By Lewis Cobain. Last Updated 16th September 2024. In this guide, we answer the question “how much compensation for a broken leg could you get?” We’ll also look at average payouts for other types of bone fractures, like arms and hips. And we’ll take you through the personal injury claims process and explain how we can help you.
If you have been in an accident that led to a fractured or broken bone, this guide will help clarify your rights and whether or not you could make a broken bone compensation claim. You might wonder if it’s possible to be compensated for an accident in the workplace, and the answer is often yes. It is possible to fight for – and win – compensation even if it was an accident.
The time it takes for a fractured bone or broken bone to heal varies from person to person. If you have fractured or broken a bone in a workplace or any public location, it is important to understand your options and determine whether you are due compensation for your injuries.
If you’d like to claim or to find out more about how much compensation for a broken leg, arm or other bone you could receive, get in touch with our personal injury claims team at 0800 073 8804.
You can also check out our video below for a useful summary:
Select a Section:
- How Much Compensation For A Fractured Or Broken Bone?
- What Are The Criteria To Claim A Broken Bone Compensation Payout?
- Evidence To Support Your Claim For A Fracture Or Broken Bone
- No Win No Fee Fractured Or Broken Bone Claims
- Call Legal Expert For Free Advice And To Start A Claim
How Much Compensation For A Fractured Or Broken Bone?
Our solicitors have helped numerous claimants win claims for fractured or broken bones. When they do, compensation may cover up to two forms of damages:
- General damages, the main head of loss, which account for physical pain and emotional harm brought on by injuries.
- Special damage, a possible second head that reflects the financial effects of fracture or broken bone injuries.
These damages are calculated during a personal injury claim in different ways.
How Is General Damages Compensation Calculated?
Two people who suffer the same broken bone injury might receive completely different payouts. For example, a claimant with a broken leg could get more than another person because of key factors like:
- The extent of the injury.
- How intensive the treatment is and the level of its effectiveness.
- Any permanent or residual effects that affect quality of life.
Those working out the general damages element of a payout could look at medical evidence to get an idea of how the claimant has been affected.
For further help in reaching a figure, they might also look at the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document is a compilation of guideline compensation brackets for different injuries. As these figures are quite informative, we have put some of them into a table to give some insight into how much compensation for a fractured or broken bone you might receive.
Compensation Payouts Table
While these figures are from the JCG, with the exception of the top entry, they are only to be considered a guide.
| Injury | Symptoms of fractured bones throughout the body | Compensation value |
|---|---|---|
| Broken ankle | The fractured ankle can no longer support your weight. Severe swelling may also be associated with your fractured ankle, causing the skin to appear black or blue. You may need a cane to get around. | £12,900 - £65,420 |
| Fractured or broken wrist | The fractured wrist can no longer stay stable. Severe pain and bruising. A common symptom of this injury is the deformity of the wrist. In some cases, splints are inserted to maintain stability in the wrist. | £3,310 - £56,180 |
| Fractured skull | This, along with a fractured vertebrae, is considered to be the most severe. A fractured skull leads to plethora of symptoms that can have lifelong lasting effects, such as: confusion, depression, dizziness, headaches, memory loss, loss of sleep, and many other problems. | £264,650 - £379,100 (severe Injury) £14,380 - £264,650 (moderate Injury) £2,070 - £11,980 (mild Injury) |
| Fractured or broken ribs | Fractured ribs are very severe injuries, as the ribs are intended to protect the vital organs. In having a fractured rib, you will find it hard to breathe. | £3,710 - £140,870 |
| Broken elbow | A fractured elbow will cause stiffness and weakness in the arm. | £3,310 - £11,820 (Minor Injury) £14,690 - £30,050 (Moderate Injury) £36,770 - £51,460 (Severe Injury) |
| Broken finger | The fractured fingers can no longer grasp items. Many individuals are forced to learn how to use their other hands. | £4,461 - £85,170 |
| Broken foot | The foot cannot support your weight. You may need to get around in a wheelchair. | £2,300 - £12,900 (Mild Injury) £12,900 - £23,460 (Moderate Injury) £39,390 - £65,710 (severe Injury) |
| Fractured neck of femur | May result in the injured person being unable to walk | £49,270 - £73,580 (severe injuries) £11,820 - £36,770 (moderate injuries) £3,710 - £11,820 (Mild injuries) |
| Fractured vertebrae | A fractured vertebrae is a very serious concern as this may lead to paralysis. | £2,300 - £11,730 (minor injuries) £11,730 - £36,390 (moderate injuries) £36,390 -£151,070 (Severe Injury) |
| Broken toe | The fractured toe may make it difficult to wear any kind of footwear. | £5,250 - £52,620 |
| Fractured coccyx | Fractured coccyx A fractured coccyx may make it difficult to sit down and getting up from sitting down can also cause severe pain. | £385 - £10,835 (Mild Injury) £33,825- £9,625 (Moderate Injury) £32,725 -£135,630 (Severe Injury) |
| Fractured metatarsal | A fractured metatarsal will make walking very difficult. The pain may even be so severe that it may force you to become immobile. | £2,090 - £65,710 |
| Fractured cheekbone | A fractured cheekbone is a painful injury, that can effect abilities such as eating and speaking. | £2,180 - £34,480 |
| Fractured knee | The fractured knee will make it difficult or impossible to walk | £12,900 - £90,290 |
| Broken hip | The fractured hip will make it difficult or impossible to walk | £36,770 - £122,860 |
| Fractured shoulder | A fractured shoulder will cause stiffness and weakness in the arm. | £10,450 - £45,070 |
| Fractured hand | A fractured hand can cause significant problems, preventing people caring for themselves. | £27,220 - £58,100 |
| Fractured thumb | A fractured thumb can cause significant problems, preventing people caring for themselves. | £4,461 - £15,740 |
| Fractured humerus | A fractured humerus will cause stiffness and weakness in the arm. | £32,120 - £122,860 |
| Fractured tibia | The fractured tibia will make it difficult or impossible to walk | £8,550 - £127,530 |
| Fractured clavicle | A fractured clavicle can cause pain and difficulties breathing. | £4,830 - £11,490 |
| Fractured spine | A fractured spine is a serious injury which will prevent the sufferer from moving. | £23,460 - £139,210 |
| Fractured femur | The fractured femur will make it difficult or impossible to walk | £13,210 - £127,530 |
| Fractured jaw | A fractured is a painful injury, that can effect abilities such as eating and speaking. | £6,060 - £42,730 |
| Fractured nose | A fractured nose although a minor break, can be extremely painful | £1,600 - £34,480 |
| Fractured tooth | A fractured tooth is a minor injury, with cosmetic side-effects. | £1,020 - £10,710 |
| Fractured big toe | The fractured big toe may make it difficult to wear any kind of footwear. | £9,010 - £29,770 |
| Fractured leg | The fractured leg will make it difficult or impossible to walk | £8,550 - £127,530 |
Can I Claim Back Financial Losses Too?
