If a compound fracture injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
A compound fracture is a bone break where the bone pierces the skin, caused by high-impact trauma. Treatment often involves surgery, immobilisation, and antibiotics to prevent infection.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a compound fracture 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 compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
In this article
Introduction
Compound fractures are a category of fracture where the skin is pierced, such that the bone sticks out through the skin. Open wounds carry a significant risk of infection, so compound fractures are considered to be a serious medical incident. There is also an increased risk of shock and tissue damage associated with this type of break.
If an infection develops, there may be problems with bone healing. In many cases, surgery is needed to stabilise the bone and repair the muscles, often involving the use of pins. There may also be an ongoing need for physiotherapy to restore mobility in the affected area.
If you have suffered a compound fracture as a result of an accident that was not your fault, you may be eligible to claim compensation.
Am I eligible for compound fracture injury compensation?
You will be able to claim compensation if you've been injured or diagnosed with an illness in the last three years and it wasn't your fault.
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.
Is a claim still possible if I am partly liable?
Ascertaining who is liable for an accident is not always straightforward and can often involve blame on both sides.
In our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents said they either were unsure of which party was responsible, or believed they were partially responsible for their injuries.
Even if your actions or negligence played a role in the accident, you could still be eligible for compensation. Cases with shared fault (contributory negligence) frequently settle through a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long after a compound fracture injury do I have to claim compensation?
In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.
For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a claim.
How much compensation can I claim for a compound fracture?
The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:
- the seriousness 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.
Compound fracture injury
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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
Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying for loss of earnings (including future anticipated earnings loss), retraining costs, career trajectory impact, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as surgery, antibiotics, pain medication and physical therapy.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
Average compound fracture injury general damages compensation
The following compound fracture 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm injury | |||
| Arm injury | Less serious | Fractured forearm | £6,010 to £17,450 |
| Cheekbone fracture | |||
| Cheekbone fracture | Minor | Simple fracture | £2,110 to £2,720 |
| Cheekbone fracture | Moderate | Simple fracture requiring surgery | £3,950 to £5,870 |
| Cheekbone fracture | Serious | Serious fracture requiring surgery | £9,270 to £14,350 |
| Facial injuries | |||
| Facial injuries | Moderate | Multiple fractures of facial bones | £13,550 to £21,770 |
| Facial injuries | Serious | Le Fort fractures of frontal facial bones | £21,650 to £33,400 |
| Finger injury | |||
| Finger injury | Moderate | Fracture of one finger | Up to £4,320 |
| Jaw fracture | |||
| Jaw fracture | Minor | Simple fracture | £5,870 to £7,940 |
| Jaw fracture | Serious | Serious injury with permanent consequences | £16,330 to £27,720 |
| Jaw fracture | Severe | Very serious injury with multiple fractures | £27,720 to £41,400 |
| Leg injury | |||
| Leg injury | Less Serious | Simple tibia or fibula fracture | Up to £10,760 |
| Leg injury | Moderate | Simple femur fracture | £8,280 to £25,240 |
| Neck injury | |||
| Neck injury | Serious | Fractures or dislocations or severe soft tissue damage | £41,350 to £50,900 |
| Neck injury | Serious | Fractures or dislocations with severe symptoms | £22,720 to £34,990 |
| Neck injury | Severe | Serious fractures or damage to discs | £59,760 to £119,030 |
| Nose fracture | |||
| Nose fracture | Minor | Simple | £1,550 to £2,290 |
| Nose fracture | Moderate | Displaced | £2,290 to £2,860 |
| Nose fracture | Moderate | Requiring surgery | £3,590 to £4,640 |
| Nose fracture | Serious | Serious requiring surgery | £9,670 to £21,030 |
| Paralysis | |||
| Paralysis | Paralysis of short duration | Up to £44,850 | |
| Pelvis and hip injury | |||
| Pelvis and hip injury | Severe | Extensive fractures | £71,270 to £119,030 |
| Pelvis and hip injury | Serious | Less extensive fractures | £56,270 to £71,280 |
| Wrist injury | |||
| Wrist injury | Minor | Wrist fracture recovering within one year | £3,210 to £4,310 |
| Wrist injury | Moderate | Colles wrist fracture | Around £6,750 |
Claiming compensation for psychological injuries
Psychiatric harm is less obvious than physical injury, but the consequences can be just as difficult to deal with.
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.
Compound fractures can lead to phobia and anxiety about the injury's severity and future physical capabilities, basiphobia (fear of falling), or PTSD.
Psychiatric harm is less obvious than physical injury, but the consequences can be just as difficult to deal with.
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.
Common causes of compound fractures
The workplace is the most common location for this type of injury to occur. For example, a worker could trap their hand or arm in heavy machinery, causing broken bones and crush injuries. Compound fractures may also be sustained in impact accidents such as road traffic accidents, sporting accidents and falls from height.
Incorrect or delayed treatment of a compound fracture can also lead to complications. Examples include the onset of infections such as MRSA or the bones not knitting together properly, causing permanent weakness. Where an injury has been made worse by substandard medical treatment, a claim may be brought in medical negligence.
See also:
Slip, trip and fall injury claims
Impact of compound fracture injuries
Compound fractures can result in permanent, disabling injuries such as:
- Scarring from surgical intervention
- Reduced mobility in the affected area
- Difficulty holding objects or operating machinery depending on the site of the injury
- Increased risk of developing arthritis in the future
As an initial step, an injury lawyer will arrange for an independent medical examination to assess the extent and severity of the injuries and their likely future impact. This medical report, and the solicitor's assessment, will form the basis of a compensation claim.
What happened?
The claims process for a compound fracture injury will depend on where and how the accident happened. Click the icons below for more information:
Injury FAQs
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No win, no fee compound fracture injury compensation claims
With no win, no fee, you can claim compound fracture 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.