Hip Injury Claims

A hip injury can be very painful and debilitating. It may cause significant physical and psychological distress and prevent you from carrying out your daily tasks. Recovery can sometimes take many months, during which you might not be able to work. This can put a lot of financial strain on you and your family.

If your injury was due to another party’s negligence, you might be eligible to make a hip injury claim. Besides your pain and suffering, the compensation award could cover any financial losses you incurred. These include medical expenses, lost wages and the cost of care and assistance.

Slips, trips and falls, road traffic accidents and accidents at work are the most common causes of hip injuries. Minor soft tissue injuries or fractures may heal completely and cause no lasting disability. Severe injuries may nonetheless cause long-term mobility issues, instability and chronic pain.

If somebody else was at fault, you deserve compensation for all that you have endured. If you feel you may have a valid claim for hip injury compensation, call 0800 678 1410 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a friendly legal adviser.

Can I make a hip injury compensation claim?

If you suffered any type of hip injury without being at fault, you should contact a personal injury solicitor. They can let you know if you are eligible to make a hip injury claim. Usually, this should be possible if you were injured in the past three years and:

• Another party owed you a duty of care
• They breached their duty towards you by causing an accident
• You suffered a hip injury as a result

You do not have to worry about proving that another party owed you a duty of care. Your solicitor will handle this part of the claim by using various legislation relevant to the type of accident you’ve been involved in. This could include:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The Road Traffic Act 1988
• The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984
• The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
• The Consumer Rights Act 2015

After identifying the liable party, your solicitor will help you gather as much evidence as possible to support your hip injury claim. They will also handle all the paperwork and contact the defendant to inform them of your allegations of negligence.

If you have strong evidence to support your claim, you can pursue compensation even if the other party denies responsibility. In this case, your solicitor will issue court proceedings. You will have to argue your case before a judge, who will decide liability. Nonetheless, more than 95% of all personal injury claims settle out of court.

To find out if you have a valid claim for hip injury compensation, call 0800 678 1410 to speak to a legal adviser. Alternatively, please enter your details into our online claim form to receive a call back.

What are the main types of hip injuries?

Hip injuries are common in people of all ages. The elderly are especially prone to injuries because of decreased bone density and joint elasticity. Besides traumatic accidents, a hip injury could also be caused by carrying heavy loads or repetitive movements.

A hip injury may also compromise mobility in other body areas, such as the legs or spine. Depending on the cause and extent of an injury, common symptoms include:

• Pain that might radiate into the leg, groin or buttocks
• Stiffness and reduced range of motion
• Joint instability and difficulty rotating the joint
• Inability to put weight on the hip
• Grinding or popping sensations

You could claim hip injury compensation for any injury that was not your fault, including:

Hip sprains and strains

Overstretching or a forceful impact may cause damage to the muscles, ligaments or tendons around the hip. This may cause pain, swelling or weakness in the hip area. Muscle strains are almost always caused by repetitive use or overuse.

A strain can cause hip instability and significantly increase the risk for more severe injuries. Most sprains and strains can be successfully treated with rest and medication and heal in several weeks. More severe cases may require physical therapy or surgery.

Hip dislocation

A dislocated hip is a very painful and serious medical emergency. It occurs when the head of the femur is forced out of the hip joint socket. It takes a major force to dislocate the hip, such as a car accident or fall from a significant height. Wearing a seatbelt can significantly decrease the risk of hip dislocation during a collision.

The signs and symptoms include intense pain, deformity and difficulty or inability to walk. If there is also nerve damage, symptoms include loss of feeling in the foot or ankle area. A dislocated hip may cause severe long-term debilitating problems, and it is a medical emergency that might require surgery.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a developmental dislocation, in which the hip socket does not fully support the head of the femur. Babies should be given an examination to screen for dysplasia shortly after birth. If detected in the first six months, the hip joint can be properly realigned.

Without detection and treatment, it can lead to limping, arthritis, and pain in the hip, groin and lower back. You may also hear a snap or pop when moving the hip. If you or your child suffer from hip dysplasia due to medical negligence, you could make a hip injury claim.

