If you've suffered a hand fracture in an accident that wasn't your fault, contact us to find out how much compensation for a broken hand you could be eligible to claim.
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How much compensation for a broken hand?
Hand fractures are common injuries that people usually recover from within a few months. However, some fractures can have a long-term impact on your quality of life. This guide will help you understand when you can claim for a broken hand and how much compensation you might be entitled to.
A broken hand injury can be caused by various incidents, including falls, sports accidents, road traffic collisions, criminal assaults and accidents at work. If another party was at least partially at fault for your injury, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your pain and suffering.
To find out more about the amount of compensation for a broken hand you could claim, call 0800 470 0472 to discuss your case with a friendly legal adviser. You can also enter your details into our online claim form if you would prefer a callback.
Key points about broken hand compensation claims
- Eligibility: You may be able to claim if your hand was broken due to someone else’s negligence, such as in a workplace or public accident.
- Causes: Common causes include falls, manual handling accidents, car crashes or being struck by falling objects.
- Time Limit: You typically have 3 years from the date of the accident or diagnosis to begin your claim, although there are certain exceptions.
- Compensation: Will depend on the type of fracture, recovery time, and any long-term impact on hand movement or work ability.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will work on a no win, no fee basis, meaning you only pay a fee if the claim is successful.
Table of Contents
What does a broken hand compensation claim cover?
If you’ve suffered a broken hand in an accident that was not your fault and you make a successful personal injury claim, your compensation will include two types of damages:
General damages address the non-financial, subjective impacts of the injury. These are difficult to quantify because they do not have a monetary value attached to them. Examples of general damages include:
- The physical pain and discomfort caused by your injury
- The impact on your ability to participate in hobbies and activities (loss of amenity)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced quality of life
- The psychological impact of the injury, such as anxiety and depression
Special damages are awarded for the quantifiable financial losses you’ve incurred as a direct result of your injury. These losses can be precisely calculated and are supported by evidence such as receipts and payslips. Your compensation claim for special damages could cover:
- Loss of earnings due to time off work during recovery
- Future loss of earnings if the injury results in long-term disability affecting your ability to work
- Costs for treatments, medications, physiotherapy, and any necessary medical equipment
- Expenses from travelling to and from medical appointments
- The care and assistance received during recovery, even if from friends or family
- Any other financial losses you’ve incurred directly because of the injury
Your personal injury lawyer will carefully consider all your losses to ensure you receive a fair compensation amount.
How much compensation for a broken hand injury?
As you can see, many factors are taken into account when calculating the payment for a broken hand compensation claim. As you can expect, a minor fracture will typically result in less compensation than a severe, complex fracture of the hand.
The amount of special damages you can claim depends strictly on the financial impact of your injury and the evidence you can produce.
For example, if you were unable to work for eight weeks due to a severely injured hand and your net weekly income is £500, you can claim £4,000 in loss of earnings.
General damages are subjective and do not have a financial value attached to them. To calculate a fair compensation amount, solicitors and courts refer to guidelines from the Judicial College (18th Edition).
According to your specific circumstances, you could receive the following awards for pain and suffering:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Hand Injuries | A minor hand injury recovering within six months, such as fractures | Up to £6,300 |
| A moderate hand injury, including crush injuries, penetrating wounds or soft tissue damage | £7,500 - £18,000 | |
| A serious hand injury with significant loss of function | £38,000 - £82,000 | |
| Serious damage to both hands causing permanent cosmetic disability and major loss of function | £74,000 - £112,000 | |
| Total or effective loss of one hand | £127,000 - £145,000 |
Factors that will affect my compensation payment
Several factors will significantly influence the value of your compensation claim when calculating general damages for a broken hand:
- The severity of the fracture – a minor fracture will result in less compensation than a severe one;
- The location of the fracture – fractures in the dominant hand are worth more, while fractures of the little finger are worth less than fractures of the thumb;
- Complications – if you suffered complications like nerve damage or tendon injuries, your compensation amount will increase;
- The long-term effects – if the fracture leads to long-term impacts like chronic pain, stiffness, or loss of function, the compensation payment will be higher;
- The impact on daily life – the extent to which the injury affects your ability to perform daily activities, work, and hobbies is also considered.
How much will I receive if I am partially at fault for my hand fracture injury?
If you’ve broken your hand in an accident that was partially your fault, you may still be eligible to make a personal injury claim. However, your compensation will be reduced proportionally to your degree of blame, known as contributory negligence. Examples include:
- Ignoring obvious hazards or warning signs.
- Improper use of equipment or machinery at work.
- Failing to take reasonable safety precautions.
- Not paying attention or acting recklessly.
- Not wearing a seatbelt in a road accident.
- Crossing the road carelessly, without looking for incoming traffic.
The parties involved, or the court, will assess the degree to which each party contributed to the accident based on the presented evidence. This will result in a percentage of fault assigned to each party. For example:
You may be found 20% at fault and the other party 80% at fault. In this case, if you suffered a broken hand valued at £10,000, your compensation will be reduced by 20%. As a result, you will only receive £8,000 due to your contributory negligence.
Am I eligible to claim compensation for a broken hand?
