How much compensation you could get for a broken jaw in the UK may depend on what type of jaw injury you suffered, how severe it was and the wider impact the injury has had on your life. In this guide we look at how broken jaw compensation in the UK may be calculated. We look at the different factors taken into account and examine when you could be eligible to claim compensation.
In addition, we look at the different types of compensation claims (including personal injury claims and criminal injury claims) you could make and how you could sustain a broken jaw. You can also find information on whether there are any differences between broken and fractured jaws and what evidence could help to prove your claim. Finally, you can check how long you may have to make a claim and how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you.
For more help and advice with your jaw injury claim, please:
- Call one of our advisors on 0800 408 7825.
- Contact us online using our form.
- Talk to us live via our online chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The Average Broken Jaw Compensation UK
- How Is Compensation For Broken Jaw Injuries Calculated?
- My Jaw Was Broken In An Accident, Can I Claim?
- What Accidents Can Cause A Broken Jaw Injury?
- What If Medical Negligence Led To My Broken Jaw Injury?
- Could A Broken Jaw Be Classed As A Criminal Injury?
- What’s The Difference Between A Broken And Fractured Jaw?
- What Evidence Is Needed To Claim Broken Jaw Compensation?
- How Long Do I Have To Make A Fractured Or Broken Jaw Claim?
- Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Learn More
The Average Broken Jaw Compensation UK
If you suffered multiple, very serious fractures to the jaw which required prolonged treatment, you could be awarded from £37,210 to £55,570. This example comes from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). JCG figures may be used by the courts or specialist solicitors to help assess and ascertain how much a particular jaw injury may be worth.
It should be noted that whilst there may be an average broken jaw compensation settlement, this may also not be helpful for your claim. Each claim is individually assessed, meaning that how much compensation you would be awarded is unique to your case.
Compensation awarded for your pain and suffering is called general damages and may be assessed inline with the JCG as well as other factors, such as the impact the injury has had on you.
In this table we present figures for relevant injuries, which we have taken from the JCG. These figures are guidelines on what may be awarded. You should note that your compensation may differ. In addition, the top entry was not taken from the JCG.
| Harm/ Injury | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple injuries | Severe | Up to £250,000+ with special damages covering lost income, medical bills or other financial losses. |
| Facial disfigurement | Very severe scarring (a) | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less severe scarring (b) | £21,920 to £59,090 | |
| Significant scarring (c) | £11,120 to £36,720 | |
| Skeletal injuries | Fractures of jaws (e) (i) | £37,210 to £55,570 |
| Fractures of jaws (e) (ii) | £21,920 to £37,210 | |
| Fractures of jaws (e) (iii) | £7,880 to £10,660 | |
| Le Fort frontal facial bone fracture (a) | £29,060 to £44,840 | |
| Multiple facial bone fractures (b) | £18,180 to £29,220 | |
| Damage to teeth | Damage to teeth which is significant and chronic (f) | Up to £46,540 |
| Loss/ damage to several front teeth (f) (i) | £10,660 to £13,930 |
Speak to an expert to learn more about the factors influencing broken jaw compensation in the UK.
How Is Compensation For Broken Jaw Injuries Calculated?
Compensation for a broken jaw may be calculated by taking the severity of the injury, how much pain and suffering was caused and any financial losses into account.
Compensation for a broken or injured jaw can include general damages (for your pain and suffering) and special damages (for your financial losses).
- General damages may be calculated by looking at the type of injury and its impact on you (as shown in your medical records) and then comparing this to entries in the JCG.
- Special damages will look at how you were affected financially. You could claim for lost income, care in the home, travelling to get medical treatment and the cost of any treatment and medication.
You will need to provide evidence which shows what financial losses you suffered and their relationship to your accident. For example, you could use payslips or bank statements to show reduced/ lost income.
A specialist personal injury solicitor could help to estimate how much compensation you may be entitled to claim.
My Jaw Was Broken In An Accident, Can I Claim?
You could be eligible to claim broken jaw compensation in the UK if your injury was caused by someone else breaching their duty of care to you. Duty of care may be owed by the occupier of a public space, a road user or your employer, amongst others.
Whether you suffered a jaw injury in accident at work, on the road or in a public place, you may have grounds to make a claim where:
- Someone, such as a motorist, owed you a duty of care.
- The accident was caused by this person breaching their duty to you. For example, a motorist failed to signal when turning at a junction and colliding with you.
- This accident caused you to suffer a fractured, broken or dislocated jaw injury.
If the person harmed was a child (under 18) or otherwise lacked sufficient mental capacity to claim on their own behalf, a litigation friend may be appointed to handle the claims process for them.
