Broken Bone Compensation Claims
Broken bone (fracture) injuries are among the most common UK personal injury cases — covering everything from minor undisplaced wrist fractures with full recovery through to catastrophic multiple fractures with permanent disability. UK compensation for fractures depends on multiple factors: which bone is fractured, the type of fracture, whether surgery was required, the recovery outcome, lasting impact, and any complications. The Judicial College Guidelines provide brackets for each major bone fracture type, but actual settlements vary substantially based on individual circumstances. Where the fracture resulted from another party’s negligence — through road traffic accidents, workplace incidents, slips and falls, criminal injury, or other causes — compensation is regularly recoverable.
In this guide
- Types of Bone Fractures
- Common Fracture Types and Compensation
- Common Causes of Fractures
- Treatment and Recovery
- Factors Affecting Compensation
- Time Limits
- Evidence Requirements
- No Win No Fee Broken Bone Claims
- Common Questions About Broken Bone Claims
- Related Guides
- Our Partner's Fees Explained
- Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
This guide explains how UK broken bone compensation claims work, the typical compensation by bone type, and how to start a claim on a no win no fee basis.
Types of Bone Fractures
Simple vs Compound
- Simple (closed) — bone broken but skin intact
- Compound (open) — bone breaking through skin
- Compound fractures more serious — infection risk
Fracture Patterns
- Transverse — break across the bone
- Oblique — diagonal break
- Spiral — twisting break
- Comminuted — broken into multiple pieces
- Greenstick — partial break (children)
- Hairline — small crack
- Stress — gradual development
Displacement
- Undisplaced — bones in alignment
- Displaced — bones out of alignment
- Comminuted — multiple fragments
- Compound — additional displacement risk
Common Fracture Types and Compensation
Wrist Fractures
Among the most common UK fractures:
- Colles’ fracture (distal radius, most common)
- Scaphoid fracture
- Multiple wrist bone fractures
- Often from breaking falls
Typical compensation:
- Less serious wrist fracture with full recovery — typically £3,820-£12,590
- Moderate wrist injury — typically £6,080-£11,820
- Significant lasting impact — typically £24,500-£39,170
- Severe wrist injury with significant disability — typically £47,620-£59,860
See our wrist injury compensation amounts guide.
Arm Fractures
Common types:
- Forearm fractures (radius/ulna)
- Upper arm fractures (humerus)
- Elbow fractures
Typical compensation:
- Simple forearm fracture — typically £6,610-£19,200
- Less severe arm injury — typically £19,200-£39,170
- Severe arm injury with limited recovery — typically £39,170-£59,860
- Substantial loss of arm function — typically £39,170-£59,860
Hand and Finger Fractures
Specific brackets apply:
- Multiple finger fractures with significant recovery — typically £5,860-£11,820
- Severe finger injuries with amputation — substantially higher
- Thumb injuries particularly significant
- Career impact for manual workers important
Leg Fractures
Major UK fracture category:
- Tibia (shin) fractures
- Fibula fractures
- Femur (thigh) fractures
- Combined tibia and fibula
Typical compensation:
- Simple leg fracture with complete recovery — typically £8,550-£13,210
- Less serious leg injury — typically £15,320-£23,680
- Moderate leg injury — typically £23,680-£32,750
- Severe leg injury — typically £32,750-£46,180
- Very severe leg injury with permanent impact — typically £46,180-£113,540
- Loss of leg — typically £80,500-£268,720
See our leg injury compensation amounts guide.
Hip Fractures
Major UK fracture category, particularly elderly:
- Particularly serious in elderly (30 per cent one-year mortality)
- Always requires surgery
- Significant lifetime impact in older patients
See our elderly fall compensation claims guide for elderly hip fracture specifics.
Ankle Fractures
Common in slips and falls:
- Lateral malleolus fracture
- Bimalleolar fracture
- Trimalleolar fracture
- Often requires surgery
Typical compensation:
- Minor ankle injury with full recovery — typically £13,740-£26,590
- Moderate ankle injury — typically £14,940-£26,590
- Severe ankle injury — typically £33,060-£50,060
- Very severe ankle injury — typically £50,060-£69,700
Foot Fractures
Multiple bones in foot:
- Metatarsal fractures
- Heel (calcaneus) fractures (often serious)
- Toe fractures
- Multiple foot fractures
Rib Fractures
- Single rib fracture — typically £3,000-£7,000
- Multiple rib fractures — typically £7,000-£15,000
- Flail chest (multiple consecutive ribs) — substantially higher
- Often associated with underlying lung injury
Skull Fractures
Always serious:
- Simple skull fracture — typically £10,000-£50,000
- Combined with brain injury — substantially higher
- See our brain injury compensation amounts guide
Facial Fractures
Specific considerations:
- Nose fractures — typically £1,710-£3,950
- Jaw fractures — typically £6,460-£44,730
- Cheek fractures — typically £2,310-£14,810
- Multiple facial fractures with scarring — substantially higher
Pelvic Fractures
- Stable pelvic fractures — typically £3,950-£12,590
- Significant pelvic fractures — typically £24,950-£39,170
- Severe pelvic fractures — typically £39,170-£78,400
- Very severe with permanent impact — typically £78,400-£130,930
Spinal Fractures
See our spinal injury claims guide.