Hip fractures

Even a minor fall could cause a hip fracture, especially in the elderly. A fracture involves a break or crack in the top portion of the femur, close to the hip joint. Symptoms of a fractured hip include:

• Severe pain in the hip area
• Inability to lift or move the leg
• Inability to stand or put weight on the leg
• Bruising and swelling
• The injured leg appears shorter than the other
• The injured leg turns outwards

The treatment usually involves medication, rehabilitation and surgery. Screws or plates may be used to hold the bones together, while severe cases may require total or partial hip replacement with prostheses. A hip fracture may be very debilitating and can decrease life expectancy.

Some of the complications related to hip fractures include:

• Blood clots in the legs or lungs
• Urinary infections
• Bedsores
• Loss of muscle mass
• Pneumonia

In the UK, around 76,000 hip fractures are recorded each year. If another person was responsible for your injury, you could claim broken hip compensation.

Bursitis

Bursitis refers to the swelling and inflammation of the bursae, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the hip joints. Bursitis causes pain in the outer portion or front of the hip. Treatment includes cortisone injections, stretching and physical therapy. If these do not resolve it, surgery may be used to remove the painful bursae.

Labral tear

The labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the hip socket. It serves as a seal between the femur and hip socket and allows the hip to move smoothly. A labral tear could be due to any high-impact trauma to the hip. Osteoarthritis and other health conditions may also cause a tear.

Symptoms of a labral tear include pain, stiffness, clicking sounds when moving and feeling unsteady on the feet. Treatment involves medicine, injections and physical therapy. If the tear is severe, it might need surgical repair.

Hip instability

Hip instability may be due to overuse or a traumatic accident. Even low impact activities can result in too much pressure on the hip joint. This could cause injury or damage to any joint components and lead to hip instability. Symptoms include:

• Pain
• Joint laxity
• Clicking sounds when moving
• A sensation that the hip is coming out of the socket

The treatment for hip instability includes physical therapy and using a cane, crutch or walker. If that fails to resolve symptoms, you might need surgery.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common wear and tear condition that causes pain and stiffness in the hip. This can make it hard to do basic daily activities like walking or getting up. The pain may develop slowly and worsen over time or have a sudden onset. Additional symptoms include decreased range of motion and a grinding noise during movement.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are treatment options to manage pain and remain active. The sooner you start treatment, the more likely it is to alleviate symptoms. If the pain is severe and causes disability, it may need surgical treatment such as an osteotomy (cutting the bone) or hip replacement.

If another party was responsible for your injury, you might be able to claim hip injury compensation. To find out if you have a valid claim, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 678 1410 to speak to a legal adviser.

What type of accidents could result in a hip injury?

Some hip injuries happen naturally due to ageing or genetic predisposition and cannot be avoided. Many others are caused by sudden, traumatic accidents. If your injury was caused by someone else, that can make it even more distressing and harder to come to terms with.

If another party was responsible for your accident, you might be able to claim hip injury compensation. The most common causes leading to a claim include:

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls are usually due to wet floors, spillages, uneven steps or surfaces. They could occur anywhere on the street, in a restaurant, supermarket or another business. Owners and local councils have the duty to take all reasonable measures to keep you safe in public places, such as:

• Perform regular risks assessments
• Carry out routine maintenance
• Promptly remove spillages
• Signpost slip and trip hazards
• Keep walkways clear of obstacles
• Replace any damaged or loose flooring

If you suffered an injury because the responsible party failed to take these actions, you could be able to make a hip injury claim.

Road traffic accidents

Any road user could suffer a hip injury in an accident, but pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders are more exposed. The sudden and forceful impact of a collision could cause anything from a sprain and strain to hip fractures and dislocations.

A hip dislocation is a severe and common car accident injury. Most people extend their legs and lock their knees as they hit the brakes to try and avoid an accident. This way, the force of the collision is transmitted through the femur to the hip joint. If the force is great enough, the head of the femur can be dislocated from the hip socket.

Accidents at work

You could suffer a hip injury at work due to a single traumatic event or repeated strenuous movements. Employers have a duty to carry out regular risk assessments to identify and contain the hazards that could lead to an accident. If they failed to do so and you suffered an injury, you could claim broken hip compensation.