A litigation friend is a suitable adult, appointed by the court to represent the best interests of the claimant.
What Accidents Can Cause A Broken Jaw Injury?
Accidents including those in workplaces, on the roads or in public spaces could all result in someone suffering a fractured, broken or dislocated jaw bone. Who pays compensation depends on who breached their duty of care to an injured party.
Below we look at different types of accidents which could lead to broken jaw claims.
Accidents At Work
Accidents at work which could lead to a broken jaw could include slips and falls from a height (such as falling down stairs), machinery accidents, work vehicle accidents and by being struck by a falling object, as well as many others.
Examples of accidents at work leading to a jaw injury:
- A warehouse worker is struck in the side of the face by a heavy object falling from an overhead shelf. The object was neither properly stored, nor secured. The impact fractured the worker’s jaw.
- An employee trips down a broken staircase at work. The employer knew the staircase was broken in places and a trip hazard but continued to allow employees to use it.
Employers must adhere to relevant legislation, such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1976. If they fail to meet their duty of care under this (or other legislation) you could make a jaw injury compensation claim. Any compensation awarded would generally be paid by the employer’s liability insurance.
Road Traffic Accidents
Road traffic accidents could lead to multiple fractures, such a jaw bone or other facial bone fractures. This may particularly be the case in high-speed impacts. All road users have a duty of care to others on the road. In order to adhere to this duty, they must follow the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Examples of road traffic accidents could include:
- A pedestrian is crossing the road as a marked crossing, expecting traffic to yield as they cross. A driver exceeding the speed limit fails to come to a stop in time, colliding with them. The impact knocks the pedestrian to the ground and they fracture their jaw.
- A driver makes a reckless turn, without checking their mirrors or blindspot, they strike a cyclist also turning. The cyclist is knocked over, striking their head on the side of the pavement, fracturing their jaw.
In most instances, compensation will be paid by the insurance company on behalf of the driver at fault. However, in cases such as the example of a driver being untraced or uninsured, a claim could be made via the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
This is an organisation funded by the insurance industry, which compensates victims where the driver at fault does not have insurance or can not be located.
Public Liability Accidents
Public liability accidents are accidents which occured in public places. They may include common forms of accidents such as slips, trips and falls or being struck by a falling object.
Examples of public liability accidents could include:
- A customer trips and falls on a broken floor in a shop, fracturing their jaw bone.
- A heavy, unsecured object, falls from scaffolding onto a member of the public.
The occupier of a public place, such as a business or local authority, must ensure that the space is safe for visitors to use. Compensation will typically be paid by the occupiers’ liability insurance.
You could claim broken jaw compensation in the UK if you can show another party caused your accident. Talk to our team about making a jaw injury claim.
What If Medical Negligence Led To My Broken Jaw Injury?
If medical negligence led or contributed to the worsening of your broken jaw injury you could have grounds to make a claim. Medical professionals have a duty of care to patients when providing any medical care or treatment.
To make a medical negligence claim you would need to show that:
- You were under the care of a medical professional and that they owed you a duty of care.
- They breached this duty.
- The breach caused you to suffer unnecessary or otherwise avoidable harm.
Examples of medical negligence:
- Misdiagnosis – where another medical professional would have correctly diagnosed the jaw injury. Misdiagnosis could delay treatment, leading to worsening symptoms.
- Surgical errors – a surgeon carrying out maxillofacial or dental surgery (such as the realignment of a jaw or removal of a tumor) applies excessive force or otherwise uses improper technique. This causes a bone fracture.
- Improper intubation – forceful intubation of a patient could result in undue pressure on their jaw leading to a fracture.
If a medical professional has breached their duty of care to you and you were avoidably harmed, you may have a medical negligence claim.
Please contact our team to learn more about making a fractured or broken jaw injury compensation claim.
Could A Broken Jaw Be Classed As A Criminal Injury?
A fractured or broken jaw may be classed as a criminal injury, if it is the result of a violent crime, such as an assault. Those wanting to claim following a violent crime may do so through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) if there is no other viable way to do so.
The CICA is a scheme funded by the UK government which compensates the victims of violent crimes. It may compensate victims for both physical and psychological harm.
You must meet certain criteria to claim compensation through the CICA. These criteria are that:
- You were the victim of a crime of violence. Examples of crimes of violence may be found in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme).
- The crime has been reported to the police within the applicable time frame.
- The crime took place in Great Britain, or in another relevant place (as outlined by the CICA).
- You are within the relevant claims time limit. Generally, this is 2 years but there may be exceptional circumstances in which claims may be made outside this time limit.