Common Causes of Fractures
Road Traffic Accidents
- Multiple fractures from high-speed impacts
- Cyclist and pedestrian fractures
- Motorcyclist fractures
- See our RTA claims hub
Workplace Accidents
- Falls from height
- Crush injuries
- Machinery injuries
- See our workplace claims hub
Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Most common cause of UK wrist and hip fractures
- See our slips and falls hub
Sports Injuries
- Contact sports fractures
- Cycling fractures
- Equestrian fractures
Criminal Injury
- Assault-related fractures
- See our CICA hub
Treatment and Recovery
Common Treatments
- Plaster cast immobilisation
- Manipulation under anaesthesia
- Internal fixation surgery (plates, screws, rods)
- External fixation
- Joint replacement for joint fractures
Recovery Times
Typical UK fracture recovery:
- Simple wrist fracture — 6-8 weeks in cast, 3-6 months full recovery
- Tibial fracture — 12-16 weeks, 6-12 months full recovery
- Femoral fracture — 12-20 weeks, 6-12 months full recovery
- Hip fracture (elderly) — variable, often incomplete recovery
- Skull fracture — 6-12 weeks healing, longer for combined brain injury
Complications
- Mal-union (healing in wrong position)
- Non-union (failure to heal)
- Infection
- Compartment syndrome
- Nerve damage
- Chronic pain syndromes
- Reduced range of motion
- Post-traumatic arthritis
Factors Affecting Compensation
Bone Affected
Different bones produce different compensation:
- Weight-bearing bones (legs, pelvis) typically higher
- Functional importance (hands for manual workers)
- Healing complications
- Lasting impact considerations
Recovery Outcome
- Full recovery vs lasting impact
- Cosmetic outcome (scarring, deformity)
- Functional impact
- Pain persistence
Career Impact
Important considerations:
- Career-ending fractures
- Career change requirements
- Reduced earning capacity
- Manual workers particularly affected
Special Damages
- Lost earnings during recovery
- Future loss of earnings
- Treatment costs
- Physiotherapy
- Care costs
- Aids and adaptations
- Future treatment
Time Limits
Standard 3-year personal injury time limit applies. For children, time runs from 18th birthday. For long-developing complications, date of knowledge may apply. See our time limits guide.
Evidence Requirements
Medical Evidence
- A&E records and X-rays
- Specialist orthopaedic records
- Surgical records
- Recovery photographs
- Imaging (X-ray, CT, MRI)
- Independent orthopaedic expert reports
Functional Evidence
- Occupational therapy assessments
- Physiotherapy records
- Return to work documentation
- Activities of daily living impact
No Win No Fee Broken Bone Claims
Broken bone compensation claims run on no win no fee Conditional Fee Agreements. The success fee — capped under LASPO 2012 at 25 per cent of general damages and past losses (future losses excluded) — is deducted from compensation. After-the-Event insurance protects against adverse costs. The ATE premium is normally payable only if you win, deducted from your compensation — it is no longer recoverable from the defendant — and your solicitor must explain how the premium and disbursements are treated before you sign (see how ATE insurance works). See our how no win no fee works guide.
Common Questions About Broken Bone Claims
I broke my wrist in a workplace fall. What can I claim?
Often substantial compensation. Wrist fractures requiring treatment can produce settlements:
- Simple fracture with full recovery — typically £3,800-£12,500
- Significant lasting impact — typically £24,500-£39,000
- Severe disability — typically £47,000-£60,000
Combined with lost earnings during recovery, future loss of earnings if career impacted, and treatment costs, total settlements typically £8,000-£75,000+. Employer’s Liability insurance pays.
I had a hip fracture after a slip. Can I claim?
Often substantial compensation. Hip fractures are among the most serious UK fracture types. Where the fracture resulted from premises negligence (wet floor, defective pavement, inadequate winter maintenance), claims succeed substantially. For elderly hip fracture cases, specialist considerations apply (eggshell skull, mortality, care needs). Total settlements regularly £50,000-£250,000+. See our elderly fall claims guide.
I have multiple fractures from an RTA. What can I claim?
Substantial compensation. Multiple fractures cases typically combine: individual fracture brackets (with combined effect), substantial care needs, extended recovery, significant lost earnings, future treatment. Major UK case law has established the multiplicative effect of multiple injuries on compensation. RTA multiple fracture cases regularly settle £75,000-£500,000+. See our RTA claims hub for the specific RTA framework.
My fracture has not healed properly. Does that affect my claim?
Substantially yes — and typically increases compensation. Mal-union (healing in wrong position) or non-union (failure to heal) produce: ongoing pain, functional limitations, possible need for further surgery, longer-term impact. JC brackets reflect the severity of outcomes — non-union and mal-union typically support higher bracket placement. Specialist orthopaedic evidence essential. Where mal-union resulted from inadequate initial treatment, medical negligence may also apply.
I broke my arm but no surgery was needed. Is the claim still worthwhile?
Often yes. Non-surgical fractures still produce: pain and suffering during recovery, time off work, treatment costs, lasting impact in some cases. JC brackets specifically address conservative treatment outcomes. Settlements typically £6,000-£20,000+ depending on bone, severity, and outcome. Combined with lost earnings and treatment costs, total settlements remain meaningful. Specialist legal advice clarifies value.
How long do broken bone claims take?
Variable. Straightforward cases typically 12-18 months — necessary to allow full healing before final assessment. Cases involving surgery typically 18 months to 3 years. Complex multiple fracture cases typically 2-4 years. Cases with healing complications often longer. Specialist solicitors balance the need for stable medical evidence against case progression. See our how long does a claim take guide.
Related Guides
Compensation by Injury Type | UK Payout Amounts
Back Injury Compensation Amounts
Leg Injury Compensation Amounts
Wrist Injury Compensation Amounts
Multiple Injuries Compensation Claims
Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Start a free claim check in minutes — no upfront cost. No win, no fee if your claim is accepted.
