Broken Wrist Compensation Claims In The UK
By Stephen Moreau. Last Updated 15th July 2024. The human wrist is an amazing thing. The bones and muscles allow this part of our body to perform many different tasks. We can move heavy objects and carry out the most delicate procedures with the use of our wrists. So, damage here can cause real problems. What happens if that damage was caused by someone else? In this article, we explain broken wrist compensation amounts and how you might qualify for one if a third party injured you.
Broken wrist compensation claims guide
Firstly, it’s quite likely a broken wrist injury compensation claim may be something you’ve never had to consider before. You might have many questions about who to make your claim against, how much you could get and what the law says about the liability of others. Whether the injury happened at:
- An accident at work
- In a public place
- Caused by another road user
- Or BY a medical professional who failed to properly treat your wrist injury
This article can provide you with the necessary information on the personal injury claim process. Our friendly team are available to discuss your case when you get in touch on 020 3870 4868 or email us at UK Law.co.uk. You can also use the ‘live support’ option, bottom right for instant chat about your claim. It’s free, there’s no obligation to claim.
Services And Information
- Am I Eligible To Claim Broken Wrist Compensation
- Calculating Broken Wrist Compensation Claims
- Are There Time Limits To Claim For Breaks And Fractures?
- Broken Wrist Compensation – Evidence Examples
- No Win No Fee Broken Wrist Compensation Claims
- References
Am I Eligible To Claim Broken Wrist Compensation?
The general eligibility criteria to claim broken wrist compensation are a third party owed you a duty of care, and their breach of this duty caused you to be injured. Different parties owe different duties depending on the situation, we’ve covered these in greater detail in the sections below.
Accidents At Work
Employers have a duty of care to all employees to take reasonable steps to ensure their safety as per the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974. Now precisely how this duty is met can vary greatly depending on what work is being carried out. So for example, what’s considered reasonable safety measures in an office, would not be adequate on a construction site.
An example of an employer failing to uphold their duty of care and causing an accident at work would be:
Your site contractor had not carried out the maintenance checks on the machinery and a fault with a mechanical hoist had been missed. You were instructed to use the hoist, when the mechanism failed, hitting and breaking your wrist.
Accidents In A Public Place
The party in control of a public place, referred to as an occupier, must take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of all visitors to their premises. This duty is contained within the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957.
As an example:
A railing on the stairs up to a hotel terrace was coming loose but no steps had been taken to fix the railing nor had a warning been posted. You lent on the railing and it gave way, causing you to fall down the steps and break your wrist.
Road Traffic Accidents
The duty of care on the roads works a little differently. Rather than one party owing a duty of care, all road users have a duty to each other to avoid causing harm. This means abiding by both the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.
For example:
A driver pulled out of a side road without due care and attention, resulting in a driver side collision with your vehicle. You sustained a moderate head injury and a broken wrist in the crash.
For a free assessment of your eligibility to claim compensation for a broken in your particular circumstances, or to ask any questions you might have, contact our advisors today using the details given below.
Calculating Broken Wrist Compensation Claims
You may have viewed a wrist injury compensation calculator to gain a general idea of how much compensation for a broken wrist you could get. However, wrist injury compensation amounts vary between claims. For example, some claimants may suffer long-term effects of a broken wrist. Typically, this will result in a larger payout than a simple fracture that heals relatively quickly.
If you are successful, your compensation will include general damages. This seeks to compensate you for the pain and suffering caused by your wrist injury. Additionally, it could consider the physical long-term effects of a broken wrist on your daily activities.
Legal professionals estimate pain and suffering values using compensation brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Our table below contains figures from the 16th edition. Do not take the table as a guarantee of what you could claim. Also, take note that the first entry is an estimated figure for a claim covering multiple injuries and it’s not based on the JCG.
| Injury type | Severity | Suggested award |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Serious Injuries Plus Related Expenses | Very Serious | Up to £250,000+ |
| Wrist Injuries | Complete Loss of Function (a) | £58,110 to £73,050 |
| Significant Permanent Disablement (b) | £29,900 to £47,810 | |
| Less Severe But Permanent Disability (c) | £15,370 to £29,900 | |
| Injuries That Heal Within A Year (d) | £7,420 to £12,630 | |
| Uncomplicated Colles Fracture (e) | In the region of £9,070 | |
| Very Minor Undisplaced or Minally Displaced Fractures (f) | £4,310 to £5,790 |
Broken Wrist Settlement Value – Other Amounts
The broken wrist settlement value may also be dependent on any special damages you could be compensated for. This head of claim relates to any out-of-pocket expenses or financial losses you have incurred as a result of your broken wrist injury.
