There are various types of work-related wrist injuries including minor sprains and strains, repetitive strain injuries and serious and life-changing wrist fractures. As employers have a duty of care to protect the well-being of their workers, you could claim compensation for a wrist injury caused by your employer’s negligence. Therefore, this guide to claiming compensation for a wrist injury at work explains when a claim might be possible, how the process works and how compensation for wrist injuries is calculated.
If you are ready to make a wrist injury compensation claim, we can help. Our specialist advisors offer a free initial consultation where you can discuss your claim and learn about your legal options. We could even connect you with an accident-at-work solicitor from our team if your claim appears to be feasible. What’s more, if your claim is taken on, your solicitor will manage it on a No Win, No Fee basis.
To check if you have a valid work-related wrist injury claim, you can:
- Speak with an advisor by calling 0333 241 2519.
- Use our 24/7 live chat service.
Read on for more on wrist injury compensation claims or give us a call if you need any further information.
Types of Wrist Injuries at Work We Can Help With
As you’ll read shortly, it may be possible to claim compensation for any type of wrist injury sustained in an accident at work or because of your working conditions. Some of the most common wrist injuries at work that we can help with include:
- Soft tissue injuries such as wrist sprains and strains.
- Fractured wrists – including simple, greenstick, compound and comminuted fractures.
- Wrist tendinitis – causing the tendons in the wrist to be inflamed.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) – a type of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) where pressure is applied to a nerve in the wrist.
Some of the most common types of broken wrist that can be caused by workplace accidents include:
- Scaphoid fractures.
- Colles’ fractures.
- Barton’s fractures.
- Ulnar styloid fractures.
- Smith’s fractures.
- Chauffeur’s fractures.
Whatever type of wrist injury at work you’ve sustained, please continue reading or get in touch to check if you could sue your employer for your suffering.
Can I Make a Wrist Injury at Work Compensation Claim?
Generally, to sue your employer for a work-related wrist injury, for instance, to claim broken wrist at work compensation, you must prove that your employer owed you a duty of care (and that it was breached). In most cases, that’s quite easy to do because all employers are bound by the rules of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)
To meet their health and safety obligations according to HASAWA to prevent work-related wrist injuries, employers could:
- Try to remove any hazards spotted in regular workplace risk assessments or occupational health assessments.
- Where risks can’t be removed, provide staff with personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Train all staff on workplace health and safety.
- Ensure all workplace machinery, equipment and tools are well maintained.
- Consider other methods of moving heavy or large loads rather than relying on manual handling.
As such, if you want to claim wrist injury at work compensation from your employer, you’ll typically need to prove:
- You were owed a duty of care by your employer.
- Your employer’s negligence meant they breached that duty of care; and
- You have sustained a wrist injury in the last three years that can be linked to that negligence.
If you’re fairly confident that your employer is responsible for the suffering caused by your wrist injury, please call our legal advisors now to explore your options.
What Types of Negligence Can Lead to a Wrist Injury at Work Claim?
Some examples of how wrist injuries at work can occur due to a negligent employer include:
- Slips, Trips and Falls: For instance, if you suffered a scaphoid fracture after tripping on a cable (that wasn’t taped down) trailed across a corridor at work.
- Repetitive Strain Injuries: You might be entitled to claim for an RSI injury at work linked to the fact your employer failed to provide an ergonomic keyboard after you raised concerns about your prolonged use of a computer.
- Crush Injuries: If your wrist was crushed at work by shelves in a supermarket because damaged shelving gave way while you were stocking them.
- Manual Handling Injuries: You could claim compensation if you suffered a serious manual handling injury to your wrist after moving heavy or awkward loads in confined spaces for prolonged periods.
- Vibration-Related Injuries: For instance, you’ve sustained nerve damage in your wrist because your employer failed to consider purchasing low-vibration tools to reduce the impact of prolonged exposure.
Even if you can’t see a similar scenario to your own here, please feel free to contact us as we could still help you to claim for your suffering.
What Should I Do If I Injured My Wrist in the Workplace?
If you have concerns that your working conditions have caused or are likely to cause wrist problems, you could:
- Email your employer about your worries and suggest changes to your role that you think might help.
- Visit your GP if you’re suffering any type of symptoms linked to wrist injuries (aches, pains, burning sensations etc.).
- Make your employer aware of any suggestions your GP has come up with to reduce your symptoms.
Telling your employer about your concerns will enable them the opportunity to remedy the situation if possible. If they don’t act or they ignore you, it may be possible to seek damages for any subsequent wrist injury.
What Evidence Can Be Used for a Wrist Injury Compensation Claim?
If your employer’s insurer is to compensate you for a broken wrist at work claim, they will need to be convinced that a) your injury is as serious as you say, b) it was sustained at work and c) it was caused by your employer’s negligence. Therefore, you’ll need to supply as much evidence as possible to prove your case. This could include:
- Medical records including scans and X-rays to help prove your diagnosis.
- Photographs of your work area to prove your working conditions.
