Bladder Injury Claims

The bladder is a muscular organ located in the lower abdomen, used to store and eliminate urine, a vital function for the human body. If you suffer a bladder injury, this can severely impact your physical and mental wellbeing.

Injuries to the bladder can be caused by penetrating wounds or blunt trauma sustained in a road traffic accident, an accident at the workplace or as a result of a violent attack.

Common symptoms include abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, blood in urine and loss of fluids. Without proper treatment, you can suffer complications like urinary incontinence, infections, ascites or hematuria. Severe cases of bladder rupture can be fatal.

If you suffered a bladder injury without being at fault, you might be eligible to make a bladder injury claim. An expert solicitor can help you build a strong case and receive the compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering and related financial expenses.

If you feel you may have a valid claim for compensation, call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a legal adviser.

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By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by our partners. Find out how we handle your data in our privacy policy. With no win no fee you typically pay 25% of your compensation if your claim is successful, but the fee can vary. Termination fees may apply if you fail to co-operate with your solicitor.

Table of Contents

• Can I make a bladder injury claim?
• What are the main symptoms of a bladder injury?
• What are the different types of bladder injuries?
• What are the leading causes and treatments of bladder damage?
• How much compensation can I claim for a bladder injury?
• How long do I have to claim bladder injury compensation?

Can I make a bladder injury claim?

Anyone who suffered a bladder injury because of somebody else’s negligence is eligible to claim bladder injury compensation, as long as they have evidence to prove that:

• the injury happened in the last three years
• the responsible person owed them a duty of care, which they breached

A successful injury claim needs to be supported by relevant evidence about how you got injured and all the difficulties you endured as a result. Such evidence could be:

• medical records attesting to the severity of your injury, treatments and recovery prognosis
• photos from the accident scene and your injuries
• accident reports
• contact details of any witnesses
• contact and insurance details of the driver, if you were involved in a car accident
• CCTV or dashcam footage that might have captured the accident
• written notes of everything you can remember about how you got injured
• proof of lost wages and other financial expenses

If you want to make a bladder injury claim, it is essential to contact a solicitor as soon as possible. They will help you gather all the evidence you need, speak to witnesses and healthcare professionals and give you advice and support.

Furthermore, if they believe you have a valid bladder injury claim, they will offer you a no win no fee* agreement. By making a no win no fee claim, you can ask for the compensation you deserve without having to worry about legal charges or solicitor fees.

You will only have to pay a success fee if you win the case. The success fee can be up to 25% of the compensation amount, and you will agree upon it before starting legal proceedings. If you lose the claim, you don’t have to pay anything.

For a free consultation with a legal adviser, call 0800 470 0474. They can let you know if you may be eligible to make a claim and can answer any questions you may have.

What are the main symptoms of a bladder injury?

The bladder, or urinary bladder, is a muscular organ located in the lower abdomen. It has two main functions: storing urine from the kidneys and disposing of it by urination.

Injuries to the bladder might occur through blunt trauma, penetrating wounds or damage during surgery, and the consequences can be life-threatening.

The main symptoms of a bladder injury are:

• blood in the urine or a bloody discharge
• pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen and pelvis
• difficulty starting urinating or emptying the bladder
• weak urine stream
• fever
• severe back pain
• urine leakage or incontinence
• bruising in the lower abdomen
• loss of body fluids and problems retaining water

Women are also disposed to a condition known as cystocele or a prolapsed bladder. It usually occurs because of the weakening of the muscles and connective tissue of the vaginal walls and pelvic floor after childbirth or repetitive straining. Signs of a prolapsed bladder include:

• straining to start urinating
• urine leakage while sneezing, coughing, walking or running
• recurrent urinary tract infections
• painful intercourse
• a bulge or swelling at the vaginal opening
• a sensation of fullness or pressure

In some cases, an injured bladder can cause internal bleeding. Symptoms of internal bleeding include paleness, drowsiness, cold skin, sweating, increased heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure.

If you have developed any of the symptoms above, you should get immediate medical assistance. If a bladder injury is not properly treated, complications may develop:

• persistent blood in the urine (hematuria)
• frequent and urgent urination
• urinary incontinence
• leakage of urine into the surrounding tissues (urinary ascites)
• infection, including sepsis
• fistula, an opening between the bladder and another internal organ

What are the different types of bladder injuries?

