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Finger Injury Claims & Compensation Amounts

By Ian Morris | Updated April 17th, 2025

187 questions have been answered on this subject - ask us your question

If you’ve suffered a finger injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation covering medical expenses, lost income, and rehabilitation costs.

Injuries to the fingers and hand are known to cause serious loss of independence and dexterity, often leading you unable to work or enjoy regular pastimes.

Seeking compensation with a finger injury claim can help to ease some of your problems, making up for lost income and giving access to private rehabilitation therapies to speed your recovery. Here we look at when you can make a claim and how much compensation you can expect for a finger injury.

Eligibility criteria for finger injury compensation claims

To claim compensation your finger injury you need to prove that someone else is at fault , rather than yourself. Shops, councils and and employers all have a responsibility to ensure people’s safety. If they fail to do so you might be eligible to claim finger injury compensation.

Most claims arise from finger injuries at work, and commonly as a result of repetitive strains like vibration white finger. We also see such claims from road accidents and slips, trips or falls. Injuries range from minor cuts and sprains to the loss of fingertips and whole fingers, with compensation awarded for:

Soft tissue and ligament damage
Finger dislocation
Cuts and lacerations
Breaks and fractures
Burns and scarring
Finger amputation

Whatever the severity, and however your finger injury was caused, these are the main criteria you need to check to see if you can claim:

Was the injury someone else’s fault?
Did it happen in the last three years?
Have you, or will you, seek medical treatment?

If you can answer yes to some or all of the above, you may well be able to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation on a No Win No Fee basis.

We have expert solicitors available to represent you through your claim and we’ll ensure that your compensation settlement will appropriately reflect your suffering and expenses.

For more information on related injuries, visit our Hand Injury Compensation Claims page

How much compensation will I get for a finger injury?

In claims for finger injury compensation, UK courts have issued rulings that recognise some fingers as being more important than others when considering full use of the hand and fine motor tasks.

The thumb, index and middle finger are considered the most important fingers, with injuries to these more dominant fingers achieving a higher compensation settlement than a lesser finger with a similar level of injury.

The amount of compensation will depend on the severity of the injury and its long term implications. For example:

Non-complex finger fractures: £2,000 – £3,500
Little finger amputation: £5,000 – £10,000.
The loss of an index or middle finger which seriously impacts on the use of and dexterity of the hand and reduces hand use will reach a far higher settlement valuation and would usually be settled at a minimum of £50,000 to over £80,000.

Various issues will decide on an appropriate value for a claim, with the type of finger and how the injury impacts on the claimant being an important factor. If a claimant can demonstrate that their finger injury will prevent them from being able to further a specific career path, or prevent them from continuing with previously enjoyed pastimes, a claim will be settled at a higher rate than for someone who is unable to provide such proof.

Having instructed a medical expert to review the finger injury and provide a detailed report, a solicitor will be able to advise on the appropriate tariff range.

The final compensation settlement provided in a finger injury claim will also take in to account special damages, ie. loss of income, personal care costs, incurred expenses and other costs caused by the injury. Our solicitors will claim for the following on your behalf:

The pain and distress caused by the injuries
Out of pocket expenses (special damages), including damage to personal items such wedding rings
Lost income if you are unable to work
The impact on your day to day living
Post accident care or rehabilitation therapies

Compensation amounts for finger injuries

The following figures are a guide to how much compensation you might expect for the finger injury itself, your final settlement could be a lot more when other costs are taken into account.

Finger injury claim values

Severity of injury	Compensation amount
Amputation of index and middle and/or ring fingers	£58k - £85k
Serious finger injury which reduces the hand to about 50% capacity, along with disfigurement	£27k - £58k
Severe fractures to fingers	Up to £34k
Total loss of index finger	Around £18k
Partial loss of index finger	£11k - £18k
Fracture of index finger	£9k - £11k
Serious injury to ring or middle fingers, with permanent consequences	£14k - £15k
Loss of the terminal phalanx of the ring or middle fingers	£4k - £7k
Amputation of little finger	£8k - £11k
Loss of part of the little finger	£4k - £6k
Amputation of ring and little fingers	Around £20k
Amputation of the terminal phalanges of the index and middle fingers	Around £23k

