Bowel Injury Compensation Claims

Suffering bowel damage can have a devastating impact on your physical and mental well-being. It could cause ongoing symptoms and affect your ability to work, carry out daily activities and socialise.

You may be entitled to claim if you or a loved one suffered a perforated or ruptured bowel due to an accident or medical negligence. Bowel injury compensation covers your pain, suffering and financial needs.

Please do not hesitate to call 0800 470 0474 today to speak with a legal adviser for a no-obligation discussion of your case. They will offer you a free claim assessment and answer all your questions. You can also get in touch by requesting a call back.

Find out if you can claim

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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

• Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of bowel damage
• Can I make a bowel injury claim?
• Duty of care and bowel injury claims
• Evidence to support a bowel compensation claim
• Can I make a clinical negligence claim?
• Common causes of injuries to the bowel
• Potential impacts of a ruptured or perforated bowel
• Frequently asked questions
• Is there a time limit to start a compensation claim?
• How much bowel injury compensation could I receive?
• Will my solicitor offer me a No Win No Fee service?

Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of bowel damage

Bowel injuries can have various symptoms and require prompt medical attention for diagnosis and treatment. These may include:

• Pain or cramping, which can be localised or diffuse
• Tenderness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in bowel movements, such as constipation or diarrhoea
• Blood in the stool
• Inability to pass gas
• Bloating, distension or rigidity to the touch
• Loud gurgling sounds
• Fever and chills if there is also an infection

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical care promptly. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and order imaging tests like a CT scan or X-rays to visualise the bowel and diagnose your injury.

The consequences of a ruptured or perforated bowel can be severe. They typically need urgent surgery to repair the tear or hole in the bowel, remove any foreign objects and clean out the leak.

Can I make a bowel injury claim?

If you suffered bowel damage due to an accident or incident that was not your fault, you could be able to claim compensation. The easiest way to determine if your case has merit is by speaking to a personal injury solicitor. They will ask you a few questions about your situation to determine whether:

• Another party, such as your employer, a doctor or a road user, owed you a duty of care.
• They breached their duty by committing an act of negligence or wrongdoing.
• You have suffered an abdominal injury as a result within the last three years.

If your solicitor can prove all the above points, they will help you start your bowel injury compensation claim on a no win no fee* basis.

Duty of care and bowel injury claims

To have a valid claim for perforated bowel compensation, you must have suffered harm due to another party’s negligence or breach of duty. Based on your situation, this could be an employer, property owner, or someone else. Your solicitor will refer to the relevant legislation to prove a breach of duty, such as:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This Act requires all employers to provide a safe environment for their employees. They must conduct risk assessments, provide adequate training and equipment, and have safety measures in place.
• The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This law requires occupiers to take reasonable care to ensure visitors are safe on their premises. It allows you to make a claim for compensation if you were injured on the street, in a shop or restaurant and in other public places.
• The Road Traffic Act 1988. Under this Act, all road users must exercise reasonable care and caution while on the road. They must obey traffic laws, drive responsibly, and ensure the safety of pedestrians and other road users.
• The Consumer Protection Act 1987. This Act imposes a duty of care on manufacturers, producers, and suppliers of goods to ensure their products are safe for consumers. They must also provide adequate warnings about potential risks.

Evidence to support a bowel compensation claim

If you have suffered a bowel injury due to an accident that wasn’t your fault and want to claim compensation, you need evidence to support your case. Based on your specific situation, this could be:

• Detailed medical records of your injury, diagnostic tests, treatment and follow-up care;
• Imaging scans such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs can visually document the nature and extent of your injury;
• Photographs or videos of the accident scene and what caused your harm before anything is moved or repaired;
• Photos of any visible injuries and the damage caused to your property;
• Statements from witnesses who were present at the time of the incident;
• A copy of an accident report if you suffered damage to the abdominal cavity at work or in public;
• Your detailed account of how the accident occurred and how it has affected your life;
• Expert assessments or reports from specialists in fields relevant to your case;
• Financial evidence, such as receipts and invoices, are essential to calculate the amount of compensation you could be entitled to.

Your solicitor will review the evidence you already have and help you secure further proof if needed.

Can I make a clinical negligence claim?

You can also claim compensation if your injury was the result of medical negligence. To have a valid medical negligence claim, your solicitor must be able to prove the following:

• Duty of care. The first step is establishing a duty of care between you and your doctor. That is generally assumed when you seek medical care, as all doctors, nurses, and other medical staff must provide patients with a reasonable standard of care. They must act in your best interests and possess the knowledge, skill and training to provide competent treatment.
• Breach of duty. To claim medical negligence compensation, you must show that your doctor breached their duty of care. You must show they acted negligently or failed to meet the standard of care that a reasonably competent medical professional in the same field would provide. This may involve diagnosis, treatment, or surgery errors related to your bowel condition.
• Causation. To have a valid claim, you must prove a direct link between the healthcare provider’s breach of duty and your bowel problems. In other words, you must show that the negligence directly caused or significantly contributed to your injury. If your doctor breached their duty of care, but this has not affected your health, you cannot claim.
• Damages. You must have suffered damages due to the injury to recover compensation. These may include medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and any other losses you have incurred due to the perforated or ruptured bowel.

