Thumb Injury Claims
If you have suffered an injury to your thumb or fingers due to another person’s negligence, you could be entitled to make a thumb injury claim.
Injuries to the thumb can be caused by a wide range of different accident types. This includes road accidents, accidents at work, faulty products or as a result of slips, trips or falls. They can also be a consequence of medical negligence, such as a botched surgery.
The thumb plays an important role when it comes to gripping objects. Everyday tasks such as getting dressed, eating, cleaning, driving, and writing can be extremely challenging without the full use of the thumb, not to mention the pain that can be caused.
The good news is that if somebody else was responsible for the accident that resulted in your injured thumb, you have a legal right to make a thumb injury compensation claim.
To find out if you have a valid personal injury claim, call 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation. Alternatively, you can arrange a call back and a legal adviser will be in contact as soon as possible.
Common types of thumb injury that may result in a claim
Although a relatively small part of the body, the thumbs can be susceptible to a variety of different injuries. These will range in severity and long term prognosis, but all can have a debilitating effect on a person’s life, whether short or long term.
Most thumb injuries can be treated using options such as splints, painkillers, ice packs and rest. Some injuries will require surgery and could need rehabilitation treatment such as physiotherapy.
In extreme cases, a thumb amputation may be required, or you could lose part or all of your thumb in the accident itself. As well as the obvious physical issues this causes, it can also have a significant impact on a person’s mental health.
Here are some of the most common types of thumb injuries:
- Thumb fractures – a fracture to the thumb can occur on the distal phalange, which is the bone between the knuckle and the tip of the thumb. It can also occur on the proximal phalange, which runs between the base of the thumb and the knuckle. Either type of fracture can be extremely painful, with complex or particularly bad breaks often requiring surgery. A broken thumb can cause long-term pain and discomfort and can lead to the early onset of arthritis.
- Thumb sprains – this type of injury is very common and occurs when a force applied to the thumb joint causes the ligaments to either stretch, twist or tear. An awkward landing following a trip or fall can easily cause this type of injury. Symptoms can include swelling, tenderness and pain, which can prevent you from using your thumb and hand as normal.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – this is a common injury that causes pain, numbness, tingling sensations and weakness to the thumb and fingers. The pain can also spread further up the arm and into the shoulder. Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually caused by repetitive jobs at work, such as typing and using machinery.
- Trigger thumb – this is a type of repetitive strain injury that is caused by repetitive gripping actions. It can affect either the thumb or fingers and results in a painful nodule on the tendon.
If you have suffered any type of thumb or finger injury in an accident, it is important to get your injuries examined by a medical professional as soon as possible. This will ensure your condition is correctly diagnosed, and you can start receiving the appropriate treatment you need to recover asap.
When thumb injuries are left untreated, they can give rise to various other complications, including chronic ligament damage, post-traumatic arthritis, vascular injury, and neurological injury. All of which can lead to additional pain and extend the recovery period
What type of accidents can cause thumb injury claims?
All types of accidents can result in a person sustaining an injury to the thumbs. Even relatively innocuous accidents such as bumping into somebody can cause thumb damage.
Whether you are entitled to pursue a claim for compensation will depend on whether somebody else was at fault for the accident. If somebody else was responsible, whether a car driver, a supermarket or your employer, you should be entitled to make a thumb injury claim.
Experienced personal injury solicitors can assist people with all types of non-fault accidents, all of which can cause injuries to a person’s thumb. This includes the following:
- road traffic accidents
- accidents at work
- repetitive strain injuries
- slips and trips in public places
- sporting accidents
- medical negligence
- criminal injuries
Making a successful thumb injury claim can help you get compensation for the pain and suffering you have been through. It can also compensate you for the financial losses you have suffered, such as loss of wages if you have had to take time off work.
What should I do if I’ve injured my thumb in an accident?
As with all injuries, you should first seek medical attention if you suffer a thumb injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, this could be your GP, nurse or local hospital.
The medical professional that examines your thumb will diagnose the type of injury you have sustained and what treatment will be required.
If you feel another person or company was responsible for the accident that caused your injury, you should seek professional legal advice as soon as possible.
A trained legal advisor will listen to you and ask a few questions to help them understand what has happened. They will then let you know if you have solid grounds to make a thumb injury compensation claim and connect you with an experienced solicitor.
