How Much Compensation for a Broken Nose at Work?

A broken nose at work can cause a lot of pain and suffering. Additionally, some broken nose injuries have permanent cosmetic consequences. Therefore, if you have sustained a broken nose at work, you might consider claiming compensation for the suffering you’ve endured. As such, this guide explores when it might be possible to claim compensation and how to make a claim.

You can speak to one of our specialists for free legal advice about broken-nose compensation claims. In a no-obligation initial assessment, the merits of your claim will be reviewed and your options explained. If there’s a strong enough chance that you’ll be compensated, one of our solicitors may offer to represent you. If that happens, you’ll only have to pay for their work if you’re compensated because of their No Win, No Fee service.

To find out if you could make a broken nose claim following an accident at work, you can:

• Contact our legal advisors on 0333 241 2519.
• Connect to our live chat service right away.

Please get in touch with any questions or read on for more about how broken nose injury claims work.

What Types of Broken Nose Can We Help With?

A broken nose, medically referred to as a nasal fracture, is a common facial injury and can vary based on the severity and specific location of the break. Some common types of broken nose injuries we can help claim compensation for are:

• Simple Fractures: These types of fractures involve a crack or break in the nasal bones without significant displacement.
• Complex Fractures: These fractures involve a break that may cause the bones to move out of their normal alignment, leading to noticeable deformity, such as a crooked or misshapen nose.
• Comminuted Fractures: In this type, the nasal bones are broken into three or more fragments. Because the bones are shattered or crushed, surgical intervention is often required to restore the shape and function of the nose.
• Open Fractures: This more severe fracture occurs when the bone breaks and pierces the skin, or is exposed through the wounds. This type is particularly serious due to the risk of infection and often requires immediate surgical treatment.
• Septal Fractures: This is where the septum, the cartilage and bone that divide the nasal cavity, is fractured. This type of break can cause complications such as breathing difficulties, and a deviated septum may develop if not properly treated.

For minor fractures, treatment might only require pain management and monitoring, while severe cases involving displacement or multiple fractures may need surgical intervention to realign the bones and restore both function and aesthetic appearance.

Can I Make a Broken Nose at Work Claim?

You might think that there’s little an employer can do to prevent you from breaking your nose at work. However, they have a legal duty of care to prevent workplace accidents by taking practical precautions. This duty is set by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA).

Some examples of the steps an employer could take to meet their HASAWA obligations and prevent broken nose injuries include:

• Training staff on workplace health and safety procedures.
• Removing hazards identified by regular workplace risk assessments.
• Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if it is the only way to reduce risks.
• Ensure that any workplace tools and equipment are properly maintained so that they are safe to use.

As such, if you have suffered a broken nose at work and you believe your employer was to blame, we could help you to claim for any subsequent suffering if:

• You can prove you were owed a duty of care by your employer; and
• Your employer caused the accident because they were negligent; and
• As a result, your nose was broken in the last three years.

If you don’t know whether you should be compensated for a broken nose at work, please feel free to call the number above now to discuss your case with a legal advisor.

What Types of Negligence Can Lead to a Broken Nose Claim?

Here is a small sample of scenarios of negligence at work that could lead to broken nose claims:

• Your nose was broken by equipment falling from an overhead shelf that was overloaded and not arranged per safety requirements.
• You were punched in the face while working as a community nurse because you were sent alone to care for a patient who had previously been aggressive to other staff.
• Your nose was broken due to malfunctioning machinery or equipment that hadn’t been properly maintained or inspected.
• You slipped and fell on an uncleaned spill or untreated icy surface in the workplace parking area, resulting in a fractured nose.
• Your nose was broken after tripping over cables that were improperly secured and left trailing across the walkway

Our solicitors could help you to claim for a broken nose at work even if we’ve not described your accident here. Therefore, why not give us a call now and have your case reviewed for free?

What Should I Do If I’ve Broken My Nose in the Workplace?

If you sustain a broken nose in the workplace, here’s what you should do:

• It’s crucial to have your injury professionally assessed to confirm the diagnosis and receive the appropriate treatment for a broken nose.
• Inform your supervisor or manager about the incident as soon as you can, detailing how it occurred.
• Ensure the details of the accident are logged in the company’s accident report book. This is important for future reference.

Taking these steps not only helps in managing your health and ensuring safety procedures are reviewed but also establishes a documented account of the incident. This can be crucial evidence if you decide to pursue a broken-nose compensation claim.

What Evidence Can Be Used for Broken Nose Compensation Claims?

The importance of building a claim backed by suitable evidence cannot be understated. If you wish to claim compensation for a broken nose at work, you should try to prove a) how your nose was broken, b) why your employer is to blame and c) how you’ve suffered as a result.

Here are some examples of evidence you could secure to strengthen your chances of being compensated:

• Before and after photographs of your nose to prove any cosmetic damage.
• A copy of an accident report form from your employer to prove that the accident happened.
• Video footage of the accident occurring (along with accident scene photographs).
• Information about anyone who saw you being injured.
• X-rays and other medical records that can prove your nose was broken.

