Hip Injury Compensation: Making a Claim

Hip injuries can have a profound impact on an individual’s life, often affecting mobility, daily activities, and overall quality of life. These injuries can lead to significant physical pain, emotional distress, and financial strain due to medical expenses and lost wages.

A severe hip injury may cause you to need to take time off work or may even require you to change your job if you are no longer able to perform your duties as a result. You may also require more help and assistance from family or friends in carrying out day-to-day tasks.

For individuals who have suffered a hip injury due to someone else’s negligence or through circumstances beyond their control, seeking compensation can be a crucial step toward recovery.

If you were involved in an accident that led you to suffer a hip injury due to negligence, you may be eligible to claim for a hip injury. If you would like more information on the process of making a compensation claim with one of our expert personal injury solicitors, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.

Common accidents that lead to hip injuries

Hip injuries can occur in a variety of scenarios, and several common types of accidents often lead to compensation claims. Here are some of the most frequent causes:

Slip and fall accidents: One of the most common causes of hip injuries, especially among older adults, are slip and fall accidents. These can occur on wet or uneven surfaces, poorly maintained floors, or due to obstacles left in walkways. Property owners or managers may be liable for these injuries if they failed to maintain safe conditions or provide adequate health and safety warnings about potential hazards.

Road traffic accidents: Car, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents can result in severe hip injuries, particularly in high-impact collisions. These injuries often occur when a person is thrown against a hard surface or crushed in a vehicle. Drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians involved in such accidents may seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance or other responsible parties.

Accidents at work: Certain jobs, especially those in construction, manufacturing, or warehousing, have a higher risk of hip injuries due to falls from heights, heavy lifting, or being struck by heavy objects. Employees injured on the job may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which cover medical expenses and lost wages. In some cases, if negligence is involved, a personal injury claim against a third party might also be viable.

Sports injuries: High-impact sports, such as football, basketball, or rugby, and activities like skiing or skateboarding, can lead to hip fractures or dislocations. While athletes assume some risk when participating in sports, there may be grounds for a compensation claim if the injury was due to defective equipment, improper coaching, or unsafe conditions.

Medical negligence: In some cases, hip injuries can result from medical malpractice, such as surgical errors, misdiagnosis, or improper treatment. If a healthcare provider’s negligence leads to a hip injury or exacerbates an existing one, the injured party may have a valid medical negligence claim.

Nursing home neglect: Elderly residents in nursing homes are particularly vulnerable to hip injuries, often resulting from falls. If a nursing home fails to provide adequate supervision, assistive devices, or safe environments, they may be liable for any injuries sustained by residents as they have a duty of care.

Types of hip injuries

Hip injuries range from minor injuries, which may take weeks or months to recover from, to more severe types of injury which take longer to recover from, require surgery, or leave permanent damage. The most common types of hip injuries include:

• Soft tissue damage, such as bruising
• Sprains and strains
• Broken hips
• Hip bursitis
• Lacerations, burns and scarring
• Hip fractures

Hip injuries can lead to a range of complications, including chronic pain, loss of feeling in the foot, limited mobility, and arthritis. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial in minimising the long-term impact of these complications and improving the overall prognosis for individuals with hip injuries.

It is important that you have your hip injury assessed by a medical professional as soon as possible so that you can obtain appropriate treatment. Treatment for hip injuries can range from resting the leg to physiotherapy or surgery.

What should I do following an accident?

Experiencing a hip injury can be distressing, but taking the right steps immediately afterwards can help ensure your safety, preserve evidence, and protect your rights. Here is what to do following a hip injury:

Seek immediate medical attention

If you or someone else is injured, seek medical help immediately. Even if the injury seems minor, it is important to get checked by a healthcare professional to rule out any hidden issues.

Gathering evidence

Capture the scene of the accident, including any hazards that contributed to the injury. Photograph your injuries as well. Collect names and contact information of any witnesses who saw the accident happen.

Keep records

Keep detailed records of all medical treatments and visits related to the injury. Save receipts for all expenses incurred due to the injury, including medical bills, travel costs for medical visits, and any other related expenses.

