Hayley Devlin LLB
Legal writer and former solicitor
Broken Bone Compensation
Does your claim qualify? Get free, no obligation advice!
The majority of people will have to deal with a broken bone at some point in their lives, and in most cases, the recovery is a simple case of rest and relaxation. However, some fractures can cause long-term consequences, including reduced mobility, which might require surgery.
Accidents happen, and most broken bones are due to slips and falls at home, or while playing sports. In some cases, the accident that causes the broken bone might be somebody else’s fault, if so, you could be eligible to make a claim.
Claiming compensation can help you seek private treatment, give you peace of mind, and help with household bills if you’ve had to leave your job.
Claims UK is an impartial claim advisory service dedicated to ensuring each client gets the support they need during the compensation claim process.
To begin the claims process, get in touch with a legal advisor for free advice and in complete confidence on 0800 234 6438. They’ll let you know whether they think you’re eligible to make a case, and can then pass you on to a specialist personal injury solicitor.
The human skeleton is an essential part of the body, supporting major organs and facilitating movement. With an excess of 200 bones, fractures are common – especially when the bones have to withstand a lot of force.
There are several kinds of breaks that people experience, and while some only require a cast for a few weeks, others might require extensive treatment, including surgery and physiotherapy.
The types of fractures include:
Luckily, closed fractures are more common than their open counterparts. These fractures occur when the bone breaks but doesn’t pierce the skin and are often the easiest to fix.
Standard treatment is six to eight weeks in a cast, and then most people recover and return to daily life.
Open fractures often occur in a severe accident. You might suffer from an open wound and break your bone simultaneously, or the fracture can be so severe that it leads to the bone puncturing through the skin.
In some cases, these fractures can increase the risk of infection, and you might need surgery.
Displaced fractures occur when the pieces of bone misalign, which means you might require more treatment. Non-displaced fractures mean the bone is still in position so that most hospitals will immobilise the body part.
Doctors also categorise the fractured or broken bone by where it occurs. For example:
Greenstick Fracture: These only apply on one side of the bone and are virtually unseen in adults. However, they can be common in children as their bones aren’t as strong.
Transverse Fractures: Often, one of the simple fractures occurs when there’s a straight break across the bone.
Impacted Fracture: When the bone fragments go into one another, the result is a shorter bone.
Oblique Fracture: These fractures occur when the break goes diagonally across the bone. It’s relatively easy to treat and is similar to a transverse fracture.
Spiral Fracture: If the fracture twists around the bone, it’s known as a spiral fracture.
Comminuted Fracture: When your bone snaps into more than two pieces, it’s a comminuted fracture. Most people will require surgery.
Broken bones can occur for numerous reasons, including human error and serious accidents.
If you think back through your life to all the times that you’ve tripped and fallen over, the chances are that in the vast majority of cases, you simply jumped right back up and worried more about your bruised ego than anything else.
Every now and again, however, people are not quite so lucky, and a fall results in a broken/fractured bone.
If your broken bone occurred due to a general slip, then you probably won’t be able to make a compensation claim. However, if you can prove that somebody else was at fault, you’re eligible to file a claim.
The most common causes of negligent accidents that result in broken bones include:
If you’ve broken a bone and it wasn’t your fault, begin the claims process today. Get in touch with a legal advisor for free advice and in complete confidence on 0800 234 6438. They’ll let you know whether they think you’re eligible to make a case, and can then pass you on to a specialist personal injury solicitor.
If you suffer from any of the above injuries and someone was negligent, then you’ve got every right to make a claim for compensation. We’ve supported many people with determining their eligibility, but it’s not a black-and-white process.
You have to prove the other party was negligent, and there can be a fine line between ‘at fault’ or a simple error on your part.
For example, if a train station cleaned a floor, and didn’t put up a sign warning that it was wet, then they failed in their duty of care to you, and it’s their fault that you’re now in pain and requiring treatment.
