Broken Femur Compensation Claims

A broken femur is a serious injury that can affect your ability to work and carry out daily activities for many weeks or months. Besides severe physical pain and suffering, it can also cause emotional distress and long-term complications, such as mobility issues and permanent nerve damage.

Femur fractures can have various causes, such as road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, sports incidents and falls from heights. If a third party caused your injury by acting negligently, you might be able to claim broken femur compensation.

To find out if you have a valid case and the potential compensation settlement you could receive, call 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation with a legal adviser. Or you can enter your details into our online claim form to request a call back.

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Table of Contents

• What is a femur fracture?
• Symptoms and diagnosis of a broken femur
• Treatments and possible complications of a fractured femur
• Can I claim broken femur compensation?
• What evidence do I need to start a fractured femur compensation claim?
• Common accidents leading to a broken femur claim
• Frequently asked questions:
• Can I make a claim on behalf of my child?
• What is the time limit to make a personal injury claim for a femur injury?
• How much compensation for a broken femur could I receive?
• Will I be offered a No Win No Fee service?

What is a femur fracture?

The femur, or the thigh bone, is the longest and strongest bone in the human body. It extends from the hip joint to the knee joint and forms part of the skeletal structure of the leg. The femur serves as an attachment point for muscles and ligaments and plays a crucial role in movement and supporting the body weight while standing.

A femur fracture is a break or a crack in the bone, typically due to trauma and high impacts, such as those from car accidents and falls from heights. Given its critical role in the musculoskeletal system, a broken femur can significantly impact mobility and require careful medical attention and treatment.

Femur fractures can vary in severity and are classified based on factors such as the location of the break and the angle of the fracture. The most common types of femur fractures include:

• Transverse fractures: The break goes straight across the femur in a horizontal line
• Oblique fractures: A diagonal break across the bone
• Spiral fractures: The break spirals around the bone, often caused by twisting forces
• Comminuted fractures: The bone is broken into multiple pieces
• Open fractures: Pieces of the broken bone pierce the skin

Symptoms and diagnosis of a broken femur

The symptoms of a fractured femur can vary depending on the severity of the injury. If you’ve suffered a broken femur, you could experience the following:

• Intense pain, especially with movement
• Inability to put weight on the injured leg
• Swelling, accompanied by bruising or decolouration
• Visible deformity or abnormal alignment of the leg
• Difficulty or inability to move the leg
• Shortening of the leg, especially in cases of displaced fractures
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• If the fracture involves a break in the skin, you may see pieces of the femur

To diagnose a broken femur, your healthcare provider will conduct a thorough physical exam, looking for signs of deformity, swelling, tenderness, and other symptoms. They will also obtain X-rays, CT scans or an MRI to identify the type of injury and initiate the appropriate treatment.

Treatments and possible complications of a fractured femur

Treatment for a broken femur depends on the type and severity of the fracture and may include:

• Immobilising the leg with a cast, splint, or brace to keep the fractured bone in place and promote healing
• Traction, which means applying a pulling force to the affected leg using weights and pulleys to align the fractured bones
• Surgical intervention, which involves the use of screws, rods, or plates to stabilise the broken femur and allow for proper healing
• Rehabilitation exercises and activities to improve strength, flexibility, and mobility
• Medications, such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs, to manage pain and reduce inflammation

A broken femur usually takes several months to heal, but it may sometimes take longer, based on the type and severity of the injury and your overall health. In some cases, recovery may not be complete, and you could experience complications, such as:

• Limited range of motion in the knee or hip joint;
• Blood clot formation, especially in individuals with limited mobility;
• Acute compartment syndrome due to swelling and increased pressure within the muscles;
• Permanent muscle and nerve damage;
• Misalignment of the bone due to improper healing;
• Infections, particularly in open fractures or after surgical procedures;
• You may also suffer emotional and psychological effects, such as anxiety or depression.

If you are entitled to claim broken femur compensation, your solicitor will include all the ways the injury affected you in your claim to ensure you are fully compensated.

Can I claim broken femur compensation?

The easiest way to find out if you have a valid broken femur compensation claim is to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer. Before taking on your case, they will check whether:

• The party you hold responsible owed you a duty of care
• Their negligence led to an accident
• You suffered a femur fracture due to that accident

You do not have to worry about proving a duty of care. Your solicitor will be able to help you with this by referring to relevant legislation. Based on your circumstances, the following or other laws might apply to your case:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, for workplace accidents;
• The Occupiers Liability Act 1984, for accidents in public places like shops or restaurants;
• The Road Traffic Act 1988 is used to prove negligence in the case of accidents on the road.

It is essential to remember that you can claim broken femur compensation even if you were partially at fault for your injury. The only difference is that you will receive a reduced compensation award to reflect your part of the blame.

What evidence do I need to start a fractured femur compensation claim?

You will need various types of evidence to claim compensation for a broken femur or any other type of leg injury. This should show clearly how the accident occurred, who was at fault, and how it has affected your life. Your personal injury solicitor will help you gather everything you need to make a successful claim, which could include:

• Photographs or videos of the accident scene and the exact cause of your injury, ideally before anything is moved, repaired or replaced;
• Photos of your injury and recovery process and any damage to your items;
• Names and contact details of any witnesses to your accident who can support your version of the events if liability is denied;
• Medical records and x-rays from the hospital to show the type and severity of your injury and your recovery prospects;
• Footage from CCTV or dash cams that might have captured your accident;
• A copy of an accident report form if you were injured at work or in a public place. This will help confirm the date, time and location where you fractured your femur;
• Your notes about how the accident occurred and how it has affected your life;
• You should also have evidence of all the financial losses and expenses you incurred as a result, such as receipts and invoices.

