Call Us: 0330 1332 857
Finger Injury at Work Compensation
Find out how much your personal injury claim may be worth
Discuss a New Case
Contact us today by calling 0330 1332 857 to find out if you have a claim.
Finger Injury At Work
The fingers are used for everyday functions, such as eating, drinking, typing, picking things up and holding them. Finger injuries can range from relatively minor cuts to painful sprains, from the loss of fingertips to losing one or more fingers. These injuries can cause a considerable loss of independence as they can lead to someone being unable to work or take care of daily household chores. Many workers report tendon, muscle, joint and nerve pain in their fingers due to repetitive strain injuries at work. If you believe you have suffered a finger injury due to negligence on behalf of your employer, you may be able to make a finger injury at work claim.
Common Accidents That Leads To Finger Injuries At Work
It is your employers legal duty to ensure a safe working environment by implementing strict health and safety measures. If you have suffered a finger injury in the workplace, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. The most common types of accidents which may lead to a finger or thumb injury in the workplace include:
- Slips, Trips and Falls– These accidents often occur because of poor housekeeping in the workplace. Hazards such as uncleared spillages or wet floors not being cordoned off and an untidy workplace can lead you and other employees to slip or trip. As the human’s reflexes tell us to land on our hands, we are at risk of hand injury and injuring our fingers when we land.
- Repetitive Activities- If your job involves either sitting at a keyboard typing all day or regular repeated use of specific machinery, you may be at risk of sustaining a ‘repetitive strain injury’ in your fingers. As part of your employer’s duty, they should take steps to minimise these types of injuries, such as encouraging you to take breaks regularly. Long-term conditions such as ‘vibration white finger’, are commonly caused by prolonged use of vibrating machinery.
- Improper Use of Dangerous Machinery- If your job involves using dangerous machinery, employees will need proper machinery training before using it. It is part of your employer’s responsibility to train each employee on each type of machine to help them use them effectively and safely. If your job lacks in training, you risk getting injured. It is also your employer’s responsibility to teach employees how to use the machines efficiently and safely. Your employer must also provide appropriate PPE, such as gloves if required.
- Road Traffic Accidents (RTA)– If your job involves driving to locations and delivering your work’s products or services, you may be involved in an accident. RTA’s can lead to severe finger injuries.
- Defective Equipment– Your employer must supply you with appropriate equipment which is in good condition and safe to use. Many types of finger injuries, such as burns, lacerations, and fractures, can be caused by defective work equipment.
- Accidents caused By Colleagues Negligence- Colleagues may act dangerously in the workplace and act against safety regulations. They may use machinery unsafely, driving workplace vehicles such as cranes, tractors, or forklift trucks without care for their other colleagues. Their irresponsibility can cause multiple injuries to other colleagues and the workplace, making it unsafe to go to.
There is a huge difference between a simple, innocent accident, and an accident caused by negligence. If you believe that your employer acted negligently and failed in their duty to protect you in the workplace, and as a consequence, you suffered a finger injury at work, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. Contact Beacon Law today to speak to one of our experienced accident at work Solicitors about starting your claim.
Different Types of Finger Injuries
Before we discuss how you can claim a finger injury at work compensation, it may be useful to understand the types of finger injuries you may wish to make a claim for. The most common types of finger injuries caused by workplace accidents include:
- Finger Dislocation
- Lacerations
- Soft Tissue and Ligament Damage
- Vibrating White Finger
- Broken Finger
- Fracturing Finger Bones
- Full and partial amputations to one or multiple fingers
- Burns to fingers
- Crush injuries to fingers
The more severe the injury, the longer the recovery time will be. Injuries such as dislocations or minor breaks can heal after a short period of time. In contrast, crush injuries, multiple fractures, or ligament damage will take a long time to heal and may need further medical intervention, such as surgery. The severity of any finger injury, including which finger is affected will impact the amount of compensation you will be entitled to.
Making a Finger Injury at Work Claim Against Your Employers?
There are often worries associated with claiming against your employer, as many will be concerned that they will lose their job as the result of making a claim. We can assure you that your employer will not be legally permitted to terminate your employment or treat you badly, just because you are filing a claim against them.
Your employer should have appropriate insurance in place to cover the costs of injury claims for accidents caused by their negligence or breach of statutory duty. Your employer; therefore, will not suffer any direct financial loss.
What Should I Do If I Have A Finger Accident At Work?
In the event you are unfortunate enough to of suffered a finger injury at work, we would recommend that you do the following:-
- Report your accident to your supervisor or manager as quickly as possible and ask that it is recorded in the work accident book.
- Write an accurate description of the incident in the work accident book. You should check the report to ensure that it is accurate before signing it.
- If possible, take photographs, prepare a sketch of the accident area, and any involved equipment.
- Ensure you take the contact details of any witnesses to the accident.
- Try to find out if there have been any similar accidents or any complaints relevant to your accident, in the past.
- Seek medical attention from your GP or hospital.
- Keep a record of any expenses incurred by you.
- Always seek legal advice before agreeing on anything with your employer or their representative regarding the accident.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive for a Finger Accident at Work?
If you have injured your finger at work due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. The amount of compensation awarded for your injuries will be based on the level of pain and suffering and loss of amenity as a result of the injury. It is challenging to value a claim without knowing all the details of the injury. As many injuries are complex, especially those that are ongoing, it may be necessary to obtain a medical evaluation of your injuries before estimating the value.
The valuation of your general damages (injury) will be based on recent case law, as well as guidelines set out by the Judicial College.
The subject of special damages relates to incurred and expected future financial losses. In addition to your finger injuries at work compensation claim, you may also be able to claim for additional financial losses. These can include the following:
- Loss of earnings.
- Future loss of earnings.
- Medical expenses.
- Travel expenses.
- Additional equipment required.
The issue of special damages is more straightforward because it will merely reimburse the claimant for expenses incurred to date and any additional costs in the future. When it comes to rehabilitation costs and other medical costs, the Courts will require medical professionals’ official guidance.
Why Choose Beacon Law?
Beacon Law provides a team of highly experienced Personal Injury Solicitors and legal professionals. We offer a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure you receive the highest level of accident at work compensation for your injuries. We are specialist Personal Injury claims solicitors, with expertise in all types of claims, including, road traffic accidents, slips, trips, falls, and criminal injuries. The Solicitors Regulation Authority regulates Beacon Law. To find out more about how our Specialist Solicitors can help you get your finger injury compensation claim to be a success and how we can help you with your legal fees, and compensation settlement, look at the funding section on our website.
To find out more about making a workplace accident, take a look at our FAQ’s.
Make a Claim
Contact us today to find out if you have a claim.
Use our Contact Forms or Call 0330 1332 857
Contact Us
General Enquiries:
E-mail:
Address
Beacon Law
1st Floor
Shirley House
12 Gatley Road
Cheadle
Cheshire
SK8 1PY