- Any correspondence you’ve been sent by your employer about your role.
- CCTV footage if your wrist was injured in an accident that was caught on camera.
- A copy of an accident report form to prove where and when you were injured.
Even if you don’t have all of the evidence listed above, you can still call our team. If your claim appears to have good grounds and is accepted by one of our work injury solicitors, they may try to secure further evidence to support your claim as part of their service.
How Long Do I Have to Claim Wrist Injury Compensation?
In general, all accident at work claims have a 3-year time limit as per the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit will normally begin on either:
- The date of the accident in which your wrist was injured; or
- Your date of knowledge. For instance, the date your GP confirmed that you were suffering from an RSI.
There’s quite a bit of work needed to prepare a claim for a personal injury at work against your employer. For that reason, it’s a good idea to begin your claims process so that as strong a case as possible can be prepared.
Start the process of claiming compensation for a wrist injury at work today with our complimentary free consultation.
With 30+ years of experience, our solicitors are committed to providing a 100% No Win, No Fee wrist injury claims service, giving claimants a risk-free way to pursue the compensation they deserve.
Call us on 0333 241 2519 to speak with a legal advisor.
How Much Compensation for a Wrist Injury at Work?
The level of compensation awarded in a successful wrist injury at work claim will vary from case to case. If you are compensated, your payout will be typically formed of general damages to cover your pain and suffering and special damages for any costs linked to your injured wrist.
Your solicitor will compare details of your wrist injury listed in your medical records and an independent medical assessment report with those listed in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help value your claim.
Our wrist injury compensation table uses data from the JCG for reference but please remember that the settlement amounts listed are not guaranteed.
- For a simple broken wrist at work and mild soft tissue injuries healing within a year, compensation ranges from £3,530 – £4,740.
- An uncomplicated Colles’ fracture typically warrants around £7,430 in compensation.
- Wrist fractures and soft tissue injuries with a full recovery anticipated after more than a year fall between £6,080 – £10,350.
- A moderate wrist injury from work resulting in ongoing pain and stiffness can attract compensation between £12,590 – £24,500.
- Severe wrist injuries leading to significant and lasting disability are valued between £24,500 – £39,170 in compensation.
- The most severe wrist injuries, characterised by total loss of function, may be compensated with amounts ranging from £47,620 – £59,860.
If special damages for a wrist injury at work are paid, they could cover:
- Medical and rehabilitation costs.
- The cost of care at home.
- Lost income and future lost earnings.
- Specialist aids to help at home i.e. kitchen devices if your grip has been weakened by your wrist injury.
- Travel costs such as hospital parking fees.
To learn how much compensation for a wrist injury at work you could receive, please contact us on the number above today.
Can I Claim Compensation for a Broken Wrist at Work Caused By Faulty Equipment?
As well as the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers are also bound by the rules of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. That means that all work equipment should be fit for purpose, in good working order and used for its intended purpose.
As such, if you suffer a broken wrist at work that was caused by faulty equipment, you may have grounds to sue your employer for your suffering.
Do I Need a Solicitor to Make a Wrist Injury Claim?
There’s no legal reason why you have to take on a solicitor to manage your wrist injury claim. That said, your employer’s insurers are likely to contest your claim to avoid paying compensation or reduce the level of compensation as much as possible. Therefore, you might want a specialist solicitor on your side.
If you work with one of our accident-at-work solicitors, their services could include:
- Assessing your claim and finding the evidence needed to support it.
- Filing your claim on time.
- Negotiating on your behalf and trying to overcome any objections raised by your employer or their insurer.
- Sending you updates about the progress of your case on a regular basis.
- Trying to ensure that any settlement agreed upon covers all of your suffering.
Crucially, if your claim is taken on, your solicitor will manage it from start to finish on a No Win, No Fee basis.
That means that:
- There are no upfront fees for your solicitor’s work.
- You don’t pay for your solicitor’s work if the claim is lost.
- A percentage of your compensation will act as your solicitor’s success fee if the claim is won.
Our solicitors use a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to offer No Win, No Fee services. Importantly, that means that the maximum success fee percentage you’ll have to pay is 25 per cent of any wrist injury compensation you’re awarded.
To see if you could make a No Win, No Fee wrist injury claim, please call today.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
In our experience, only a small number of wrist injury claims go to court. Generally, our solicitors reach an amicable agreement with insurers to avoid the costs and time involved in court hearings.
An example of when your solicitor might schedule a court case is if they believe you have a very strong case but your employer won’t pay a fair settlement or denies liability for your wrist injury.
Contacting Us About a Wrist Injury Compensation Claim
We’re here to help if you’ve sustained a workplace wrist injury and want to claim compensation from your employer. To contact us you can:
- Call free on 0333 241 2519 to speak with a legal advisor.
- Tell us about your accident via our free live chat service.
Our initial advice is free and there’s no obligation to sue your employer for your suffering. However, all accepted wrist injury at work claims are processed on a No Win, No Fee basis for your peace of mind.