We are personal injury solicitors specialising in claiming compensation for clients with fractures & breaks. Catherine Smith has experience with these types of injuries, and introduces our services in this video.

Read more about broken bones at work below, or use our free legal advice service opposite to ask us a question or to get started making a claim.

Fracture Injury Claims

One of the most serious types of work related injury which can mean a lot of time off work, possibly without pay, is to break, crack or crush one of the bones in your body. The term 'fracture' refers to all three of these forms of bone damage. Fractures require immediate medical attention and usually result in a minimum of four to six weeks recovery time. Fractures commonly occur in the construction industry, Britain's largest and most dangerous industry in terms of serious injury statistics. Two thirds of fracture injuries affect workers in other industries however. The Health and Safety Executive recorded 15022 major injuries caused by falls and slips in the workplace in 2008/09. The majority of these injuries would have involved a worker sustaining a fracture. This figure represents an increase from 14233 similar injuries in 2007/08.

Injuries Resulting From Fracture Accidents

The are two types of medical classifications for fracture injuries - closed / simple fractures, where the bone has not penetrated or lacerated the skin, and open / compound fractures, where the bone has actually broken through the skin, or the skin around the fracture has been penetrated during the course of the accident. Within these two broad categories there are a large number of specific fracture types. A hairline fracture is among the least serious, where a small crack appears in the bone, and normally heals in 4-6 weeks. A spiral fracture is more serious, involving a break that runs around the bone, often in different directions. A comminuted fracture is the most severe type, involving a total crushing or shattering of the bone. Both these latter types are serious injuries, and, apart from lengthy rehabilitation, are likely to require the insertion of metal plates and pins into the damaged limb, as well as future surgery to remove these supports.

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Typical Causes Of Fracture Injuries

Workers are most likely to fracture an arm, leg, wrist, hand or foot. Fractures are caused when excessive force is applied to a part of the body either directly (e.g. something falling on you) or indirectly (e.g. falling on the floor). The amount of damage depends on the amount of force applied. In the workplace fractures most often result from workers tripping on obstacles or slipping on treacherous or uneven surfaces. Workers, especially in construction may fall from height and sustain a fracture, or be struck by an object falling from height. Passersby may also be injured in the course of these accidents. Road traffic accidents involving work vehicles are another common cause of fracture injuries, often causing injury to multiple people.

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Employers Must Take Steps To Prevent Accidents At Work

A worker may be more susceptible to a fracture in the workplace due to a pre-existing medical condition, such as osteoarthritis, or lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. However, this does not mean that an employer can avoid liability in the event of a fracture accident and injury. There is a principle called the 'Thin skull rule', which means that your employer must 'take you as they find you'. This means whatever pre-existing conditions you suffer from, they will not affect the liability of the employer in the eyes of the court. Treatment for a broken bone consists in keeping the limb immobile as far as possible. Because of the serious nature of this type of injury treatment can be prolonged, with many people needing physiotherapy after the injury has healed, because they have been unable to exercise that part of the body and need to rebuild strength and mobility. This would affect someone with a leg fracture for example, who cannot bear weight on the leg and requires crutches.

Fracture Injury Claims And Compensation Awards

The severity of the fracture injury, estimated recovery time and the corresponding level of medical treatment required will determine the level of compensation awarded following a successful fracture injury claim. A full medical assessment will be required to establish these facts. Damages will include all current and future medical treatment requirements, loss of earnings, future work prospects and pain and suffering. Bartletts Solicitors are specialists in the field of fracture injury claims. We work on a no win no fee basis meaning if you win your case your employer's insurance company will pay all of your legal fees.