If a collarbone injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a collarbone injury, we can help.
If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
You can make a collarbone injury compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
In this article
Introduction
The collarbone (clavicle) is the narrow bone joining the shoulder bone (scapula) to the breast bone (sternum).
Around 300,000 people a year break their collarbone making it one of the most common bones in the to be fractured.
Usually the result of heavy impact with a hard surface, collarbone fractures may occur when a falling person outstretches his or her hand to halt the fall, or where the impact of the fall is at the point of the shoulder.
Surgery may be required in more severe cases where the bone has broken through the skin or been fractured in several places. This may involve pins, plates and screws to give stability during the longer healing process.
Collarbone injuries can take around 6-8 weeks to heal, during which time the surrounding muscles will weaken through immobility. Physiotherapy is often required post-healing to restore full function to the shoulder region.
Compensation for a collarbone injury often provides vital financial support to cover lost wages and the cost of necessary physiotherapy.
Could my injury have been prevented?
Several types of accidents may result in a person breaking his collarbone. Many such accidents could be prevented and may give rise to a compensation claim.
Loose flooring or uneven paving may cause slips, trips and falls in which people break a collarbone. Where proper maintenance has not been carried out to reduce accident risk, the owner of the premises may be liable.
Similarly, hazards including obstacles, worn floor covering or spilt liquids on staircases may cause a person's fall down a flight of stairs. These accidents may occur in the workplace, retail establishments, multi-storey car parks or public areas.
Accidents at work are a common cause of these injuries. Workers in construction, factory and warehouse environments are more likely to sustain a fall from a height accident - also a cause of collarbone fracture - where health and safety regulations have been breached.
Other instances of collarbone fractures at work may be due to workers being struck on the shoulder by falling objects, or being trapped between two heavy objects.
Collarbones may be also broken as a result of physical assault by another, or through the impact of a road traffic accident - as pedestrian, cyclist or vehicle occupant or driver.
Read more:
Health and safety breach injury claims
Who pays my compensation?
Depending on how and where the accident occurred, different bodies cover the cost of compensation awards arising from personal injuries; therefore establishing the cause and gathering evidence is important in bringing any claim.
Employers
An accident in the workplace may be due to the employer failing in his duty of care to ensure the health, safety and welfare of his employees.
Even if the accident was caused by another employee, the employer may be vicariously liable for that employee's acts, providing it can be shown that they took place during the course of his employment. Compensation would be paid through the compulsory Employers' Liability Insurance.
Accidents in a public place
Where a supermarket's management might be liable for a broken collarbone caused by a customer injured in a supermarket, compensation would be made through the retailer's Public Liability Insurance.
See also:
Defective products
The manufacturer of a bicycle which collapses due to a faulty frame, for example, may be found liable for the injuries sustained if it can be demonstrated that the accident was due to a defective product.
The cost of any compensation should be covered by the manufacturer or retailer's product liability insurance.
See also:
Defective product liability claims
Other incidents
Road traffic accident claims are generally sought through the insurers of the defendant who caused the accident, whereas a person injured through a criminal assault may be able to claim compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Am I entitled to make a collarbone injury claim?
If you've been injured or diagnosed with an illness in the last three years and it wasn't your fault, you will be able to claim compensation.
Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.
How long do I have to claim collarbone injury compensation?
An injury claim will usually need to be made within 3 years of the date or your accident or injury.
For injured children, a claim can be started by a parent or guardian at any time before they turn 18. Thereafter, the injured individual has until their 21st birthday to make a claim on their own.
How much compensation can I claim for a collarbone injury?
The amount of money you could claim for a collarbone injury will depend on:
- the severity of your injury, and
- any financial losses or costs you have incurred.
At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.
Collarbone injury
compensation calculator
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Updated December 2023
Compensation Calculator v3.04
Average collarbone injury general damages compensation
The following collarbone injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, Sixteenth Edition by the Judicial College.
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
| Injury | Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder injury | |||
| Shoulder injury | Minor | Soft tissue injury | Up to £7,170 |
| Shoulder injury | Moderate | Fracture of clavicle | £7,170 to £11,610 |
| Shoulder injury | Serious | Dislocation | £11,610 to £17,450 |
| Shoulder injury | Severe | Brachial plexus damage | £17,450 to £43,660 |
Can I claim compensation for a psychological injury?
If you have suffered psychological harm in addition to a physical injury or illness, you are not alone.
According to our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey shows that 29.03% of potential claimants sustained a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.
A collarbone injury may cause concern about mobility and the ability to carry out daily activities, and a phobia of movement (also known as fear-avoidance behavior or FAB).
Compensation for psychological harm can help you access mental health support and therapies not always available through the NHS.
Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.
General damages
General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).
Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Special damages
If it can be proved that your injury left you unable to work, special damages can be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.
These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your collarbone injury such as sling, pain medication, physical therapy and surgery if needed.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
What happened?
Claiming compensation for a collarbone injury is dependent on how your injury occurred. Click the icons below for more detail:
FAQs
How long does an injury claim take?
What are my chances of winning my claim?
How long do I have to make an injury claim?
No win, no fee collarbone injury compensation claims
With no win, no fee, you can claim collarbone injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
How we can help you with your injury claim
Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning injury claims.
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Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Legal Services. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.