Vibration White Finger claim values

Severity of injury	Compensation amount
Most serious - persisting bilateral symptoms in a younger person	£30k - £36k
Serious VWF injury with impact on work and domestic activity	£16k - £30k
Moderate, with some changes in working practice	£8k - £16k
Minor, with occasional symptoms in only a few fingers	£3k - £8k

Thumb injury claim values

Severity of injury	Compensation amount
Loss of thumb	£33k - £51k
Very serious (left virtually useless)	£18k - £33k
Serious (impaired grip and dexterity)	£12k - £16k
Moderate (impairment of sensation and function, cosmetic deformity)	£9k - £12k
Severe dislocation	£4k - £6k
Minor injuries (recovery within six months)	Up to £4k

Claiming for finger injuries at work

The most common reason for making a finger injury claim is an accident at work. UK employers face legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act with regards to minimising the risk of injury in the workplace. If you have suffered a finger injury doing your job you may well have a valid work injury claim.

In addition to work accidents, many UK workers report painful symptoms in muscles, tendons and nerves of the fingers as a result of repetitive strains, such as vibration white finger and carpal tunnel syndrome, which can also be claimed for.

With specific regard to finger injuries, which are often caused in manual workplaces such as factories, manufacturing and construction, employers would be expected to ensure workers aren’t using faulty equipment and that all machinery is fit for purpose with adequate and well-serviced safety mechanisms. Employers must also ensure that all staff working in an area of finger injury risk must be properly trained to use any machinery and provided with appropriate personal protective equipment, and that all roles are risk assessed.

Our expert staff will be able to help you to identify whether your employer has failed to fulfil their statutory duties. If so, negligence is likely and your claim will succeed. If you’ve been injured at work, claiming compensation is one of a few other rights you have.

Injuries sustained at work should be recorded in the employer’s accident book. If they don’t have an accident book, or won’t let you have access to it, there are things you can do. If this is the case, look for a witness and get their details. If you can’t do that, take photos or send a letter by recorded delivery (keeping a copy for yourself with proof of postage) reporting the incident to the management.

Claiming for finger injuries in public places

Outside of the workplace, the majority of claims involve fingers being crushed in doors, cut by glass or injured when hands break a fall after a slip or trip.

The maintenance of public spaces, paths and roads fall under the responsibility of your local council. They are required to inspect and identify hazards that should be removed or fixed, such as cracked surfaces, damaged railings or missing lighting. If the council has left an area in a dangerous condition for too long, they can be held liable for your injuries.

To prove liability, claimants must show that the council had known about the hazard before the accident. Also, that the council had reasonable time to inspect that area and should have repaired the hazard and removed the risk of injury.

In these cases, your injury should be reported to the local authority, with a full description of what happened along with the location.

In claims where finger injuries are sustained from slipping on a shop floor or in a supermarket, for example, success will depend on if the management has been negligent in its duties to protect customers. In general, walkways should be kept clear and at the entrance to a shop, restaurant or other public venue, there should be a mat to enable people to wipe excess rain water from their feet. If there is a spillage, wet floor or other slipping risk a hazard warning sign should be erected.

To provide proof of your injury, it should be recorded in an accident book within the premises. The injured party should contribute to the statement and only sign it when they are happy with what is written.

How do I make a successful claim?

Your first port of call is medical treatment for your injuries. If you haven’t had medical treatment, it is possible that your injuries will not be seen as sufficiently serious to warrant a claim. If you have been suffering in silence and haven’t seen the GP, you still can, and it will provide evidence for your claim.

A solid claim will usually need the accident to be reported and recorded, and have evidence and/or witnesses to back it up. Ideally, the incident should be recorded with the company or authority responsible for the area in which the accident happened.

If possible, you should take photographs of the cause of the accident with clear measurements of any hazards. Witness statements are also admissible as evidence, so try to collect the names and contact details of anyone who saw your accident and is willing to back up your claim.

Don’t worry if this all seems a bit complicated – if you are in any doubt about what to do and need some clear, honest advice, contact us. At Direct2Compensation starting your claim for finger injury compensation is easy. You can call our friendly and helpful staff on 01225 430285 or get your claim started online today. We’ll review your finger injury claim and let you know if you have a case. We take pride in making sure that you feel understood and look forward to helping you.

