Your thumb is, perhaps, the most important digit on your hand. If you injure your thumb, your ability to grip, pinch, or grasp is likely to be reduced. This can have an impact on your daily activities and it could also prevent you from working. Importantly, if you’ve suffered a thumb injury caused by somebody else, you may be eligible to make a thumb injury claim for compensation.

Our team is here to help if you are considering making a claim. If you call for a no-obligation consultation, a claims advisor will discuss what’s happened and why, and you’ll receive free advice on your options. Where there is a realistic chance that you’ll be compensated, we could connect you with one of our personal injury solicitors, if you’d like to proceed. Importantly, you won’t be asked to pay for their work upfront as they’ll represent you on a No Win No Fee basis.

To speak with an advisor straight away, please call our team on 0800 6524 881. Alternatively, please feel free to read the rest of this guide to find out more about the thumb injury claims process.

Am I Eligible To Make A Thumb Injury Compensation Claim?

To win any type of personal injury claim, you’ll need to show that the defendant owed you a legal duty of care. This is usually easier to do than you might think. For example, every employer has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect their staff from a thumb injury at work, and all injuries in general.

Similarly, shops and other businesses have a duty to try and keep customers, visitors and staff safe while they’re on the company’s premises. Your advisors will check that a duty of care existed when you get in touch.

Before one of our solicitors can take on a thumb injury claim, they will check whether:

• The defendant breached their duty of care through negligence; and
• An accident/incident occurred as a result; and
• You suffered an injured thumb during the accident/incident.

Evidence will be needed to help prove how you injured your thumb and how serious the injury was. Therefore, we’ll show you what evidence you could use a little later in this guide.

Common Causes Of Thumb Injury Claims

There are many ways in which you could injure your thumb. Some common causes of thumb injuries that might lead to a compensation claim include:

• If the tip of your thumb is amputated because a safety guard was missing from a cutting machine accident at work.
• Where you’ve broken your thumb trying to break your fall when you slipped and fell in a restaurant due to spilt food or drink.
• If your thumb is dislocated after you tried to defend yourself from an assault at work.
• If you injure your thumb in a gym accident because of unsafe or faulty gym equipment.
• Where you sustain a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) at work.
• If you suffer a thumb injury from a broken chair or table in a cafe.

Essentially, it might be possible to claim for any type of thumb injury caused by somebody else. If you suspect that you should be compensated, please call our team to find out your options.

Common Types Of Injuries To Thumbs

There are a variety of different thumb injuries that you might wish to claim compensation for. Some of the most common our solicitors deal with include:

• Thumb fractures.
• Dislocation injuries.
• Cuts, bruises and lacerations.
• Soft tissue damage (sprains, strains and tears).
• Thumb amputations or partial amputations.

Other thumb injuries could also entitle you to compensation so don’t worry if yours is not listed above. To check if you might have a valid thumb injury claim, please call our specialists today.

How Much Compensation Do You Get For A Thumb Injury?

When you claim damages for a thumb injury, your personal injury solicitor will usually base a settlement amount you should get on the suffering and inconvenience your injured thumb has caused (general damages) and any costs incurred as a result of the injury (special damages).

Each thumb injury claim is unique but if your claim is successful it could include compensation to cover:

• The physical pain and suffering your thumb injury has caused.
• Any psychological damage such as severe distress or depression resulting from your injury.
• Loss of earnings for the days your thumb injury stopped you from working.
• Any impact your thumb injury has had on your social life, hobbies or family.
• The costs associated with the time a carer or friend spent looking after you while you were recovering.
• Medical costs including private medical treatment if necessary.
• Travel expenses linked to your injuries.
• Aids and devices to help you deal with any long-term disability your thumb injury has led to.

You must think about all the ways your thumb injury has affected you as once you’ve received a settlement you won’t be able to claim for more at a later date. If you work with one of our personal injury solicitors, they’ll try to ensure you are compensated fully for your suffering.