Once you have all the necessary proof, your solicitor will work out how much compensation you could get for a broken femur and negotiate the best settlement possible with the other side.

Common accidents leading to a broken femur claim

Various accidents could cause a femur bone fracture, leading to a successful personal injury claim. As with most femur injuries, these are commonly due to:

• Road traffic accidents. The impact from high-speed accidents or direct hits on the thigh region can result in severe injuries, including broken femurs. Any road user could suffer a broken leg or other injuries to the femur bone, including pedestrians, motorcycle riders, cyclists and car drivers.
• Accidents at work. Workplace accidents, such as those involving heavy machinery or falls from a height, pose a risk of broken bones and other femur injuries. Employers have a legal duty to take all reasonable measures to protect workers from all types of injury. A failure to do so would make them liable for fractured femur compensation.
• Sports incidents. High-impact sports or athletic incidents can result in fractured femur injuries. Collisions, tackles, or falls during activities like football, skiing, or gymnastics may cause significant leg injuries. While some of these accidents are nobody’s fault, others could be due to negligence and may lead to a claim for compensation.
• Slips, trips and falls. Awkward landings or impacts on the thigh during a slip, trip or fall can lead to a broken femur bone, especially in older adults who may be more susceptible to such injuries. These can happen in various settings, including in public places and at work. They are usually due to preventable hazards like wet floors and objects left in walkways.
• Falls from a height. Falls from elevated surfaces, such as ladders, scaffolding, or platforms, can lead to broken femur injuries upon impact with the ground. Employees and owners of public spaces must take fall prevention measures and follow the safety protocols to prevent such accidents. Otherwise, they may be held liable in a fractured femur claim.
• Criminal assaults. Criminal assaults involving physical violence can also cause a broken femur. Direct blows or trauma to the thigh region during assaults can cause significant harm, and the severity may depend on the nature and intensity of the attack. In this case, you could make an injury compensation claim through the CICA.
• Faulty products. Accidents caused by defective products, such as malfunctioning equipment, failure of safety features or tools with design flaws, can lead to femur fractures. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you could start a claim against the manufacturer or distributor of the faulty product without needing to prove negligence.

This list is not exhaustive, and many other circumstances may lead to a broken femur injury. As long as another party was at least partially at fault for your accident, you could be entitled to broken femur compensation.

Frequently asked questions:

We have answered some of the most common questions we receive from claimants about making a fractured femur claim below. For further details, please call us on 0800 470 0474 or enter your details into our online claim form to request a call back.

Can I make a claim on behalf of my child?

If your child has suffered a fractured femur due to someone else’s negligence, you can start a compensation claim on their behalf. Your solicitor will help you apply to the court to be named as their litigation friend. The court will verify that you can conduct legal proceedings fairly and competently before appointing you.

You will have several responsibilities as your child’s litigation friend, such as signing legal documents, paying any fees requested by the court and making decisions about the case and any compensation offers. If you settle the claim on your child’s behalf, you may have to go to an Infant Approval Hearing in court, where a judge will look at the evidence and decide whether the compensation payout is fair.

What is the time limit to make a personal injury claim for a femur injury?

The time limit to start a broken femur compensation claim is typically three years after the date of the accident. Under the Limitation Act 1980, your case will become statute-barred if you fail to take legal action within this timeframe. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as:

• In child injury claims, the three years only begin to run on their 18th birthday. Before that, a parent or another suitable adult could claim for them at any time.
• The time limit is suspended if the injured person cannot start legal proceedings due to a condition such as a brain injury, intellectual disability or another illness affecting their mental capacity. In this case, a litigation friend could claim for them without any time limit.
• If you suffered a femur fracture due to a criminal assault, you have three years to claim compensation through the CICA.

How much compensation for a broken femur could I receive?

The compensation amount for a fractured femur claim will be calculated based on the severity of the break. Your settlement will cover all the ways in which the injury has affected your life (general damages) and the related financial expenses (special damages), such as:

• Physical and mental pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life and effects on your hobbies and social life
• Loss of income during recovery and future loss of earnings
• Medical expenses such as prescriptions and private treatments
• Care costs during recovery, even if a friend or family member supported you

Based on the guidelines from the Judicial College, you could receive the following awards for general damages:

• £9,110 to £14,080 for a simple fracture
• £17,960 to £27,760 for a broken femur that may need a metal implant
• £27,760 to £135,920 for moderate to severe fractures that may lead to long-term impairment or disability

You can find out more about how much compensation you can claim for a broken femur and other injuries by using our compensation calculator.

Will I be offered a No Win No Fee service?

If you have a valid broken femur claim, your solicitor will offer you a no win no fee* agreement. That means you do not have to pay them anything upfront, and they will only get a success fee (of up to 25%) if they win your claim. You do not have to pay a single penny if your case fails.

As part of your no win no fee claim, your solicitor will also take out After the Event (ATE) insurance for you. This type of insurance policy will cover all your expenses and disbursements if you lose, such as court fees, medical and police reports, travel expenses and the defendant’s costs. You only pay for the ATE premium if the claim is successful.

If you would like to learn more about claiming fractured femur compensation, please call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back for a free consultation with an experienced legal adviser.