187 questions have been answered on this subject - ask us your question

Comments & Questions

Read on for questions and advice about claiming, plus finger injury claim examples...

My finger was injured

How did you injure your finger? If the injury was caused by negligence on the part of an employer or elsewhere, you may well be able to pursue a claim.

I had surgery at a hospital on 3 fingers on my primary hand and it has turned out worse than before I had the surgery.
I am so upset with the outcome and struggle to do any little thing now.
The Consultant has been very apologetic but I am so upset.

Thank you for taking the time to share your situation with us. We’re sorry to hear that your surgery has not provided the desired outcome.

We do have Solicitors specialising in claims for clinical negligence – a niche and specialist area within personal injury – who offer a No Win No Fee service. We would be more than happy to get this looked at by them for you if you’d like?

We’d need to get some further basic information so that they can consider this matter for you. If you would like further help, please use our start a claim form so that we have some information and contact details. We’ll then call to explain how we work and answer any initial questions you may have. If you are then happy, we’ll obtain the basic information we need and have the matter reviewed for you. Alternatively, please call us on 01225430285 for friendly, no obligation assistance. We don’t have a call centre, so you’ll be able to get immediate help and answers.

We look forward to hearing from you.

I cut my finger in a hotel swimming pool. There was a broken tile. I didn’t require medical attention but the hotel had to bandage it up to stop the bleeding. Could I still be entitled to compensation?

The lack of medical attention in and of itself is not an issue in terms of a claim. The key thing in this situation is that the incident has been reported to the hotel. As they have provided medical attention in the Hotel, they have a record of the incident.

Certainly on the question of negligence and liability, you appear to have a strong claim. For the pool to be open for public use with a broken and sharp edge of a tile in place is negligent and as that has caused your injury, you appear to have a valid claim.

Please call us on 01225430285 or email us at justice@direct2compensation.co.uk (please include your contact number) to get further help and start your claim.

I’m a nurse and severely lacerated my right index finger at work (I’m right handed) helping to push a stretcher with a very large deceased patient into a hearse. Turns out I was holding the stretcher at the point where the legs automatically fold up as it goes into the vehicle, and my finger was caught. The undertaker failed to warn me not to hold it there. Do I have a case and if so, would it be against my employer or the undertaker?

You certainly have a valid claim in this matter and we would very much like have one of our specialist Solicitors pursue this for you on a No Win No Fee basis. The lack of warning from the Undertaker and the lack of any training and guidance on the use of the stretcher in question indicates to me that you’d likely succeed with a claim in this matter.

Whether the claim is against the undertaker or the employer is uncertain, but likely the former rather than the latter. However, you shouldn’t feel concern about who the claim may be against as it will essentially be against an insurer rather than a business or employer. If you do make a claim, it is a legal right and has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on your employment rights. If you work within the Health Service for example, your claim would not even register at a local level and your colleagues would certainly never know about a claim unless you chose to tell them you had done so – whether it be against the employer or anyone else.

People are often understandably anxious about making a claim after an accident at work, worrying how doing so may impact colleagues and your employment. However, you really need not worry. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you have an explain your rights in terms of making a claim with no obligation for you to proceed further if you didn’t want to. We often find that the straightforward and simple, honest advice and guidance we can provide gives them the confidence to pursue their claim. Why not call us on 01225430285 or use our website to request a call from us so that we can give you the information you need to allow you to make an informed decision as to whether or not you wish to pursue a claim.

Compensation settlements in claims for finger injuries can range considerably. The value of your particular injury will depend on the severity of the injury, which finger the injury is on and whether it is your dominant hand and whether the injury impacts your dexterity and hand use. It’s certainly a matter worth pursuing and we look forward to helping you further with this.

