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Finger Injury Claims & Compensation Amounts

By Ian Morris | Updated September 7th, 2023

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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.

Claiming finger injury compensation 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.

Can I claim finger injury compensation?

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.

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:

A non-complex fracture to any finger is likely to obtain an average compensation settlement of between £2,000 and £3,500.
Little finger amputation settlements are around £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.

179 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...

I was attacked at my door with butchers knife, it severed 4 tendons took tip of my finger and multiple laserations t myo hands. Would I be able to claim compensation?

There is a scheme for the victims of injuries caused by criminal assaults which is funded by the UK taxpayer. Our specialist Solicitors can assist you in pursuing a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority scheme on a No Win No Fee basis.

Hi bit of a long question I just want your overall summary of it, I had a road accident in September just gone. I was riding a electric scooter and had a collision with a van an lost my right ring finger. The van or I wasn’t speeding but had a 50/50 collision due to a car from blocking me from seeing him vice versa. I had no drivers licence or provisional could I still claim for my injuries? Thanks

This is a bit of a grey area to be honest as e-Scooters re technically not legal to be used on public highways and footpaths within the UK, unless they are part of an official ‘hire scheme’ operated by various local authorities across the country.

Was the accident reported to the Police? Have they taken any action against either yourself or the 3rd party in this matter?

However, your injury is clearly serious and it would be prudent to make further contact with us so that our Solicitors can see if you can make a claim for compensation.

I will be 68 in October – which is when I had planned to retire. I have been a Calor Gas tanker driver for the last 32 years, but at the end of last September I tripped on rough ground at the plant and gave my hand a nasty deep laceration. I was taken to A & E and had stitches and glue. The wound has healed, but my right little finger won’t stay in the normal position and I don’t have the same strength in this hand and its sore when gripping. I have been back to hospital for x-rays and today I have seen an orthopaedic surgeon. The x-rays are normal, but he says that I have lost some adhesion with my finger that may or may not return and that there could be tendon damage. I have to see him again in 4 months time and he said that he may open the wound again.

I know I won’t be able to return to my work and my employers organised a phone consultation with an occupational health officer before the hospital visit, in which I stated that I was unable to return to work while my hand was weak. Should I now tell them that I’m looking to get paid till I retire, or start a claim?

Your employer is unlikely to agree to pay you through to your retirement date, but you are free to ask them that question! Our advice is (as you would probably expect!) that you should pursue a claim for personal injury compensation. If successful with a claim, you would be able to recover compensation for the injury and the impact on your grip strength and dexterity and allow you to recover any lost income if you succeed. The impact of your injury appears likely to continue to effect you during your retirement and you face the very real likelihood of further surgery and that the injury will be permanent in some respects. As such, you need to consider your options carefully and put your best interests ahead of your employers.

The cause of your injury was not your fault and if we can demonstrate that the ground on which you fell was dangerous and that the employer should have ensured that the ground was safer and not uneven, you would succeed with your claim and our No Win No Fee service affords you the opportunity to exercise your rights to make a claim without the worry of legal costs should you not succeed.

I recently started working at a warehouse and started the job with no training. All the training was in a booklet which I was given very little time to read and sign and then thrown into the workplace. I trapped my middle finger in the back of a lorry door in the locking mechanism, causing severe bruising, swelling and bleeding under the nail. I can’t move the finger at all. But would I be in a position to claim since I signed the handbook to say I can do a million things in five minutes without manual training or supervision? Thankyou.

Employers are obliged to ensure that the risk of injury within the workplace is minimised. This includes a requirement to provide adequate and appropriate training, both in terms of manual handling, the use of equipment and to provide appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves or safety glasses etc.

Although your employer may attempt to hide behind the ‘tick box’ of the handbook you have signed, it would seem that they have not provided adequate training or allowed you an appropriate timeframe to correctly read the training provisions. Further, your injury has been caused due to the locking mechanism in a lorry door and if the employer failed to properly show you how to operate that mechanism safely, you may well succeed with a claim.

