If you have a valid claim, you may be connected to one of the personal injury solicitors from our panel.

Use Our Panel Of Solicitors To Make A No Win No Fee Manual Handling Claim

Our No Win No Fee solicitors can work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This is a type of No Win No Fee agreement that allows you to access legal representation without any upfront costs. Generally, you don’t have to pay for any solicitors fee’s during the claims process or if your claim fails.

However, if you are awarded a settlement, a small, legally limited deduction is taken from your compensation, otherwise known as a success fee. This ensures that your solicitor is paid for the work that has been completed for the successful claim.

If our advisors believe that you have grounds to pursue a claim, you could be connected with a No Win No Fee solicitor. For more information on starting a claim when you’ve sustained a back injury caused by no manual handling training, contact us today:

Learn More About Claiming For A Back Injury Caused By No Manual Handling Training

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