Around 6 months ago I was working/training as a workshop assistant for a small family run fabrication business where we mostly worked with titanium, and I suffered a large laceration to the finger fingertip of my middle finger on my dominant hand. This happened when I was using a lathe and the swarf got caught, flew off and wrapped through my finger. I had 7 stitches and about 10 days off work, then when I returned to work my boss claimed it was my fault and that I was being stupid and hadn’t listened to him. He said he saw I was doing it wrong but wanted to see if I could work it out on my own. There was only a small guard on the lathe round the chuck, but no others. I now work for a different company, but still don’t have any feeling in that fingertip, and now get very nervous around sharp objects. I didn’t do anything about this sooner as I was too afraid of confrontation, as my boss and his wide were extremely rude and manipulative towards me. Do you think I would be eligible? Many thanks, Chloe

Thank you for using our website to share the story of your injury at work.

Your injury at work sounds quite nasty and it would seem that you must have suffered some nerve damage as a result of the injury sustained and that will impact the feeling in that finger tip, possibly permanently, which would be reflected in your personal injury settlement value should you succeed with your claim.

Our initial view is that you have a valid claim for personal injury – we’d certainly like to further investigate this as we feel that there is likely to be something to act upon for our Solicitors.

Our Solicitors offer a No Win No Fee service, so you can pursue this matter without worrying about being financially liable for the costs if you don’t win. Along with compensation for the injury and ongoing loss of feeling, if you were to win your claim our Solicitors would also seek to recover any associated costs or losses that you incurred due to the injury.

It would be helpful if we could have a brief telephone chat so that we can explain the No Win No Fee process, help you to understand your rights and have confidence to take this further. Please email us (justice@direct2compensation.co.uk) with your contact number so that we can call you, or call us on 01225430285 for further help.

I trapped and cut my finger on a trolley whilst shopping at a Sainsbury’s Supermarket.

You have a right to make a claim if the trolley was in need of repair or should have been removed prior to your use of it, or if it malfunctioned causing you injury

Please call us on 01225430285 or use our website to get in contact with us. We would be delighted to assist you on a No Win No Fee basis.

I cut off part of my middle finger with a bench planer last year on a self build job in Northern Ireland, it was using my own tools. I lost down as much as the whole nail is gone. Had to get surgery. Is there anyway I can get compensated for this. ? I’m not sure if the home owner had insurance and I really don’t want to go after them for compensation to hurt them financially.

Were you working on a self employed basis? It is unlikely that you would have valid grounds to make a claim unless you can attribute the cause of the incident that lead to your injury to negligence on the part of someone else.

A further issue is your geographical location – the legal system of Northern Ireland differs greatly in terms of personal injury to that of England, Wales and even Scotland.

I was opening a window at work and roughly 8 exam desks crushed my thumb and wrist. I did not know when I went to open the window they were stacked incorrectly.
I now have nerve damage a year and a half later. My consultant says I may need surgery, I have therapy on my hand.

Am I able to pursue a claim?

You would appear to have a valid claim for compensation as a result of employer negligence. The fact that the desks had been stored and stacked in a manner that was unsafe and likely to cause harm or injury, there is every chance that a successful claim can be made in this case.

Given the nature of the injuries, the fact that your thumb (a vitally important body part for close motor skills, dexterity and grip strength) and wrist were affected and the injuries continue to cause issues over 18 months later (not to mention potential future surgery), the value of your claim settlement (if you were to succeed) could be substantial. You would also be able to recover lost income or other associated costs and losses caused by the injuries if you were to succeed with your claim.

Please call us on 01225430285 to get further help. Alternatively, you can provide further details and request a call to start your claim via our website.

Hi, i have recently got white finger my fingers go white in the cold, and i’m having numbness and tingling in hands , and they are painful, i have recently been to doctors about this and am awaiting blood test results.
I worked with drills and grinders etc when i was younger but that was about 20 year ago, could i still claim for white finger?

When did your symptoms start? Personal injury claimants must make a claim within 3 years of an injury being sustained – but in cases like yours, the 3 year limitation period may start many years after the working practices that caused the injuries or health conditions have ended. In your case, the 3 year claim limitation period will start at what is known as the ‘date of knowledge’. This is when the symptoms that you had were clear and you knew, or should have known that they were related to the work you did years ago.

If your date of knowledge is MORE than 3 years ago, you cannot pursue a claim. However, if that date is within that period, you should contact us for further help and start your claim for compensation.

