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 you've 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.
Key points when claiming for an abdominal injury
- Abdominal injury claims can be made for accidents at work, road collisions, slips and falls, and medical negligence.
- You can make a claim within 3 years of your injury date.
- Your compensation will depend on the severity of your injury, and can cover can cover medical costs, lost earnings, and ongoing care needs.
- Abdominal injury compensation ranges from £2,630 for a small burn or scar injury to £204,350 for total loss of bowel function. Use our compensation calculator to find out how much you could receive.
- Claims can be made on a no win, no fee basis.
With half a million abdominal injury and illness patients admitted a year, you are not alone
535,194 patients were admitted in 2022-23 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
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.
Abdominal injury
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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.
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
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average injury general damages compensation table
The following injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Abdominal injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Serious non-penetrating injury | A serious non-penetrating injury, with permanent complications (e.g severe indigestion) | £18,630 to £30,800 |
| Severe damage | Including severe digestive system damage, ongoing pain, permanent complications, penetrating stab wounds and serious lacerations | £47,720 to £68,680 |
Bladder injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Near full recovery with minor long term effects | £25,970 to £34,740 | |
| Impaired bladder function and control | £70,980 to £88,670 | |
| Loss of bladder function & control | Up to £156,070 | |
| Loss of bladder function & control (with other medical complications) | Up to £204,350 |
Bowel injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Some permanent damage | Returning to natural function & bladder control | £13,970 to £27,150 |
| Impairment of function from abdominal injury | You require a temporary colostomy, your diet, daily life and work is affected | £49,470 to £77,360 |
| Faecal urgency and passive incontinence | Surgery is required, and/or your symptoms cause embarassment & distress | Around £88,660 |
| Total loss of bowel function | A colostomy is required | Up to £166,540 |
| Loss of bladder and bowel function | Double incontinence and/or other medical complications | Up to £204,350 |
Female reproductive injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Failed sterilisation and unwanted pregnancy | No serious psychological impact; | Around £11,320 |
| Infertility - where no plan to have children | Injured person would not have further childern e.g. due to age; | £7,330 to £20,730 |
| Delayed diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy | Fertility not affected; | £3,760 to £22,660 |
| Infertility - no medical complications | Injured person has children already; | £19,930 to £40,760 |
| Infertility - failure to diagnose ectopic pregnancy with medical complications | Medical complications; | £47,720 to £113,290 |
| Infertility - severe psychological impact | Severe depression and/or anxiety;Pain and scarring; | £127,460 to £188,420 |
Hernia injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Uncomplicated indirect inguinal hernia, with no other damage | £3,760 to £8,030 |
| Moderate | Direct inguinal hernia, with some risk of recurrence after repair | £7,780 to £10,110 |
| Serious | After repair, you still experience ongoing pain and your daily life and ability to work is affected | £16,530 to £26,810 |
Kidney injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Risk of loss of kidney function | Risk of future UTI or total loss of natural kidney function | Up to £70,980 |
| Loss of one kidney | Loss of one kidney with no damage to the other | £34,140 to £49,780 |
| Loss of both kidneys | Serious damage to both kidneys | £187,940 to £233,440 |
Male reproductive injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Orchidectomy | Loss of one or both testicles, with no loss of sexual function and no impotence | £22,260 to £25,050 |
| Sterility | With no intention of having children | £7,340 to £20,730 |
| Total loss of reproductive organs | Over £170,720 | |
| Sterility | Affecting an older man | £7,340 to £20,730 |
| Sterility | With the intention of having children | £19,930 to £40,760 |
| Sterility | Sterility without impotence affecting younger man without children | £62,210 to £79,160 |
| Sterility - young man | Sterility affecting a younger man, caused by traumatic injury or with complications | £62,210 to £79,160 |
Non-facial body scars
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Burns with scarring and ongoing pain | £2,630 to £8,690 |
| Moderate | Scarring such as an exploratory laparotomy scar | Around £9,590 |
| Serious | A noticeable laceration scar or single disfiguring scar | £8,690 to £25,220 |
| Severe | Severe burns with continuing pain and psychological injury | Up to £116,300 |
Spleen injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of spleen | With no risk of disorder or infection | £4,830 to £9,590 |
| Loss of spleen | With continuing risk of disorder or infection | £23,070 to £29,170 |
Do I have an abdominal injury claim?
You can claim for an abdominal injury, if:
- you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
- someone else was at fault, and;
- they owed a duty of care to prevent harm.
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 2025 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.
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 affects the process when claiming for abdominal injury?
The way you injured your abdomen will affect your claim. Click the icons below for more details.
Can I make a no win, no fee abdominal injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim abdominal injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to an injury specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
or arrange a callbackSources
Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2021-22 - NHS Digital (reviewed: 30/07/2024)
Judicial College - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
Stomach ache - NHS (reviewed: 28/07/2024)
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.