To make a broken finger at work claim, you must be able to provide proof of employer negligence. This article will explain if you have a valid claim and how much compensation you could receive for a broken finger.
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Choose A Section
- Making A Broken Finger At Work Claim
- What Are Examples Of How You Could Injure Your Finger In Work?
- How To React If You Break Your Finger
- What Is The Maximum Payout For A Broken Finger At Work Claim?
- The Positive Impact Of Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Additional Information About Broken Finger At Work Claims
Making A Broken Finger At Work Claim
Workplace health and safety is important for all employers to consider. As part of their duty of care, employers must make reasonable and practicable steps to ensure employee safety.
Accidents happen in the workplace, however, to be eligible to claim for a broken finger then you must be able to provide evidence of your employer breaching their duty of care resulting in your direct injury.
Employers have a responsibility, as part of their duty of care, to fill out risk assessments:
- Identifying Risks – Noting what hazards exist in the workplace
- Assessing Risks – Assessing the likeliness of harm the risks may cause to employees
- Controlling Risks – Putting steps in place to reduce the possibility of risk if it cannot be eliminated
- Recording Findings – Recording hazards, who they might affect and what controls have been put in place
- Reviewing Controls – Reviewing and ensuring controls are still effective or if any new risks have arisen
If you have any questions on workplace negligence or a potential broken finger at work claim, then contact our team of advisors today by using the live chat feature at the bottom of your screen.
The Findings From Finger Injury At Work Reports
Between 2020/21, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) documented that 441,000 workers self-reported sustaining non-fatal injuries. 51,211 notifiable non-fatal injuries were reported by employers under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
RIDDOR reports show that the amount of non-fatal injuries reported by employers has been in decline. In 2019/20, 242 injuries were reported per 100,000 employees compared to 185 in 2020/21.
What Are Examples Of How You Could Injure Your Finger In Work?
Employers must abide by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). This legislation establishes the employer’s duty of care to provide employees with a safe working environment. It lays out the reasonable and practicable steps to reduce the risks of injury at work.
The guidance established to keep you safe includes:
- Providing and maintaining work systems – Ensuring tools and equipment are well kept in good condition. This includes proper maintenance of machinery and tools, for example, on construction sites.
- Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Ensuring safe handling, storage and transport of goods and materials by providing PPE fit for the occupational hazards where necessary.
- Providing adequate training and supervision – Ensuring that all employees receive free training relevant to perform their jobs safely and effectively.
- General Housekeeping – Clearing pathways and cleaning hazards is important to maintain a safe working environment. For example, food and drink spills and obstructed walkways, entrances and exits should be cleared.
To prove your personal injury claim, evidence of third-party negligence is needed. The ways an employer can breach their duty of care include:
- Slips, Trips and Falls – Spills that haven’t promptly been dealt with, even though they’ve been noticed, could result in an employee falling and suffering an injury.
- Improper equipment maintenance – Equipment on construction sites used to access higher areas like roofs could, if not properly maintained, result in a fall from a height.
- Insufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – If your employer refuses to provide the necessary PPE, or provides PPE unfit for purpose, such as a respirator that causes you to inhale contaminated air.
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How To React If You Break Your Finger
If you have been injured as a result of an employer’s negligence, you must be able to provide evidence to support your claim. If you choose to hire a solicitor, they can help you through this process. Some examples of evidence you can collect yourself includes:
- Medical Records – Seeking immediate medical attention ensures you get the necessary help, and any medical records made by a medical professional can contribute as evidence to your claim.
- Accident Book Logs – Workplaces with 10 or more employees must have an accident book by law. Filling this book after your incident creates a date and time-stamped record of what transpired. Moreover, if you are incapacitated, someone can fill it out on your behalf.
- CCTV Footage – Any video footage of your accident or the events leading up to it could help your claim. If your workplace has CCTV, you can ask your employer for the footage. Also, dashcam footage and colleague recordings may help as well.
