Internal organ damage claims cover a wide range of JCG categories - kidneys, bladder, bowels, spleen, liver, and the reproductive system (male and female). These injuries rarely occur in isolation. They typically accompany pelvic trauma (bladder / urethral / bowel injury from pelvic ring fracture), high-velocity abdominal impact (ruptured spleen, liver laceration, kidney injury), or - in our clinical-negligence caseload - surgical errors (bowel perforation during colonoscopy, ureteric injury during hysterectomy, retained foreign body, delayed diagnosis of sepsis from a perforated viscus).
Casibus works with SRA-regulated personal injury specialists on a no win, no fee basis. Every case depends on its evidence.
JCG 17th edition internal organ brackets - overview
Kidney
Serious kidney damage or loss of both kidneys (requiring dialysis / transplant) - top of the category, six-figure bracket. Loss of one kidney, with the other working normally - mid-to-upper five figures. Loss of or serious damage to one kidney (with risk to the other) - JCG distinguishes between the cases.
Bowel
Total loss of natural function requiring colostomy / ileostomy with disability - mid-to-upper five figures to low-six figures. Severe and permanent but not total loss of function - mid-five figures. Post-traumatic bowel injury with significant recovery prospects - low to mid-five-figures. Bowel penetration without long-term complications - low four-figures to low five-figures.
Bladder
Complete loss of function and control - mid-five to low-six figures. Seriously impaired control, permanent incontinence - mid-five figures. Less severe bladder injury with good recovery - low-to-mid five figures.
Spleen
Loss of the spleen - specifically noted in JCG because of the lifelong risk of serious infection (splenectomy requires prophylactic antibiotics and extra vaccinations). Residual infection risk drives valuation. Typically mid-four to low-five figures depending on whether continuing infection risk or complete recovery.
Reproductive system - female
Infertility, loss of reproductive organs, sexual dysfunction. JCG severe brackets reach well into six figures for serious reproductive injury with psychological sequelae. The age of the claimant (whether she had already completed her family, or had not yet started one) is material. Stillbirth or injury to the unborn child features in the PSLA valuation.
Reproductive system - male
Loss of sexual / reproductive function, impotence, sterility. Severe loss in a claimant who had not yet completed a family can reach six figures. Dysfunction with age / prior procreative status reduces the bracket.
Common routes to an internal organ claim
- RTA - high-velocity abdominal / pelvic impact; seat-belt compression; pedestrian / cyclist knockdown. See road traffic accidents.
Surgical negligence - the most common route to an internal organ claim
A significant proportion of internal-organ claims in our caseload arise from surgical / endoscopic errors rather than from trauma. Recurrent patterns include: (i) bowel perforation during colonoscopy, with delayed recognition producing faecal peritonitis and sepsis; (ii) ureteric injury during gynaecological or colorectal surgery; (iii) retained surgical foreign body (swab, instrument) - a classic Bolam breach and typically indefensible; (iv) delayed diagnosis of appendicitis, cholecystitis, or ectopic pregnancy, producing rupture / peritonitis / infertility; (v) testicular torsion missed at ED presentation. Each turns on expert surgical, radiological and pathology evidence. See surgical errors and misdiagnosis claims.
Special damages in internal organ claims
- Surgical follow-up and revision surgery - stoma reversal, colostomy maintenance, ureteric stent changes.