If a hairline fracture has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Hairline fractures, also known as stress fractures, are small cracks in a bone that can occur due to overuse, accidents, or weakened bones. While they may seem minor, they can cause significant pain and limit mobility. If you've sustained a hairline fracture due to someone else's negligence, such as in a workplace accident or a public space slip, 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.
Over 400,000 people are hospitalised with a fracture every year, you are not alone
A hairline fracture, or stress fracture, is a small crack in a bone, often caused by overuse or repeated impact.
Commonly affecting feet and wrists, stress fractures can result from accidents like trips and falls. Athletes and those in physically demanding jobs are at higher risk.
Subsequent fractures are more likely once you've had one, and employer's must take any previous injury into account when carrying out health and safety risk assessments.
If you decide to make a claim for a hairline fracture, a personal injury solicitor can guide you through the process to secure the compensation you need to move forward.
449,077 people were admitted to hospital in 2022-23 with fracture injuries, from an analysis of NHS England data (digital.nhs.uk).
If you are looking for information symptoms and treatment, visit: How do I know if I've broken a bone? (nhs.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for a hairline fracture?
The compensation you can claim for your hairline fracture is based on:
- how serious the injury is,
- the effect of your injury on your daily routine and ability to work,
- the financial costs and losses you have experienced due to your 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.
Special damages are awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include lost wages, bonuses, benefits and other perks, damage to clothing, or any other out of pocket expenses.
Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your fracture, including pain medication and splinting or casting.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average hairline fracture compensation payouts
The following hairline fracture 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 |
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 |
Jaw injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Simple fracture requiring immobilisation, and/or with full recovery | £7,160 to £9,690 |
| Serious | Serious fracture, with permanent symptoms (e.g. difficulty eating or nerve damage) | £19,930 to £33,830 |
| Severe | Serious multiple fractures that require prolonged treatment, and/or permanent symptoms (including pain, paraesthesia, and a risk of arthritis) | £33,830 to £50,520 |
Knee injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate | More serious knee injuries with a greater risk of future symptoms, pain and weakness | £16,460 to £29,050 |
| Serious | E.g. a leg fracture that extends to the knee joint, or injuries that cause constant pain and restricted movement, and/or a risk of osteoarthritis or future knee surgery | £29,050 to £48,210 |
| Severe | Severe symptoms, including ongoing pain, disability and which are likely to worsen and require future surgery (arthroplasty or arthrodesis) | £57,830 to £77,360 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tibia or fibula fracture | Simple fracture with full recovery | Up to £13,140 |
| Simple femur fracture | Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| More serious fractures | Incomplete fracture recovery with ongoing symptoms | £19,930 to £30,800 |
Pelvis and hip injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | Including fracture of acetabulum and injuries with a risk of future hip replacement surgery or leg instability | £43,460 to £58,250 |
| Severe | More serious leg injuries with worsening future symptoms | £68,680 to £86,980 |
| Very severe | Including extensive fractures, dislocation, bladder injuries, spondylolisthesis, exteme pain and permanent disability | £86,980 to £145,250 |
Shoulder injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clavicle fracture | Injuries causing some pain and disability, e.g. a displaced, fractured clavicle | £5,710 to £13,580 |
Wrist injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Relatively minor soft tissue injury or displaced fracture, with a full recovery within 12 months | £3,920 to £5,260 |
| Moderate | Uncomplicated Colles' fracture | Around £8,250 |
| Moderate | Fracture or soft tissue injury with complete recovery | £6,750 to £11,480 |
Can I claim for PTSD or other psychological trauma?
If you have suffered psychological harm in addition to a physical injury or illness, you are not alone.
According to our 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey shows that 29.03% of potential claimants sustained a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.
Hairline fractures can create worry about the stability of the affected area, a phobia of falling (basiphobia). Over time, this phobia can hamper your recovery or lead to other injuries as you avoid certain movements.
A specialist solicitor will consider psychological harm when calculating your compensation. Psychiatric injuries are recognised in the official guidelines for compensation, and the cost of treatment and other mental health support should be included in your compensation award or settlement.
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 hairline fracture compensation?
If you've been injured or made ill in the last three years and it wasn't your fault, then you will be entitled to claim compensation for hairline fracture.
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.
Is a claim still possible if I was partly responsible for my injury?
Understanding who is legally at fault for an accident often requires navigating through a maze of legal complexities.
Each year, Quittance carries out a survey of potential claimants. In our 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents felt they might be at least partly to blame 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 do I have to make a hairline fracture claim?
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.
Hairline fracture symptoms?
The most common symptom is a dull pain in the area of the fracture. This may be accompanied by some swelling, bruising or a tingling sensation. The pain will be more intense when pressure is exerted on the affected area - during exercise or standing.
How is a hairline fracture diagnosed?
Where a hairline fracture is suspected the patient should be thoroughly examined by his doctor. X-rays should be carried out, but if it is not possible to detect the fracture, further imaging techniques such as MRI scans may be required.
Will the bone heal?
Depending on the bone that is injured a splint or cast may be required to immobilise the affected area. It is recommended that the extremity (arm or leg) is initially elevated and rested to allow the bone to heal. After any swelling has subsided it should be possible to start putting a little weight on the area as this stimulates healing, increasing this after a couple of weeks.
By avoiding the activity that caused the fracture for at least 6-8 weeks, the bone should heal completely.
Whilst the bones usually heal if they are rested, if the fracture is not diagnosed and therefore left untreated, the injury may worsen and take longer to heal.
How the cause of your hairline fracture affects the claims process
How your hairline fracture was caused will determine the claims process. Click the icons below for more information.
Can I make a no win, no fee hairline fracture claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim hairline fracture 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
or arrange a callbackAuthor:
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.