Please call us on 01225430285 so that we can arrange for our Solicitors to assess your situation. It is likely that you are in a position to pursue a claim against the employer for the injury to your finger.

I had an accident at work where I was seeing a lorry reverse off our site and it was very dark and I tripped over another lorry’s connection beam and badly hurt my fingers and hand ! I haven’t had this seen to and every day I’m in constant pain with my fingers and hand ? Do I have a claim please

It is unclear as to whether or not you can make a claim as the cause of the fall could be attributed to you being at fault. However, if the connection beam that you tripped over was in a walkway or in an area of the work yard that should have lighting but didn’t (i.e the lighting was broken), you could pursue a claim.

Please provide further explanation and details to me via email (justice@direct2compensation.co.uk) so that I can advise you further.

My finger got stuck in a machine at work and it’s been fractured. This is my right hand, middle finger.

If it hasn’t been done already, please make sure that the details of the accident have been recorded in the accident book at work. Please contact us on 01225430285 or by using the start your claim page of our website to get further help.

Can I claim compensation for white finger if I’ve been self employed. I have worked on the books for companys some years ago but for the last 15 years I’ve been in some form self employed. I am now 64 and retired as some sensetive hand work is beyond me my jod is an electrician. Thanks in advance

Your situation is not a straightforward one in terms of a claim for compensation for Vibration White Finger compensation. The self-employed issue is likely to prevent any claim as it is a very big hurdle to cross. Your self-employment covers a 15 year period within your employment history and any potential defendant (from an employer you worked for prior to this period) will simply argue that the white finger symptoms were caused in the 15 years of self-employment. To add to the problems, we also need to consider whether you are within or outside of the statutory 3 year claim limitation period.

In cases of industrial injury where symptoms don’t present in one immediate incident – as they would if an employee was injured in an accident at work, the 3 year limitation period will start at the date at which symptoms were obviously present. This is known as the date of knowledge.

Some years ago, before the year 2018, in Trespass, which is in Airedale Shopping Centre in Keighley, I tried on some Shoes. There was this metal thing or ring either on the sole of the shoes or not on the sole of the shoes, then either I put the thing on the sole of the shoes or I took the thing off the sole of the shoes, anyway I did one of these two things and due to the Metal ring or thing which is for the shoe to not slip during icy conditions and during when there is snow outside I got a cut on either my index finger or thumb, it bled a little for a few 10 seconds and then it stopped bleeding after I dabbed it with my coat’s sleeve. Basically, the metal’s sharp edges or the thing used to fasten the metal around or on the shoe sole pierced my finger or thumb causing me to get a cut on either my finger or thumb.

My questions to you are:

What should I have done and said about the above situation, back then?

Should I have put in a claim for compensation due to me receiving a Finger or Thumb injury back then?

Sadly, there is very little that you can do now as more than 3 years have passed since the incident. Further, it would seem unlikely that a claim would have been viable as the injury, whilst painful at the time, is unlikely to have been a sufficiently serious enough injury to warrant a claim.

However, if and when you are injured, it is vitally important that you ensure that the details have been reported to the right people. In this case, within an accident book in the store in question. It is also important to ensure that medical treatment is obtained in order that there is medical evidence available to support a claim should one be pursued within 3 years of the date of the accident.

I had an open fracture of my little finger. The operation took place for 2 months, I was at home and the employer admitted a mistake. What is the amount of compensation. please rough estimate from to.?

It is impossible to provide a defined or definite figure to the value of your potential claim at this stage as we don’t know the longer term consequences of your injury. However, injuries to the little finger of the type you describe, are likely to see a value in the range of £4-£7k – although a higher amount could be recovered if the injury causes longer term problems with grip strength and dexterity. You would also be able to recover loss of income and incurred costs should you succeed with a claim.

