Broken Hand Compensation Amounts
Hand fractures are among the most common UK personal injury claims and one of the most functionally significant — the hand is essential to daily life, work, hobbies, and self-care. The Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition) recognise this by providing detailed brackets that reflect both the structural damage and the lasting impact on grip, dexterity, and appearance. Compensation can range from a few thousand pounds for a simple metacarpal fracture with full recovery, through to over £100,000 for severe damage leaving the hand functionally useless.
In this guide
- The Main Hand Fracture Brackets
- Specific Fracture Types
- Factors That Move a Broken Hand Case Up or Down
- Special Damages in Broken Hand Claims
- Common Broken Hand Claim Scenarios
- Common Questions About Broken Hand Compensation
- Related Guides
- Our Partner's Fees Explained
- Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
This guide focuses on hand fractures specifically. For the wider hand and wrist framework — including soft-tissue injuries, nerve damage, and amputations — see our hand and wrist compensation amounts guide.
The Main Hand Fracture Brackets
Severe Hand Fractures Leaving the Hand Essentially Useless — typically £108,000 to £123,000
Catastrophic crush injuries or multiple fractures producing functional loss equivalent to amputation. Often involves vascular and nerve damage alongside the bony injury.
Serious Hand Injury Reducing the Hand to About 50% Capacity — typically £33,000 to £71,000
Cases where the hand has been partly preserved but with substantial permanent functional loss:
- Several fingers amputated and rejoined
- Severe crush injuries with grip substantially reduced
- Multiple metacarpal and phalangeal fractures with poor outcome
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following fracture
Severe Fractures to Fingers — typically up to £42,000
Possible partial amputations, deformity, impaired grip, and reduced mechanical function. The valuation depends on which fingers are affected and the eventual outcome.
Less Serious Hand Injury — typically £15,000 to £33,000
Hand fractures with substantial recovery but ongoing functional limitations. Typical features:
- Multiple metacarpal or phalangeal fractures requiring fixation
- Some lasting stiffness, weakness, or restricted range of motion
- Modest scarring from surgical incisions
- Eventual return to most activities with some restriction
Moderate Hand Injury — typically £6,500 to £15,000
Crush injuries, penetrating wounds, soft-tissue type and deep lacerations, modest fractures with full or near-full recovery.
Minor Hand Injuries — typically up to £6,500
Range of soft-tissue injuries, simple closed fractures of metacarpals or phalanges, with full or substantial recovery.
Specific Fracture Types
Metacarpal Fractures
The metacarpals are the long bones in the palm. Common fractures include:
- Boxer’s fracture — fracture of the fifth metacarpal (just below the little finger). Very common from punching injuries or falls. Typically heals with conservative treatment and attracts £2,500 to £6,500
- Bennett’s fracture — fracture-dislocation of the first metacarpal (thumb base). Requires surgical fixation, attracts higher compensation (£8,000 to £15,000)
- Multiple metacarpal fractures — typically £8,000 to £20,000 depending on severity and outcome
Phalangeal Fractures (Finger Bones)
The phalanges are the smaller bones in the fingers. Each finger has three phalanges (the thumb has two). Common patterns:
- Simple closed phalangeal fracture — typically £1,500 to £4,000 with full recovery
- Phalangeal fracture requiring fixation — typically £4,000 to £8,000
- Phalangeal fracture with permanent deformity or stiffness — typically £8,000 to £15,000
- Mallet finger — avulsion fracture of the distal phalanx, typically £2,500 to £6,000
Thumb Fractures
Thumb fractures attract higher compensation than other digits because the thumb provides around 50 per cent of overall hand function:
- Simple thumb fracture with full recovery — typically £5,000 to £14,000
- Thumb fracture with permanent restriction — typically £14,000 to £21,000
- Severe thumb injury — typically £40,000+
Scaphoid Fractures
The scaphoid is a small bone in the wrist. Scaphoid fractures are notoriously difficult to diagnose (often missed on initial X-ray) and notoriously slow to heal:
- Scaphoid fractures that heal well attract typical wrist bracket figures
- Missed scaphoid fractures producing avascular necrosis or non-union can attract substantially higher compensation, with a possible separate medical negligence claim against any doctor who missed the diagnosis
See our hand and wrist compensation amounts guide for the wrist bracket framework.
