In this guide, we discuss the process of filing a finger injury at work claim. Whilst all employers owe you a duty of care, there are instances where they may fail to uphold the duty they have causing you harm. In this instance, you may be eligible to seek compensation for the injuries you sustained.
This guide will look at the legislation designed to help reduce workplace injury risks and explore examples of steps your employer should take to protect you.
Additionally, we have provided examples where employer negligence could result in an employee suffering from a workplace injury.
We have also provided information on accident at work compensation payouts for finger injuries, such as what your payout may comprise.
To discuss your potential claim:
- Contact us using this form.
- Use the live chat feature below.
- Call the number above.
Choose A Section
- Could I Make A Finger Injury At Work Claim?
- How Could I Suffer A Broken Finger In The Workplace?
- Evidence Needed For An Accident At Work Claim.
- How Much Could I Get For A Finger Injury At Work Claim?
- What Does No Win No Fee Mean?
- More Information About A Finger Injury At Work Claim
Could I Make A Finger Injury At Work Claim?
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) sets out the duty of care all employers owe their employees. Under the duty of care, employers must take reasonably practical steps to reduce and remove workplace risks.
This might include providing employees with adequate health and safety training or conducting a health and safety risk assessment to identify and address hazards.
However, some employees fail to take reasonable steps to reduce or remove the risks employees face in the workplace, causing them to sustain harm.
If you have evidence that employer negligence caused you to suffer a finger injury, please get in touch. Our team can assess whether you’re eligible to make a finger injury at work claim.
Statistics For Finger Injuries At Work
Workplace injury statistics are collected by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). They collate statistics based on reports made by employers under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
As such, the HSE recorded 18,988 injuries to upper limbs during 2020/21. Of these, 5,181 were injuries to one or more fingers or thumbs.
Please note these figures are provisional.
How Could I Suffer A Broken Finger In The Workplace?
The HASAWA is a piece of legislation that governs health and safety in the workplace. Injuries at work could happen when your employer fails to uphold their duty of care.
Examples of how they could breach their duty of care could include:
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- Failure to fix faulty equipment. Equipment deemed unsafe to use during an inspection should not be used until it is repaired. Malfunctioning machinery, for example, could have loose components that could trap fingers, resulting in crushing, breaking or even amputation.
- Not providing adequate training. Free training required to carry out your work responsibilities safely should be provided by your employer. However, your employer might fail to train you adequately on using a piece of equipment. As a result, you may experience a severe puncture wound due to using a drill incorrectly.
- Inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE). Any PPE required to safely perform your employment duties should be provided by your employer for free. Thick gloves, for example, might be needed to operate bladed machinery safely as the risk cannot be removed. However, an employer could fail to provide them, causing you to break or sever your finger.
Our advisors are standing by 24/7 to discuss your finger injury at work claim and the circumstances leading up to it.
Evidence Needed For An Accident at Work Claim
To file a finger injury at work claim, you will need to prove employer negligence. There are certain steps you could take to strengthen your claim, such as:
- Seek medical attention. Medical records from a visit to the hospital or a doctor could provide details on the treatment and diagnosis you received. You might also be invited to attend an independent medical assessment that could create a more detailed report on the full extent of your injuries.
- Fill in the accident log book. Details of the accident could be recorded in the workplace accident book, including any relevant details of your injury.
- Note witness details. If there are any witnesses, you could take down their contact details so that they may be contacted for a statement at a later date.
- Request CCTV footage. There might be CCTV footage of your accident at work that caused your injury. If so, you could request it from the relevant person.
- Speak to an accident at work lawyer. They can offer legal advice on making a claim and the evidence you could obtain.
Our advisors are on hand to discuss the accident at work procedure for making a finger injury at work claim.
How Much Could I Get For A Finger Injury At Work Claim?
If you decide to claim compensation for a workplace injury, your payout could include general damages and special damages. We have provided further details on what each of these covers in the section below.
General Damages
Compensation for your physical injuries and psychological harm, such as any emotional distress will be awarded under general damages.
Solicitors may use a document titled the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to assign value to your injuries. Different injuries with corresponding guideline compensation brackets are listed within the JCG. We’ve provided the table below with a small number of examples.
| Injury | Potential compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total or effective loss of one hand (c) | £90,250 to £102,890 | Crushing injuries resulting in surgical amputation or amputation of all fingers and most of the palm. |
| Severe finger fractures (f) | Up to £34,480 | Injuries may lead to partial amputation resulting in the likes of impaired function and disturbed sensation. |
| Total or partial loss of index finger (i) | £11,420 to £17,590 | The bracket awarded will depend on severity. |
| Index finger fracture (j) | £8,550 to £11,480 | The fracture will have healed quickly but impairment of grip has remained. |
| Serious injury to ring or middle finger (k) | £13,970 to £15,330 | Fractures or serious tendon injuries with permanent impairments. |
| Terminal Phalanx of middle or ring finger (l) | £3,710 to £7,390 | Where the terminal phalanx of the ring or middle fingers has been lost. |
| Little finger amputation (m) | £8,110 to £11,490 | Where the little finger has been amputated. |
| Partial loss of little finger | £3,710 to £5,500 | The remaining tip is sensitive. |
| Ring and little finger amputation | In the region of £20,480 | Where the ring and little fingers have been amputated. |
| Amputation of the terminal phalanges of the index and middle fingers (p) | In the region of £23,460 | Injury will cause scarring and movement restrictions. |
Please only use the figures as a guide because other factors may be considered when valuing your injuries.
Special Damages
Costs incurred as a result of your injury could be reimbursed under special damages. Examples of these costs could include:
- Therapy. If you need therapy after suffering an injury at work, you could claim back the cost provided it wasn’t available for free on the NHS.
- Loss of earnings. You could still claim for future and past loss of earnings. Also, you could claim if you take time off to attend medical appointments.
- Transport. Travel costs to medical appointments could be covered.
In order to recover these costs, you must supply evidence, such as receipts or payslips.
To discuss your potential compensation and what you could receive, contact our advisors.
What Does No Win No Fee Mean?
If you would like to file a finger injury at work claim, you might like to consider using a No Win No Fee solicitor. A No Win No Fee agreement is a way to hire legal representation with a minimised financial risk.
Unlike when hiring a solicitor in the traditional way, you do not pay upfront solicitors fees or fees while your claim is ongoing.
If your claim is successful, you will pay a success fee, which is legally capped. The success fee is taken from your compensation but is subject to a legal cap.
The solicitors on our panel all operate on a No Win No Fee basis. If your claim has a chance of success, it may be possible for an advisor to assign a solicitor from our panel to represent your case. For more information, please get in touch.
Make A Finger Injury At Work Claim
Our advisors are standing by to discuss your potential claim and answer any questions you may have.
To get in touch:
- Contact us using this form.
- Use the live chat feature below.
- Call the number above.
More Information About A Finger Injury At Work Claim
We’ve included some external links you might find useful:
- NHS guide on broken fingers
- Government guide about requesting CCTV footage
- Government guide on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
We have also provided some additional guides that could help:
- How Long Do Accident At Work Claims Take?
- Examples Of Workplace Accident Compensation Payouts
- Burn Injury At Work Claims
- What Goes Into Making A Factory Accident Claim?
- Employee Rights After An Accident At Work
- Accident At Work Claims When On A Zero Hour Contract
- What Influences Settlements For Injury At Work Claims?
- How To Make A Serious Work Injury Claim
- Scarring At Work Claims
We hope our guide on making a finger injury at work claim has helped. If you have any additional questions, please get in touch on the number above.