What Damages Could Be Awarded In A Broken Finger At Work Claim?

This guide explains how you can make a broken finger at work claim after suffering injuries because of workplace negligence. We look at the two types of damages called ‘general’ and ‘special’ that are used to calculate potential settlements for injuries like these.

Broken finger at work claim

A guide to making a broken finger at work claim

Was one or more of your fingers broken because of faulty machinery or lack of personal protective equipment? Perhaps you suffered a slip, trip, or fall because of hazards in the workplace that should not have been there? The pain and aggravation from fractured fingers can be acute.

At UK Law we help people with claims such as this every day. Get in touch with our team on the contact details below and we could connect you with a member of our panel of personal injury solicitors. Their advice and expertise may be able to help get the maximum compensation owed to you in your broken finger at work claim:

Please read on and use the highlighted text to provide further information about this topic.

Select A Section

  1. Anatomy Of The Fingers
  2. How Could You Break Your Finger At Work?
  3. Are You Eligible To Make A Broken Finger At Work Claim?
  4. How Are Special Damages Calculated For A Broken Finger At Work Claim?
  5. Calculating Damages For A Broken Finger At Work Claim
  6. Find Out How To Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

Anatomy Of The Fingers

Each finger is made up of 3 individual bones plus muscles and tendons. The bones are separated by three joints (two in the thumb) and described as follows:

  • The 5 metacarpi in the palm area of the hand
  • Proximal phalanges (ring area)
  • Middle phalanges (the section between this joint and the next)
  • Distal phalanges ( the fingertip)

Working in conjunction with our opposable thumb and the multiple bones of the wrist, healthy fingers can perform an amazing array of different tasks and play a central role in dexterity. However, this can also expose fingers to a higher level of risk and injury. For example, official statistics note that in 2020/21 there were 5,181 reported injuries by employers under RIDDOR  to one or more fingers in the workplace.

Types of Finger Fractures

Given their constant use, fingers could suffer many different types of injuries, with fractures being one of them. There are also different types of fractures that could occur to the fingers. These include:

  • Hairline fractures – which are tiny breaks that can destabilise the bone
  • Non-displaced fractures – where the bone breaks but remains in alignment
  • Displaced fractures – a break that moves the two sections of bone out of alignment
  • Closed fractures – where the broken bone parts remain under the skin
  • Open fractures – where the fractured parts of bone pierce and exit the skin

If there are multiple injuries it’s possible to suffer more than one  fracture to more than one finger. Crush scenarios, for example, could break several different bones. Also, slight fractures that go unnoticed can create a risk of infection. Therefore, it’s important to get proper medical attention for any finger injury.

How Could You Break Your Finger At Work?

Focusing on workplace injuries, some common potential scenarios causing finger fractures might include:

  • Trapping the finger in a faulty door or window
  • Slipping or tripping on a hazard and landing in a way that fractures the finger
  • Crushing digits in malfunctioning machinery
  • Fingers in collision with falling, flying, or moving objects
  • During an act of workplace violence

Any broken finger at work compensation claim against your employer could be valid if you can prove how negligent circumstances directly lead to you being injured. We look at the law that defines this in the section below and you can call our team for more clarification.

Are You Eligible To Make A Broken Finger At Work Claim?

A law called the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974  Section 2 applies a duty of care to protect the health and safety of employees while at work. Employers must reduce or remove risks and hazards to employees in their workplaces as far as is reasonably practicable. This means a whole array of obligations such as:

Broken finger compensation claims can be made by any employee who is able to prove that a failure of these health and safety standards caused their finger fracture. If the injury happened in the last three years, you may be eligible to launch a broken finger at work claim.

In addition to this, self-employed persons on-site can be protected by the same laws. Call our team about time limits and exceptions for claims such as this.

Perhaps you have CCTV footage or can request witness statements? Does the accident book entry at work give details to support your claim? Speak to our team about the evidence you have which supports your claim of how your employer may be responsible for your workplace injury.

How Are Special Damages Calculated For A Broken Finger At Work Claim?

Of the two types of compensation to claim, ‘special damages‘ aim to reflect the financial harm imposed on you by the injury. It’s important to note that in order to claim special damages, you must be able to demonstrate with solid documented proof (like receipts and invoices) that an unwanted or unexpected cost was forced on you as a direct consequence of the injury.

Calculating Damages For Financial Losses

In theory, this could cover a wide range of expenses. For example, you may be able to prove:

  • Loss of earnings
  • Additional medical costs outside what is available on the NHS for free
  • Physiotherapy or prosthetic needs
  • Travel costs such as petrol or parking to essential appointments
  • Help from family, friends, or paid carers at home as you recover.

There could easily be other expenses that are particular to your set of circumstances. Speak with our team to see what other documentation you could present in your broken finger at work claim showing financial harm.

Calculating Damages For A Broken Finger At Work Claim

In order to accurately assess the full extent of damage to your fingers, a medical assessment with an impartial specialist or GP is required. This can be arranged for you by a personal injury solicitor. After examining your injuries, the medical report can provide a ‘medico-legal’ report which can be used both as evidence to uphold your claim and assess potential damages.

Comparing your injuries with tools like the Judicial College Guidelines can provide a figure. This is an index of bracket compensation amounts that try to set a figure to issues such as pain, loss of amenity, and suffering. The excerpt below shows:

Edit
Severity of Finger Injury Details JC Guideline Compensation Bracket
Severe fractures to fingers (f) Risk of partial amputation, deformity and decreased grip Up to £34,480
Index finger fracture (j) Cases of repair but with weak grip and occasional pain £8,550 to £11,480
Ring or middle finger serious injury (k) Tendon damage or fractures resulting in loss of dexterity and deformity £13,970 to £15,330
Loss of terminal phalanx (tip) on ring or middle fingers (l) Permanent loss £3,710 to £7,390
Less serious hand injury (g) Crush injuries that significantly impair function £13,570 to £27,220
Hand injury – moderate (h) Deep cuts, crush and soft tissue damage leaving permanent disability £5,260 to £12,460
Loss of part of the little finger (n) Where tip sensitivity remains £3,710 to £5,500
Amputation of the terminal phalanges of the index and middle fingers (p) Loss of ‘fine handling’ scars and restricted movement In the region of
£23,460
Moderate thumb injuries (t) Cases where there is impaired function requiring arthrodesis (bone fusion) £9,080 to £11,820
Minor thumb, finger and hand injuries Includes most fractures with a 6 month recovery period Up to £4,461

The compensation in the table reflects the general damages part of your claim it does not include any special damages.

In practice, any compensation awarded may differ significantly from these amounts. But they do allow a starting point when it comes to calculating a reasonable settlement request in your broken finger at work claim and understanding who may pay your compensation.

Find Out How To Claim With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

When starting a broken finger at work claim you can either represent yourself or seek legal representation. If you choose the latter, at UK Law we can help connect you with a No Win No Fee personal injury expert. The advantages of working under an agreement such as this are:

  • You don’t need to pay anything upfront to hire a No Win No Fee solicitor
  • Or pay any retainer fees as the case moves ahead
  • You understand all potential costs right at the start
  • And if your case does not win, there is nothing that needs to be paid to your solicitors.

You only need to pay a maximum fee to your No Win No Fee solicitors of 25% of the settlement amount. This allows you to focus on your recovery while they work in your best interests to get the maximum settlement for you. Find out more by:

Broken Finger At Work Claim – Related Resouces

Lastly, the resources below can offer further reading on related topics: