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Wrist Injury Compensation Calculator

Wrist injuries are among the most common consequences of falls — instinctively putting out a hand to break a fall (FOOSH — fall on outstretched hand) places the full impact through the wrist. This calculator uses Judicial College Guidelines Chapter 7 (Wrist) to estimate compensation for fractures, ligament damage, scaphoid injuries, and persistent stiffness or weakness.

Wrist injuries have some specific features worth understanding. Scaphoid fractures notoriously develop avascular necrosis (loss of blood supply causing bone death) months or years after apparent healing — and this risk substantially uplifts the JC bracket. Colles’ fractures (distal radius) commonly leave residual stiffness even after good clinical recovery. Post-traumatic carpal tunnel syndrome can develop years after a wrist injury.

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Wrist injury compensation calculator

Based on the Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition (2026).

How This Calculator Works

Select the wrist injury type and severity. The calculator identifies the JC bracket and produces a low/mid/high range. Whether the injury required surgery, the success of healing, any residual stiffness or weakness, and the risk of long-term complications (particularly AVN for scaphoid fractures) all affect the position within the bracket.

JC Guidelines Wrist Injury Brackets

Chapter 7 sets out the wrist injury brackets:

  • Very severe — loss of function of the wrist (e.g., arthrodesis)
  • Severe — significant permanent disability, persistent pain, restriction of movement
  • Less severe — residual stiffness and pain, some lasting disability
  • Modest — uncomplicated fracture, full recovery, only minor symptoms
  • Minor — soft tissue injury, full recovery in a short period

Common Wrist Injury Types

  • Colles’ fracture — fracture of the distal radius, the most common wrist fracture
  • Smith’s fracture — reverse Colles’, less common but more serious
  • Scaphoid fracture — notorious for missed diagnosis on initial X-ray and for AVN risk
  • Distal radius fractures generally — comminuted (multiple fragments) more serious
  • Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries — ligament damage on ulnar side
  • Scapholunate ligament injuries — destabilising the wrist joint
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome (post-traumatic) — can develop after wrist injuries

The Scaphoid Fracture Problem

Scaphoid fractures deserve specific attention. The scaphoid is one of the eight small bones in the wrist, and it has a precarious blood supply that runs through one end of the bone. A fracture can disrupt this blood supply, causing the bone to die — avascular necrosis (AVN). AVN may not become apparent for months or years after the apparent healing of the fracture. The risk of AVN substantially uplifts the JC bracket for scaphoid fractures. There is also a separate issue of “missed scaphoid fractures” — fractures that don’t show on initial X-rays and are diagnosed weeks later, often producing a separate clinical negligence claim against the A&E department.

Factors That Affect Your Wrist Injury Claim

  • Type of fracture or injury
  • Whether surgery was required (open reduction internal fixation, scaphoid screws)
  • Whether healing was complete or complicated by non-union, malunion, or AVN
  • Residual range of motion compared to pre-injury
  • Grip strength compared to pre-injury (measured by dynamometer)
  • Pain on use, particularly with manual tasks
  • Whether your dominant or non-dominant hand was injured
  • Impact on work — particularly for occupations requiring fine motor control or repetitive movement

What This Calculator Doesn’t Capture

The calculator gives a JC bracket figure but wrist injuries are particularly sensitive to which hand is affected and the claimant’s occupation. A right-handed surgeon, dentist, or musician with a right wrist injury may have a substantially larger loss of earnings claim than the JC figure alone suggests. The calculator captures general damages reasonably; specialist solicitors will quantify the occupational impact precisely.

Next Steps

Specialist orthopaedic medical evidence is essential, particularly for any wrist injury involving the scaphoid or with persistent symptoms after fracture healing. Wrist claims typically settle 12-24 months from the injury, longer for cases with developing complications. No win no fee Conditional Fee Agreements are standard.

Common Questions

I broke my wrist months ago and it still hurts — is that normal?

Ongoing pain and stiffness is unfortunately common after wrist fractures, particularly Colles’ fractures. Full recovery often takes 12-18 months and a proportion of patients have permanent residual symptoms. For scaphoid fractures, ongoing pain may indicate AVN (avascular necrosis) developing — this requires urgent specialist assessment. Persistent symptoms place the case at the upper end of the JC bracket and may indicate the need for further specialist input.

My wrist X-ray was clear in A&E but I was later diagnosed with a scaphoid fracture — is that negligence?

Possibly. Missed scaphoid fractures on initial X-ray are common because the fracture lines can be very subtle. Standard A&E practice is to immobilise any suspected scaphoid injury (with snuffbox tenderness on examination) regardless of X-ray findings, and to repeat imaging at 10-14 days. Failure to follow this safety-netting can be clinical negligence, particularly where the delay led to AVN or non-union. This is a separate clinical negligence claim alongside the original injury claim.

I’m right-handed and broke my right wrist — does that affect my claim?

Yes. Injuries to the dominant hand have greater functional impact and produce somewhat higher figures within the JC bracket. The greater impact on daily tasks, work, hobbies, and self-care is recognised. Specialist solicitors document this impact carefully — keeping a diary of tasks made difficult, photographs of attempted activities, and witness statements from family members all support the claim.

What about long-term arthritis?

Post-traumatic arthritis is a recognised long-term consequence of major wrist fractures, particularly those involving the joint surface. Specialist orthopaedic evidence assesses the risk. Where the risk is significant, the claim accounts for future treatment costs, the possibility of wrist fusion (arthrodesis) or replacement (arthroplasty), and ongoing loss of function. Provisional damages or a lump sum reflect this future risk.

What are the Judicial College Guidelines?

The Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases (currently 18th edition, published April 2026) are the reference work used by judges, solicitors, and insurers across England and Wales to value personal injury claims. They set out compensation brackets for every category of injury and are updated every two to three years.

How accurate is this calculator?

The calculator gives a directional estimate based on published guidelines. Actual settlements vary based on the specific facts of each case, the strength of evidence, the prognosis at the point of settlement, contributory negligence findings, and the negotiating position of the insurer. Treat the figure as a starting point — a specialist solicitor will give you a more precise figure after reviewing your evidence.

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Gavin Cooper

Gavin Cooper

Claims Expert, Claims Bible

Gavin writes and reviews Claims Bible's guidance on compensation claims. Claims Bible is a trading style of Forces Compare Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA for claims management activities (FRN 785329).

Updated 26 July 2026 · Part of our Personal Injury guide

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