Broken Kneecap at Work – A Guide to Claiming Compensation

A broken kneecap (patella fracture) can prevent you from bearing weight on your leg which can stop you from working, driving and enjoying your normal activities. As such, if you’ve suffered a broken kneecap at work, you might want to investigate whether you’re entitled to compensation for your suffering. This guide explains when broken kneecap claims might be possible and how much compensation could be paid.

If you would like free advice on broken kneecap compensation claims, please reach out to us today. We provide a no-obligation consultation over the phone where you can discuss your options with a specially trained advisor. As well as explaining your options, your advisor could connect you with a solicitor from our team if your case is valid. Our solicitors offer a No Win, No Fee service for all knee injury claims they work on so you’ll only pay for their work if you are compensated.

For more on how we can help with work-related broken kneecap claims, you can:

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

Please read on to learn how to claim compensation for a broken kneecap at work or get in touch with any questions you may have.

Types of Broken Kneecaps We Can Help With

A traumatic impact to the knee can result in a kneecap fracture. The severity can vary, with some fractures affecting only part of the bone while others cause significant displacement. Some of the different types of broken kneecaps we can help with include:

• Stable Fractures: The bone remains in place or is only slightly out of alignment.
• Displaced Fractures: The broken pieces of the kneecap have moved apart.
• Comminuted Fractures: The patella shatters into multiple fragments.
• Open (Compound) Fractures: The broken kneecap pierces through the skin.

Symptoms of a broken patella include severe pain, swelling, and difficulty straightening or bending the knee. You may also hear a snapping sound at the time of injury and struggle to put weight on the affected leg.

Can I Make a Broken Kneecap at Work Claim?

In the UK, there are many laws in place aimed at protecting the safety of workers. The most predominant law that you’re likely to have heard of is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This law places a duty of care on employers to “ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees”.

Some of the ways this duty could be upheld when trying to prevent kneecap fractures include:

• Carrying out workplace risk assessments to identify trip hazards and other dangers.
• Giving staff free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as kneepads where needed.
• Ensuring all workplace equipment is safe, properly maintained and fit for purpose.
• Training staff on how to do their jobs correctly and as safely as possible.

As such, it may be possible to seek compensation for a broken kneecap at work if:

• You were owed a duty of care by your employer; and
• That duty was not upheld due to employer negligence; and
• That negligence caused an accident in which your kneecap was broken.

If you’re reasonably confident that your injury was caused by someone else, please call our legal advisors now to explore your options.

What Types of Negligence at Work Can Lead to Broken Kneecap Claims?

Here are just a few examples of the types of workplace accidents that could result in a broken kneecap compensation claim:

• A waiter tripped on a step in a pub’s corridor and suffered a displaced fracture of his knee due to inadequate lighting.
• Due to a lack of warning signs, a surveyor on a construction site fell into an excavation and suffered multiple injuries including a kneecap fracture.
• While climbing a ladder to retrieve box files, an office worker slipped and broke his knee because a rung on the ladder was damaged.
• A doctor in a hospital tripped on an extension cable being trailed across a ward by cleaners and she suffered a non-displaced knee fracture as a result.
• A teacher in a school tripped on a raised paving slab in the playground. As a result, he tore ligaments in his leg and sustained a broken kneecap.

Whatever type of accident you’ve been involved in, if you’ve sustained a broken kneecap at work and believe the accident was your employer’s fault, please call to discuss your options.

What Should I Do If I’ve Sustained a Broken Kneecap at Work?

If you’ve broken your kneecap in a workplace accident, you should:

• Seek immediate medical attention at A&E or doctors surgery to assess the severity of the fracture.
• Report your broken kneecap to your employer as soon as possible.
• Ensure the incident is logged in the company’s accident report book.
• Adhere to treatment recommendations, including rest, physiotherapy, or surgery if required.

Taking these steps can help with your recovery and may also provide solid evidence if you decide to pursue a broken kneecap claim.

What Evidence Could Strengthen A Broken Kneecap Claim?

There is a much better chance of claiming compensation for a broken kneecap if you can provide solid evidence that proves your injuries, how the accident occurred and employer negligence.

All of the evidence listed below could strengthen a broken kneecap claim:

• Photographs of any defects or problems that caused the accident.
• A copy of an accident report form.
• Medical records, X-rays and scans that prove your diagnosis.
• CCTV, mobile phone or bodycam footage of the incident.
• A list of potential witnesses to your accident (in case your solicitor requires statements for the claims process).
• Information about any expenses incurred as a result of the accident.

