Key advice when claiming for a collarbone injury
- Compensation can range from £2,720 for soft tissue collarbone injuries to £53,280 for shoulder injuries with permanent disability.
- Compensation can be claimed if you injured your collarbone in a work accident caused by an employer or coworkers negligence, or in a road collision.
- You can also claim if a collarbone injury was misdiagnosed, or inadequately treated, and got worse.
- You must start your claim within 3 years from the date of the accident.
- Your compensation amount will be influenced by the extent of your injury, and on the financial losses your accident caused, like lost wages. Discover how much you could claim with our compensation calculator.
- You can start a claim with no win, no fee.
If a collarbone injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
A collarbone injury, often resulting from impact sports, work accidents, or vehicle collisions, can be painful and debilitating, significantly impacting your daily life and activities.
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 No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
What is a collarbone (or clavicle) injury?
A collarbone (or clavicle) injury is a fracture of the narrow bone that connects the shoulder blade (scapula) to the breastbone (sternum).
These fractures often result from a heavy impact, like falling and landing on an outstretched hand, or the shoulder. In severe cases, where the bone pierces the skin or fractures in multiple places, surgery with pins, plates, or screws might be necessary for stability and healing.
Healing from a clavicle injury generally takes 6-8 weeks, and the lack of movement during this period can weaken surrounding muscles. After the fracture heals, you may need physiotherapy to regain full shoulder function.
If you are looking for information on collarbone injury symptoms and treatment, visit: collarbone injury (nhs.uk).
With over 58,000 shoulder and arm injury admissions each year, you are not alone
58,169 patients were admitted with shoulder and upper arm injuries in 2022-23, according to an analysis of NHS England data (digital.nhs.uk).
Compensation for a collarbone injury often provides vital financial support to cover lost wages and the cost of necessary physiotherapy.
How much compensation can I claim for a collarbone injury?
The compensation you're eligible to claim for your collarbone injury depends on:
- the nature and severity of your injury,
- how your injury interferes with your daily activities and job,
- the costs or financial losses you?ve experienced due to your injury.
Collarbone injury
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Updated April 2025
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Average collarbone injury compensation payouts
The following collarbone injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
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).
Shoulder injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue injury | Soft tissue injury with recovery in under 1 year, causing considerable pain | £2,720 to £8,750 |
| Clavicle fracture | Injuries causing some pain and disability, e.g. a displaced, fractured clavicle | £5,710 to £13,580 |
| Moderate | Soft tissue injury with recovery in under 2 years, and/or limited shoulder movement or frozen shoulder | £8,750 to £14,160 |
| Serious | Including dislocation of the shoulder and damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus, shoulder, neck and elbow pain, rotator cuff injury, leading to weakened grip and restricted movement | £14,160 to £21,300 |
| Severe | Serious shoulder/brachial plexus injury resulting in significant disability; | £21,300 to £53,280 |
General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for collarbone fractures and other injuries are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Special damages are awarded for your lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. A fractured collarbone will usually make it very difficult for you to work comfortably, and most manual work would be out of the question. 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
Average collarbone injury compensation payouts
The following collarbone injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
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).
Shoulder injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue injury | Soft tissue injury with recovery in under 1 year, causing considerable pain | £2,720 to £8,750 |
| Clavicle fracture | Injuries causing some pain and disability, e.g. a displaced, fractured clavicle | £5,710 to £13,580 |
| Moderate | Soft tissue injury with recovery in under 2 years, and/or limited shoulder movement or frozen shoulder | £8,750 to £14,160 |
| Serious | Including dislocation of the shoulder and damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus, shoulder, neck and elbow pain, rotator cuff injury, leading to weakened grip and restricted movement | £14,160 to £21,300 |
| Severe | Serious shoulder/brachial plexus injury resulting in significant disability; | £21,300 to £53,280 |
Can I make a collarbone injury claim?
Yes, you can make a claim for a collarbone injury, if:
- you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
- another party was to blame, and;
- that party owed you a legal duty of care.
Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you are entitled to claim for a collarbone injury. 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.
Who pays compensation for my collarbone injury?
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.
Collarbone accidents at work
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 (gov.uk).
See also:
Claiming work injury compensation
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 (CICA).
How the cause of your collarbone injury impacts the claims process
The claims process is influenced by how you injured your collarbone. Click the icons below to find out more.
Can I make a no win, no fee collarbone injury claim?
Yes. 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.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to an injury specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
or arrange a callbackSources
Broken collarbone - NHS (reviewed: 02/08/2024)
Employers' liability insurance - GOV.UK (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity - NHS (reviewed: 23/08/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. 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.