Cauda Equina Claims

If medical negligence led to you developing cauda equina syndrome or having the condition missed or misdiagnosed, you could make a compensation claim.

SPEAK TO OUR SPECIALIST TEAM

Fill in our simple form and get a call back at a time to suit you.
Alternatively our team are on hand 24/7 to discuss your case.
You can call them on:
0800 567 7866

What is cauda equina?

Cauda equina syndrome is a serious spinal condition, which happens when the nerves in the lower back are severely compressed. It’s rare, but it can result in life-changing complications.

The symptoms of cauda equina syndrome include:

  • Incontinence
  • Sciatica on both the left and right
  • Weakness or numbness in both legs or around your genitals

It can be caused by a herniated disc in the lower back. This could be the result of an injury or strain, but there are also cases where the cause is not known.

Causes can include:

  • Complications following back surgery
  • Injuries, such as falls or car accidents
  • Spinal anaesthesia or surgery gone wrong
  • Spinal tumours or infections

It’s vital that you receive immediate medical attention and lumbar decompression surgery for the condition. This is because if it is left untreated, the long-term effects of cauda equina syndrome include permanent paralysis and incontinence increase.

But the medical professionals looking after you may not have realised that cauda equina has caused your symptoms. This could delay the surgery you need urgently.

If you developed cauda equina syndrome and it was caused by negligent care or it was missed or misdiagnosed by your medical team, you could be able to make a medical negligence claim for compensation.

How much compensation can I claim?

The amount of compensation you’re entitled to will depend on how severely you have been affected by cauda equina syndrome. Our compensation calculator could help give you a rough idea of what you might be awarded for a successful claim.

But you could also be able to make a claim for any financial losses you’ve suffered as a result of your condition.

This could include a loss of earnings if you’ve been unable to work. It could also cover medical treatment, specialist travel to and from medical appointments or any modifications you need to make to your home. You could also claim back the cost of any mobility aids, such as a wheelchair.

How can I fund my claim?

In most cases, your cauda equina solicitor will be able to take on your claim on a No Win No Fee basis. That means you won’t have to worry about how to pay for your claim upfront. You can focus on the medical care you need instead of how to fund legal action.

A No Win No Fee claim also means that you won’t have to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. So there’s no financial risk involved in looking for justice for what happened to you.

Only pay a fee if you receive compensation

Our No Win No Fee solicitors will take a success fee from the compensation you are awarded for a successful claim in the form of a percentage of your damages. This could be up to 25% but it won't be more than that, except in cases of road traffic accidents. Changing laws mean our solicitors will now take a payment of 30% of the final compensation amount plus VAT for all road traffic accident claims.

First4Lawyers are an award-winning claims management company with a track record of delivering service that our clients love.

Why should I make a cauda equina claim?

One of the most important reasons to make a cauda equina claim is to help prevent it happening to anyone else. By making a claim, you can draw attention to what went wrong in your case. This can help the hospital or clinic understand what their failures were and address them before it happens to another patient.

A successful claim will also secure you the compensation you could use to help your recovery. It could allow you to take time off work without worrying about the financial problems this could cause.

You could also pay for specialist private cauda equina treatment with the compensation you’re awarded for a successful claim.

The long-term effects of cauda equina syndrome are serious. Compensation can help to reduce some of the pressure you could find yourself under.

Is there a deadline to make a claim?

In most cases of medical negligence, you’ll have three years to make a compensation claim. Although this sounds like plenty of time to submit your claim, it’s always a good idea to do it as soon as you can.

That’s because it can be more straightforward to get hold of certain pieces of evidence earlier in the process. The details of what happened may also be clearer in your memory.

There are some exceptions to the rule, though. For example, if you’re claiming on behalf of someone who lacks the capacity to claim for themselves, you won’t face a time limit.

You will also have longer to claim if you were not aware of the fact medical negligence was the reason you suffered from cauda equina. If this happens, you then have three years from the date you were made aware. This is known as the date of knowledge.

What can I do to help my claim progress smoothly?

Your solicitor will do the heavy lifting during your cauda equina claim. But there are certain things you can do to help the process move along more efficiently.

For example, responding promptly to any queries from your solicitor will help them put your case together quicker. It’s also helpful to provide them with any information they request as soon as you can.

For an efficient service provided by experts who put you at the forefront, get in touch with the First4Lawyers team. Give us a call for free and with no obligation or start your claim online and we’ll get back to you.

X

It seems you are using an outdated browser.

This will impair your browsing experience around the web. Please visit one of the links below to update to a modern browser then re-open the site with the new browser.

Thank you


logo

Can't find what you are looking for?

We are open as normal during the Coronavirus lockdown and are able to help with all your legal needs.

Call us free of charge

0800 567 7866

Request a Callback

Continue browsing