To help support your compensation claim, you should try to gather as much evidence as possible. What evidence is available will vary depending on the type of accident you were involved in but could include:
- The name and contact details of the person that caused your thumb injury. This could be a car driver, your employer, a supermarket or a local authority.
- The contact details of anybody who witnessed your accident or the immediate aftermath.
- A record of the accident details, such as the date and time, the type of accident and the location.
- Details of the thumb injury you sustained (plus any other injuries) and any treatments you have received or will need to receive in the future.
- Photos of your injured thumb, the scene of the accident and any other relevant information that may support your claim.
- Any receipts for financial expenses caused by your accident, such as travel costs to hospital appointments and medication costs.
Being able to provide your solicitor with supporting evidence can significantly improve your chances of making a successful thumb injury claim. It can also speed up the compensation process.
To find out if you have a claim, call free on 0800 470 0474 or enter your details in our online claim form to receive a callback. A legal advisor will then contact you to discuss your claim.
How much compensation is my thumb injury worth?
How much compensation your injury is worth will boil down to the type of injury you have sustained, the severity of the injury, the impact it has had on your life, and any financial losses stemming from the accident.
Compensation awards are therefore based on the claimant’s individual circumstances and will take into account a number of different factors. These can be divided into two separate parts:
- General damages – this is the amount that is based on the injury and the pain and suffering caused.
- Special damages – this covers the financial losses directly related to the accident and includes loss of earnings, medical costs, transport, care and any future loss of earnings.
Once a value has been placed on your personal injury claim, your solicitors will work hard to negotiate the best compensation payment possible on your behalf.
Taking into account all areas of loss, your solicitor will aim to win the maximum compensation possible and will keep you updated throughout the process.
Below are some examples of how much compensation could be awarded for various types of thumb injury. These amounts do not take into account special damages (loss of wages, travel expenses, etc.) as these can vary massively from case to case.
Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
---|---|---|
Thumb Injuries | Loss of a thumb | £28,710 to £44,330 |
Very serious thumb injury with permanent disability and loss of use | £15,840 to £28,325 | |
Serious thumb injuries resulting in permanent sensitivity or impaired grip | £10,175 to £13,530 | |
Moderate thumb injury such as tendon or nerve damage causing impaired function or sensation | £7,810 to £10,175 | |
Serious thumb dislocation | £3,190 to £5,500 | |
Minor thumb injury such as a fracture which recovers within six months | Up to £3,190 | |
Minor thumb injury with complete recovery within a few months | Up to £1,782 |
How much will it cost to make a thumb injury claim?
It shouldn’t cost you a penny to make a thumb injury claim. This is because your injury lawyer will provide a no win no fee* service when taking on your accident claim.
The no win no fee service removes the financial risk from making an injury claim and makes seeking justice an option for all people regardless of wealth.
The term no win no fee is actually used to describe what is technically known as a conditional fee agreement. This is effectively the service agreement you enter into when hiring a solicitor. It also confirms all of the relevant terms and conditions.
Your solicitors will ensure the details of the no win no fee agreement are fully explained to you before you instruct them. They will also be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Can I make a thumb injury claim on behalf of my child?
Yes, if you’re the parent or guardian of a child that has been injured in an accident that wasn’t their fault, you can pursue a compensation claim on their behalf.
You can start the claim at any point up until your child turns 18 years old. After this point, your child becomes an adult, and they will then have until the age of 21 to start their thumb injury claim on their own.
How long do thumb injury claims take to settle?
Several factors will determine how long your injury claim is likely to take. This includes the type of accident that caused your thumb injury, the severity of the injury and the impact it has had on your life.
Other factors that will have an impact on the timeframe are whether or not liability is accepted and the evidence available to support your claim.
For simple cases where liability is accepted, your compensation claim could you concluded within a month or two. However, if the third party deny liability, your claim could take several months or even more than a year.
Contact us today for a free case assessment
If you would like to find out more about making a thumb injury claim or you have any other questions, please call 0800 470 0474 for a free case assessment with a legal advisor. Alternatively, you can enter your details into the contact form below, and a legal adviser will call you back to discuss your accident.
The case assessment service is provided without any obligation to proceed with a claim and is completely free of charge. If you have a valid claim, your solicitor will work for you on a no win no fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs and if your solicitor is unable to win your claim, it won’t cost you a penny.