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.
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