- Photographs of the injury and accident area – Pictures of the injury and the accident area creates documentation that could help your claim.
- Witness Details – Taking the contact information of any witnesses ensures that statements can be collected that may back up your personal injury claim.
To learn about what other evidence could be collected for a broken finger at work claim, contact our advisors for legal advice today.
What Is The Maximum Payout For A Broken Finger At Work Claim?
How much compensation you could receive for your broken finger injury claim depends on your circumstances. A personal injury claim breaks down into general damages and special damages.
General damages covers the pain suffered due to the injury, and the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) helps outline possible compensation brackets for a wide variety of injuries at different severities. The following table outlines the potential compensation for injuries:
Injury Compensation Notes
Serious Hand Injuries (e) £27,220 to £58,100 Hand capacity reduced to half. Multiple finger amputations and re-joining. Hand is clawed, unsightly, clumsy or grossly diminished grip and deftness with cosmetic disfigurement.
Severe Fractures to Fingers (f) Up to £34,480 May have partial amputation resulting in deformities, grip impairment reduced motor function and sensation disturbances.
Less Serious Hand Injury (g) £13,570 to £27,220 Severe crushing injury. Notable impaired function with no future surgery or despite operative treatment undertaken.
Moderate Hand Injury (h) £5,260 to £12,460 Crushing injuries, penetrative wounds, soft tissue and deep lacerations. Top bracket where surgery has failed and permanent disability remains. Bottom bracket would be appropriate for lasting but conservative symptoms.
Total and Partial Loss of Index Finger (i) £11,420 to £17,590 Disfigurement and impairment of dexterity and grip.
Fracture of Index Finger (j) £8,550 to £11,480 Quickly mended but grip is still impaired. Pain with regular use and osteoarthritis is more likely.
Serious Injury to Ring or Middle Fingers (k) £13,970 to £15,330 Fractures or serious tendon injury inducing stiffness, grip loss, deformity, dexterity. Also includes total loss of middle finger.
Loss of the Terminal Phalanx of the Ring or Middle Fingers (l) £3,710 to £7,390 Loss of certain fingers.
Amputation of Little Finger (m) £8,110 to £11,490 Amputation of little finger.
Loss of Part of the Little Finger (n) £3,710 to £5,500 Where the tip has some sensitivity.
In addition, you may be eligible to claim for special damages as part of your personal injury claim. Special damages refers to the financial costs incurred due to your injury. Such damages could include:
- Loss of income and future earnings
- Travel expenses to and from medical appointments
- Personal property damage
- Property adaptation costs
The Positive Impact Of Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor
You do not need to hire a lawyer to make a personal injury claim, however, legal guidance could help streamline the process.
The positive impact of a No Win No Fee agreement is that it requires no upfront cost and you will pay no fee to your lawyer if the claim fails. Your No Win No Fee lawyer will take a small, legally-capped percentage of the compensation to cover their legal fees if your claim succeeds.
To find out how our panel of No Win No Fee lawyers could help you, contact our team of advisors now via:
- Following the banner at the top of the screen
- Writing to us using our online contact form
- Using the live chat feature at the bottom of your screen
Additional Information About Broken Finger At Work Claims
NHS – How do I know if I’ve broken a bone?
HSE – A brief guide to health and safety training
You can also read other guides on our website:
- Must I Use Work-Related Claims Solicitors?
- Compensation Awards For A Lifting Accident At Work
- Do I Need To Complete An Accident At Work Form?
- Average Payouts For An Accident At Work
- No Health And Safety Training At Work Accident Claims
- What Is The Definition Of An Accident At Work?
- Compensation For A Work Accident That’s Not Your Fault
- What Is The Correct Accident At Work Protocol?
- Claiming Compensation For A Workplace Injury
If you are interested in how much compensation you could receive for making a broken finger at work claim, then get in touch with our team of advisors now.