If a hairline fracture has set you back, we'll help you move forward
If you have been affected by a hairline 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
You are not alone
A hairline fracture, or stress fracture, is a small crack or bruise within a bone. These fractures are commonly caused by overuse and repeated impact on a bone.
Fewer than 1 in 100 people will develop a stress fracture, although athletes are most at risk.
You may also be at risk as you transition into a much more active job role, involving intense or high-frequency activity.
If you have sustained a stress fracture, you are at greater risk of another. Employers must take this greater risk into account when managing the health and safety of an affected worker.
Hairline fractures may occur through accidents such as trips, slips and falls and affect bones in other parts of the , such as the wrist or ribcage.
Bones in the feet may sustain hairline fractures where a heavy object is dropped on them, or the foot is stood on.
If you decide to make a hairline fracture 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 deserve.
What are the symptoms of a hairline fracture?
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.
What can go wrong?
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.
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 2023 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.
How much compensation can I claim for a hairline 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.
Hairline fracture
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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 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
Average hairline fracture general damages compensation
The following hairline fracture 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 | Moderate | Simple fracture requiring surgery | £3,950 to £5,870 |
| Facial injuries | |||
| Facial injuries | Moderate | Multiple fractures of facial bones | £13,550 to £21,770 |
| Finger injury | |||
| Finger injury | Moderate | Fracture of one finger | Up to £4,320 |
| Jaw fracture | |||
| Jaw fracture | Serious | Serious injury with permanent consequences | £16,330 to £27,720 |
| 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 |
| Nose fracture | |||
| Nose fracture | Moderate | Displaced | £2,290 to £2,860 |
| Pelvis and hip injury | |||
| 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 |
Can I claim for PTS 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 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.
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.
What happened?
The process for a hairline fracture claim depends the circumstances of the accident. To learn more, click the icons below:
Injury FAQs
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No win, no fee hairline fracture compensation claims
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.
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.