Rib Injury
Compensation Claims

Was your rib injury caused by negligence? We can help you claim

Rib injuries can be extremely painful, impacting your ability to breathe, move, or even sleep comfortably. Whether it’s a fracture from a car accident, a fall at work, or the result of a sporting mishap, rib injuries often take weeks or months to heal and may require rest, pain management, or even surgery in some cases.

If your rib injury was caused by someone else’s 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.

Things to consider when claiming for a rib injury

• Compensation can range from £2,440 for minor, uncomplicated rib injuries to £111,680 for chest damage with permanent loss of function.
• You can claim for a rib injury caused by a road accident, or negligence at work or in a public place.
• You can also claim for misdiagnosed rib and chest injuries, and other medical errors.
• You have 3 years from the date of your injury to begin your claim.
• The amount of compensation you can claim depends on the severity of your rib injury and any financial losses or expenses. Use our compensation calculator to find out how much you could receive.
• You can start a claim with no win, no fee.

You are not alone

There were 39,316 NHS admissions for rib and sternum injuries in 2022-23 (digital.nhs.uk).

According to the Oxford University Hospital, rib injuries can take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to heal. However, complications related to a rib injury such as an additional lung injury, pneumothorax, haemothorax or chest infection can delay your recovery.

If you decide to make a rib 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.

If you need information on rib injury symptoms and treatment, see: rib injuries (nhs.uk).

How much compensation can I claim for a rib injury?

Compensation for your rib injury is based on:

• how serious the injury is,
• the disruption caused by your injury to your daily life and work,
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred due to your injury.

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 loss of earnings, 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 rib injury, including pain medication, a rib belt and breathing exercises.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Average rib injury compensation payouts

The following rib 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).

Chest injuries

Can I claim compensation for a psychological injury?

Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.

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.

Rib injuries often cause anxiety about breathing and a phobia of movement (also known as fear-avoidance behavior or FAB), alongside fears of complications like pneumonia.

Your solicitor will help ensure that any psychological harm you have suffered as the result of another party's negligence is recognised and included in the calculation of your compensation award or settlement. In addition, you can also claim for mental health treatment costs that may not be readily available on 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.

Am I entitled to make a rib injury claim?

You can claim compensation for a rib injury, if:

• you became ill within the last 3 years, and;
• someone else was at fault, and;
• they had a legal responsibility to prevent foreseeable harm.

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.

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.

When fault on both sides caused a claimant's injuries, this is called 'contributory negligence'. In these situations, compensation may still be payable on the basis of a split liability agreement.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long after a rib injury do I have to start a claim?

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.

What should I do if I have suffered a rib injury?

Having sought medical attention and treatment, you should consider contacting a solicitor as soon as possible.

If you have suffered a rib injury that was not your fault, you may be able to claim compensation, but a claim can often be much easier to make if you gathered medical and other evidence at the time of the accident.

The panel of solicitors have many years of experience in dealing with compensation claims for rib injuries and can advise you on whether or not a claim is likely to be successful.

Who is responsible for my rib injury?

If you have suffered a rib injury, such as bruised or fractured ribs, and the accident was not your fault, it may be that another party can be held liable.

If. for example, you suffered a rib injury at work, your employer may be liable. Employers have a duty to protect the health and safety of their staff. If your employer has failed to train you in how to perform your duties safely or provide suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), your employer can be held liable for the consequences.

Employers are also responsible for ensuring that equipment is maintained to safe standards and that there are no obvious risks to the well-being of their staff.

Your rib injury might have occurred when you slipped while visiting commercial premises, such as a restaurant or shop. If this is the case, the person or organisation who is responsible for the premises can be held liable. Most businesses have public liability insurance. In the event of an accident on businesses premises, a compensation claim would typically be made against this policy.

Rib injuries are common in road traffic accidents when a driver or passenger's chest impacts with the steering wheel or dashboard of the car. The person who was to blame for the accident (such as another driver) could be pursued for compensation.

On some occasions, people experience rib injuries as a result of engaging in sports. If you have not been instructed in how to engage in your chosen sport in a safe manner, the person or organisation providing the lessons could be held responsible for your injury.

What factors affect the rib injury claims process?

The claims process is influenced by how your rib injury occurred. Click the icons below to find out more.

Work accidents Public places Road accidents Medical negligence Other accidents

Sources

Author:
Howard Willis, Personal injury solicitor

About the author

Howard Willis qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a recognised Law Society Personal Injury Panel expert.