Or, if you have an accident at work, you have to show that it wasn’t your fault. The incident would be your fault if an employer gave you all the necessary training to work safely in a warehouse, but you accidentally bang into equipment while operating a forklift truck.
Similarly, if you’re the one at fault in a road traffic accident, you won’t be able to make a claim.
If you’ve broken a bone and it wasn’t your fault, begin the claims process today. Get in touch with a legal advisor for free advice and in complete confidence on 0800 234 6438. They’ll let you know whether they think you’re eligible to make a case, and can then pass you on to a specialist personal injury solicitor.
Broken bones might not seem serious at first, but they can have a lasting impact on your life.
Of course, most broken bones heal perfectly well, and you can pick up your life as before. In the meantime, your arm being in plaster may hugely affect your ability to earn a living.
It doesn’t seem fair that you should have to bear the brunt of this financial loss, particularly as it wasn’t your fault that you broke your arm.
In these difficult financial times, we all hear stories of how someone can be plunged into deep financial problems by simply missing a few weeks of work. A broken bone could have that effect on you unless you take the decision to claim compensation.
So, here are the steps you need to take to get the money you deserve.
Before jumping in and getting a lawyer, you should always seek advice from a compensation claim advisor. The main reason is to ensure you don’t waste money on legal fees that might leave you in debt.
A legal advice service can assess your case and let you know if you can make a claim. If you’ve broken a bone and it wasn’t your fault, begin the claims process today.
Get in touch with a legal advisor for free advice and in complete confidence on 0800 234 6438. They’ll let you know whether they think you’re eligible to make a case, and can then pass you on to a specialist personal injury solicitor.
Most people enter into a no win no fee agreement because they offer the best possible solution for claimants. These compensation claims mean your lawyer won’t get paid unless you win the case.
If your broken bone claim fails, you don’t lose out financially, making it a more favourable option.
There’s no set amount for fractured or broken bones because it depends entirely on the extent of the injury and how it impacts your life. When you first speak to the no win no fee solicitor, they’ll ask questions about your injury and consider both general and special damages.
Solicitors class general damages as the amount someone’s expected to pay for the pain the injury causes and how much inconvenience it brings. Also, the severity of broken bone injuries is critical because if you can’t lift items or walk, this can be a loss of amenity.
Special damages count as the extra expenses and losses you incur due to the injury, including:
Apart from the damages, your injury will also be taken into account. While we cannot offer a concrete idea of how much compensation you’ll get, estimates are available.
Arm fractures: If you have a simple fracture, you could receive up to just over £5000, but severe fractures can result in a payout of £15,000.
Facial fractures: Fractures to the face vary in severity, but a simple cheekbone injury could result in up to £5,000. Broken noses that require surgery could pay more, but it depends entirely on the damage.
Leg Injuries: For a broken ankle compensation payout, or any other leg fractures, you could receive a lot of money if your injuries significantly impact your daily activities.
Wrist Fractures: A broken wrist is one of the most common fractures and is usually simple to fix. In most cases, you’ll get a small payment depending on the extent of the fracture.
Pelvis and Hip Injuries: Any fracture to your pelvis or hips will inevitably result in surgery and physiotherapy, so the payment will often be more.
Back Fractures: It goes without saying that a fractured back requires a long-term recovery, and it can lead to paralysis in extreme cases. The payments are usually higher, but this usually accommodates the extra support you need.
When you first speak to a specialist advisor, you’ll learn whether you’re eligible to claim compensation. If that’s the case, your case will passed to a personal injury solicitor, and you can begin your no win no fee claim.
Your solicitor will first want to wonder whether it’s a mild or serious injury because that will determine how much compensation you might be able to receive. You’ll usually have a medical assessment to prove your injuries, and your lawyer will also want to look at how it impacts your life.
During this stage, your solicitor will also gather other evidence and all of your expenses to help your personal injury claim.
Once your no win no fee legal team has the necessary evidence, they’ll arrange a meeting with the negligent party and put your case forward.
