Kidney Damage
Injury Claims

If a kidney injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

If you have suffered a kidney injury in an accident, or due to a medical error or employer's negligence, you can claim compensation. Your compensation will help support the complexity of treatment required, including dialysis, medication and transplant considerations, and the broader impact on your daily life.

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

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

Key advice when claiming for a kidney injury

• Whether you were hurt at work, in a car accident, in a public area, or through medical error, you can seek compensation.
• You can also claim for kidney disease that developed gradually, due to misdiagnosis or long-term exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Typical payouts can range from £34,000 for loss of one kidney to over £230,000 for permanent damage to both kidneys and loss of function.
• You have 3 years from the date you learned of the link between your kidney injury and another party's negligence.
• Your claim can proceed on a no win, no fee basis.
• Your compensation amount will depend on the severity of your kidney injury, and on the financial losses the injury has caused, such as travel costs to dialysis appointments. Discover how much you could claim with our compensation calculator.

With around 2,000 hospital admissions for kidney injuries every year, you are not alone

Although the causes of kidney disease are varied, including diabetes and dehydration, kidney damage can also be caused by exposure to hazardous substances, high-velocity impacts, crushing accidents and medical negligence.

In 2022-23, the NHS reported 2,295 admissions for kidney injuries and other disorders related to kidney function (digital.nhs.uk).

If you develop kidney disease under any of these circumstances, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

For information on kidney disease symptoms and treatment, see: kidney infection (nhs.uk).

Typical kidney injuries

The two main types of kidney injury are 'Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)' and 'Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)'.

According to statistics from NHS Kidney Care, over 1.8 million people in England have diagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD), while up to 100,000 deaths in secondary care are associated with acute kidney injury (AKI).

If your CKD was caused by your job or working conditions, you may be eligible to make a work-related illness claim.

If you sustained an AKI as the result of a doctor's or other medical professional's negligence, you could be entitled to claim medical negligence compensation.

How much compensation can I claim for a kidney injury?

Your compensation for your kidney injury will vary according to:

• the degree of your injury,
• the influence of your injury on your life and work capabilities,
• any direct financial losses or expenses resulting from your injury.

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 awarded to cover any financial losses and expenses you incur as a result of your kidney injury or negligent medical treatment. These damages aim to put you back in the financial position you would have been in, had your injury not occurred.

Special damages will also cover your medical treatment expenses, that might include fluid resuscitation, monitoring, dialysis and medication.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Retroperitoneal fibrosis compensation claims

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is also known as Ormond's disease. When the mass of fibrous tissue develops at the back of the abdomen, it can cause numerous problems.

This rare disorder is characterised by fibrous tissue development behind the peritoneum, affecting organs like the ureters and can lead to kidney damage. Treatment often includes medications like corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and surgery to relieve obstruction.

In many cases the cause of retroperitoneal fibrosis is not known.

However, studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can be a cause, and as a result it may be possible to make an asbestos-related compensation claim. A medical examination and report, carried out by an independent medical specialist, will be a key piece of evidence when attempting to demonstrate a link.

Your solicitor will arrange for a medical to be carried out in support of your claim.

Average kidney injury general damages compensation table

The following kidney 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).

Kidney injury

Am I eligible for kidney injury compensation?

You can make a claim for a kidney injury or illness, if:

• you were made ill within the last 3 years, and;
• another party was responsible, and;
• that party had a legal duty to protect you.

Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.

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 start a kidney injury claim?

In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.

You may still be able to claim compensation if you were injured by another's negligence and you only discovered it later. Generally, the clock starts ticking from the date you were diagnosed or became aware of your injury.

For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a claim.

What factors affect the kidney injury claims process?

How you contracted your kidney injury impacts the claim process. Click the icons below to explore further.

Work accidents Public places Road accidents Medical negligence Other accidents

Sources

Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher

About the author

Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.