While it would be nice to have all of the evidence listed here, we know that it’s not always possible. Therefore, if you’re not sure if you have enough evidence to prove your case, don’t be put off from speaking to us about your claim. An accident-at-work solicitor might still offer to help you and they could try other methods of proving why you broke your nose at work.

How Long Do I Have to Claim Broken Nose Compensation?

You typically have three years from the date of the accident to claim compensation for a broken nose at work. This three-year limit is established under the Limitation Act 1980. If you were not immediately aware that your nose was fractured or didn’t realise the severity of your injuries right away, the three-year period might start from the date you became aware of your injury.

If you were under 18 years old when the incident occurred, the three-year time limit begins on your 18th birthday, enabling you to claim up until your 21st birthday.

Crucially, depending on the circumstances, you could miss out on any compensation if you start your claim outside of the 3-year limitation period. Therefore, we would suggest that you start the claims process at your earliest opportunity.

To check how long you have left to claim for a broken nose at work, please call our legal advisors now.

How Much Compensation for a Broken Nose at Work?

The level of compensation paid for a broken nose at work will vary from case to case but is normally based on general and special damages.

General damages are the compensation you’ll receive to cover any pain, suffering or loss of amenity linked to your broken nose. This needs to be proven of course so your solicitor is likely to arrange for a medical assessment to be performed by an independent specialist. Their findings along with your hospital or GP records will help your solicitor to value this element of your claim.

Our broken nose compensation list includes some potential settlement figures from the Judicial College Guidelines. Please note that the amounts listed are for reference purposes only and cannot be guaranteed.

• A simple broken nose at work might see compensation of £1,710 – £2,520.
• A displaced fracture that doesn’t need anything more than manipulation, £2,520 – £3,150.
• Where a displaced fracture has required surgery but the recovery is complete, £3,950 – £5,100.
• A seriously broken nose at work that has resulted in several operations and permanent problems, £10,640 – £23,130.

Further compensation could form part of your settlement if your broken nose has caused financial losses. This is called special damages and could cover:

• The cost of private plastic surgery and prescription fees.
• Support or care at home.
• Travel costs such as hospital parking fees and fuel costs.
• Loss of earnings.
• Future loss of earnings if your broken nose injury reduces your ability to work in the future.

Crucially, you will need to prove any costs or expenses you wish to include in a broken-nose claim. As such, you should take care to retain any important financial records including receipts and bank statements.

To check how much compensation for a broken nose at work you might be entitled to, please contact our legal advisors now.

Do You Need a Solicitor to Make a Broken Nose Claim?

As with other types of legal action, accident-at-work claims can be far easier if they’re managed by a solicitor who understands the claims process in detail. It could also lead to you receiving a better compensation payout than you might have otherwise achieved.

If an accident-at-work solicitor from our panel offers to represent you, some of the services they may offer include:

• Preparation and filing of your claim.
• Dealing with all aspects of communication with your employer and their representatives.
• Securing additional evidence if it is needed to counter any objections raised.
• Fighting your corner to try and achieve the maximum possible broken-nose compensation payout.
• Ensuring you are kept up to date throughout the claims process.

Another benefit of working with our solicitors is that all accepted broken nose claims are processed on a No Win, No Fee basis.

This means that once you’ve signed a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), your solicitor’s time and effort only need to be paid for if you receive a compensation payout.

If your claim is won, an agreed percentage of your settlement will act as your solicitor’s success fee. When using a CFA, the maximum success fee percentage is legally capped at 25 per cent.

To discuss making a No Win, No Fee broken nose claim, please call the number above now.

Do Broken Nose Claims Go to Court?

In our experience, broken-nose claims do not generally require court hearings. In most cases, this is simply because the solicitor and the employer will want to settle out of court to avoid the costs and time involved.

However, as a very last resort, your solicitor might ask a court to intervene if your employer a) won’t accept liability for your accident or b) offers a settlement that doesn’t cover all of your suffering.

How Long Does a Workplace Injury Claim Take?

Broken nose compensation claims vary in duration due to a number of factors.

For instance, if you suffered a simple, undisplaced fracture that healed within weeks and your employer admitted their negligence caused your accident, you could be paid compensation in around 3 to 4 months, give or take.

However, a broken nose claim for a more serious injury that caused permanent damage might take up to a year or more in some cases. The extra time might be necessary so that the extent of your injuries can be properly assessed and understood.

Crucially, if your case does take a long time and you’re struggling financially as a result, you could be paid interim compensation before your claim is settled in full.

Contacting Us About a Broken Nose at Work Compensation Claim

If you’ve broken your nose at work and would like us to review your options, you can:

• Call 0333 241 2519 now to check your options.
• Use our online chat service to discuss your options.

We shall assess your case in detail, offer you free legal advice and answer any of your questions. Any broken nose at work claim taken on by our solicitors will proceed on a No Win, No Fee basis.