Article by Cameron Cowan, Principal Lawyer & Director
Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation Guide
At Fortitude Legal, we often see that injuries at work can lead to major ongoing consequences. Injury to the low back often occurs at work as a result of activities including reaching, lifting, bending, twisting, sustained or awkward postures and repetitive movements.
Workers may often hope that an injury to the low back will recover with limited medical treatment. Unfortunately, not all low back injuries resolve with time and in some circumstances the back condition can deteriorate whereby a person develops a condition known as cauda equina syndrome.
What Is Cauda Equina Syndrome?
Cauda equina syndrome is a very serious condition of the low back caused by the compression of nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord, requiring urgent surgical treatment to prevent permanent damage.
Cauda equina syndrome can cause considerable pain to an injured worker in addition to the development of neurological problems as a result of the compression to the nerve roots. The neurological issues that develop as a result of the cauda equina can include:
- Sensory loss in the lower limbs
- loss of bladder and bowel control
- numbness in and around the genital area
How Much Compensation Could I be Entitled to?
The impairment score in relation to cauda equina syndrome in the absence of bowel and bladder signs is 40% which attracts a compensation payment of $167,350 for injury sustained between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
The impairment score in relation to cauda equina syndrome with bowel or bladder impairment is 60% which attracts a compensation payment of $296,150 for injury sustained between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
Given the devastating consequences of cauda equina syndrome there may be additional impairments that are able to be combined with the impairment score of 40% or 60%.
Where Should I Go For Expert Advice?
The guidelines used to assess cauda equina and the impairment process are complex. In order to maximise your compensation entitlements, it is important that an injured worker obtain advice on their impairment claim and other compensation entitlements that may be available, for example common law damages. Obtaining advice will ensure that all necessary injuries are claimed, that the correct medical information is submitted in support of the claim and that the compensation entitlement has been assessed appropriately.
Contact Fortitude Legal for an obligation free initial appointment on 1300 020 618.
Tags:
Contact Us
Contact Form
"*" indicates required fields
Cameron has specialised exclusively in personal injury claims since 2009, with a proven record of successful litigation in the Supreme Court of Victoria and VCAT. He is a pragmatic advocate for Ballarat and regional communities, focused on securing maximum compensation for clients in the shortest possible timeframe.
