Paralysis Negligence Claims

If you have experienced paralysis due to the negligence of a medical professional, JMW can help you to make a paralysis compensation claim.

There are various red flag symptoms following a spinal injury or illness that doctors should investigate, as failing to do so can lead to paralysis or cause a paralysis injury to become permanent in the most serious cases. Compensation for paralysis caused by errors in medical treatment is designed to cover any costs related to your care and help to pay for any aids or devices you need to enjoy the best possible quality of life following this type of injury.

Our solicitors have many years of experience in handling paralysis negligence compensation claims on behalf of people who have been harmed by medical errors. We understand the trauma that medical negligence can cause for those affected, and we approach all our paralysis claims with sensitivity and respect. Most cases we take on are dealt with on a no win, no fee basis, so there is no financial risk involved in seeking compensation. This allows the injured person to minimise any financial losses related to their treatment, and to cover treatment costs for any future care they may need.

Whether you have experienced partial paralysis on a temporary basis or permanent and complete paralysis, you may be entitled to make a claim. Speak to JMW's respected medical negligence team about your circumstances today in a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us by calling 0345 872 6666, or complete the online contact form on this page and a member of our team will be in touch.

How JMW Can Help

JMW has helped many clients who have suffered paralysis due to mistakes by a medical professional to claim the compensation they deserve. Headed by leading clinical negligence solicitors Eddie Jones and Angharad Hughes, our team is widely regarded as one of the best of its kind in England and Wales. JMW's medical negligence department includes lawyers who are members of the Law Society’s specialist panel for clinical negligence and the Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) solicitors’ panel, in recognition of their knowledge and skill in this area.

With the guidance of our expert team of solicitors, you will be placed in the best possible position to claim the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled for your injuries. We have extensive experience in handling cases involving:

• Delayed treatment
• Incorrect prescriptions
• Mistakes made before, during and after surgery

We will support you throughout the paralysis claims process and consider the ways in which your paralysis affects your day-to-day life so that you can secure compensation that reflects your needs. Our thorough knowledge of the law in this area and our understanding of how spinal cord injuries can be made worse by substandard medical care means that we can build a strong claim on your behalf. We typically take on cases on a no win, no fee basis (under a conditional fee agreement), which means that there are no legal fees to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.

Meet the Team

JMW's expert team has many years of experience and a strong track record of success in helping people to claim for paralysis injuries caused by medical mistakes or surgical negligence. When paralysis occurs or is made worse by a poor standard of treatment, our team can help at all stages of the legal process.

How Can Paralysis Be Caused by Medical Negligence?

To be entitled to compensation for paralysis, we must show that a doctor, physiotherapist or other medical professional delivered substandard treatment that resulted in an injury or made an existing injury worse. The spine is particularly vulnerable because damage can affect movement, sensation and organ function, and when healthcare professionals fail to meet the standard of care expected of them, they may be liable.

One common example of negligence related to such injuries is a delay in diagnosis. Spinal conditions such as fractures, slipped discs, spinal infections, tumours, or cauda equina syndrome often present with symptoms like back pain, weakness, numbness, or bladder and bowel changes. If these signs are missed, dismissed, or not investigated promptly, pressure on the spinal cord or nerves can continue. Over time, this can lead to permanent nerve damage that may have been avoided with earlier intervention.

Errors in imaging and test interpretation can also play a role. If X-rays, MRIs or CT scans are not ordered, are performed incorrectly, or are misread, the underlying issue may go untreated for long enough that permanent symptoms could set in.

Surgical negligence is another recognised cause of spinal injury. Spinal surgery can be complex and carries known risks, but errors such as operating at the wrong spinal level, damaging nerves or the spinal cord, poor surgical technique, or inadequate post-operative monitoring can result in new injuries or a deterioration of the original condition. Negligence can also arise during non-surgical treatment. Improper use of spinal injections, incorrect application of traction, or inappropriate physiotherapy techniques may aggravate an existing injury.