While many people will want to settle the claim out of court, there are some occasions when a negligent party might refuse to come to an agreement.
Your solicitor will represent you throughout the court proceedings and work hard to get you the best possible outcome.
As mentioned previously, a no win no fee solicitor won’t take any money unless you win the case. The fees will vary, but the Solicitors Regulation Authority sets clear limits on how legal services operate, giving you more flexibility.
Once you receive your compensation, you can use it to pay for private treatments, sort out your bills or anything else.
If you’ve broken a bone and it wasn’t your fault, begin the claims process today. Get in touch with a legal advisor for free advice and in complete confidence on 0800 234 6438.
They’ll let you know whether they think you’re eligible to make a case, and can then pass you on to a specialist personal injury solicitor.
The first step in starting your claim is calling the injury advice team. They’ll assess your eligibility and let you know whether you’re likely to be successful.
After the initial consultation, the team will forward your case to specialist personal injury solicitors, giving you the best possible chance to claim.
Filing a compensation claim with severe injuries will definitely give you a higher payment, but numerous factors will ultimately contribute to the compensation reward. For example, if you damage your back, pelvis or hips, you’ll require more treatment.
Such injuries can also lead to long-term mobility issues, so you’ll receive more compensation for a fractured leg than you would with an ankle or wrist.
Yes, absolutely. While you’ve probably seen plenty of adverts that make you doubt whether no win no fee solicitors are the right option for you. However, we partner with the most reputable personal injury lawyers in the UK and guarantee a fully discreet and professional service.
The best thing about a no win no fee agreement is that you don’t pay any money unless you win the case, which guarantees your financial stability.
Several factors define how long your claim will take, and it ultimately depends on the extent of your injuries and how receptive the negligent party is. Some claims are settled quickly, but others might take some time.
For example, compensation payouts might take longer if you suffer a back injury because it’s essential to assess the full extent of the injuries and the lifetime consequences they’ll have.
Some people might be immobile for a while with fractured vertebrae, but recover slowly – while others have to deal with paralysis.
As solicitors work on a no win no fee basis, they’ll want to settle your claim as soon as possible, but reputable firms always do their best to secure you a deal that meets your expectations.
Experienced lawyers will know how the claims process works and specialise in working with clients with various injuries. While each claim differs, your solicitor will know the amount you’re likely to receive through experience.
However, it’s also important to remember that your compensation will depend on how the injury will impact your ability to work and enjoy daily activities.
If you’d like to get an estimate of your compensation amount, you can use our free claims calculator.
When you make a claim, the personal injury solicitors will want you to gather medical evidence and probably ask you to attend a consultation. The other party will also need to verify your injuries before they think about awarding compensation.
You won’t have to do anything other than attend the appointment because the legal team and the negligent party will probably arrange everything for you.
Yes, adults have three years from the date of the incident to make a claim unless they lack cognitive and mental capacity. In that case, there’s no time limit. Children injured before 18 have three years to claim from their 18th birthday.
Employers have a legal responsibility to support their workforce and provide all necessary training. When they fail to do this, and the result is fractured bones, you have every right to make a claim.
While you might feel worried about making a claim, your employer has insurance to protect themselves in the event of an incident. Also, it’s illegal to fire an employee because they’re making a claim, so your job will be safe.
Employers need to make sure they create a safe and secure environment for everyone and making a claim can protect others in the future.
Most no win no fee claims are settled out of court, but there might be some cases where neither party can reach an agreement. Your solicitor will do everything possible to prevent this from happening, but ultimately, you might need to go to court for the best compensation payout for your needs.
If you’ve broken a bone and it wasn’t your fault, begin the claims process today. Get in touch with a legal advisor for free advice and in complete confidence on 0800 234 6438. They’ll let you know whether they think you’re eligible to make a case, and can then pass you on to a specialist personal injury solicitor.
Nicola is a dual qualified journalist and non-practising solicitor. She is a legal journalist, editor and author with more than 20 years' experience writing about the law.
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