Abdominal injury
compensation claims

If an abdominal injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

Abdominal injuries from an impact or medical negligence can be life-threatening, with claims typically focussing on medical intervention and recovery.

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by an abdominal injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

With half a million abdominal injury and illness patients admitted a year, you are not alone

497,677 patients were admitted in 2021-22 with abdominal injuries and digestive issues, according to a review of NHS England data (digital.nhs.uk).

Abdominal injuries are frequently sustained in higher-impact road collisions. Damage to internal organs can also arise following illness, misdiagnosis or surgical misdiagnosis.

Whether your abdominal injury or illness was caused by medical negligence, a road accident or as the result of an employer or other party's negligence, it may be possible to claim compensation.

If you are looking for information on stomach ache symptoms and treatment, visit: stomach ache (nhs.uk).

Abdominal injury caused by high impact collision

Abdominal injuries are a relatively common injury in high impact collisions, such as in a car crash. In this case, a claim may be made against the driver or other party responsible for the crash which caused your injury.

See also:

Road accident compensation claims

Abdominal injury caused by medical negligence

Where there is a risk of abdominal injury during a surgical procedure, you should be notified about the risk beforehand. Even if you have signed a consent form accepting the risks of a surgical procedure, you may still be able to make a claim if the treatment you received was negligent.

You can also claim compensation if you sustained an abdominal injury, or an abdominal injury became worse, as the result of misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

See also:

Medical negligence compensation claims

Food poisoning and other causes of abdominal injury

IBS, other long-term digestive problems and organ damage can also be caused by severe poisoning, illness or exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Whatever the cause of your abdominal injury or health condition, if you were harmed due to another party's negligence, you may be entitled to claim.

If you decide to make an abdominal injury claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you deserve.

See also:

Food poisoning compensation claim

Hazardous substances compensation claim

Do I have an abdominal injury claim?

As a basic rule, you will be eligible to make an injury claim if you were injured:

• in the last 3 years, and;
• another person or organisation was to blame, and;
• they owed you duty of care.

Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

Determining who is to blame for an accident is not always black and white.

In our recent 2024 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents believed they may have been partly (or wholly) responsible for their injuries.

You may still be able to claim compensation even if your actions may have contributed to the accident. Claims where there is fault on both sides (contributory negligence) are often resolved with a split liability agreement.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to make an abdominal injury claim?

In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of your accident or injury.

If you were injured due to someone else's negligence but didn't realise it at the time, you may have longer to make a claim. Typically, you have three years from the date you either received a diagnosis or became aware of the negligence (known as the 'date of knowledge') to start your claim.

If you were injured when you were under 18, a parent, guardian or adult 'litigation friend' can make a claim on your behalf. Once you turn 18, you have until your 21st birthday to start an injury claim.

How much compensation can I claim for an abdominal injury?

The amount of money you could claim for an abdominal injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

Special damages is compensation for quantifiable financial losses you've incurred as a result of your abdominal injury. Compensation can include loss of earnings, including potential lost commission, bonuses or promotions, and any additional expenses directly related to your injury.

These damages will also cover any medical or treatment bills, such as surgery if needed, pain medication, monitoring and fluid resuscitation.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Abdominal injury claim case study

The male claimant was aged 12 at the time of the accident. He had been riding his bicycle when he hit an uneven kerb stone, causing the handlebars of the bicycle to penetrate the claimant's abdomen.

He was taken to hospital after the accident where scans and x-rays helped diagnose him with a five centimetre deep wound to the right hand side of his abdomen. The wound was stitched and dressed and he was discharged from hospital the following day.

The claimant's stitches were removed ten days after the accident but the pain in his right side continued for four to five months after the accident.

He also experienced pain in his lower back which was diagnosed as a soft tissue injury for which he was prescribed with pain killers.

The claimant became very nervous about riding his bicycle and his confidence was affected.

His injuries meant he was not able to take part in any sports for two months and was absent from school for six weeks.

When the claimant was examined fifteen months after the accident he was no longer suffering with any pain. He was left a scar which also had clear marks from the sutures. Although it was expected that the scar would fade slightly the claimant was advised that it would be permanent. The claimant was not concerned about the appearance of the scar.

The pain he had been experiencing in his back, although improved slightly, was still ongoing. A medico-legal expert advised that this was likely to continue until eighteen to twenty one months after the accident, and he also advised that the anxiety the claimant was experiencing would last for twenty one to twenty four months after the accident.

Conclusion and Settlement

The parties entered into negotiations as to the level of damages and that matter was finally heard at a Child Settlement Approval Hearing two years after the date of the accident.

An award for general damages of £6,800 was approved.

See also:

Cycling accident compensation claims

What happened?

The claims process for an abdominal injury will depend on where and how the accident happened. Click the icons below for more information:

Work accidents Public places Road accidents Medical negligence Other accidents

Citations

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.