The bladder is an essential organ that carries out a vital bodily function. You are entitled to make a compensation claim if it becomes injured or damaged in any of the following situations:

• Ruptured bladder injuries. Several traumatic injuries can cause the bladder to be perforated or ruptured:
  • penetrating wounds caused by sharp objects due to violent assaults or machinery accidents at the workplace
  • blunt force trauma in the lower abdomen region from a criminal assault, workplace accident, road traffic accident or after a slip, trip and fall
  • perforations are most likely to occur as a result of negligent surgery
• Injuries related to childbirth. Complications in pregnancy and childbirth can put pressure on the bladder and the surrounding muscles and lead to incontinence. The bladder can get damaged during a poorly performed cesarean section if it gets cut by the scalpel. This would be a valid ground to claim medical negligence compensation.
• Bladder prolapse injuries. This type of injury occurs more frequently in women for anatomical reasons and is caused by a repeated strain of the surrounding muscles. You may suffer a prolapsed bladder due to manual handling accidents or as a result of medical negligence.
• Bladder damage caused by spinal and back injuries. The bladder is controlled by nerves that travel through the spinal cord. Injuries to the spine can lead to incontinence if the nerves controlling the bladder are damaged in an accident. People who suffer from cauda equina syndrome from spinal compression can also experience bladder problems.
• Bladder cancer due to constant exposure to toxic chemicals and hazardous materials used in certain manufacturing industries.

If you suffered any kind of bladder injury without being at fault, you might be entitled to make a bladder injury claim. You can claim for a road traffic accident, accident at the workplace, a violent assault or a negligent medical intervention that caused you a bladder injury.

If you feel you may have a valid claim for compensation, call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a legal adviser.

What are the leading causes and treatments of bladder damage?

The leading causes of a bladder injury include:

• blunt trauma, such as a forceful blow to the body
• penetrating wounds from bullets or sharp objects
• surgery of the pelvis or groin area
• tears, cuts and bruises to the urethra (more common in men)
• strain injuries due to poor work practices
• damage to the nerves controlling the bladder
• chemicals and toxins

The treatment of a ruptured bladder injury usually involves catheterisation or a surgical approach. Minor injuries can be treated by using a catheter that continuously drains the urine. If the bladder does not fill up, it can heal much faster. For extensive injuries, surgery is needed to repair all tears.

A prolapsed bladder can be treated non-surgically by inserting a silicone device called a pessary into the vagina to support the bladder prolapse and vaginal wall. If surgery is needed, the surgeon will use tissue from your body or an artificial mesh to secure the bladder into its correct position.

How much compensation can I claim for a bladder injury?

The amount of compensation awarded for bladder injuries depends on their severity, the circumstances of your accident and how it affected you personally and financially. The compensation award will cover:

• Special damages like medical expenses, costs of care, travel expenses, psychological support, and lost earnings.
• General damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, inability to pursue a hobby, decreased quality of life, and other non-pecuniary losses

Compensation for general damages is calculated according to the guidelines published by the Judicial College:

• £18,660 to £24,950 for a moderate bladder injury with full recovery
• £51,000 to £63,720 for a moderately severe injury with impairment of bladder control
• Up to £123,310 for complete loss of function and control
• Up to £307,000 for wrongful death caused by a bladder injury

An expert solicitor can give you a better approximation of the compensation amount you might expect according to your unique situation. For a free consultation with a legal adviser, call 0800 470 0474 or enter your details into our online claim form to receive a call back.

How long do I have to claim bladder injury compensation?

Generally, you have up to three years from the date of an injury to make a compensation claim. This is known as the limitation date, after which your case becomes statute-barred, and you can no longer start legal proceedings.

The three-year limitation date for making a claim may vary in certain situations:

• The three-year countdown would start on the day you learned or your injury or illness if you received a diagnosis later after your accident.
• If a child was injured, a parent, guardian or another litigation friend could pursue a claim on their behalf at any point before they turn 18. Afterwards, the injured child has another three years to ask for compensation.
• A litigation friend can make a bladder injury claim for a victim that lacks mental capacity without any time limits. If the injured person regains intellectual ability and no claim was made in their name, they can ask for compensation within three years.
• If your bladder injury was the result of a violent assault, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) requires you to start a claim within two years from the attack.
• If a loved one died because of a bladder injury, you have three years from the day of their passing to claim bladder injury compensation.

It is advisable to contact a solicitor as soon as possible after you have learned of your injury. Preparing all the legal documents and gathering evidence could take a significant amount of time, and solicitors might not accept your claim if more than 30 months have passed since your injury.

To start your claim, speak to a trained legal adviser by calling 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation or enter your details into the contact form below.