I was in a RTA in Sept 2022. I injured my left index finger supposedly as the airbag inflated. The other party claimed full liability, I have an on-going claim on the portal. Been though one medical report but was not satisfied X-rays on the day shows no fracture, but finger is now stuck in bent position. And I have low grade pain daily. Compensator organized Physio session – the Physio suspected a fracture in the middle knuckle, which seems to have been confirmed by a ultrasound- compensator has organized another report with a private orthopedic doctor. My question is the portal only allows for finger claims up to £5000, would my claim exceed this? And should I move off the portal? And can I claim loss of earnings for the Physio sessions (per my hourly rate) compensator has organized all Physio and orthopedic appointments- I’m assuming I don’t pay for that?

The index finger is a vital component in dexterity and grip strength, also with fine motor skills. As such, if an injury to the index finger is long lasting or even permanent, the value of the injury could go on to exceed the £5k threshold. It is probably sensible to await the outcome of the further expert report and if that confirms a long term injury, it could then be sensible to seek to withdraw from the portal – but only after seeking the advice of a specialist Solicitor such as those who represent our clients in claims.

I recently broke my little finger at work and I am due back soon, but it’s still painful. Work have been paying me full pay whilst I have been off, but in my mind I don’t think I’ll be able to do my job again as the hospital have already mentioned arthritis. What can I do?

It is natural to worry about the future consequences of an injury and how it may effect your career. The people we help after they’ve had an accident at work almost always have anxieties about returning to work, whether they’ll be able to cope and of course, worries about whether or not they should make a claim for compensation.

In your case, it is important that you do your best to return to your pre-accident activities and work and hope that things will be ok. However, if you continue to struggle with pain, dexterity issues or with the specific requirements of your job, you must return to your GP to discuss the problems.

As your finger injury happened in an accident at work, you do have a legal right to make a claim for compensation against the mandatory insurance that your employer has for such situations. Claiming compensation after an accident at work will not jeopardise your position at work, but should your finger injury start to impact your job or call in to question whether or not you can do the job, making a successful claim for compensation will ensure that you are appropriately compensated for the pain and discomfort caused by the injury and that any future costs or lost income that can be attributed to the finger injury are also recovered for you.

Our Solicitors are specialist personal injury experts and you can make your claim on a No Win No Fee basis if you wish to go further.

My son broke his small finger while stopping a shoplifter in a supermarket he worked in.
The shoplifter has been found guilty of theft and gbh and awaiting sentencing. Would he be able make a claim?

There are two potential routes that our Solicitors can investigate in terms of making a claim for personal injury compensation.

Firstly, as your Son was at work at the time, it may be that his employer carries a vicarious liability for the injuries. Our Solicitors can investigate whether the employer had done all that could reasonably be expected to prevent the injury, by looking at training, risk assessments and job description.

Secondly, there is also the potential to pursue a claim via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority scheme (CICA). The CICA is a tax payer funded statutory body that is available to the victims of injuries caused by criminal assault/criminal actions. To qualify for a CICA claim, a claimant must cooperate fully with the police during their investigations and obtain appropriate medical attention.

It is most likely that your Son would qualify for at least one of these claim options and our specialist Solicitors can assist him in this matter.

I get injured at work on the 16th of August 2022 where I injured my middle finger. The injury was bad and I am now waiting until the 31st of October to see the occupational therapist.

I made a claim to the compensation fund and asked whether I have a case because I have all medical reports, witness information and photos from the Doctor after having had an x-ray.

I was trying to open the door of the truck at work to take out the tools when a gust of wind blew the door making it slam with my middle finger trapped between the van and the door. The incident almost cut off my finger, so can I ask if I have a case?

It is unlikely that your employer would be found liable in the circumstances that you have described as the incident was unpredictable and unavoidable.

My work colleague slammed car door on my finger, can i claim compensation on her husbands insurance?

Notwithstanding the severe pain you would have suffered from such an incident, it is unlikely to be a matter for which you can pursue a claim for personal injury compensation. The insurers of the vehicle are not liable in this matter.

Last night I caught my finger in the hinge of a seven seater car seat whilst it fell shut.

