If you’ve broken your ribs in a car crash, you won’t need to be told how uncomfortable and painful broken ribs can be. Therefore, you may wish to claim compensation if the accident was caused by the negligence of another road user. In this guide, we’ll explain how the claims process works and how much compensation for broken ribs in a car accident might be paid.

Our specialist advisors are on hand to answer any questions you may have about making a road traffic accident claim. During a no-obligation consultation, they’ll review your chances of being compensated and explain your options. If the case is strong enough, you’ll be partnered with one of our specialist solicitors. If they agree to represent you, their work will be carried out on a No Win No Fee basis.

To learn more about claiming compensation for broken ribs in a car accident, please read on. Alternatively, please give us a call on 0800 6524 881 if you’d like to talk to a specialist right away.

Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For Broken Ribs In A Car Accident?

So that they don’t waste your time, our solicitors will only take on a compensation claim for broken ribs due to a car accident if there’s a fair chance you’ll be compensated. The things that will be checked before your claim is taken on include:

• Were you owed a duty of care by the defendant; and
• Was your car accident caused by the defendant’s negligence; and
• Did you break your ribs in that car accident?

If you can answer yes to all three questions, one of our personal injury solicitors could help you to start a claim. You shouldn’t worry too much about proving that a duty of care existed as all motorists have a duty of care to drive as safely as possible because of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Therefore, the main thing you’ll need to help do is to prove how the defendant caused your accident by providing as much evidence as possible. We’ll explain this in more detail later on.

Common Causes Of Broken Ribs In Car Accidents

So, as we explained above, you’ll only be able to claim compensation for broken ribs sustained in a car accident if another road user’s negligence caused the accident. This could include where:

• A driver crashed into your vehicle because they were speeding.
• A car hit you as a pedestrian while using a zebra crossing.
• The other driver was distracted by their phone, radio or satnav.
• The accident occurred because of road rage or careless driving.
• A cyclist suffered broken ribs after being knocked off their bike when a motorist opened their car door.
• A car pulled out in front of a motorbike at a roundabout.

Our solicitors could help you claim compensation for broken ribs following a car accident whether you were a car passenger, driver, pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist. Please get in touch if you’d like to know more.

How To Tell You’ve Broken Ribs In A Car Crash

Your ribs are a bony frame that aids with respiration and protects the thoracic organs. Most people have 12 pairs of ribs. According to the NHS, the most common symptoms associated with broken (or bruised) ribs include:

• Tenderness or swelling around the damaged rib.
• Pain (strong to severe) in the chest area that worsens when you inhale.
• Bruising on the skin around the broken rib.
• A cracking noise or feeling at the point you were injured.

Due to their location in the body, it’s difficult for ribs to be splinted or treated like other broken bones. Therefore, following diagnosis, the ribs are left to heal naturally. This can be a 6-week process. For more serious rib fractures following a car crash, doctors may provide strong painkillers that contain codeine to help ease the pain.

While many rib injuries will heal naturally, complications can occur. For example, a broken rib can cause a punctured lung, a torn aorta or a lacerated liver, kidney or spleen.

The nature of your suffering will determine how much compensation for broken ribs in a car accident will be paid (if your claim is successful).

Can I Get Compensation If A Hit-And-Run Driver Caused My Broken Ribs?

You might think that if your ribs were broken in a car accident involving a hit-and-run driver, you wouldn’t be able to claim compensation. However, the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) is able to help with untraced driver claims. They may also be able to compensate you for your injuries if the other driver was uninsured.

Our solicitors can help you file a MIB claim. Therefore, you should try to write down as much information as possible about the other vehicle to try and improve your chances of being compensated. This should include the date, time and location of the car accident and as much information about the other vehicle. You should also report the incident to the police and take a reference number from them.

If you’d like us to help you claim compensation through the MIB scheme, please call today.

How Much Compensation For Broken Ribs In A Car Accident Could I Claim?