To read more on the difference between general damages and special damages please see this page.

Average Thumb Injury Compensation Amounts

• In the region of £35,520 to £54,830 compensation for loss of thumb.
• £19,600 to £35,010 compensation for a very serious thumb injury. Examples are a thumb severed at the base and grafted back but is basically useless, or an amputated thumb through the interphalangeal joint.
• £12,590 to £16,760 compensation for a serious thumb injury. Examples are nerve damage, amputation of the tip of the thumb, or a broken thumb, resulting in over-sensitivity, and impaired grip.
• £9,670 to £12,590 compensation for a moderate thumb injury. Examples are tendon or nerve damage, impairment of function and sensitivity, and thumb deformity.
• Up to £4,750 for a minor thumb injury. Examples are fractures that have healed in six months, tenderness, and scarring.

The compensation payout amounts for thumb injuries shown above relate to general damages as advised by the Judicial College.

In most cases, to establish the severity of a thumb injury, claimants need an independent medical assessment. This can usually be arranged locally by our solicitors. During the meeting, a medical expert will examine your thumb, review your medical records and discuss how you’ve suffered as a result of the injury. Their report will explain the extent of your thumb injury and provide a prognosis for the future.

Evidence To Support A Thumb Injury Claim

If you decide to claim compensation for a thumb injury, your case is likely to be passed to an insurance company representing the defendant. They will only want to payout if you can show them that their client caused your injuries. You will also need to prove how severe your thumb injury was.

Evidence that could help you to strengthen your claim includes:

• Photographs of the accident scene to help show how your thumb was injured. Pictures of any visible wounds during your recovery can also help.
• Medical records relating to any hospital treatment can be used to help prove the type of thumb injury you sustained, such as a broken thumb or amputation.
• Details of any witnesses who saw your accident occur. They may be asked for a statement if the defendant does not accept liability for the accident.
• Accident report forms if you suffered a thumb injury at work or cut your thumb badly on broken glass in a pub or other business premises. If you have not been given a copy of the form already, you are entitled to ask for one.
• Dashcam or CCTV camera footage if your accident was recorded. You should try to secure a copy as soon as you can because data is often deleted within weeks.

It’s also worth keeping any receipts if you’ve incurred costs because of your injury as they could be claimed back. Additionally, you may want to write down dates where your thumb injury stopped you from working or participating in your normal activities.

Time Limits For Claiming Thumb Injury Compensation

You must begin your thumb injury claim within a 3-year time limit otherwise you’re likely to miss out on any compensation you might be due. This will usually start on the date of your accident. For vibration white finger claims and other similar conditions such as repetitive motion injuries at work that affect thumbs and are not immediately obvious, the limitation period will begin from the date your thumb injury was diagnosed by a doctor.

Claims can sometimes be processed quite quickly when the defendant admits liability straight away. In these circumstances, you could be awarded a settlement in a matter of months. For more serious thumb injury claims, the process can take over a year while the extent of your injuries is properly investigated. When that happens, your solicitor might be able to secure interim payments to cover lost earnings or other immediate expenses that can’t wait for your claim to be finalised.

Starting The Thumb Injury Claims Process

Most personal injury solicitors offer accident victims a free consultation. This allows an advisor or solicitor to discuss the circumstances leading to your thumb injury and give you their expert opinion on whether or not a thumb injury compensation claim should be pursued.

If, after going through all the details and any evidence you might have gathered, it’s concluded that you don’t have a strong case, you may be advised to not take it any further. On the other hand, if it appears you have a strong case, you may be advised to go ahead with making a thumb injury claim using a No Win No Fee agreement.

If you’d like to find out if you could start the thumb injury claims process today, call our team on 0800 6524 881 for a free telephone consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options and give you legal advice on what your next steps might be.

If you need any further advice on making a thumb injury claim, please use our live chat service to contact us.