Have you experienced a broken hand at work due to your employer breaching the duty of care they owe you? If so, you might be eligible to start a workplace accident claim.
In this article, we will explain what a duty of care is and when you could be entitled to claim after an injury in the workplace.
We will also discuss how evidence could help you strengthen your claim, including the kinds of evidence you could collect and how a solicitor could help you with this part of the process.
If you have been injured in an accident at work, you could have questions, such as:
- After an accident at work, what should I do?
- Can work with a lawyer in my claim on a No Win No Fee basis?
- How much compensation could I receive?
We will endeavour to answer these questions in this guide. If you are left with any further questions, our advisors can help. Speak with us today to see if you could start your claim:
- Call on the number on the banner
- Contact us online
- Use our live communication feature
Broken hand at work claims guide
A Guide To Claiming For A Broken Hand At Work
You may be entitled to begin a workplace injury claim if you experience a broken hand at work injury due to your employer’s negligence.
A broken hand can result in pain, suffering and loss of amentiy. For example, a broken hand can have a negative effect on your ability to exercise, work, or enjoy other leisure activities. In serious cases, the impact of a broken hand could be permanent.
However, it must be stated that not all injuries sustained at work will lead to a successful personal injury claim. For example, you might have caused the accident that led to your injuries through your own actions. Alternatively, your employer might have taken all reasonable steps to remove the risk of injury and an accidnet occurred despite this. In the next section, we will look at the duty of care you are owed and how this could be breached.
Get in touch with our team of advisors today for free legal advice about claiming. Alternatively, read on to learn more.
Broken Hand At Work – When Are You Eligible To Claim?
The duty of care that all employers owe their employees is outlined by The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). HASAWA states that employers must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe workplace environment for their employees.
Should your employer breach their duty of care, and you break your hand as a result, then this is an example of negligence. Some examples of when you could potentially claim following a broken hand at work include:
- You may be involved in a forklift accident that results in a broken hand. If your employer asks you to drive a forklift without ensuring you have received adequate training and you are injured, you could be eligible for compensation.
- If your employer is aware of a spillage or wet floor, they should ensure it is marked clearly or cleared up in a reasonable timeframe. If they fail to do so, you could slip on a wet floor and break your hand.
- A warehouse accident could occur if your employer asks you to lift and move heavy loads without providing adequate training or equipment and you experience a hand injury as a result.
If you have suffered an injury at work and would like to know whether you can claim, please speak with our advisors.
Potential Evidence When Making Work Injury Claims
The evidence you gather should aim to prove that you have sustained injuries as a result of your employer acting negligently. You should seek medical attention after being injured. This will allow you to be treated for your injuries as well as provide medical records that can be used as evidence.
There are various forms of evidence that you can collect in order to support your claim. For example:
- A record of your injury in the accident at work book
- CCTV footage of the accident
- Photographs of your injuries
- Keep a track of symptoms, impact on lifestyle, and treatments
Lastly, you may then wish to seek legal advice. Our team of advisors can offer you a free consultation with no obligation to start a claim. For more details on evidence, you could collect as part of your broken hand at work claim, contact our team.
What Could You Receive From A Workplace Accident Claim?
The compensation you could receive for a successful accident at work claim might be made up of two heads of claim. You could be awarded general damages for any pain and suffering you endure due to your injuries. This applies to both physical and psychological injuries.
To help you gauge how much you could be owed, we have compiled a table of compensation amounts that have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a document that legal professionals use to assist them when valuing claims. That being said, these figures should only be used as guidance. This is because each personal injury claim is unique, and the settlement that you receive in a successful claim could differ.
| Injury | Compensation Bracket | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hand Injuries (a) | £140,660 to £201,490 | Complete or largely complette loss of the use of both hands. |
| Hand Injuries (b) | £55,820 to £84,570 | Severe damage that leads to permanent disability of a cosmetic nature as well as an impact on function. |
| Hand Injuries (c) | £96,160 to £109,650 | Complete or largely complete loss of the use of one hand. |
| Hand Injuries (d) | £61,910 to £90,750 | Ring, index and/or middle fingers are amputated. |
| Hand Injuries (e) | £29,000 to £61,910 | An injury such as a finger amputation that has been rejoined but still see the hand operate at around 50% capacity. |
| Hand Injuries (f) | Up to £36,740 | Leads to incomplete amputations that brings symptoms, for instance, hindered grip. |
| Hand Injuries (g) | £14,450 to £29,000 | A hand injury, for example a crush injury, of a lesser severity that significantly decreases function but does not need surgery. |
| Hand Injuries (h) | £5,720 to £13,280 | Moderate injuries such as crushes, penetrating wounds, deep lacerations and impact to soft tissue. |
| Hand Injuries (i) | £12,170 to £18,740 | Total and partial loss of the index finger. |
| Hand Injuries (j) | £9,110 to £12,240 | A fracture to the index finger that has healed quickly but symptoms such as a lack of grip and pain still persist. |
Can Special Damages Make Up Part Of Your Workplace Injury Compensation?
Additionally, you could be awarded special damages for the financial losses that you have incurred as a result of your injuries. For example, if you are in an accident that causes a broken hand at work, you may be unable to drive until a full recovery is made. Any travel expenses sustained due to this could be covered by special damages.
This head of claim may also reimburse you for:
- Home adaptations
- Care costs
- Domestic help, such as help with cooking or cleaning
- Medical expenses for treatments unavailable through the NHS
- Loss of earnings
It is advisable to keep track of all monetary losses endured in order to be reimbursed for them. For more detail as to how much compensation you could be entitled to if your broken hand at work claim succeeds, please contact an advisor.
When Can You Make A No Win No Fee Accident At Work Claim?
Claiming with a No Win No Fee agreement in place has financial benefits. The solicitors from our panel typically work under a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a kind of No Win No Fee agreement. With this kind of agreement, you can access all the benefits of legal representation and a solicitor’s help. A solicitor can help you gather evidence and can ensure that your claim is filed in full.
A CFA generally means that you only pay your solicitor if your case succeeds. Moreover, if your case does not succeed, you will usually not be required to pay your solicitor.
To find out whether you are eligible to be covered via a No Win No Fee method, please get in touch with a member of our team.
Contact Us For Free Legal Advice
Our advisors are here to offer you free legal advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can provide a free consultation of your claim, and if it is valid, they may put you in contact with an accident at work solicitor from our panel.
To get in touch:
- Call on the number on the banner above
- Contact us online
- Use our live chat feature
Learn More About Claiming For A Broken Hand At Work
We have also provided you with further reading that may be of benefit:
- Statutory Sick Pay – GOV
- Steps Needed To Manage Risk – Health and Safety Executive
- Urgent And Emergency Care Services – NHS
Thank you for reading our guide on what to do if you have sustained a broken hand at work due to employer negligence.
Written by Beck Pickering
Edited by Cat Hamilton/Fern Summers
