Key points when claiming for a dislocation injury
- Compensation can start at £7,040 for a thumb dislocation, up to £145,250 for a debilitating, permanent arm injury.
- You can claim if you were injured in the workplace, in a road accident, in a public location, or due to negligent medical care.
- You can also claim if another party's negligence caused an existing dislocation-related injury to get worse.
- You can make a claim within 3 years of your injury date.
- Your compensation will depend on the seriousness of your injury, and your financial losses and expenses. You can find out how much you can claim with our compensation calculator.
- You're eligible to claim under a no win, no fee agreement.
If a dislocation injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Suffering a dislocation, where a bone is forced out of its normal position in a joint, can be a painful experience and will impact your mobility and daily activities. Dislocation injuries can cause intense pain and lasting joint problems.
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a dislocation injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
Compensation can pay for medical treatments, any long-term physical therapy, and the injury's impact on your daily and professional life.
You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
Over 20,000 people are hospitalised with a dislocation every year, you are not alone
A dislocation occurs when a bone is forced out of its joint, most commonly affecting shoulders, but also fingers, knees, and hips.
Injuries are common in car crashes, sports, or any physical activity involving contact, falls, or extreme joint movements. They occur disproportionately in younger, or more active people who may engage in higher-risk activities.
In 2022-23, 21,802 people were admitted for dislocations and other injuries to joints and ligaments, according to an analysis of NHS England data (digital.nhs.uk).
If you decide to make a dislocation injury claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
For information on dislocation symptoms and treatment, visit: dislocated shoulder (nhs.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for a dislocation injury?
Your compensation for a dislocation injury will vary according to:
- the degree of your injury,
- the influence of your injury on your life and work capabilities,
- any expenses or financial setbacks caused by your injury.
Dislocation injury
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).
Awards for general damages 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 compensation awarded to cover any financial losses and expenses you incur as a result of your dislocation injury or negligent medical treatment. These damages aim to put you back in the financial position you would have been in, had your injury not occurred.
Special damages will also cover your medical treatment expenses, that might include reduction, pain medication, immobilisation and physiotherapy.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
Average dislocation injury compensation payouts
The following dislocation 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).
Ankle injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minor fractures, sprains, and ligament injuries with full recovery | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | A fracture or ligament injury with mild ongoing symptoms | £15,250 to £29,500 |
Arm injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Less severe | Less severe injury to one or both arms, with onoing disability but good prospects for recovery | £21,300 to £43,460 |
| Serious | Serious fracture of one or both forearms, with scarring and/or ongoing disability | £43,460 to £66,410 |
| Severe | Very serious impairment, disability and damage, similar to having lost the arm entirely | £106,690 to £145,250 |
Elbow injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery within 18 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £3,920 |
| Recovery between 18 to 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £7,210 |
| Recovery after 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms or damage | Up to £13,970 |
Finger injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Relatively minor injury | Finger fractures that recover in under 6 months, and/or injuries with tenderness, pain in cold weather, or scarring | Up to £5,270 |
| Serious injury | to ring or middle finger | £11,450 to £18,130 |
Knee injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | E.g. dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus, that could cause future symptoms or weakness, or that exacerbated an existing injury | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | More serious knee injuries with a greater risk of future symptoms, pain and weakness | £16,460 to £29,050 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Short-term and minor soft tissue injuries | Up to £13,140 |
| Less serious | Less serious injuries, e.g. simple leg fractures | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| Moderate | Including multiple leg fractures and crush injuries | £30,800 to £43,490 |
Neck injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Fracture or dislocation injuries, or worsening of existing conditions, including wrenching, disc lesions and cervical spondylosis | £27,730 to £42,700 |
| Serious | Severe fractures, dislocation, soft tissue damage, ruptured tendons, and/or chronic disability | £50,450 to £62,120 |
Pelvis and hip injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Very severe | Including extensive fractures, dislocation, bladder injuries, spondylolisthesis, exteme pain and permanent disability | £86,980 to £145,250 |
Shoulder injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Thumb injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dislocation | Severe dislocation of the thumb | £7,040 to £8,630 |
Claiming compensation for psychological injuries
If you have experienced psychological issues in addition to physical symptoms, you are not alone.
Our 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey found that 29.03% of claimants reported a psychological injury, with 70.97% of these relating to a physical injury.
Dislocations can lead to phobia of repeat injuries, affecting confidence in physical activities. Pain avoidance and phobia of pain from movement can also hamper recovery.
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.
Do I qualify for dislocation injury compensation?
Yes, you can claim for a dislocation injury, if:
- you became ill within the last 3 years, and;
- another party was at fault, and;
- that party owed a duty of care to protect you from foreseeable risks.
Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.
What if I was partly to blame?
Liability for an accident often involves fault on both sides.
In our recent 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents thought they could be partially to blame for their accident.
Claims are possible even when your actions partially caused the accident. In instances of 'contributory negligence', claims are usually settled with a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long after a dislocation injury do I have to claim compensation?
For most injury claims, you have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start the claims process.
The 3 year limitation period does not apply to minors (under 18s). A parent, guardian or litigation friend can start a claim on a child's behalf up to their 18th birthday and the child has until their 21st birthday to claim for themselves.
Who is responsible for the injury?
If you have experienced a dislocation injury, liability is dependent on the environment and circumstances of your accident. If the injury was sustained while you were at work, it may be that your employer is responsible for what has happened. Employers have an obligation to protect the well-being of their staff. If they have failed to do this, and you have suffered a dislocation injury as a result, your employer can be held liable.
If your dislocation injury was caused by playing a sport, it is possible that the organisation responsible for instructing you in the game can be held responsible. This is particularly relevant if the organisation has failed to observe health and safety precautions.
If you have suffered a dislocation injury because of a physical assault, the person who attacked you can be considered responsible for the consequences of that injury. If it is not possible to identify your attacker, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) can be held liable.
If you have dislocated a joint because of a fall in commercial premises, such as a supermarket, the owner of the premises may be considered to be responsible for your injury. This is more probable if your fall was caused by a spill on the floor, or tripping over items that were not stored properly.
A dislocation injury that is caused by a road traffic accident is usually the fault of the person who caused the collision.
What should you do if you have suffered a dislocation injury?
After receiving medical treatment, you should contact a solicitor. Quittance's panel of solicitors have experience of working with claimants who have suffered dislocation injuries, and can guide you through the process step by step.
Your solicitor will gather the proof that is needed to establish that another party was to blame for your accident. This proof can take the form of medical reports, witness statements, and evidence of how your life has been affected by the injury.
What affects the process when claiming for a dislocation injury?
The claims process changes depending on the cause of your dislocation. Click the icons below to learn more.
Can I make a no win, no fee dislocation injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim dislocation 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?
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Call 0800 376 1001
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Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority - GOV.UK (reviewed: 02/08/2024)
Dislocated shoulder - NHS (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
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.