Bowel and Bladder Damage Compensation Lawyers

Bowel and bladder damage occurs when an injury affects the urinary and digestive systems and leads to loss of normal function, including incontinence, retention, and/or complete loss of control. These injuries might affect the organs themselves, the nerves that control them, or the muscles and sphincters which maintain continence.

Bowel and bladder damage typically manifests as neurogenic bladder (loss of normal nerve control), neurogenic bowel (inability to control bowel movements), urinary incontinence (involuntary leakage of urine), faecal incontinence (inability to control bowel movements), urinary retention (inability to empty the bladder), and/or complete loss of sensation and control.

These injuries can range in severity from mild, intermittent incontinence that can be managed with aids and medication, to moderate dysfunction requiring regular catheterisation or scheduled toileting, and severe permanent loss of control requiring permanent catheterisation and colostomy or ileostomy bags.

The impact bowel and bladder damage has on daily life is profound and multifaceted. People who suffer these injuries often experience significant embarrassment and social isolation; difficulty maintaining employment due to frequent bathroom needs and/or accidents; relationship strain and loss of intimacy; depression and anxiety; and substantial ongoing medical expenses for continence aids, medications, and specialist care.

Work capacity is generally severely compromised by bowel and bladder damage, especially when it comes to physically demanding jobs and positions which require long periods away from bathroom facilities. Many people with severe bowel and bladder damage are unable to return to their previous jobs and may be permanently unable to work in any capacity as a result of their injuries.

In order to establish liability and pursue compensation claims, it’s crucial to understand how bowel and bladder injuries occur. These types of injuries usually stem from traumatic incidents that either damage the organs directly or affect the nervous system.

Spinal Cord Injuries are the leading cause of traumatic neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction. Cauda equina syndrome affects approximately 1 in 65,000 people globally and can cause permanent incontinence if it isn’t treated within 48 hours. Cauda equina syndrome is often the result of workplace accidents involving heavy lifting, falls from height, or incidents with machinery.

Surgical Complications are also a significant cause of bowel and bladder damage, particularly during procedures involving the pelvis, spine, or abdomen. Medical negligence cases involving delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome have resulted in settlements averaging $1.7-2 million when permanent incontinence is caused by delayed treatment.

Motor Vehicle Accidents can result in direct trauma to the pelvis and abdomen, causing spinal fractures affecting nerve control, and/or crush injuries damaging organs and the surrounding structures. High-speed collisions and motorcycle accidents are particularly dangerous in this case.

Workplace Accidents are a frequent cause of bowel and bladder injuries. The most common involve falls from scaffolding or ladders causing spinal compression, machinery accidents causing crush injuries to the pelvis, heavy lifting incidents leading to disc herniation and nerve compression, and exposure to toxic substances which affect nervous system function.

Medical Negligence cases involving bowel and bladder injuries often involve surgical errors during procedures near the spine or pelvis, delayed diagnosis of conditions which require urgent treatment, medication errors which affect nerve function, and/or failure to properly monitor patients during procedures.

‍Public Place Incidents leading to bowel and bladder damage often arise from falls on poorly maintained surfaces causing spinal injury, defective equipment or structures causing crush injuries, and inadequate safety measures leading to accidents.

Some industries and occupations come with significantly higher risks of bowel and bladder injuries because of the nature of the work and heightened exposure to hazardous conditions, including:

Construction Industry workers are at the highest risk. They are particularly vulnerable because of the frequent need to work at heights (which increases fall risk), heavy machinery operation, the need to manually handle heavy materials, and regular exposure to hazardous substances.

Healthcare Workers experience 8.6 serious injury claims per million hours. This is often the result of patient handling injuries leading to back strain; needle stick injuries; and violent incidents in the workplace. Healthcare workers are also at increased risk during their own medical procedures because of occupational stress and delayed treatment.

Transport and Logistics workers are at increased risk of bowel and bladder injuries stemming from motor vehicle accidents; heavy lifting and manual handling; and long periods of sitting, which negatively affects spinal health. Truck drivers and delivery personnel are particularly vulnerable to both traffic accidents and manual handling injuries.

Agriculture and Mining workers are exposed to risks from operating heavy machinery, repeated exposure to chemicals and toxins, physically demanding work in challenging conditions, and poor access to immediate medical care in remote locations.

Manufacturing workers face crush injuries from machinery, repetitive strain injuries (which affect spinal health), and regular exposure to industrial chemicals. Assembly line workers and machine operators are at particular risk of bowel and bladder injuries.

Prevention strategies include proper training in manual handling techniques, always using appropriate safety equipment and protective gear, regular health monitoring and early intervention for back problems, and implementation of comprehensive workplace safety policies.