Our specialist Solicitors would ensure that your claim was settled at a maximum value and that your rights were upheld.

I had my index finger amputated at the 3rd phalanx (I think) that was in January my case got valued at £11500-13500. My amputated finger is actually growing a small nail and I’ve been advised to have another operation to remove it and also to go ahead with a prosthetic finger.
Im not really bothered about the prosthetic finger as it doesn’t bother me, I’m not embarrassed and to be honest neither does the nail. I just wanted to know would this put value on my claim?

Further surgery would likely increase the overall value of your settlement as it would cause additional discomfort and a period of time where your hand was less useable due to obvious bandaging and recovery etc.

Around 1 year ago I was working for a construction company when I had my injury. My boss (owner of the company) and I where working on a project, we was using a nail gun and I was shot through the index finger. The nail approximately 9cm long went through my index finger and half way through my second finger causing my index finger to fracture. My boss told me on the day of the injury that I had to finish my shift before I could go to the hospital (still had 4+ hours of my shift left), I was in serious pain at this point. Nearly 1 year later I still have pain in the index finger if I apply pressure.
I’m wondering if my injury is worthy of a compensation claim?

Your injury is certainly sufficiently serious to warrant a claim for personal injury compensation. Moreover, it would appear that you are fully entitled to pursue a claim as your injury was caused through no fault of your own, the accident happened within the last 3 years and hospital treatment was obtained.

We would like to speak further with you and help you to pursue your claim.

Hi Ian, I had an accident at work and I have now lost 90% of my wedding ring finger, literally have about 10mm.

Completely not my fault, the whole chute fell from the roof and hit me somehow ..

I had all correct PPE on

Although you had the correct PPE on, it would seem that the cause of your serious injury would not have been mitigated by PPE and that a claim is likely to succeed.

My index finger was severely cut open by a door lock that was drilled out and not properly repaired as there were sharp pieces of metal left protruding from the lock. I was given light duties for 2 weeks because of the level of injury.

You describe an injury scenario that we believe should enable you to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation and recovery of costs or losses as the condition in which the lock was left is likely to be seen as negligence. Our No Win No Fee service means that you can pursue this without worrying about the costs if you don’t succeed.

Hi, I work as a lift service engineer. I had a work accident about a year ago. I was going up the stairs in a construction site holding some lift parts to repair. At the time the weather was hot and I was tired and fell down, dropping the lift part on my finger. I was wearing work gloves but cut my finger. I reported the accident to the office and provided proof that I was wearing gloves and I have a witness and pictures showing blood inside the glove but I didn’t need any medical care as I could self-medicate for this injury. I now have a marked line about 2 cm on my finger. Every time I see it I remember the accident. Can I claim anything from my employer?

You can only make a claim if you can attribute your accident at work to the negligence of your employer. You mention that it was hot and you were tired and that you fell. What caused you to fall? Was there debris or some other tripping hazard on the stairs? Did you slip on something? If you simply fell through your own fatigue, you’re unlikely to be able to hold your employer liable. However, if you can identify something that caused your fall that should not have been there, we may well be able to help you.

Cut my finger while doing washing up at work, had six stitches and off work. Have to use my annual leave which I think is unfair. I work in a nursing home for the elderly, only get 8 sick days a year.

Please use the start your claim form of our website to make further contact so that our specialist Solicitors can look in to this for you and attempt to recover compensation for your injuries and have your holiday leave returned and losses accounted for.

My finger got trapped in a machine at work, it was trapped for about 1 minute while technicians were able to detach the rollers and get my finger out, it was a cut down my middle finger I lost total sensation for about a week it was swollen and I took 2 weeks off work on Sick pay, I wanted to know what my claim could be worth I’ve spoken to a few solicitors in my local area but I don’t feel they specialise in this field.

It is very difficult and probably unhelpful to prescribe a figure of compensation at this stage. The value of claims for finger injuries can be substantial and each case needs to be assessed on its merits, with consideration given to which finger was injured, how severe the injury is and whether a full recovery will be made.

