Workplace Hand Injury Claims

When you are suffering from a hand injury, it can be painful and affect your ability to perform your usual day-to-day activities. If you have had to take time off work due to your injury, this can be devastating to your finances and cause a strain on family life. You might also be suffering from the stress and worry of not being able to return to the job you did pre-injury.

Claim compensation for workplace hand injury 

Compare Compensation Claims are here to help you get the compensation you are entitled to. We can put you in touch with a specialist and recommended solicitor who will make a claim on your behalf and provide the advice and support you need. Make an enquiry online or call us on Freephone 0800 688 9553.

Hand injury at work 

When working with machinery* or equipment at work, you can be at risk from hand injuries such as cuts, lacerations, burns, fractures or even lost fingers. Workplace hand injuries can also result in tendon, ligament and nerve damage.

It was reported in a study by the National Institutes of Health that in England, there are an estimated 600,000 hand injuries per year. When classified by injury description, the most common injuries were nail injuries (25%), lacerations (23%), closed fractures (23%) and tendon or ligament injuries (9%). It was found that this disproportionately impacts the younger, working population and that nearly one-third of workplace hand injuries were preventable.

Your employer has a duty of care to offer sufficient training, put safe working practices in place and provide the correct type of PPE including safety work gloves. If they haven’t done this and it has resulted in a hand injury, you may be able to make a claim.

How Much Workplace Injury Compensation Am I Entitled to for a Hand Injury? 

The amount of hand injury compensation you are entitled to will depend on the severity of your injury, the treatment and recovery time involved.

Compensation is divided into ‘general damages’ and ‘special damages’.

General damages refers to a compensation award for your injury, known as your pain, suffering and loss of amenity and includes both your physical and psychological injuries.  General damages are subjective as they cover the impact of the injury on you personally.

Special damages is compensation for the financial losses you have suffered as a result of your injury.  This includes out of pocket expenses such as medical treatment, prescription charges, travelling expenses (to attend medical appointments for example) and loss of earnings.  If you had to take time off work due to your injury, you can claim not only for loss of earnings but potentially for any future loss of earnings.

Workers’ compensation hand injury settlement amounts for general damages range from £3,000 to £245,000. You can use our claims calculator and the information provided below, to get an idea of exactly how much you might be entitled to for a workplace hand injury claim.

The compensation amounts stated above are based on the Judicial Council Personal Injury Guidelines 17^th edition which provide estimates on the value of different types of claims.  

A specialist workplace accident solicitor can help advise you and get the maximum amount of compensation you’re eligible for. You can find a specialist solicitor to help you with your claim by using our directory of recommended and regulated solicitors.

How the Claims Process Works

The stages of making a claim are outlined below: –

1. Free Consultation – a specialist solicitor will go through the details of your claim with you and advise you on the prospects of making a successful claim based on the information you have given them.

2. Investigations and Evidence Gathering – this may include:

• Incident Report – copy of the workplace accident book entry.
• Witnesses Details – details of any witnesses to take statements.
• Medical Records – details of medical attention including diagnosis and treatment.
• Photographs – images of the accident scene and injuries.
• Wages – copies of your wage slips and/or account returns, to show details of any loss of wages that you have suffered because of your injury.
• Expenses – a note of any expenses you have incurred such as prescriptions, private medical treatment, travelling expenses to attend appointments, care and assistance costs. All these expenses can be claimed for.

3. Medical Examination – an appointment will be arranged for you with a medical expert so they can assess your condition. Their medical report can then be used by your solicitor to value your claim and obtain any private medical treatment recommended, such as physiotherapy to assist in your recovery.

4. Submitting Claim – your solicitor will submit an Employer Liability claim on the Ministry of Justice Portal or issue a claim directly if the value of your claim falls outside of this protocol.

5.  Settlement – if the defendants admit liability within the protocol period, then your claim will proceed to the next stage where evidence is exchanged, and a settlement will be negotiated by the parties.

6.  Court action – if the defendant denies liability or a settlement cannot be agreed then it may be necessary to make a court claim.  In this event, your case would be presented before the court, and the Judge would make a ruling.

Funding your Claim 

Your chosen Solicitor will take you through the options of funding your claim.

The solicitors listed in the Compare Compensation directory work on a No Win, No Fee basis known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. This means that you will typically only pay a fee if your claim is successful and you receive compensation.If your claim is successful, the solicitor will charge you a success fee, which is capped at 25% of the compensation amount recovered.

Many injured workers are reluctant to make a claim due to the fear of losing their job, or the worry that their employer would have to pay out for any claim made.  However, you should feel assured that:

• Every employer has a legal duty to have insurance in place (known as Employer Liability Insurance) and any successful claim brought against your employer will be paid out by the insurer, not your employer directly.
• There are laws in place to prevent your employer from dismissing you, or treating you unfairly, if you do make a compensation claim.

Why Choose Us

Compare Compensation Claims can put you in touch with a specialist work accident solicitor to help you make a hand injury claim.  All the solicitors listed in our directory : –

• Work on a no win, no fee basis.
• Offer a free consultation.
• Come highly recommended, specialising in personal injury compensation claims with a track record of success.
• Are based all around the country. Operating both locally and nationally.
• Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and members of the Law Society.

Hand Injury FAQs 

How can I tell if my hand injury is due to my work?

When your injury has not been caused by a specific accident, it can be difficult to tell if your injury is caused by work. There are other conditions and syndromes that may be work related and can be worsened by activities performed at work. A medical expert such as your GP can help you determine whether your injury is related to, or has been made worse, by your work.

Can my employer dismiss me for making a hand injury claim? 

No, your employer can not legally dismiss you or treat you unfairly for making a hand injury claim.  Employers have a duty to provide a safe working environment. Making a work accident compensation claim is your legal right. Your employer should be protected with insurance to cover such claims.

What if I can’t work due to a hand injury at work?

If you are unable to work due to an injury you may be entitled to be paid statutory sick pay (SSP) or contractual sick pay. You may also be entitled to claim other benefits depending on your circumstances.  If your injury has been caused by your employer’s negligence, you can make a claim to recover any loss of earnings you have suffered.

What if I can’t return to my pre-injury job following a hand injury?

If you are unable to return to your job due to a hand injury, then you can claim for loss of earnings and future loss of earnings. In addition, you may be entitled to a Smith v Manchester award (known as disadvantage on the open labour market) to compensate you if you are unable to continue with the same type of job or secure the same salary in a new job.

What are the time limits for making a hand injury at work claim?

Generally, you have 3 years from the date of accident, or ‘date of knowledge’ to make a personal injury claim. The ‘date of knowledge’ is when you first became aware of the injury, or the facts required to make a claim.  If you were a minor at the time of the accident, then you have 3 years from the date you turn 18 to make a claim. There can be other exceptions to this time limit so if you are unsure, you should seek advice from your legal representatives.