There are many ways in which you could injure your hip at work:

• A slip, trip and fall is the leading cause of workplace accidents, often caused by spillages, loose wiring or poor pavements
• Falls from a height due to lack of protective equipment or poor scaffolding
• Being struck by an object
• Vehicle accidents, often involving forklift trucks
• Dangerous tools or machinery accidents
• Manual handling and heavy lifting can put a lot of stress on the hip joint. Over time, it may cause bursitis, osteoarthritis and other debilitating conditions.
• The lack of proper training, protective equipment and lifting aids highly increase the risk of a hip injury. If your employer failed to take all reasonable measures to keep you safe, you might be able to make a hip injury claim.

Medical negligence

Not all injuries are due to traumatic events or overuse. Your hip injury might have been caused or exacerbated by a misdiagnosis or negligent surgery. For example, if a fracture is not promptly diagnosed and treated, it can cause severe implications for your health and mobility.

Failure to diagnose hip dysplasia after birth can have severe long-term or permanent consequences for your child. Negligent hip replacement surgery can lead to infections, impaired mobility and avoidable pain. If a healthcare professional caused you unnecessary suffering, you might be able to make a medical negligence claim.

Sports injuries

Although the hip is stronger than other joints, it is at risk during sporting activities. Direct, traumatic injuries are a less frequent cause of hip injuries in athletes. Such injuries are often due to chronic overuse and are common in athletes such as golfers, swimmers, cyclists and runners.

Reducing the stress on the joint and stretching before exercise could prevent many injuries. If your injury was due to improper training or equipment, poorly maintained facilities or other forms of negligence, you might be able to claim hip injury compensation.

Criminal assault

A violent attack, especially with a weapon, can cause severe damage to your hips. Injuries may range from mild lacerations, sprains and strains to severe fractures or puncture wounds. Victims of a criminal assault could claim compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) within two years from the event.

If your accident was due to another party’s negligence, you might be able to claim compensation. For a free consultation with a legal adviser, call 0800 678 1410. They can let you know if you may be eligible to make a hip injury claim and answer any questions you may have.

How much compensation can I claim for a hip injury?

Each hip injury claim is unique, and the amount of compensation can vary significantly between claims, depending on:

• The type and extent of the injury
• The accident circumstances
• Whether you share some blame for the accident
• The long-term or permanent effects of the injury
• Any related financial losses

After gathering relevant evidence, your solicitor will consider how the hip injury affected your life. They will calculate a suitable compensation award, which covers:

Special damages – compensation awarded for any financial losses or expenses suffered due to the injury, such as:

• Medical treatments and rehabilitation
• Surgery, prostheses and mobility aids
• Care and assistance, even if provided by friends or family
• Vehicle or household adaptation to accommodate your disability
• Travel expenses to medical appointments
• Lost wages, including future losses

General damages – awarded for the injury itself and the pain, suffering and loss of amenity it caused:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental pain and anguish
• Reduced quality of life
• Inability to pursue a hobby
• Reduced life expectancy
• Loss of consortium
• Physical impairment
• Loss of a unique career
• Loss of perspectives and enjoyment of life

Due to the subjective aspect of general damages, they are more difficult to calculate. The starting point to assess compensation for general damages is the Judicial College Guidelines. These set out the award brackets for minor to extremely severe injuries for all parts of the body. According to them, you could receive:

• Up to £3,710 for minor soft tissue injuries that heal completely within several months
• £3,710 to £11,820 for a hip injury that may cause a minor or short-lasting disability
• £11,820 to £24,950 for an injury that requires surgery but doesn’t lead to severe disability
• £24,950 to £36,770 for a severe hip injury that might require hip replacement but any disability is not major
• £36,770 to £49,270 if the injury leads to hip instability, mobility issues or might require further surgery
• £58,100 to £73,580 for very severe fractures or dislocations that may cause long-term or permanent debilitating problems
• £73,580 to £122,860 for extremely severe hip damage causing significant permanent disability or deformities

To find out the amount of compensation you could receive for a broken hip and other hip injuries, call 0800 678 1410 to speak to a legal adviser. Alternatively, please enter your details into our online claim form to receive a call back, and an adviser will be in contact shortly.

What evidence do I need to make a hip injury claim?

After a hip injury, you will most likely be in a lot of pain and suffering. During recovery, you might have to take time off work and need help with daily tasks. This could put a tremendous financial strain on you and your family. If another party was responsible for your injury, you deserve to receive hip injury compensation.

