Skull Fracture Compensation Claims In The UK
By Cat Reeves. Last Updated 30th June 2023. Welcome to our guide on claiming skull fracture compensation. If you were injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have grounds to claim. No matter if it was at work, on the road, or in a public place.
Understandably, you may be unsure of whether you’re eligible to make a claim. For example, if your accident happened on the street and you’re not entirely sure who was liable. Or if your accident took place at work and you’re unsure whether your employer could have prevented it.
However, in most cases, it’s likely you were owed a duty of care. Our guide will help you further understand whether you have a valid claim.
If you do have a valid claim, our advisors can connect you with our panel of solicitors. They can then take you through the next steps of the claims process on a No Win No Fee basis.
Get In Touch With Our Team
We understand you may have questions. If so, you can get in touch with our team of advisors and they can provide you with further information you need to make a personal injury claim. Contact us on the following:
- Telephone number 020 3870 4868
- The call-back request page
- Live chat at the bottom of the page
Select A Section
- Everything You Need To Know About Skull Fracture Compensation Claims
- What Are The Signs Of A Fractured Skull?
- Traumatic Causes Of Fractured Skull Injuries
- Skull Fracture Compensation – How Much Could I Claim?
- Time Limits To Claim Compensation For A Fractured Skull
- Do I Need Evidence To Claim Skull Fracture Compensation?
- No Win No Fee Skull Fracture Compensation Claims
- Further Information
- FAQs About Fractured Skull And Head Injuries
Everything You Need To Know About Skull Fracture Compensation Claims
Did you suffer a fractured skull in an accident at work, in public or on the road? If so, there are many ways negligence could lead to harm in these situations. For instance:
- A driver not paying attention to the road and causing a road traffic accident.
- An employer failing to carry out risk assessments in the workplace resulting in an employee suffering a severe head injury.
- The local council failing to maintain the safety of the pavements in public areas.
If you’ve experienced something similar or suffered an injury in one of these places, our guide will cover how much compensation you could claim. We’ve included an alternative to a personal injury claims calculator further down, to give you an idea of how much you could claim for a fractured skull injury.
Furthermore, we’ll look at how you can make a claim with a personal injury solicitor. Although you may be apprehensive about the costs normally associated with legal representation, the option of a No Win No Fee agreement could help. Our guide will look at how this agreement could benefit you.
For further help and advice, you can call our team on the number above.
What Are The Signs Of A Fractured Skull?
A head injury could lead to a fractured skull. The NHS advises that you should seek medical advice if you experience any of these signs of a skull fracture:
- Unconsciousness
- Difficulty walking, speaking, hearing, seeing or staying awake
- Vomiting
- Memory loss
- Swelling or bruising around the eyes or behind the ears
The skull fracture symptoms may vary depending on how severe the head injury is. For example, you could suffer different types of skull fractures, such as:
- Linear skull fracture which is an uncomplicated break in the skull
- Depressed skull fracture which is where the skull has been pushed inwards and can put pressure on the brain
- A fractured skull and a concussion which could cause confusion
- Basilar skull fractures affect the base of the skull and could damage the spinal cord
- A fractured skull and a brain bleed after a severe blow to the head
- Hairline skull fracture
Traumatic Causes Of Fractured Skull Injuries
No matter whether you had an accident at work, on the road or in a public place, it’s likely you were owed a duty of care. The people responsible for providing this duty of care might include:
- Employers as per the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- Road users as per the Highway Code and Road Traffic Act 1988
- Occupiers of a public place as per the Occupiers Liability Act 1957
If any of these fail to do everything reasonably possible to keep you safe, they could be liable for causing your injuries. Some common ways someone could breach their duty of care might include:
- An employer failing to provide a worker on a building site with a hard hat leaving them at risk of suffering a fractured skull and brain bleed
- A driver drinking alcohol while driving and knocking into a pedestrian causing them to suffer a depressed skull fracture
- Restaurant owners failing to provide suitable health and safety training to staff leading to floors being cleaned at busy times causing a customer to slip and hit their head
For further information on whether someone breached their duty of care, you can contact our team on the number above.
Skull Fracture Compensation – How Much Could I Claim?
The compensation you may be awarded comprises general damages and special damages. The former cover the physical and mental suffering you’ve endured as a result of your injury. In addition, they’ll cover how the injury has impacted your quality of life.
Additionally, you may be able to claim past and future financial losses under special damages. These cover the likes of:
- Lost earnings
- Care costs
- Medical expenses
- Travel costs
Our compensation table below provides figures you could claim for your injury under general damages. The figures have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines. They should only be used as a guide as actual compensation figures may vary depending on the state and severity of your injuries.
Any special damages you have may supplement the compensation you receive for your injuries.