It’s not essential to have everything listed above before calling our legal advisors. If your claim is accepted, part of your solicitor’s service may include collection of any evidence you don’t yet have. Therefore, please feel free to call about your broken kneecap claim now.

How Long Do I Have to Claim Broken Kneecap Compensation?

The legal time limit for personal injury claims, as set by the Limitation Act 1980, is 3 years.

In most cases, the 3-year limitation period for a broken kneecap will begin on the date that the accident occurred. Ideally, you should contact us to discuss your options as soon as possible.

That’s because, before your claim can be filed, your solicitor will need to review any supporting evidence, request medical records and arrange an appointment with a medical expert who’ll review your injuries in detail and provide important advice about your prognosis.

How Much Compensation for a Broken Kneecap at Work?

As you may suspect, the level of compensation you’ll receive if you make a successful broken kneecap claim is largely dependent on:

• How much suffering you have endured (physical and emotional) because of your injury.
• Any costs you’ve incurred because of your broken kneecap.

Solicitors often refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) when valuing broken kneecap claims as it provides compensation brackets for many different injuries.

To try and ensure your injuries are placed in the correct bracket, your solicitor will typically gather medical records and independent reports to try and prove the extent of your suffering.

Our broken kneecap compensation list provides some JCG figures for reference:

• A severe injury could result in compensation of £85,100 – £117,410.
• A moderate injury may be eligible for compensation ranging from £63,610 – £85,100.
• A broken kneecap with less serious long-term consequences could lead to compensation of £31,960 – £53,030.

Any compensation payout for a broken kneecap at work could also help to recover any costs you’ve incurred such as:

• Medical expenses including physiotherapy costs and prescription fees.
• The cost of specialist mobility devices if they’ll improve your ability to function normally.
• Loss of income and future loss of earnings.
• Care and support costs.
• Home adaptations e.g., the cost of installing a stairlift if your injury causes long-term symptoms.
• Travel expenses.

If you’d like to know how much compensation for a broken kneecap at work you could be entitled to, please contact our legal advisors.

Do I Need a Solicitor to Make a Broken Kneecap Claim?

Having a solicitor on your side can make broken kneecap compensation claims much more straightforward. As well as dealing with any technical queries on your behalf, your solicitor could negotiate a higher compensation payment than you might otherwise expect.

Some of the ways our solicitors can help when claiming compensation for a broken kneecap at work include:

• Finding all of the evidence needed to prove your case.
• Ensuring the claim is filed in line with the pre-action protocols for personal injury claims (and on time).
• Handling all communication and negotiations on your behalf.
• Sending regular updates about the progress of your claim.
• Aiming to secure the maximum level of compensation possible.

The No Win, No Fee service offered by our panel of solicitors means that, if your claim is taken on, you’ll only pay for your solicitor’s work if they win your case.

The contract you’ll sign is called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) which explains the success fee percentage you’ll pay if the claim is won. The fee is deducted from any compensation you receive so you won’t need to send funds directly to pay for your solicitor’s efforts.

Will I Be Dismissed if I Claim for a Broken Patella?

Many employees worry that making a claim against their employer could put their job at risk. This can cause anxiety about being dismissed or treated unfairly.

However, it’s illegal for an employer to sack, discipline, or single out an employee simply for making a legitimate personal injury claim. As long as your claim is honest, any negative action against you could result in a separate unfair or constructive dismissal claim.

So, you don’t need to worry about taking action. Feel free to call us to discuss your options.

How Long Will a Broken Kneecap at Work Claim Take?

Claims for broken kneecap injuries can vary in length so, unfortunately, there isn’t a definitive answer. For instance, if you suffered a non-displaced kneecap fracture and made a fairly swift recovery, compensation could be awarded in around 4 to 5 months (so long as liability for your injuries is accepted by your employer quickly).

On the other hand, if your broken kneecap has caused a long-term disability, the claims process could take more than a year while medical experts try to ascertain your prognosis for the future. In these types of cases, you could receive interim compensation payments to help you financially while the claim is progressing.

Contacting Us About a Broken Kneecap Compensation Claim

If you’ve broken a kneecap at work and suspect that you are entitled to compensation, please get in touch. To arrange your free consultation with a specialist from our team, you can:

• Call our legal advisors on 0333 241 2519.
• Use our free live chat service at any time of night or day.

Crucially, any accepted broken kneecap claim could be managed on a No Win, No Fee basis by one of our specialist accident-at-work solicitors.