Finger Injury Claims – How Much Compensation Am I Eligible To Claim?

While some finger injuries, such as cuts and bruises, are little more than inconvenient, others, like finger amputations (or partial amputations), can cause problems for the rest of your life. Importantly, if your finger injury was caused by somebody else’s negligence,you may be eligible to make a finger injury claim for compensation.

If you decide that you’d like to take action, our personal injury team is here to help. We provide free legal advice during an initial telephone consultation about your case. You won’t be obliged to continue, but if your case appears to be strong enough, we could connect you with one of our personal injury solicitors. If they agree to take your finger injury claim, they’ll proceed on a No Win No Fee basis.

To find out more about claiming compensation for a finger injury, please continue reading. Alternatively, if you’d like to start the ball rolling right away, you can call our advisors for free on 0800 6524 881.

Am I Eligible To Make A Finger Injury Compensation Claim?

Anybody who suffers a finger injury may be able to claim compensation, depending on the circumstances. This might include cyclists who’ve broken fingers after hitting a pothole, pedestrians hurt by pavement falls, or employees who’ve suffered crushed fingers at work, for example.

Generally, to make a successful finger injury claim, you’ll need to prove:

• The defendant in your case owed you a duty of care.
• Due to their negligence, an accident occurred.
• Because of their negligence, you injured your finger/s.

If you’re not sure if you were owed a duty of care, don’t worry. Many laws exist that can help establish a duty of care, and your solicitor will check this before taking your claim on. For example, if you injure your finger at work, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 might apply.

Can I Claim Compensation For A Finger Injury That Was Partly My Fault?

Yes, you may still be able to claim compensation for a finger injury even if you were partly at fault. Under the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945, your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility for the accident.

For example, if you fractured fingers in a factory accident where a machine was not properly guarded by your employer, but you had also ignored some of the safety guidance provided, a court might decide you were 20% responsible. In that case, your compensation would be reduced by 20%.

If you’re unsure whether contributory negligence might affect your finger injury claim, our solicitors can review your case and explain your options.

Common Causes Of Finger Injury Claims

Let’s now take a look at some of the common accidents or incidents that can lead to finger injury compensation being paid. They include:

• Road traffic accidents. Fractured or crushed fingers are common when hands instinctively brace against impact.
• Repetitive strain injuries. Long-term damage to fingers from jobs such as typing on non-ergonomic keyboards or using tools repeatedly without breaks.
• Slips, trips, and falls. For example, falling in a supermarket and breaking a finger when trying to protect yourself.
• Workplace accidents. Fingers caught in faulty machinery, fingers crushed by heavy loads, or cut by sharp tools or equipment.
• Defective products. Poorly designed or faulty items can cause cuts, lacerations, or crushing injuries to the fingers.
• Public place accidents. Fingers trapped in faulty doors or defective fittings in places like shops or restaurants.

Whatever has caused your finger injury, we could help you seek compensation if a third party’s negligence caused your suffering.

Common Types Of Finger Injuries

Some common finger injuries that can lead to compensation include:

Some long-term finger injuries, including vibration white finger, have led to literally years of excruciating pain for victims. While the matter of compensation has been addressed of late, for many who have been suffering for decades, the impact on their life has been severe, to say the least.

How Much Compensation Will I Get For A Finger Injury Claim?

The amount of compensation for a finger injury usually depends on factors such as which finger was injured and how severe the injury was. Settlements are usually made up of:

• General damages. Any pain, suffering, and loss of amenity will be considered in this part of your claim. Loss of amenity places a financial value on activities you’re not able to participate in while you’re injured. For example, if your child’s broken finger means they can’t participate in a sport they usually enjoy, such as tennis or rugby, this could be factored into their claim.
• Special damages. Any costs, expenses, or financial losses could be claimed back here. For example, you could seek damages for any lost earnings your finger injury has caused.

Getting a finger injury compensation claim right is vital. That’s because, as well as ongoing pain, long-term injuries could impact your ability to work or conduct daily activities. We believe a solicitor who specialises in personal injury claims may improve your chances of being compensated correctly.

Average Finger Injury Settlement Amounts

Below you will see a range of potential compensation payout amounts for various finger injuries. The figures are based on compensation levels as advised by the Judicial College and are used by personal injury solicitors and insurers to calculate compensation amounts for general damages.