In your case, the middle finger is an important digit and is used for fine motor skills, grip and handling. Therefore as you lost sensation and has to take 2 weeks off work, it certainly indicates that the injury was moderate and not minor.

You are right that it is sensible to ensure that whichever Solicitor you choose to instruct to pursue your claim is a personal injury specialist – as are those with whom we work. A specialist personal injury Solicitor will ensure that your rights are upheld and that your claim is settled at the maximum appropriate value based on medical evidence and an experts report. Our Solicitors would also ensure that any loss of income is recovered along with any other incurred costs to ensure that you are appropriately compensated and that you are not out of pocket with regards to lost income.

Hi,
How much could I get for a fractured ring finger that was caused by a road accident?

Thanks

It is impossible to provide an exact figure at this stage, indeed, it would be unwise to do so given the considerable differences in value for an injury depending on the severity of it and the long term consequences. I would go as far as to say that anyone giving you a specific figure is probably not to be trusted.

Without having seen the contents of a medical experts report and prognosis on the injury and without knowing whether the finger has been left misshapen, whether dexterity and grip strength are impaired and whether a full recovery will be made, a Solicitor cannot know the value of your claim.

What we can say is that injuries to the finger that do impact on grip strength, cause ongoing pain or affect fine motor skills or hand writing etc will see a claimant receive a settlement sum that will appropriately cover the loss of full use of the hand as a result of a permanently damaged finger.

Our specialist Solicitors will ensure that your claim is settled at the maximum value possible and that the long term consequence of your injury are accounted for along with recovery of any lost income or other costs. We would love to help you in claiming compensation for your injury.

I have recently had a work accident, my left hand little finger crushed between 2 large paving slabs that were dropped off by delivery driver. On trying to move the slab my foot slipped on all the wet mud that had been running down from the surrounding farm causing a slip hazard. My finger is fractured at the tip and as of now open as they can’t stitch it due to the swelling it reminds me of a spit open sausage. I have a photo of my finger and also of the site. I also believe that the storage off the concrete paving stones to be inappropriate and that there were no training or appropriate lifting gear / tools or even a risk assessment done for this procedure. I have sustained finger tip crush that has left me in a lot of pain and when looking at x ray I was shown multiple fractures to the tip.

You appear to have valid grounds to pursue a claim for compensation for the injuries you have sustained and any associated lost income or other costs.

We would love to help you with your claim.

Hello just a quick enquiry. My fingers got trapped in between the fire doors at work. I went to A&E and after scan I was told that I had sustained fractures. Can I claim?

You may be able to claim compensation if we can establish a fault with the door or an issue beyond your control that caused your fingers to become trapped. Do you know if the door had any faults? Fire doors are designed to be self-closing and heavy in order to prevent or slow the progress of fire. However, such doors should have a safety mechanism that causes them to slow close to prevent serious injury.

Please provide further information – either in response to this reply or by emailing us at justice@direct2compensation.co.uk so that we can further advise you.

I have broken the tendon in my middle finger at work. I have been to the hospital and have been told to wear a plastic cover to keep it straight for 10 weeks. I have looked into the injury and it looks like I will be left with a crooked finger. I also dj as a past time and have done for over 30 years, this will affect my dj, do I have a case for a claim?

How did you suffer the injury? Whether or not you have a valid claim will depend on the way that the injury happened and whether the employer has been negligent in anyway in that cause – such as a lack of training, inadequate PPE provision or the wrong tools/dangerous working practices.

If you can pursue a claim, the impact of the injury on your life, both professionally, personally and with regards to your DJ activities will be accounted for in any settlement you receive.

How did the injury happen? What work do you do and what were you doing at the time of the incident in which the finger was injured? You may well have a valid claim and if so, any impact that the injury may have on your usual hobbies, pastimes and activities will be taken in to account when establishing the correct settlement value for your claim.