Effectively putting it into a nut cracker.
It has broken my index finger and cut right through the top half of my finger and through my entire nail.

Wasn’t sure if this was something that could be pursued.

Thanks

Whether or not you can pursue a claim will depend on the specifics of the incident. If this was your own vehicle and you were simply moving the seats, you would have no claim as there was no negligence at play.

However, if this was a vehicle you were using for work or working on for an employer, you may have grounds to make a claim.

Hiya, at the grand old age of 52 I got a job as a trainee butcher with no previous experience in catering or food prep.
Was asked to wash up sharp knives and scratched at a scrap of meat on a blade. Had only been told, don’t leave them in the bowl to sharpen. It twisted and cut my finger deep, 5 stitched required in AandE with significant blood loss that felt weak next two days.
No accident book at work, no support other than verbal, how are you? Limited first aid kit available when first occurred so had to stick my finger in my mouth. Drove myself to hospital.
Seven days later and finger still numb, stitches still binding together with a little weeping from deepest part

You may well have grounds to pursue a claim due to a lack of adequate training and supervision from your employer.

I work in a kitchen, I have burnt four of my fingers taking salmon out from a grill that is at my head height, I have been signed off work be the hospital and have to make trips to a London burns unit, can I make a claim for compensation for loss of earnings and travel expenses?

Our specialist Personal Injury Solicitors are experts in such claims and we handle a considerable amount of client work for people working in kitchens and the hospitality sector, with a strong track record in workplace burn injury claims. In this case, we can consider the training you’ve had and whether the working environment is fit for purpose. As the grill is at head height, there are certainly questions to answer.

I had deep lacerations to my middle and ring finger of my dominant hand (right hand) caused by the use of a rail saw without a riving knife as instructed to cut timber down. I had to have emergency treatment and plastic surgery on said fingers and am now left with partial numbness around affected areas. Would this be a possible claim? Thank you.

Our initial view is that you do have a valid claim and we would be very happy to help you with this.

I suffered a laceration around an inch long to my middle finger due to a knife accident at work. My PPE failed and it was deep enough to hit my knuckle. What would be a rough claim settlement amount for this kind of injury at work?

It is impossible to state what claim value you could receive if successful with this matter as much will depend on the extent of the injury and whether any ligaments or tendons were damaged. Settlement values will depend on the severity of the injury and how much of an impact the injury has in the short and long term. In your case, if your injury is ‘just’ a laceration and has healed well with no long term consequences to dexterity and finger strength and a small scar, it is likely that the valuation would be somewhere around £2000 or so. However, if the injury is more serious and either scarring or ligament/tendon damage has left you with restricted movement in the finger and any ongoing pain, the value would increase immediately. You would also be able to recover any lost income or other costs if you succeeded with the claim.

My father crushed his finger working with machinery at work (he has proper training and it was by accident) after his manager hurried him to finish some work up while he knew he still had to clean up his workstation before finish. He felt under pressure and the accident occurred shortly after. He has worked here for 15+ years and has never sustained an injury before while at work.

He reported it to this same manager after the injury was sustained, who said he is busy and took 30+ minutes to get back to my father. The manager then took a picture of his finger and provided zero first aid. Their shift was almost over at this point, so my father was left to drive himself to the GP and then to the ER, all while being in pain and unable to use his entire dominant right hand which made driving more difficult.

It was confirmed to be a fracture to his pointer finger, which renders him now unable to work the machinery he usually works on.

Despite the accident being his fault for getting his finger trapped in machinery, is there any grounds here for a claim? Is there such thing as negligence to provide any medical attention and taking 30+ minutes to even check?

The employers poor approach to providing initial first aid and checking in on your Father is poor and is something they should review. However, that issue is not something that would form the basis of a claim. The employers failure to immediately provide first aid or make sure he immediately went to Hospital is unlikely to have caused any worsening of the injury or outcome.

Your Father was adequately trained, so on that score there is no employer negligence. However, if it can be shown that the supervisor was pressuring him to work too quickly and in a way that would prevent him from working safely, there could be grounds to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation.

Your Father needs to formally complain about the pressure he was placed under at the time and cite that as a reason for his injury if he is to stand any chance of succeeding with a claim against the employer.