Broken Fingers

• Up to £44,840 compensation for severely broken fingers impacting dexterity and grip, and sometimes leading to additional medical complications.
• £12,590 – £19,940 compensation for fractured fingers, tendon damage, permanent loss of grip, and some form of deformity of the ring/middle finger.
• A broken index finger, which cannot only impact grip in the long term but also lead to further complications such as arthritic conditions, can attract compensation from £11,120 up to £14,930.
• Relatively minor finger injuries, such as a hairline fracture, scarring, or tenderness, can be painful and attract settlements up to £5,580.

Loss Of Finger/Partial Loss Of Finger

• Amputation of the little finger can still impact many areas of everyday life, with compensation of between £10,550 and £14,940.
• Partial loss or total loss of the index finger, impacting grip, dexterity, and general movement, can see compensation anywhere from £14,850 up to £22,870.
• The amputation of a ring/little finger can attract compensation in the region of £26,620.
• Amputation of the terminal phalanges of the index/middle fingers can impair grip and feeling, and lead to restricted movement and scarring. As a consequence, a settlement in the region of £30,500 could be available.

In tandem with finger injuries, we tend to see an array of general hand injuries where compensation payouts can be anywhere up to around £245,900.

To help prove the severity of your finger injuries and calculate a settlement, you might be required to attend a medical assessment as part of the finger injury claims process. This is something that’ll be conducted by an independent expert. After your meeting (usually held locally), the specialist will provide a report to explain your injuries and prognosis.

Evidence To Support A Finger Injury Claim

If you make a finger injury claim, it will (in most cases) only be successful if you provide evidence to show how the incident occurred and that your injuries were caused by it. To do so, you could use:

• Medical notes. You should seek medical advice from a minor injuries unit or a hospital if you’ve injured your finger. This can ensure you receive the correct type of treatment. Medical records could be requested later to help prove your injuries.
• Accident reports. Most businesses need to keep an accident report book. If you’ve suffered a finger injury at work and it’s been reported, your copy of the report about your incident will show when and where the accident took place.
• Photographic evidence. We would always suggest that you take pictures of the cause of your damaged finger. Ideally, this is something you’ll do before the accident scene is cleared.
• Camera footage. If your accident was caught on a dashcam or CCTV, try to obtain a copy of the footage before it is deleted.
• Financial evidence. You should keep hold of any receipts or invoices if you need to claim back any expenses or costs caused by your injuries.
• Occupational health reports. If you’re claiming for a repetitive strain injury (RSI), you could use reports from an occupational health advisor or emails you’ve sent to your manager to show that concerns had been raised about potential injuries caused by your role.
• Witness statements. If it’s not clear who was responsible for your finger injury, your solicitor might ask any witnesses to provide a statement. Therefore, remember to write down their contact details.

If you would like us to check if you’ve got a valid finger injury compensation claim, please call our injury claims advisors today.

Time Limits For Claiming Finger Injury Compensation

If you claim compensation for a finger injury, you usually have to begin with the allowable time limits. For traumatic injuries, you’ll usually have 3 years from the date of your accident. For industrial injury or RSI claims, the “date of knowledge” might apply.

Importantly, if your child has suffered a finger injury, the 3-year limitation period does not apply. You can decide to claim on behalf of your child at any point before they are 18 years old. If you don’t, they can still claim, but will have 3 years to do so from the date of their 18^th birthday.

Do I Need A Personal Injury Solicitor To File A Finger Injury Claim?

We believe a personal injury solicitor can improve the chances of you a) winning your finger injury compensation claim and b) receiving the maximum compensation.

If you do decide to claim, your case will probably be dealt with by the defendant’s insurers. That means that you’ll need to convince them why their client was responsible for your injuries before they’ll pay out any compensation.

If your claim is accepted by a solicitor from our team, they will typically:

• Provide a No Win No Fee service.
• Review your claim with you so that they fully understand how you’ve suffered.
• Try to secure evidence to back up your allegations.
• Arrange for a local medical assessment of your finger injuries.
• File the finger injury claim with the defendant or their insurers.
• Handle all communication on your behalf so you’re not overwhelmed by tricky legal or medical questions.
• Fight your corner if there are any objections raised over liability for your accident.
• Try to ensure you are fairly compensated for your suffering.

Even if a settlement offer is received, it won’t automatically be accepted. Before it is, your solicitor will review it with you to make sure it is a fair amount. If needed, they could go back to negotiate a higher settlement amount.

Starting The Finger Injury Claims Process

We’re ready to help right away if you’ve decided to take action for a finger injury caused by somebody else. To find out if you’re eligible to start the finger injury claims process today, please call our free advice line on 0800 6524 881. You’ll receive free advice about your options, whatever you choose to do.

Remember, all finger injury claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis if accepted.