Factors That Move a Broken Hand Case Up or Down
- Dominant hand involvement — dominant-hand injuries have greater functional impact and attract higher figures
- Number of fingers affected — multiple finger fractures attract substantially higher compensation than single
- Thumb involvement — particularly significant given the thumb’s functional importance
- Need for surgery — particularly fixation, K-wires, plates
- Permanent stiffness or contracture — particularly Volkmann’s contracture or post-traumatic capsular tightness
- Nerve involvement — damage to median, ulnar, or radial nerves at hand level moves cases up
- Risk of future osteoarthritis — particularly for intra-articular fractures
- Impact on occupation — particularly trades requiring fine dexterity
- Impact on hobbies — musicians, artists, sportspeople
- Visible scarring — particularly on the back of the hand or in visible areas
Special Damages in Broken Hand Claims
Lost Earnings
Particularly significant for trades requiring manual dexterity — typists, surgeons, mechanics, musicians, jewellers, dentists. For dominant-hand injuries preventing return to a specialised occupation, future loss of earnings can be substantial.
Treatment Costs
- Surgery — fixation, K-wires, plates
- Hand therapy and rehabilitation — typically the dominant treatment cost
- Removal of metalwork (often needed)
- Pain management
- Tendon repair if associated tendon damage
Aids and Equipment
- Specialist splints during recovery
- Adapted utensils, tools, and equipment
- Voice-recognition software for typing tasks
- Specialist computer keyboards and mice
- Adapted clothing fastenings
Care and Assistance
For the recovery period after surgery — particularly for dominant-hand injuries — family-provided care is recoverable at non-commercial rates. Tasks typically affected include dressing, cooking, household chores, childcare, and driving.
Common Broken Hand Claim Scenarios
- Falls onto outstretched hand — most common UK hand fracture cause
- Crush injuries from machinery — particularly forklifts, factory equipment
- Road traffic accidents — particularly cyclists and motorcyclists
- Dropped objects — particularly at work where the falling object created the hazard
- Sports injuries — only where another party was at fault
- Workplace tool injuries — particularly involving defective equipment
- Glass injuries — particularly involving broken windows in supermarkets
- Assaults — including defence injuries and CICA claims
Common Questions About Broken Hand Compensation
I broke my hand in a fall at work. How much could I claim?
A simple metacarpal or phalangeal fracture with full recovery typically attracts £2,500 to £6,500 in general damages. Multiple fractures or those requiring fixation typically attract £6,500 to £15,000. Special damages for lost earnings, treatment costs, and any private treatment add to this. Workplace fall claims usually succeed where the employer breached health and safety duties — see our accident at work claims hub.
I broke my dominant hand and could not work for 3 months. What can I recover?
General damages typically £6,500 to £15,000 depending on severity and recovery, plus full lost earnings for the time off work. The dominant-hand factor adds to the general damages valuation. For a typical 3-month absence from average UK earnings, total compensation in this scenario commonly reaches £12,000 to £25,000.
My hand fracture has caused permanent stiffness. Does that affect the value?
Yes, substantially. Permanent stiffness moves cases up from the Minor or Moderate brackets into Less Serious (£15,000 to £33,000) or higher depending on impact. The medical expert will document the eventual range of motion and grip strength compared to the pre-injury position.
I broke a finger and it healed crooked. Is that worth more?
Yes — permanent finger deformity adds to valuation, both for cosmetic reasons and for functional impact (especially affecting grip). Cases with mild residual deformity typically still fall in the Moderate Hand bracket; cases with significant deformity affecting multiple fingers can move into Less Serious Hand or higher.
I am a musician/typist/surgeon. Does my profession affect compensation?
Yes, often substantially. Loss of fine dexterity is a recognised loss of amenity head, and for professional musicians, surgeons, dentists, jewellers, and others whose careers depend on precise hand function, the impact is greater and valuation reflects it. Special damages for career impact can also be very significant — sometimes running into hundreds of thousands of pounds for serious cases.
How long does a broken hand claim take?
Simple fractures typically settle within 9 to 15 months. Cases involving fixation, complications, or lasting symptoms can take 12 to 24 months. Cases involving permanent disability or significant career impact can take 2 to 3 years. See our how long does a claim take guide.
Related Guides
Compensation by Injury Type | UK Payout Amounts
Hand & Wrist Injury Compensation Amounts
Broken Arm Compensation Amounts
Finger Injury Compensation Amounts
Amputation Compensation Amounts
Accident at Work Claims — UK Employer Compensation
How Much Compensation for Personal Injury?
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