If you’ve suffered a broken hand or wrist, you may be wondering if you are entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim. The easiest way to find out is by having an experienced solicitor assess your case. They will take on your claim if the following apply:
- Another party, such as your employer or a road user, owed you a legal duty of care;
- They breached this duty and caused or contributed to an accident;
- You suffered a broken hand as a result of that accident within the past three years.
A duty of care will be established based on legislation such as the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. Once this is proven, your personal injury solicitor will help you gather all the evidence you need to support your claim, which could include:
- Medical records, such as X-rays and reports from specialists that prove the extent and severity of your injury;
- Medical reports regarding the treatments you received and any long-term effects and disabilities;
- Photographs of the accident scene and the visible effects of your injury, such as swelling and deformity;
- Statements from witnesses who saw what happened and can confirm your version of the events;
- If available, CCTV footage of the accident;
- Accident reports if the injury occurred at work or in a public place;
- A copy of a police report if you were the victim of an assault;
- Evidence of financial losses, such as receipts and invoices.
Your solicitor will then inform the defendant of your intentions to seek compensation and will guide you through all the steps of the hand injury claims process.
Common causes of broken hand claims
A broken hand injury compensation claim can arise from various situations, including:
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls are a leading cause of broken or fractured hand injuries. These are typically due to wet floors, uneven surfaces or hazards left in walkways. People instinctively reach out to break a fall, which can lead to fractures in the hand.
Road traffic accidents
Road accidents involving cars, bicycles or motorcycles can lead to the hands being crushed, twisted or thrown against a hard surface, resulting in severe fractures. Vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists are especially at risk.
Accidents at work
All workplaces present various hazards that could lead to fractures of the hand. These include heavy machinery, falling objects and hazardous surfaces.
Your employer has a duty to take reasonable steps to protect you from injuries while doing your job under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. If they breach this duty and you are injured as a result, you may be entitled to make an accident at work claim.
Sports accidents
Hand injuries such as bone fractures are common in both contact and non-contact sports. These can be due to acute trauma or overuse, and they can be due to poor ground conditions, defective equipment, inadequate training or bad advice from a coach.
Faulty products
Defective or poorly designed products, such as tools, equipment or vehicles, can lead to unexpected injuries such as hand fractures. In such cases, you may be able to claim compensation from the product manufacturer or supplier, potentially relying on the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and other relevant legislation.
Overuse and repetitive motions
Repetitive stress from activities like manual handling, typing or playing musical instruments can lead to stress fractures over time. These injuries develop gradually due to continuous strain on the hand bones.
Criminal assaults
Direct blows to the hand during physical altercations can result in a broken bone injury, especially if the assailant uses a weapon. If you were the blameless victim of an assault, you may be able to claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
This list is by no means exhaustive, and many other situations could entitle you to make a broken hand compensation claim.
How is a broken hand injury diagnosed and treated?
A broken hand can present with a variety of signs and symptoms, which can vary depending on the severity and location of the fracture, such as:
- Intense pain at the site of injury that worsens with movement
- Swelling and bruising around the injured area
- A visible deformity
- Difficulty or inability to move the hand or fingers
- Tenderness and sensitivity to the touch
- Numbness and tingling, which indicate potential nerve damage
If you were involved in an accident and are experiencing any of the symptoms above, you should visit your GP or the hospital as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment (see further guidance from the NHS on broken hand injuries).
Your doctor will start by asking about the circumstances of your injury and will physically examine you. They will also order an X-ray, which will reveal the location and severity of the fracture. In complex cases, an MRI or CT scan may also be necessary.
Once diagnosed, the treatment for a hand fracture may involve:
- Immobilisation using a splint or cast
- Over-the-counter or prescription pain medicine
- Manually realigning the broken bones
- Surgery to realign the bones and keep them in place using screws, plates or wires
After your injury heals, you may also need physical therapy to restore strength, range of motion and coordination.
Time limits to start a claim for broken hand compensation
Under the Limitation Act 1980, you have three years to claim compensation for a broken hand, starting from one of the following:
- The date of the accident that caused you to suffer a hand fracture.
- The date your injury was diagnosed (known as the date of knowledge).
While three years is a long time, you should not unnecessarily delay your claim. It is always best to seek legal advice as soon as possible. That will make it easier to gather evidence and build a compelling case to secure compensation.
There are a few exceptions to the three-year limitation period:
- If the injured party was under 18 at the time of the accident, a parent or legal guardian can make a child injury claim on their behalf at any time. Once they turn 18, they have until their 21st birthday to initiate a claim themselves.
- If the injured person is not mentally able to make legal decisions, the time limit is suspended. The three-year period may begin if and when they regain capacity. In the meantime, a litigation friend could claim for them without any time limit.
Can I make a broken hand claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor?
If you are entitled to claim compensation for a broken hand, your solicitor will offer you a no win no fee agreement. That means they will take on your case without asking for any upfront fees so that you can have legal representation regardless of your financial situation.
If they win the claim, they will be entitled to a pre-agreed percentage (capped at 25%) of certain parts of your compensation as their success fee. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay them anything, so there is no financial risk to you.
With the no win no fee service, your solicitor is highly motivated to win your case, as they only get paid if you receive compensation.
To find out if you can make a claim and how much compensation you could receive for a broken hand, call 0800 470 0472 or request a call back for a free case assessment.