In many cases, the worsening of a spinal condition is not due to a single mistake but a series of failings, such as poor communication between clinicians or a lack of proper follow-up care. When these issues occur, patients may lose the opportunity for timely treatment that could have limited the extent of their injury. This may entitle you to claim compensation, and you should seek legal advice as soon as you can if any of the above circumstances have happened to you.
If you have experienced paralysis due to a traumatic injury that was unrelated to medical negligence, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim instead. Read our spinal injury claims page for more information or speak to our personal injury solicitors to learn more.

What Is the Paralysis Injury Claims Process?

If you have suffered paralysis because of mistakes that were made by a medical professional, the claims process starts when you contact a solicitor. The team at JMW will begin by helping you to collect evidence regarding the circumstances that caused your paralysis and the impact it has had on your life.

Our solicitors will start to build your case from the moment we start working with you, which will involve obtaining the following types of evidence:

• Medical evidence, including your medical records and documentation of any prescriptions
• Evidence of expenses such as loss of earnings, prescription charges and travel costs
• An account of the events as they unfolded
• Witness details, where appropriate

We will usually have independent medical experts review your records and offer their professional opinion on the quality of the care you received, and whether substandard care caused you harm. With all of this in place, JMW will send a letter of claim to the NHS Trust or private healthcare provider that was responsible for your care.

They will have some time to investigate and decide whether or not to accept liability for your paralysis. Compensation claims usually settle through negotiation. JMW will work to secure the maximum compensation for you based on the evidence we have collected. 
In rare cases, the claim will proceed to court proceedings when the defendant does not admit responsibility, or when an agreement on the level of compensation cannot be reached. To learn more about what happens during the claims process, read JMW's guide to what to expect from the claims process.

Is There a Time Limit to Claim Compensation?

The time limit for making a clinical negligence claim is usually three years after the incident occurred, or from the date you realised that your paralysis was caused or worsened by medical negligence. However, there are certain exceptions to this legal limitation period. If the person injured was a child, the time limit will not start until they turn 18, which means that they will have until their 21st birthday to make a paralysis compensation claim.
If the injured party lacks the mental capacity to make a paralysis claim for themselves, there may be no time limit. Speaking to a solicitor is the best way to find out whether or not you are eligible to make a compensation claim for your injuries and make sure the process begins within any relevant deadlines. Alternatively, learn more in our guide to time limits for medical negligence claims.

How Much Compensation Can I Claim for Paralysis Clinical Negligence?

The compensation you will receive for a clinical negligence claim depends on the specific circumstances of your injury. Compensation is typically divided into general damages and special damages.

General damages relate to the physical and psychological impact of the spinal injury itself. They compensate for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity, which means the effect that the injury has on day-to-day life. This includes the immediate pain caused by the injury, ongoing symptoms, and any long-term or permanent disability. These amounts are based on Judicial College Guidelines, which recommend higher compensation amounts for greater losses of muscle function and permanent paralysis than for temporary paralysis of only the lower body, for example.

Special damages cover the financial impact of the spinal injury, both past and future. These damages are intended to put the injured person in the position they would have been in had the negligence not occurred.

In spinal injury cases, special damages may include the costs of:

• Lost earnings during recovery and reduced future earning capacity
• Private medical treatment, rehabilitation or physiotherapy
• Any mobility aids and specialist equipment you need to accommodate your injury
• Modifications to your home and vehicle where necessary 
• Ongoing treatment designed to maximise your recovery
• Travel to and from medical appointments

Where a spinal injury affects independence, special damages can include care and assistance, adaptations to the home or vehicle, and increased travel costs.

The team at JMW will consider all the impacts that these potentially life-changing injuries have had on you. The compensation we will seek is based on financial evidence of losses and your current and future needs. In terms of general damage, we will also include any impact on your psychological wellbeing alongside your physical injuries. This allows us to secure the maximum compensation possible. If you have urgent financial needs, you may receive interim payments in some cases, which means being paid part of your compensation before the claim is fully resolved.