How much compensation may be awarded for criminal injuries is set out by the Scheme. This is a fixed tariff. The following table outlines relevant fixed tariff amounts taken from the Scheme.
| Injury | Severity. | Tariff. |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple criminal injuries, special expenses and loss of income. | Multiple injuries plus special expenses. | Up to £500,000. |
| Face injury | Multiple fractures to face (A8). | £11,000 |
| Face Injury | Fractured jaw bone - requiring surgery, continuing disability (A7). | £6,200 |
| Fractured jaw bone - requiring surgery with substantial recovery (A3). | £1,800 | |
| Face Injury | Fractured jaw bone - no surgery but with continuing disability. (A5). | £3,500 |
| Fractured jaw bone - no surgery and with substantial recovery (A2) | £1,500 | |
| Face Injury | Dislocated jaw - continuing and significant disability (A5). | £3,500 |
In addition to these figures, you may also be able to claim for loss of earnings and special expenses. If you suffered a broken, fractured or dislocated jaw due to criminal violence, a solicitor from our panel could help you claim compensation.
What’s The Difference Between A Broken And Fractured Jaw?
A break and a fracture are essentially the same thing. Both are terms referring to a broken bone. Colloquially, such injuries may be referred to as a broken bone (such as a broken jaw) whilst the medical term is a fracture.
The term ‘broken jaw’ may be used when referring to a more complete separation of the bone, whilst ‘fracture’ may be used to describe a greater range of bone injuries.
The Common Broken Jaw Symptoms
The common symptoms of a broken or fractured jaw may include:
- Severe pain and swelling around the face and jaw.
- Bruising around the injury location.
- Dislocation of the jaw bone.
- Restricted jaw movement making it difficult to open or close the mouth.
- Tingling and numbness around the affected area due to nerve damage.
- Misalignment of the teeth due to the jaw being out of alignment.
If you experience these or other symptoms relating to a fracture of the jaw, it is crucial that you seek immediate medical care and treatment. Contact us to see how one of our panel of specialist personal injury solicitors could help you.
What Evidence Is Needed To Claim Broken Jaw Compensation?
You will need clear and strong evidence in order to claim broken jaw compensation. This includes evidence which can show that the party responsible for breaching their duty of care caused your injury.
Key forms of evidence:
- Medical evidence – this should include copies of your diagnosis, treatment and scan results.
- Accident reports – including reports to the police, workplace accident reports and other official reports.
- CCTV or other video footage – this should show the accident taking place.
- Witness details – contact details for anyone who could later provide a witness statement.
- Expert medical assessments – you may be asked to attend a medical assessment during which an expert will examine your injury. This may be organised on your behalf by a personal injury lawyer.
Strong evidence could help increase the chance of you successfully claiming for broken jaw compensation in the UK.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Fractured Or Broken Jaw Claim?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, you have 3 years to make a broken jaw compensation claim. However, there are some exceptions for those with reduced mental capacity and children.
Injury claim time limits:
- Adults – the general time limit is 3 years.
- Minors (under 18) – in these cases the time limit does not begin till they are 18. Prior to this, you may act as a litigation friend for them, as discussed earlier in this guide.
- Reduced mental capacity – there is no time limit applied, unless their mental capacity returns.
Missing the deadline to file an injury claim could mean you lose the right to seek compensation. It is important to begin your claim for broken jaw compensation in the UK as soon as possible.
Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
You could claim broken jaw compensation in the UK by working with a No Win No Fee solicitor. By using a No Win No Fee agreement, that there are no upfront solicitors fees, and if your claim is not successful, there is nothing to pay for their work.
Using a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) you would only pay if you win the case. You would then pay a pre-agreed success fee which would be deducted from the amount awarded.
The key benefits of No Win No Fee agreements:
- No upfront solicitors fees.
- Nothing to pay if the claim fails.
Our panel of solicitors includes those with experience in helping people to make successful jaw injury compensation claims.
Contact Public Interest Lawyers
To begin your broken jaw injury claim,
- Phone our team on 0800 408 7825.
- Contact us via our form.
- Use our chat to tell us what happened.
Learn More
You can learn more about claiming for a broken jaw, or other forms of injury in these resources.
- Check how to claim for a fractured cheek in this resource.
- Find out how to claim for a fractured skull in this guide.
- If you have broken your nose, you can learn more about making a claim here.
References.
- You can read more about a fracture of the lower jaw in this NHS resource.
- Learn more about jaw joint problems in this resource.
- Read about requesting CCTV footage of yourself here.
To learn more about how to claim broken jaw compensation in the UK, talk to our team.