Injury | Description | Award |
---|---|---|
Very Severe Brain Damage | In this bracket there will be little if any meaningful response to the surrounding environment, and a need for professional, round-the-clock nursing care. | £282,010 to £403,990 |
Moderately Severe Brain Damage | There is a very serious disability, causing a serious dependence on others. These disabilities could be physical, but they can also be cognitive, with a marked effect on and change in personality. | £219,070 to £282,010 |
Moderate Brain Damage (i) | There is a moderate to severe intellectual deficit, with a risk of epilepsy and a personality change. | £150,110 to £219,070 |
Moderate Brain Damage (ii) | There is a moderate to modest intellectual deficit, and little to no prospect of employment, with some risk of epilepsy. | £90,720 to £150,110 |
Moderate Brain Damage (iii) | Concentration and memory are affected, the ability to work is reduced, and there is a small risk of epilepsy. | £43,060 to £90,720 |
Less Severe Brain Damage | There may not be a full recovery of all functions, but there is a good level of recovery with the ability to return to a normal working and social life. | £15,320 to £43,060 |
Minor Head Injury | Little to no brain damage with a full recovery within two to three years. | £2,210 to £12,770 |
If you have any questions regarding the compensation you could claim, call us on the number above and speak to one of our advisors.
Time Limits To Claim Compensation For A Fractured Skull
We understand that you may not be ready to claim straight away, especially if your injury is severe and you’re still in recovery. Generally, you have three years from the date of your accident or the date you obtained knowledge that your injuries were caused by the failings of the defendant. However, there are exceptions.
For instance, if you’re under the age of 18, the three years won’t start until the date of your 18th birthday. However, a parent or guardian could make a claim on behalf of a child under the age of 18. They would do this by acting as a litigation friend.
Additionally, someone could act as a litigation friend for anyone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to claim on their own behalf. For example, if the injured person is in a coma.
There are many exceptions to the general 3-year personal injury claims time limit. So if you’re unsure whether you have enough time to claim or if you can claim on behalf of someone else, get in touch with a member of our team. They can provide free legal advice on whether you can still claim compensation for an accident.
Do I Need Evidence To Claim Skull Fracture Compensation?
If you were in an accident and are looking to claim compensation, you will require evidence to do so. It’s important that you seek medical attention for any injuries so you can ensure you receive proper treatment to prevent any complications. Furthermore, the medical evidence may help prove the state of your injuries when claiming compensation.
Additionally, you may require other evidence to prove the accident happened. For example:
- CCTV footage
- Pictures of the accident scene
- Police reports, if applicable
- Witness statements and details
Evidence for any additional damages may also be required. For instance, payslips to show loss of earnings and receipts for any other costs.
Additionally, seeking legal representation can provide further help in accessing important evidence to build a valid claim. See below for how you can connect with a personal injury lawyer.
No Win No Fee Skull Fracture Compensation Claims
If you are eligible to make a skull fracture compensation claim, you might be interested in working with a solicitor from our panel. Claiming with the help of a solicitor from our panel can come with a number of benefits; for example, they can use their years of experience to answer any questions you may have and explain any legal jargon that comes up throughout the claims process.
Our panel of solicitors work under a kind of No Win No Fee arrangement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means that you can access their services without having to pay any upfront fees or ongoing costs in order for them to continue working on your case. Likewise, if your claim fails, then your solicitor won’t take a fee for their services.
If your claim succeeds, then your solicitor will take a success fee. This is deducted automatically from your compensation as a small percentage. However, this is a legislative cap in place to help ensure that the majority of your award stays with you.
To find out if you could make a personal injury claim for skull fracture compensation with the help of a solicitor from our panel, get in touch today. Our friendly team is available 24/7 to help. They can be contacted by:
- Calling 020 3870 4868
- Using our live chat.
- Filling out our ‘claim online’ form for a callback.
Further Information
For more helpful guides:
- If you’re interested in learning more about your rights after an accident at work, see our guide.
- For more information on slip, trip and fall accident claims, see our guide.
- If you’re looking to make a fatal accident claim, our guide could help.
Or, to learn more:
- SSP – Statutory Sick Pay
- See the government collection of road traffic accidents for more statistics.
- For more information on health and safety in work, see the government website.
FAQs About Fractured Skull And Head Injuries
We have provided some answers to some commonly asked questions regarding making a personal injury claim. However, if you have any further questions, get in touch with our team for more information.
Could you claim for a minor break or fracture?
No matter whether your injury is minor or more severe, if someone else’s negligence caused it, you may have grounds to claim.
How do damages compensate you for the long-term effects of an injury?
General damages will cover you for any physical and mental pain and suffering. This includes the impact the injury has had on you long term. For example, if it has caused a lifelong disability.
Could you claim on behalf of a child?
If your child has suffered a fractured skull, you can claim on their behalf by acting as a litigation friend. Alternatively, you could wait until they turn 18 and they could make the claim themselves. However, the avenue you choose may depend on the severity of the fractured skull in the child.
Thank you for reading our guide on the process of making a claim for skull fracture compensation.
Guide by IMM
Edited by BER