You will need relevant evidence to build a strong hip injury claim. Even if the defendant initially admits liability, you should have appropriate proof to show what happened. You should try and secure evidence as soon as possible, which your solicitor can also help achieve. This could be:

• Medical records relating to the type of hip injury you sustained, the treatments you received and your recovery prospects.
• A medical report from an independent specialist visit your solicitor will arrange for you.
• Photographs of the accident scene, capturing what caused your hip injury.
• CCTV or dash cam footage. If there are any video recordings of the accident, you should try to secure a copy before it is deleted.
• If you were injured in a road traffic accident, get the name, licence plate and insurance details of other road users involved.
• Contact details of any witnesses who saw how you were injured. If your case goes to court, their statement might help secure your hip injury compensation claim.
• If you had an accident in a public place or at work, you should file an accident report with the responsible party. Ask for a signed copy of the report to confirm the date and location of your accident.
• Your notes regarding the accident and how your injury affected different aspects of your life
• Receipts for any financial expenses you incurred because of your hip injury

After preparing the required documents, your solicitor will send a claim notification form to the defendant. If they admit liability, you can start negotiating a compensation settlement. Otherwise, you might have to issue court proceedings and argue your case before a judge. However, it is important to note that the vast majority of cases (over 95%) are settled without court involvement.

To start your claim, speak to a trained legal adviser by calling 0800 678 1410 for a free consultation.

How long do I have to make a hip injury claim?

The time limit to make a hip injury claim is usually three years after an accident. This is known as the claim limitation date, after which your case becomes statute-barred, and you can no longer claim compensation for your hip injury.

In the case of repetitive strain injuries that develop over long periods, the three-year limit starts from the date of knowledge of your injury. This refers to the moment you realised your injury was severe enough to take legal action, and your employer may have been at fault.

The three-year limitation date does not apply to all claims. For example:

• If a child suffered a hip injury, an adult could claim compensation for them at any point before their 18th birthday. After this date, when the child becomes an adult, they will have another three years to start legal proceedings by themself.
• There is no time limit to claim hip injury compensation on behalf of an adult who lacks the mental capacity to claim. The three-year countdown starts if the victim regains intellectual ability.
• If the injury relates to a criminal assault, you have two years to make a claim. The time limit could be extended in certain circumstances, such as if you were too ill to claim.
• If you were injured by a faulty product, you can usually make a claim within ten years from the product launch date.
• If your injury happened abroad, the time limit to make a hip injury claim can vary significantly and might be much shorter. You should always contact an experienced solicitor as soon as possible. They can advise you on what time limit might apply to your case.

The sooner you start a claim, the easier it is to collect evidence and build a strong case. To find out how long you have to make a hip injury claim, speak to a trained legal adviser by calling 0800 678 1410 for a free consultation or request a call back.

Will I be offered a no win no fee service?

A no win no fee agreement is the preferred way of funding a personal injury claim. If your solicitor believes you have a valid case and a fair chance of success, they will likely offer you a no win no fee service. This brings a series of advantages, such as:

• You do not have to pay any upfront fees to your solicitor. As part of your conditional fee agreement, you do not have to pay them anything if you don’t receive compensation.
• Your solicitor will help you gather evidence, talk to witnesses and prepare all the legal documents while you can focus on your recovery.
• There are no hidden charges you need to worry about.
• You do not have to worry about paying legal expenses. If you win the claim, the defendant will cover the legal costs. If you lose, these will be covered by an insurance policy your solicitor will take out at the beginning of the claim.
• If your case goes to court, the insurance will also cover the barrister and expert witness fees.
• The no win no fee agreement includes a free medical visit with an independent specialist to assess the full extent of your injury. This will serve as essential evidence in your claim.

In no win no fee claims, you only have to pay anything if your case is successful and you receive compensation. In this case, you will have to cover the cost of the insurance premium and a success fee to your solicitor. The success fee cannot exceed 25% of your compensation, and this fee will be thoroughly discussed and agreed upon right from the outset.

To find out if you can claim hip injury compensation on a no win no fee basis, call 0800 678 1410 for a free consultation with a legal adviser. Alternatively, enter your details to receive a call back.