If you make any type of personal injury claim for a car accident involving broken ribs, your compensation will be based on general damages (pain, suffering and loss of amenity) as well as any financial costs linked to your broken ribs (special damages).

Although we can’t say exactly how much compensation for broken ribs in a car accident could claim until we’ve reviewed your case in more detail, a settlement could cover:

• Your physical pain at the time of the car accident and throughout your recovery.
• Mental health injuries.
• Any negative effect your broken ribs had on your usual social activities and hobbies.
• The time somebody else spent caring for you.
• Any loss of income and future losses too.
• Travel expenses linked to your treatment.
• Private medical treatment in some cases.
• Replacement costs for items damaged during the car crash.
• Enhancements to your home if you’ve suffered serious injuries causing long-term disability and the changes will improve your quality of life.

We believe you’ve more chance of being properly compensated with a specialist personal injury solicitor from our team on your side. If one of ours agrees to represent you, they’ll fight your corner to try and ensure that you are fairly compensated.

Broken Ribs Car Accident Settlement Amounts Guide

• £12,590 – £17,960 compensation if a broken rib has penetrated soft tissues causing some permanent damage but without significant longer-term problems with lung function.
• £2,190 – £5,320 compensation for broken ribs that have led to your lungs collapsing but a full recovery is made.
• Up to £3,950 for broken ribs in the chest that cause serious pain and disability but only last a matter of weeks.

The settlement amount you might actually receive for your physical injuries will depend on the severity of your broken ribs and your prognosis. Therefore, a medical assessment would typically be booked (locally to you) by your solicitor to be carried out by an independent medical expert. Their report will be used by your solicitor when they calculate a settlement for your claim.

Please get in touch if you’d like us to check how much compensation for broken ribs in a car accident you could be paid.

Getting Evidence To Support Your Compensation Claim

In most cases, your claim will be against the defendant’s motor insurance policy. Their representatives will more than likely deny everything from the outset to try and avoid paying compensation for broken ribs and potentially any other injuries you might have sustained in the car accident. Therefore, you’ll need to provide evidence to convince them about how their client was negligent and how you’ve suffered.

There are certain things you can do in a car accident to gain evidence of the cause. This could include:

• Dashcam footage from your own vehicle or from others that stopped at the scene of the accident.
• Hospital records to confirm the extent of your broken ribs and what treatment you endured.
• Photographs of the accident scene. Where possible, these should be taken before any vehicles are moved.
• Contact details of any witnesses who stopped at the time of the car crash.
• Police reference numbers if you reported the car accident.
• Details about the other driver, their vehicle and their insurance policy. It is an offence to withhold this information following a road traffic accident.

Importantly, you should never say anything that might be seen as an admission of guilt when swapping details with the other driver.

Time Limits For Claiming Broken Ribs Compensation From A Car Crash

If you decide to claim compensation for broken ribs in a car accident, you’ll usually have 3-years from the date the accident happened. However, if a child broke their ribs in a car accident, you could claim compensation (as their litigation friend) at any time before their 18^th birthday.

The benefits of starting your claim sooner rather than later include:

• You’ll usually be compensated sooner if your claim is won.
• It’ll be easier to gather supporting evidence.
• There’s a chance you’ll receive an interim payment to cover the cost of private medical treatment.

Please see our guide to car accident claims time limits for more information.

Starting The Claims Process For Broken Ribs In Car Accident

If you would like to claim compensation for broken ribs in a car accident, please call our team on 0800 6524 881 to start the ball rolling. You’ll receive free legal advice during your no-obligation case review and you can ask as many questions as you need.

Remember, if your claim is taken on, one of our personal injury solicitors will manage it on a No Win No Fee basis meaning there won’t be any need to pay legal fees in advance.

If you’d like to find out how much compensation for broken ribs in a car accident might be awarded, you can use our live chat service to speak with an advisor.