Common causes of injuries to the bowel

Injuries to the bowel can have many different causes, including:

• Road traffic accidents. The sudden impact and force of a collision can damage your bowel. Such injuries could be due to the seatbelt or hitting the steering wheel. Furthermore, sharp objects or debris, such as glass shards or metal fragments, can penetrate the abdominal cavity and cause harm.
• Accidents at work. Workplace accidents can cause minor to severe abdominal injuries, such as lacerations and bowel perforation. Some examples include being struck by moving machinery, falls from heights and forklift accidents.
• Slips, trips and falls. Slips and trips may also cause injuries to the abdominal area. For example, you may land awkwardly or hit objects such as furniture or debris during the fall. Falling from a significant height can also harm the bowel.
• Medical negligence. Medical staff can make mistakes that could cause injuries to the bowel or the worsening of your condition. For example, failure to diagnose a perforated bowel can lead to life-threatening complications, such as sepsis or peritonitis. Delays in diagnosis or treatment of bowel cancer can also result in damage and the need for a colostomy or ileostomy, which could have been avoided through prompt care.
• Criminal assaults. Criminal assaults involving punches, kicks, or blows to the abdomen can result in blunt force trauma. If the attacker uses a knife or another object, they may cause more severe injuries, such as a ruptured bowel. Victims of assault could make a CICA claim within two years of the incident.

If it can be established that negligence was a factor and another party was at least partially at fault for your accident, you may be entitled to bowel injury compensation.

Potential impacts of a ruptured or perforated bowel

A ruptured or perforated bowel is a serious medical condition. If not promptly treated, it can have severe and life-threatening consequences. The severity of the impact on your life depends on the cause and location of the injury and how promptly you received medical care and may include:

• Peritonitis, which is an inflammation or infection of the peritoneum, a thin lining on the inside wall of the abdomen;
• An infection from the perforated bowel may spread to the bloodstream and lead to sepsis;
• Prolonged exposure to bowel contents can cause damage to other organs, including the liver, spleen, and kidneys, potentially leading to organ damage;
• The body’s response to a ruptured bowel can lead to widespread complications and affect the cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal systems;
• Complete or intermittent need for a colostomy and loss of natural bowel function;
• Emotional and psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety;
• Long-term changes in bowel habits;
• Recurrent infections and increased risk of future bowel obstructions;
• Reduced overall quality of life due to inability to engage in daily activities, work, and maintain social relationships
• Chronic abdominal pain.

If your injury was due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for how it has affected your life.

Frequently asked questions

If you have further questions about making a bowel injury claim, please refer to the section below. We have answered some of the most common concerns about claiming compensation. You can also speak to a specialist personal injury solicitor by calling free on 0800 470 0474 or using our online claim form.

Is there a time limit to start a compensation claim?

The time limit to start a bowel injury claim is typically three years from your accident or the negligence date. If you do not start proceedings within this time frame, your case will be statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980. There are a few exceptions to this rule:

• For children, the time limit begins on their 18th birthday. Afterwards, they have three years to start a claim. A parent or legal guardian could take action on behalf of a minor at any time before their 18th birthday.
• The time limit is suspended if the claimant cannot handle their case due to the injury or a pre-existing condition like Down syndrome or Alzheimer’s. A litigation friend could claim for them at any time.
• If you lost a loved one due to a bowel injury, the time limit to claim compensation is three years from their death.
• You have two years to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) if your injury was due to a violent crime.

How much bowel injury compensation could I receive?

Every case is different, and how much compensation you may receive will depend on the particulars of your case. Your award will be based on two types of damages:

Special damages are quantifiable financial losses and expenses you incurred as a direct result of the injury. These may include the cost of private medical treatment, lost income during recovery, medical equipment and travel expenses. They are calculated based on payslips, receipts and other financial documents.

General damages are awarded for the subjective aspect of the injury, such as physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, embarrassment, loss of enjoyment of life or scarring. Based on the Judicial College guidelines, you could receive the following amounts for general damages:

• £10,040 to £19,520 for a penetrating wound to the bowel with a complete return to natural function
• £35,540 to £55,590 for a severe injury with impaired bowel function
• Up to £119,650 for complete loss of bowel function and permanent need for a colostomy
• Up to £146,840 for total loss of bowel and bladder function and other medical complications

You can rest assured that your solicitor will work hard to secure the maximum amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive.

Will my solicitor offer me a No Win No Fee service?

If you have grounds to take legal action, your solicitor will handle your claim on a no win no fee basis. That means you do not have to pay them anything upfront; they only receive a success fee if and after you receive compensation. You will agree on the success fee from the beginning, and it cannot be more than 25% of your settlement. You do not have to pay them a single penny if you lose.

Furthermore, your solicitor will ensure you are covered by After the Event (ATE) insurance. This insurance policy covers all the costs and disbursements incurred during the claims process, such as court fees, medical reports and the defendant’s solicitors. You only pay for the ATE premium if your claim is successful.

To find out if you can start a bowel injury compensation claim, call 0800 470 0474 today for free legal advice. Or, feel free to use our online claim form to arrange a call back and speak to a specialist bowel injury solicitor.