If a finger or thumb injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Thumb and finger injuries can be surprisingly debilitating, impacting your ability to perform daily tasks, work, and enjoy hobbies. These injuries can range from fractures and dislocations to tendon damage and even amputation, often requiring medical treatment, rehabilitation, and time off work.
If your thumb or finger injury was caused by an accident, workplace incident, or someone else’s negligence, you can claim compensation to support your recovery. You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
Key advice when claiming for a thumb or finger injury
- Compensation can range from around £4,300 for loss of part of the little finger to over £40,000 for disabling thumb and finger fractures.
- You can make a claim if your injury occurred at work, in a road accident, in a public place, or as a result of medical negligence.
- You have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start a claim.
- Your compensation is based on how serious your injury is, along with your financial losses and expenses. Check our compensation calculator to see how much you could claim.
- If you injury has affected you job, your future prospects, or forced you to change careers, you can claim for lost earnings and future earnings.
- Compensation will also cover the cost of chronic pain and other lasting symptoms caused by your accident.
- Your claim can proceed on a no win, no fee basis.
Thumb injuries are very common - you are not alone
Thumb injuries are quite common, especially in activities that involve gripping, twisting, or repetitive motion. These injuries can range from sprains and strains to more serious conditions like fractures or ligament tears. They are frequently seen in sports, manual labour, and increasingly in repetitive strain injuries (RSI) from prolonged use of mobile devices or keyboards.
Finger injuries are also common, particularly where manual handling, machinery use, or physical activities are involved. They frequently occur on building sites, manufacturing plants, kitchens, and in sports. Common types of finger injuries include cuts, fractures, dislocations, sprains, and tendon injuries.
6,225 patients were admitted to NHS hospitals in 2022-23 with thumb injuries (digital.nhs.uk).
If you are looking for information on thumb pain symptoms and treatment, visit: thumb pain (nhs.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for a thumb injury?
The compensation you can claim for your thumb injury will depend on:
- the nature and severity of your injury,
- how your injury influences your daily activities and work abilities,
- any financial burdens or costs arising from your injury.
Thumb injury
compensation calculator
Find out how much compensation you could claim in just a few minutes.
Check your legal eligibility and see if you qualify for a No Win, No Fee claim.
Updated January 2025
Compensation Calculator v3.1
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 for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying for loss of earnings, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as splint and pain medication.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average injury general damages compensation table
The following 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).
Finger injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amputation | Amputation of the little finger | £9,590 to £13,580 |
| 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 |
| Amputation | Loss of part of the little finger | £4,380 to £6,500 |
| Amputation | Amputation of the ring or index finger | Around £27,730 |
| Index finger fracture | Fracture fully heals, but with ongoing pain, disability and an increased risk of osteoarthritis | £10,110 to £13,570 |
| Amputation | Loss of terminal phalanx of ring or middle finger | £4,380 to £8,740 |
| Amputation | Amputation of the terminal phalanges of the index and middle fingers | Around £24,200 |
| Serious injury | to ring or middle finger | £11,450 to £18,130 |
| Amputation | Total or partial loss of index finger affecting your grip or dexterity | £13,500 to £20,790 |
| Amputation of fingers | Where your grip is severely weakened and/or you are unable to use your hand | £68,680 to £100,680 |
| Finger fractures | Fractures that cause deformity, affect sensation, and/or have a long term affect on your grip and ability to use your hand | Up to £40,760 |
Thumb injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Thumb fracture with recovery in under 6 months, and/or with scarring, tenderness or pain in the cold | Up to £5,270 |
| Dislocation | Severe dislocation of the thumb | £7,040 to £8,630 |
| Moderate | Including arthrodesis of the interphalangeal join, damage to tendons or nerves, impairment of sensation and function | £10,730 to £13,970 |
| Serious | Injuries that impair your grip and dexerity, including partial amputation, nerve damage, and fractures requiring wires | £13,970 to £18,600 |
| Very serious | Including a severed and reattached thumb, an amputation through the interphalangeal joint, and thumb injuries that severly affect the thumb's function | £21,750 to £38,840 |
| Loss of thumb | Complete effective loss of use, or amputation of the thumb | £39,410 to £60,840 |
Do I qualify for thumb injury compensation?
You are entitled to make a claim for a thumb injury, if:
- you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
- someone else was to blame, and;
- they owed a duty of care to prevent harm.
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.
Can I claim if I feel I was partly to blame?
Identifying who is legally responsible for a claimant's injuries is not always obvious.
In our 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents felt they were at least partly responsible for their accident or injuries.
You can often still claim compensation even if you were partly to blame, as cases with shared fault usually settle with 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 claim thumb injury 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.
Can I claim compensation for a thumb or finger injury?
You may be entitled to make a compensation claim if you have sustained a finger or thumb injury due to:- An accident at work - your employer has a duty of care to protect your health and safety in the workplace. If your thumb injury is the result your employer failing in this duty, it is likely that a claim can be made.
- Road accidents or accidents in a public place - if your thumb injury has been caused by the negligence of another party, it may be possible to make a compensation claim. This may be the case in instances such as thumb injury caused by the negligence of a driver in a car accident.
If you are unsure who is at fault for your hand injury, you can still start a personal injury claim. Your solicitor will be able to gather evidence relating to the accident, to establish the liable party.
What affects the process when claiming for thumb injury
How your thumb injury was caused will determine the claims process. Click the icons below for more information.
Can I make a no win, no fee thumb injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim thumb 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?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
or arrange a callbackSources
Hand Injuries | The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (reviewed: 27/07/2024)
Thumb pain - NHS (reviewed: 31/07/2024)
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.