Examples of financial harm that might be accounted for in your personal injury compensation award, include:
- A loss of earnings, which could be the result of taking time off work to recover from your injuries. A wage slip may be used to prove this loss.
- Any prescription expenses that you have paid for because you needed medication to alleviate symptoms of your injuries. A receipt of this expense can be used as evidence.
- Care costs if you require a carer to help you with daily activities whilst you recover. Keep hold of any invoices from your care provider to prove this cost.
If you would like clarification on the average settlement for your broken wrist claim, a personal injury lawyer from our panel could assess any general or special damages you might be awarded. Get in touch for more information.
Are There Time Limits To Claim For Breaks And Fractures?
Compensation claims for a broken wrist at work, in public or during a road traffic collision have a three-year time limit. Medical negligence claims also must be started within three years. However, very often, the injury/ illness may not always be apparent straight away. Or the fact the injury was caused through negligence may not be clear from the get-go. For that reason, the time limit will go from the date of knowledge.
You can only make one claim. Therefore it’s essential that you think about all the short and long-term consequences of the injuries. You want to include them in one comprehensive claim to give yourself the best chance of receiving the correct amount.
You can claim on behalf of someone under 18 years of age. The time limits commence from the date of their 18th birthday. Funds can be held securely until they reach the age of maturity. If you act on the part of another in a personal injury claim it’s called being a litigation friend and you can read more about how to do that here.
Broken Wrist Compensation – Evidence Examples
In order to be eligible for broken wrist compensation, you’ll need evidence to support your claim. It is unlikely that you’ll be awarded personal injury compensation if your claim isn’t backed by evidence.
The following evidence may come in handy when claiming for a broken wrist:
- Medical records, such as notes from your doctor or a medical professional, can prove the extent of your injuries, including the long-term effects of a broken wrist.
- The contact details of any witnesses who can corroborate your version of events.
- If the accident occurred in a place where there is CCTV, the footage could be requested.
- Photographs of your injury can prove that you have broken your wrist.
An injury lawyer from our panel could help you gather evidence. If you would like an estimate of your claim, you could potentially use our online wrist injury compensation calculator. Alternatively, speak to our advisors for more information. They are available to speak to 24/7.
No Win No Fee Broken Wrist Compensation Claims
If you speak to our advisors about your potential broken wrist claim, they could review it and determine if you have a valid case. If they find you do, then they could put you in touch with a solicitor from our panel. The No Win No Fee solicitors on our panel can support wrist injury claims under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
When making a claim with a solicitor under a CFA, you won’t need to cover costs for your solicitor’s work on your case before the claim begins or while it is being processed. You also won’t need to pay for their services if the claim fails.
Should your claim prove successful, then your solicitor will take a success fee as part of the terms of the CFA. This success fee is taken a small percentage that is limited by the law.
Contact our advisors for free today to learn more about No Win No Fee broken wrist compensation claims. To reach us, you can:
- Call us on 020 3870 4868
- Fill in our online contact form.
- Or use our 24/7 live chat service.
References
Thank you for reading this guide. We hope the information has helped with your decision to commence a broken wrist compensation claim. At UK Law we can help with other types of personal injury such as:
- An accident that should not have happened in the workplace
- Broken wrist Injuries sustained whilst out shopping or in public
- During a road traffic accident that was not your fault
- As the victim of medical negligence
Furthermore, you can read about arthritis in the wrist and the cost of personal care as you recover. Lastly, we offer advice about using NHS services to their best advantage.
Please speak to an adviser for more information about compensation.
Writer FE
Checked by EI.
