Broken Bones Injury Compensation Claims

When am I eligible to make a broken bone compensation claim?

You may be eligible to claim for a broken bone if someone owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injury.

To be successful in a broken bone compensation claim, you must show:

• You were owed a duty of care.
• That duty was breached.
• You suffered a fracture or broken bone as a result.

The responsible party could be your employer, a business owner, a local authority, a driver, or a medical professional.

If you’re unsure whether your case meets these criteria, our personal injury solicitors can assess your claim during an initial consultation.

How much compensation can I claim for a broken or fractured bone?

The average amount of compensation for a broken bone could range from less than ten thousand for a minor break which heals quickly, up to tens of thousands for multiple serious fractures.

The compensation will be based on the pain and distress you suffer, any income lost, and direct expenses such as medical bills.

Our specialist personal injury solicitors will make an estimate when you speak to them, based on the unique circumstances of your claim.

How is compensation for a broken or fractured bone calculated?

The compensation awarded for any broken bone injury claim will depend on the following:

• Which bone was broken, and how severely, and whether there were multiple fractures.
• The amount of physical pain and distress caused.
• The psychological impact, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• The treatment required.
• The prognosis for any recovery.
• The way in which your broken bone stops you from pursuing things like hobbies, interests, and your social life.
• Any expenses that are a direct result of the broken bone.

In all cases, any compensation awarded will be made up of general damages and special damages.

What are general damages in a broken bones injury claim?

General damages in a broken bones injury claim are an amount based on the nature of your injuries, the pain caused, and the loss of amenity. A specialist publication called the Judicial College Guidelines sets out recommended compensation ranges for specific injuries.

Examples of payments in the latest edition of the JCG include:

• A simple fracture of the forearm – £8,060 to £23,430
• Multiple fractures of facial bones – £18,180 to £29,220
• Severe fractures to fingers – Up to £44,840
• Serious fractures of one or both forearms – £47,810 to £73,050

What are special damages in a broken bones injury claim?

Special damages in a broken bones injury claim are an amount to compensate for the financial impact of a broken bone or fracture. They cover any earnings lost because of the impact on your ability to work for a living, now and in the future.

Other expenses included as part of a broken bones injury claim might include the following:

• Medical bills now and in the future.
• Any money spent on care as a result of your injuries, now and in the future.
• The cost of any adaptations made to your home or vehicle on the basis of your injury.
• An amount to reflect any care provided free of charge by friends and/or family.
• Travel costs to and from any medical appointments relating to your injury.
• The cost of any specialist equipment needed as a result of your injuries, such as mobility aids.

What kinds of broken bones can I claim compensation for?

It’s possible to claim compensation after breaking any bone in the body. Some of the more common broken bone compensation claims our specialist personal injury solicitors deal with include the following:

• A broken arm.
• A fractured wrist.
• A fractured ankle.
• A broken leg.
• A broken kneecap.
• Broken or cracked ribs.
• Fractured vertebrae.
• A fractured skull.
• A broken collarbone.
• A fractured cheekbone.
• A broken elbow.
• Broken fingers and thumbs.
• A broken hip.
• A fractured jaw.

When can I claim compensation for a broken arm?

You might be able to claim for a broken arm such as a fractured wrist or a break to a bone like the humerus or ulna if it was caused by negligence. More severe cases could require surgery, physiotherapy and extended rehabilitation.

Any compensation will reflect the degree to which your life has been disrupted by the broken arm.

If an arm is broken or injured during medical treatment you may be able to make a claim for clinical negligence.

When can I claim compensation for a broken hip?

You might be able to claim compensation if you break your hip in an accident caused by negligence. In some cases, surgery may be needed to repair the hip or replace the joint entirely.

Any money paid would reflect your pain and distress, as well as the financial impact of an extended rehabilitation period.

When can I claim compensation for a broken leg?

You might be able to claim compensation if a broken leg is caused by negligence and limits your mobility and ability to work and perform day-to-day activities. The most serious injuries could require surgery, pins and plates, or even bone grafts.

A broken leg could also leave you having to use a wheelchair for a period. The physical and psychological impact will be reflected in any compensation awarded.

If a broken leg stops you working, you will be able to claim for lost earnings.

When can I claim compensation for a broken wrist?

If your broken wrist was caused by negligence, you might be able to make a claim for compensation based on the impact it has. This could include your ability to do things like work, eat, and carry out simple tasks.

Any compensation paid will reflect the pain and distress caused by a broken wrist and the prognosis for recovery.

If your broken wrist causes permanent problems with pain or movement, this will be reflected in the amount you receive.

Can I make a no win no fee claim for a broken bone injury?

Yes, you can make a no win no fee claim for a broken bone injury with Beacon Law. This removes any financial risk involved in making a personal injury claim of this kind.

There are no upfront fees or charges for a no win no fee claim. You pay nothing as our solicitors investigate your claim, gather evidence, and negotiate on your behalf.

If your claim is successful, we will take a fee to cover the work we’ve done for you, but never more than 25% of the compensation you receive.

If the claim fails, then costs like the legal fees of the other party are covered, thanks to After The Event (ATE) insurance taken out on your behalf.

You pay nothing unless there are exceptional circumstances; for example you have misled us, have exaggerated your claim, or been dishonest.

Our no win no fee approach means you can make a personal injury claim for a fractured or broken bone without the stress of worrying about costs. You can concentrate on recovering while the specialist solicitors at Beacon Law get on with building the strongest possible case.

What is the time limit on broken bone compensation claims?

As with all personal injury claims, there are strict time limits on making a claim after a bone has been broken or fractured through negligence. In the majority of cases, the claim has to start within three years of the injury happening or being diagnosed. This is set out in The Limitation Act 1980.

Exceptions to this strict three year limit include:

• The case involves someone under the age of 18, in which case they have until their 21st birthday to start a claim. A parent can also claim on behalf of a child prior to their 18th birthday.
• The case involves someone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to start a claim, in which case the time limit will run from the date on which they regain capacity. If they don’t regain capacity then a trusted family member could act as a ‘litigation friend’ and claim on their behalf.

Contact our personal injury solicitors to find out more about acting as a litigation friend and claiming on behalf of a child or other family member.

Although the three year limit is in place, the solicitors at Beacon Law always recommend starting a compensation claim as soon as possible after any accident. The circumstances will still be fresh in your memory, and gathering evidence will be simpler.

What evidence will I need to claim compensation for a fracture or broken bone?

The evidence you need to claim compensation for a broken bone includes the following:

• Any accident report produced if the accident happened in your workplace or a public place.
• If no accident report book is available, provide a written account of the details of the accident to the responsible party to create a record.
• Witness statements from anyone who saw what happened.
• Photographic evidence of the scene of the accident, any equipment involved, and your injuries.
• Any available CCTV footage of the accident.
• Any other relevant recordings, such as dash cam or helmet cam footage.
• Medical records relating to your injuries and any treatment received for them.
• If the broken bone was caused by a workplace accident, we’ll look for evidence that safety protocols weren’t followed.
• In many cases, we will arrange an independent medical evaluation to establish the extent of your injuries and the prognosis for any recovery.
• Records of the financial impact of your injury, such as wage slips, bank statements, and invoices or receipts relating to direct expenses.

The evidence you need for a successful broken bone injury claim must show the following:

• The injury happened because someone else was negligent.
• The extent of the impact the injury has had on you.
• Any money you have lost or had to spend as a direct consequence of the injury.

The more evidence you can bring to us when we start your claim, the better. No matter what evidence you initially have, however, we can get to work gathering the rest.

What is the difference between a fracture and a broken bone?

The difference between a fracture and a broken bone is as follows:

• All broken bones are classed as a fracture of some kind.
• A bone is usually only classed as ‘broken’ if parts of the bone separate.

The term used by medical professionals to describe your injury will depend on how severe it is.

The nature and severity of the broken bone or fracture will then impact the amount of any compensation awarded.

Who will have to pay my broken bone compensation?

In most cases, the compensation for a broken bone injury will be paid through insurance carried by the negligent party:

Workplace accidents – compensation will be covered by employer’s liability insurance.
Accidents in a public place – compensation will be covered by public liability insurance held by a business owner or a local authority.
Road traffic accidents – compensation will be covered by the vehicle insurance of the negligent driver.
Uninsured or untraced drivers – if the driver in a road traffic accident is uninsured or can’t be traced, the claim will be processed and paid by the Motor Insurer’s Bureau.

How long will my broken bone compensation claim take?

If the claim is relatively simple then it could take as little as a few months. More complex claims with complicated medical circumstances or disputed liability could take 18-24 months or longer.

Once our personal injury solicitors know all the details of your case, they will be able to come up with an estimated timeline for your claim.

Will I have to go to court to claim broken bone compensation?

The majority of broken bone or fracture compensation claims are settled without having to go to court. If your claim is one of the few to be settled in court, we will instruct specialist personal injury barristers to represent you throughout.

Can I claim compensation for a fracture if the accident was partly my fault?

Yes, you can still make a compensation claim for a fracture or broken bone if you were partly to blame for the accident. If it’s agreed you were 20% to blame for your injury, then the compensation will be reduced by 20% to reflect your partial responsibility.

Why should I trust Beacon Law with my broken bones injury claim?

You should trust Beacon Law with your broken bones injury claim because we apply more than 200 years’ worth of combined legal expertise to each claim. We specialise in personal injury claims of every kind, including accident at work claims and medical negligence cases.

We understand what you can claim for and how to prove negligence. We pride ourselves on settling the majority of claims without having to go to court.
As well as working to win compensation, we’ll make sure you access the treatment you need and any wider support available.

We work on a no win no fee basis so you can claim without having to stop and weigh up the potential cost. You won’t pay anything at all unless you win, and there’s no risk you’ll be left out of pocket after a genuine claim.

If you’ve broken or fractured a bone because someone else acted negligently, then contact us today. If we think you’re entitled to compensation, we’ll do everything we can to make sure you get it.