Upper Body Injuries

Facial injuries

Accidents resulting in an injury to the face can be life-changing, and nothing will ever truly compensate you for an accident of this kind. Our team can help make sure that you receive the most appropriate care and support going forward following this type of injury.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries can range from soft tissue injuries to include whiplash and muscle strains, to more serious injuries.   Our specialist personal injury lawyers are extremely proactive in helping to assess the type of neck injury you have suffered, and the levels of ongoing support and compensation we will try and achieve for you.

Arm injuries

We understand how different types of arm injury can have different levels of impact. Some arm injuries may result in breaks or fractures, while others could be caused by a working environment, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or repetitive strain injury.   A loss of an arm has a significant impact upon an individual’s life; particularly if it is in the dominant arm. We help many people who have needed amputations as a result of injury.

Chest injuries

Chest injuries can be dangerous, and may result in long-term lung and heart damage. Due to the severe nature of these injuries, we will work closely with you and medical experts to determine how best we can help you on the road to recovery, following your injury.  If your chest injury is a result of industrial disease, please rest assured our personal injury specialists are well experienced in that area and will still be able to provide the legal help and support you need.

Back injuries

Back injuries are amongst some of the most common injuries suffered following an accident.  Injuries can range from soft tissue injuries such as whiplash and muscle strains; to more serious injuries such as:

• Compression injuries and crush fractures to the lumbar vertebrae;
• Chips and fractures of the vertebrae;
• Prolapsed discs.

If you’ve sustained this type of injury, we urge you to contact our team. We believe in helping injured people live as much of a normal life as possible after injury, and will do our best to help you on the road to recovery.

Shoulder injuries

We know how painful an injury to the shoulder can be, and help many people who are facing permanent disability due to what’s happened to them.  If you’ve sustained any type of shoulder injury, our team can help you. We encourage you to get in touch as soon after your injury as possible.

Brachial plexus injuries

A brachial plexus injury occurs as a result of some or all of the nerves in the brachial plexus being damaged.   We help people who have injured their brachial plexus, through no fault of their own. We work to achieve the best possible outcomes and do what we can to secure ongoing help and support, to help you after injury.

Elbow injuries

An injury to the elbow can have an effect on someone’s ability to move their arm properly, making it difficult to look after basic day-to-day care needs such as washing, dressing and preparing food.   We can help you with your claim by instructing relevant experts to prepare reports on your injury, which will allow us to make further assessments. We can also help identify what your rehabilitation needs are to make your recovery as quick and effective as possible following your elbow injury.

Wrist injuries

Common injuries to the wrist include strains and sprains, dislocations, carpal tunnel syndrome and fractures or breaks. Arthritis can also be a side effect of some traumatic wrist injuries.  No matter the level of severity, we can help you with your wrist injury claim. We’ll work closely with you to understand the nature of your injury and will bring experts in who can gather further information to help with ongoing support and compensation.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition where the median nerve is compressed at the point it passes through a short tunnel located in the wrist. The tunnel contains the tendons that bend the fingers and thumb in the hand in addition to the median nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include tingling sensations, numbness, and pain to the hand and fingers. These symptoms are often more severe during the night. If you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome and consider it to be as a result of your working environment then you may be able to claim compensation.  Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur after a hand injury such as a sprain, fracture or crush injury either as a result of swelling or due to a change of shape of the bones resulting in additional pressure on the median nerve. In addition to these injuries carpal tunnel syndrome can also be caused as a result of strenuous and repetitive hand actions or exposure to vibrating tools.

Hand injuries

We take our hands for granted, but if you stop to think about it, your hands are used for almost every everyday task you can think of.  Hand injuries are a lot less common than say a neck, back or shoulder injury but the consequences of injuring your hands can be extremely serious.  Injury may take the form of a simple sprain following a fall or car accident through to more serious crush injuries sustained in the workplace.

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

Hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a type of industrial injury. It is a secondary form of Raynaud’s syndrome, in which damage is caused to the nerves, muscles and blood vessels of the hand, wrist and arm by excessive exposure to handheld vibrating tools or equipment.  Common symptoms of hand arm vibration syndrome include the following:

• Fingers feeling numb – this may be just the tips of the fingers in milder cases, but may affect the whole finger in more serious cases;
• Fingers change colour – the fingers change to a pale white colour, particularly when exposed to cold temperatures. The fingers can then change to red as blood returns to the fingers, resulting in a “throbbing” sensation;
• Tingling or pins and needles sensation;
• Loss of dexterity – it may be difficult to pick up smaller objects such as screws or small coins, or to fasten buttons on clothes;
• Loss of grip strength.

These symptoms can be intermittent at first, but with increased exposure to vibrating tools over longer periods, the symptoms can appear more frequently, last longer and may even be permanent. Unfortunately, the symptoms of hand arm vibration syndrome are irreversible.

Vibration White Finger (VWF)

Vibration white finger is a type of industrial injury. It is a secondary form of Raynaud’s syndrome, in which damage is caused to the nerves, muscles and blood vessels of the hand, wrist and arm by excessive exposure to handheld vibrating tools or equipment.  Common symptoms of vibration white finger include the following:

• Fingers feeling numb – this may be just the tips of the fingers in milder cases, but may affect the whole finger in more serious cases;
• Fingers change colour – the fingers change to a pale white colour, particularly when exposed to cold temperatures. The fingers can then change to red as blood returns to the fingers, resulting in a “throbbing” sensation;
• Tingling or pins and needles sensation;
• Loss of dexterity – it may be difficult to pick up smaller objects such as screws or small coins, or to fasten buttons on clothes;
• Loss of grip strength.

These symptoms can be intermittent at first, but with increased exposure to vibrating tools over longer periods, the symptoms can appear more frequently, last longer and may even be permanent. Unfortunately, the symptoms of vibration white finger are irreversible.

Upper limb disorder

Upper limb disorders (ULDs) are aches, pains, tension and disorders involving any part of the arm from fingers to shoulder, or the neck. It includes problems with the soft tissues, muscles, tendons and ligaments along with the circulatory and nerve supply to the limb. Upper limb disorders are often caused or made worse by work.  If you have sustained an upper limb disorder due to your work or working environment then you may be entitled to compensation.