Average Compensation For A Broken Wrist: A Guide To Wrist Fracture Claims

You could claim compensation if you have suffered a broken wrist in an accident which was not your fault. If you are eligible to claim, one of your first questions may be to ask what the average compensation for a broken wrist in the UK is. In this guide we will look at how the amount of compensation someone may receive for an injury is calculated.

Our guide starts by discussing the eligibility criteria personal injury claims must meet. Following this, we examine how wrist injury compensation amounts may be calculated, examining the factors taken into consideration. We then look at the types and causes of fractured wrist injuries you could claim for. Finally, we look at how a specialist No Win No Fee solicitor could help you.

Please read our guide below to learn more about the claims process. If you are ready to start your claim, please get in touch by:

    • Calling our team now on 0800 408 7825.
    • Send a message to contact us.
    • Get free advice on how to claim for wrist injuries from our live chat.

A x-ray shows a broken wrist injury.

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Am I Eligible To Claim For A Broken Wrist?

You could be eligible to claim compensation for a broken wrist or other forms of wrist injuries if you can prove that a third party was responsible.

All claims must be able to meet the basic criteria that:

  • A third party owed the person harmed a duty of care.
  • This party was in breach of their duty.
  • The breach caused avoidable harm, such as wrist injuries.

An employer, the party in control of a public space or road user may owe you a duty of care. In each of these instances, the other party could be expected to take reasonable steps to ensure your safety. If they failed to do so, you may have grounds to claim.

Whether your broken wrist was caused by an accident at work, in a road traffic accident or whilst in a public place you could claim compensation if you can show someone else was at fault. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team to find out how we could help you.

Average Compensation For A Broken Wrist

The average compensation for a broken wrist in the UK may take into account both the injury and any financial losses caused by it. While claimants may wish to quickly check whether an average amount of compensation has been awarded, figures depend on what general and special damages are awarded.

General damages are those awarded for physical injuries (they may also be awarded for psychological harm). When valuing your claim for general damages, recommendations in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) may be taken into consideration.

Below, we take figures from the JCG. Please note that your compensation may differ from these and that the first figure does not come from the JCG.

Type Of InjuriesSeverityDamages
Multiple wrist injuries with special damages.Serious through to severe.Up to £150,000+ with special damages.
Wrist injuries(A) Resulting in loss of function.£58,710 to £73,050
(B) Significant, permanent disability£29,900 to £47,810
(C) Less severe£15,730 to £29,900
(D) Recovery taking more than one year.£7,420 to £12,630
(E) Uncomplicated Colles fractureAround £9,070
(F) Minor or undisplaced fractures.£4,370 to £5,790

Factors That Affect Your Payout

As seen above the amount of compensation which may be awarded could differ depending on the type of injuries suffered. In addition, other factors may be taken into consideration, such as:

  • The type of wrist fracture sustained.
  • Your prognosis for recovery and how long this may take.
  • What special damages may be taken into consideration (discussed below).

Special Damages – What You Need To Know

Special damages consider financial losses, compensating victims for past and future expenses into consideration. Examples of losses may include:

  • Lost wages.
  • Medical expenses related to your wrist injury.
  • The cost of care or help in the home.
  • Travel expenses related to attending medical appointments.

In order for personal injury claims to take special damages into consideration, claimants must supply invoices, payslips, receipts and bank statements.

Speak to our advisors today about how wrist injury compensation claims are valued.

Someone has suffered wrist injuries as well as a soft tissue injury.

Types Of Wrist Injury You Can Claim For

The wrist is a complex joint connecting the hand to the arm. It includes eight small bones, plus the ulna and radius bones in the forearm, as well as a complex network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.

As such, there are several different types of wrist fractures. These include:

  • Scaphoid fractures – these are breaks in the small (scaphoid) bone close to the thumb.
  • An ulnar Styloid fracture – this a fracture at the end of the ulna.
  • A Barton’s fracture – this is a fracture at the bottom of the radius, extending into the wrist.
  • Greenstick fractures – this may be seen in children, where the bone bends but does not completely break.
  • A Smith’s fracture – this is similar to a Colles fracture (discussed below) but where the wrist breaks whilst the palm is facing up.
  • Chauffeur’s fracture – features of the bottom of the radius (the radial styloid), close to the base of the thumb.
  • A comminuted fracture – this is a type of fracture in which the bone is broken in multiple (at least two) places.

Below we look in more detail at two specific types of wrist fractures.