In certain cases, it is possible to also receive compensation for special damages, a secondary head of loss. Its aim is to reimburse you for ways in which your broken or fractured bone injury has impacted your finances. For example, you might have:
- Missed a significant amount of time at work, experiencing a loss of earnings and other workplace bonuses as a result.
- Paid medical bills for necessary treatment and rehabilitation.
- Spent money on travel that you didn’t have to prior to the accident.
- Faced costs for adapting your home or buying equipment to help with mobility.
These are just some examples of financial loss you could claim for. To have a chance of receiving special damages compensation, it is important that you gather receipts, invoices, payslips and any other documents you can use as proof.
For a more detailed discussion about personal injury compensation and what you might be able to claim for, just call our free helpline through the number at the top of the page.
What Are The Criteria To Claim A Broken Bone Compensation Payout?
If you suffered a broken bone injury in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you might be wondering if you can claim compensation. In order to form the basis of a valid personal injury claim, your case must meet certain criteria.
You must be able to prove that you were injured because another party did not uphold their duty of care. This is a legal responsibility for someone else’s health and safety.
In different scenarios, this duty of care will fall on different people. For example, in the workplace, your employer owes you a duty of care.
This is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). In this case, if you were to claim compensation for a broken ankle, this claim would be made against your employer.
However, in a public place, the duty of care is owed by the person in control of the space. Their responsibilities are outlined by the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 (OLA).
So, if you were claiming broken ankle compensation after an accident in a shop, this claim would be made against the organisation in control of the space. We will explore these duties of care in more depth further into this guide.
Read on to get more information on broken bone compensation amounts, or contact our team today to get started.
How Long Do I Have To Claim Broken Bone Compensation?
Whether you’ve suffered a broken arm, leg fracture, or any other kind of broken bone, the legal time limit for claims remains the same. As per the Limitation Act 1980, the general time limit is 3-years from the date of the injury.
There are two exceptions to the 3-year rule:
- Injuries to under 18s – Due to the fact that children are not permitted to make their own claim, their time limit is suspended until their 18th Before then, if a claim is to be made on their behalf, a litigation friend must be appointed to do so.
- Those with reduced mental capacities – If the injured party lacks the mental capacity to claim, their time limit is suspended. However, if they ever reach a point where they become capable of making their own claim, the time limit would then begin. Before this date, a litigation friend must also be appointed if a claim is to be made on their behalf.
For more information on amounts for broken bone claims such as broken leg compensation payouts, get in touch with our advisors today.
Evidence To Support Your Claim For A Fracture Or Broken Bone
If you’ve suffered a fractured or broken bone, one of the most important steps in the personal injury claims process is collecting evidence. Evidence is important, as it can demonstrate who is responsible for your injuries, as well as how they occurred and how they will affect you going forwards.
Some examples of evidence that you could use to help you claim for a fractured bone could include:
- Witness statements: By taking down the contact details of potential witnesses, they could provide a statement about the accident at a later date.
- Photographs: Taking photographs of the accident scene that caused your broken bone injuries can help prove how it happened.
- Medical records: Your medical records can also give insight into the severity of your broken or fractured bone, as well as the treatment that you have received and will need going forward.
- CCTV footage: If your accident was caught on CCTV, it’s possible that you could request this footage and use it as evidence in your claim.
If you choose to work with a solicitor, they will be able to help you gather evidence to further support your claim. To learn more about the broken bone compensation claims process, contact our team of advisors today. Or, read on to find out how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you get started.
No Win No Fee Fractured Or Broken Bone Claims
Our solicitors could offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a type of No Win No Fee.
Under a CFA, you won’t be expected to pay a fee to your personal injury solicitor in order for them to start working on your claim, nor will you be asked to pay for their ongoing work. Similarly, if your claim fails, they won’t take a fee for the services.
If your broken bone injury compensation claim succeeds, your personal injury solicitor will take a success fee from your compensation as a small percentage. However, the percentage they take is restricted under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
Speak to our advisors if you have any questions about No Win No Fee solicitors or broken bone compensation amounts.
They can offer a free consultation, during which they can answer any questions you might have, and they may be able to connect you with a solicitor from our panel. Below are some ways to connect with our team:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online
- Use our 24/7 live chat feature
Thank you for reading our guide on how much compensation for a broken leg and other broken bones you could get in a personal injury claim.