Consult a personal injury solicitor

Seek legal advice from a lawyer who specialises in personal injury cases, especially those related to hip injury compensation claims. At Beacon Law, our solicitors can guide you through the process of making a claim and help ensure you receive a fair result when claiming compensation.

What is the claims process for hip injury compensation claims?

During your initial consultation, our team of personal injury solicitors will provide you with comprehensive advice regarding your hip injury compensation claim and inform you about the relevant limitation rules that apply.

Our experienced lawyers will request detailed information about your accident and the injuries you sustained as a result. This information will enable our injury lawyers to assess the likelihood of a successful claim on your behalf.

Examples of the information our lawyers may require include the location, date, and time of the accident, a description of the nature of your injuries, details of any witnesses to the incident, information about the defendant involved, and a thorough understanding of the circumstances surrounding the accident.

During the initial stages of your compensation claim, it is crucial to gather relevant evidence to make a no win, no fee agreement claim. This evidence may consist of CCTV footage of the incident, medical records documenting your injuries, photographic evidence of the harm suffered, and statements from witnesses.

In some cases, your personal injury solicitor may recommend undergoing an official medical examination to obtain detailed medical reports specifically related to your injuries. These accident reports will serve as vital medical evidence, providing a comprehensive understanding of the nature and extent of your injuries.

If we determine that your hip accident compensation claim is likely to succeed, we will support your claim and offer our work on a no win, no fee basis. This means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay any legal fees.

Once your claim is filed, the defendant will be notified, and they will have the opportunity to accept or deny liability for your injuries. If liability is accepted, negotiations for a settlement will commence. However, if the defendant denies liability, court proceedings may be necessary to resolve the dispute.

How much hip injury compensation could you receive?

Determining the amount of compensation for a hip injury compensation claim is a complex process and depends on various factors specific to the case. Injury compensation amounts are influenced by factors such as the severity of the injury, the impact on the individual’s life and earning capacity, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and the long-term consequences of the injury.

Compensation is typically split into the following categories:

• General Damages: These damages aim to compensate for the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by the injury. The severity and long-term effects of the injury are significant factors in determining the general damages awarded.
• Special Damages: Special damages cover the quantifiable financial losses incurred because of your injuries. This includes medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, loss of earnings (both past and future), expenses related to care and support, and any necessary adaptations to the individual’s living arrangements.

It is important to note that there is no fixed compensation award for a hip accident compensation claim, as each case is unique. The final compensation amount will be influenced by the specific circumstances and the evidence presented in the case. Our injury claims solicitors will also advocate for interim payments for our clients to cover any immediate costs, such as private medical treatment and travel expenses.

What are the time limits for making a hip injury compensation claim?

In the UK, there are specific time limits, known as limitation periods, for making a personal injury compensation claim. These time limits are set out in the Limitation Act 1980. The general time limit for personal injuries, including hip injury compensation claims, is three years from the date of the accident or from the date when the injured person became aware of their injury and its connection to the accident.

However, it is important to note that there are some exceptions and variations to the general limitation period. These exceptions include the following:

• Minors: If the injury claim involves a person who was under the age of 18 at the time when the hip accident occurred, the three-year limitation period does not begin until their 18th birthday. In such cases, a claim can be made at any time before the person turns 21.
• Mental Capacity: If the injured person lacks the mental capacity to make legal decisions, there is no time limit for making a claim. The limitation period only starts when the person regains capacity.
• Time Extensions: In exceptional circumstances, the court has the discretion to extend the limitation period. This typically occurs in cases where the nature of the injury or the circumstances make it difficult for the injured person to pursue a claim within the standard time frame.

How can Beacon Law assist?

At Beacon Law, our team of personal injury solicitors are highly experienced and capable of assisting clients on a wide variety of cases. We work tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for our clients, continually providing a high standard of service.

To find out more about our no win, no fee claims funding and legal fees, please have a look at the funding section on our website.

If you have suffered hip injuries at the fault of someone else, then please call our team today on 0330 1332 857 to start a no win, no fee basis claim or complete our contact form at the top of the page to request a call back from a member of our personal injury team.

Beacon Law are a law firm registered in England and Wales with our registered office based in Manchester. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.