Distal Radius Fractures And Colles Fractures

Two of the most common forms of wrist fractures are Colles and distal radius fractures.

  • Distal radius fractures are one of the most common types of bone fractures, involving a break in the bone about an inch away from the wrist joint. This injury may be caused by someone falling onto an outstretched arm.
  • The Colles fracture is one of the most common forms of wrist fractures. It is a specific type of distal radius fracture in which the piece of broken bone is angled and displaced backwards.

If you suffered any of the types of wrist fractures discussed in this guide, you could make a compensation claim. Next, we look at how these injuries may be caused.

Common Causes Of Wrist Fractures

Wrist fractures could happen in a variety of different types of accidents. Below, we briefly look at the types of accidents which could cause wrist fractures.

An Accident At Work

Whether you are a full-time, part-time employee or a contractor, your employer has a duty of care to you. This is conferred under legislation such as The Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974. They must take steps such as providing workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), carry out risk assessments and ensure work equipment is properly maintained.

For example,

  • A lack of proper safety guards on machinery leave you exposed to moving parts. Your hand or wrist could get caught in machinery causing a break or fracture.
  • A lack of training could cause you to suffer a broken wrist. If you are asked to move roll cages but have not been shown how to safely do so your arm may get caught, fracturing the wrist and causing other types of arm injury.

Road Traffic Accidents

Road users owe a legal duty of care to each other. They are obliged to take reasonable care when using the roads and to do so in a way which does not endanger others. They must use the roads inline with the Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Highway Code.

For example,

  • A road user does not signal or check their mirrors before changing lanes. This could cause them to crash into the side of a vehicle, causing you to suffer a broken wrist.
  • A driver does not check before exiting a junction, striking a cyclist. When knocked off their bike they may fall onto an outstretched arm, breaking their wrist.

Accidents In Public Places

Those in control of a public space (such as a public park, library or shop) are known as the occupier. They legally owe a duty of care to those visiting their premises. This duty of care is set out in the Occupiers Liability Act 1957.

For example,

  • The rail on a staircase in a library may break due to a lack of maintenance causing you to slip and trip down the staircase.
  • Slips, trips and falls could be caused by broken or damaged pavements. A council may have known about the defect but not have taken steps to fix it, resulting in someone falling and breaking their wrist.

Get in contact with our team for further information on how the average compensation for a broken wrist UK may be calculated.

A doctor treats someones wrist injuries.

How To Start Your Claim

Whilst you do not have to make a claim with a specialist solicitor, we believe that there are advantages to doing so. For instance, a solicitor could help to build your case and ensure that you follow the correct procedure on how to claim compensation.

The Evidence You’ll Need To Support Your Case

It is essential that you submit sufficient evidence to prove that the defendant in your claim is liable for your injuries.

Common types of evidence which may be submitted could include:

  • Footage from a dash cam or CCTV which shows your accident taking place.
  • Photos or other images showing the accident scene and any visible injuries.
  • Accident reports. Your accident may have been recorded in an accident book, by an employer or the occupier of a public space. In the case of an accident on the road, it could be reported to the police.
  • Medical reports which outline your injury and what treatment was necessary. These may show whether you suffered a minor wrist injury or severe injuries..

A solicitor from our panel could help you collect these and other forms of evidence.

How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim

Our panel of personal injury solicitors includes those with experience in helping people to claim for wrist injuries. They are experienced in handling claims for accidents on the road, at work or in public places and could help you claim wrist injury compensation.

If you choose to claim with one of our panel of personal injury lawyers they could assist you by helping to collect evidence and filing your claim with the defendant. They could also help to guide you through the claims process, explaining legal and medical terminology.

What’s more, they could do so on a No Win No Fee basis. To do so, the solicitor could take your case under a Conditional Fee Agreement. By doing so, they would not charge any legal fees in advance for their work. Instead they would deduct a success fee in the event you win your claim. This fee is a legally capped percentage of your compensation payout. The percentage will be agreed with you before they begin working on your case. If your claim isn’t successful there will be nothing to pay.

Get in touch with our team for an assessment of your claim and to find out how one of our panel of personal injury lawyers could help you.

A personal injury solicitor helps someone to make a fractured wrist injury claim.

More Information

In addition to the resources and information provided above, you can learn more in these guides.

Further references.

Thank you for reading our guide on what the average compensation for a broken wrist UK is. Please get in touch with our team to find out how a personal injury solicitor from our panel could help you.