Average Compensation For A Broken Wrist: A Guide To Wrist Fracture Claims

Last Updated 6th May 2026. Regardless of whether you fractured your wrist in an accident at work, on the roads, or in a public place, you may be able to pursue compensation if your injury was caused by the negligent actions of another party. Broken wrist compensation varies depending on the severity of the fracture, the extent to which grip strength is reduced, and any long-term impact on function. For example, you might be awarded between £62,910 and £79,080 for a wrist injury that results in a complete loss of function, according to the suggested compensation brackets within the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG).

We recognise that a wrist fracture can significantly disrupt everyday life, often affecting work, independence, and mental health. At this challenging time, our goal is to ease some of your stress when you seek compensation for your broken wrist. By working with us here at Public Interest Lawyers, we will handle every aspect of the personal injury claims process so that you can focus entirely on your recovery.

If you have any questions regarding the average payout for a fractured wrist or would like to receive free advice for your case, you can contact us today.

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Am I Eligible To Claim For A Broken Wrist?

You could be eligible to claim compensation for a broken wrist or other forms of wrist injuries if you can prove that a third party was responsible.

All claims must be able to meet the basic criteria that:

  • A third party owed the person harmed a duty of care.
  • This party was in breach of their duty.
  • The breach caused avoidable harm, such as wrist injuries.

An employer, the party in control of a public space or a road user may owe you a duty of care. In each of these instances, the other party could be expected to take reasonable steps to ensure your safety. If they failed to do so, you may have grounds to claim.

Whether your broken wrist was caused by an accident at work, in a road traffic accident or whilst in a public place, you could claim compensation if you can show someone else was at fault. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team to find out how we could help you.

An individual with a wrist strap being checked out by a medical professional.

Average Compensation For A Broken Wrist

The average compensation for a broken wrist in the UK may take into account both the injury and any financial losses caused by it. While claimants may wish to quickly check whether an average amount of compensation has been awarded, figures depend on what general and special damages are awarded.

General damages are those awarded for physical injuries (they may also be awarded for psychological harm). When valuing your claim for general damages, recommendations in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) may be taken into consideration.

Below, we take figures from the JCG. Please note that your compensation may differ from these and that the first figure does not come from the JCG.

Type Of InjuriesSeverityDamages
Multiple severe injuries with special damages (e.g. private corrective surgery, lost earnings, and counselling)Serious through to severeUp to £150,000+ with special damages
Wrist injuries(A) Resulting in loss of function£62,910 to £79,080
(B) Significant, permanent disability£32,370 to £51,750
(C) Less severe£16,640 to £32,370
(D) Recovery taking more than one year£8,030 to £13,670
(E) Uncomplicated Colles fractureIn the region of £9,820
(F) Minor or undisplaced fractures£4,670 to £6,270

Factors That Affect Your Payout

As seen above, the amount of compensation which may be awarded could differ depending on the type of injuries suffered. In addition, other factors may be taken into consideration, such as:

  • The type of wrist fracture sustained.
  • Your prognosis for recovery and how long this may take.
  • What special damages may be taken into consideration (discussed below).

Special Damages – What You Need To Know

Special damages consider financial losses, compensating victims for past and future expenses into consideration. Examples of losses may include:

  • Lost wages.
  • Medical expenses related to your wrist injury.
  • The cost of care or help in the home.
  • Travel expenses related to attending medical appointments.

In order for personal injury claims to take special damages into consideration, claimants must supply invoices, payslips, receipts and bank statements.

Speak to our advisors today about how wrist injury compensation claims are valued.

Types Of Wrist Injury You Can Claim For

The wrist is a complex joint connecting the hand to the arm. It includes eight small bones, plus the ulna and radius bones in the forearm, as well as a complex network of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.

As such, there are several different types of wrist fractures. These include:

  • Scaphoid fractures – these are breaks in the small (scaphoid) bone close to the thumb.
  • An ulnar Styloid fracture – this is a fracture at the end of the ulna.
  • A Barton’s fracture – this is a fracture at the bottom of the radius, extending into the wrist.
  • Greenstick fractures – this may be seen in children, where the bone bends but does not completely break.
  • A Smith’s fracture – this is similar to a Colles fracture (discussed below) but where the wrist breaks whilst the palm is facing up.
  • Chauffeur’s fracture – features of the bottom of the radius (the radial styloid), close to the base of the thumb.
  • A comminuted fracture – this is a type of fracture in which the bone is broken in multiple (at least two) places.

Below, we look in more detail at two specific types of wrist fractures.

Distal Radius Fractures And Colles Fractures

Two of the most common forms of wrist fractures are Colles and distal radius fractures.

  • Distal radius fractures are one of the most common types of bone fractures, involving a break in the bone about an inch away from the wrist joint. This injury may be caused by someone falling onto an outstretched arm.
  • The Colles fracture is one of the most common forms of wrist fractures. It is a specific type of distal radius fracture in which the piece of broken bone is angled and displaced backwards.

If you suffered any of the types of wrist fractures discussed in this guide, you could make a compensation claim. Next, we look at how these injuries may be caused.

Common Causes Of Wrist Fractures

Wrist fractures could happen in a variety of different types of accidents. Below, we briefly look at the types of accidents which could cause wrist fractures.

An Accident At Work

Whether you are a full-time, part-time employee or a contractor, your employer has a duty of care to you. This is conferred under legislation such as The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They must take steps such as providing workers with personal protective equipment (PPE), carrying out risk assessments and ensuring work equipment is properly maintained.

For example,

  • A lack of proper safety guards on machinery leaves you exposed to moving parts. Your hand or wrist could get caught in machinery causing a break or fracture.
  • A lack of training could cause you to suffer a broken wrist. If you are asked to move roll cages but have not been shown how to safely do so your arm may get caught, fracturing the wrist and causing other types of arm injury.

Road Traffic Accidents

Road users have a legal duty of care to take reasonable care when using the roads and to do so in a way which does not endanger others. They must use the roads inline with the Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Highway Code.

For example,

  • A road user does not signal or check their mirrors before changing lanes. This could cause them to crash into the side of a vehicle, causing you to suffer a broken wrist.
  • A driver does not check before exiting a junction, striking a cyclist. When knocked off their bike, they may fall onto an outstretched arm, breaking their wrist.

Accidents In Public Places

Those in control of a public space (such as a public park, library or shop) are known as the occupier. They legally owe a duty of care to those visiting their premises. This duty of care is set out in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.

For example,

  • The rail on a staircase in a library may break due to a lack of maintenance, causing you to slip and trip down the staircase.
  • Slips, trips and falls could be caused by broken or damaged pavements. A council may have known about the defect but not have taken steps to fix it, resulting in someone falling and breaking their wrist.

Get in contact with our team for further information on how the average compensation for a broken wrist UK may be calculated.

A doctor treats someones wrist injuries.

How To Claim Compensation For a Fractured Or Broken Wrist

To claim compensation for a fractured or broken wrist, you will need to gather supporting evidence as well as ensure your claim is made within the legal time limit.

How Can I Prove Fault For My Broken Wrist?

To prove fault for your broken wrist, you will need to gather evidence that demonstrates how a third party’s negligent actions directly caused your injury. This may involve obtaining CCTV footage and dashcam recordings, and photographing disrepair in handrails, broken paving slabs, uneven flooring, or other contributing hazards.

Depending on where you broke your wrist, you can also request a copy of the accident book entry or police report. If the fracture was caused by a motorist, you should note down their contact information, insurance details, and vehicle registration.

While these are common examples, there are many other ways to strengthen your case. For more, you can refer to our dedicated guide on the evidence needed for a personal injury claim.

How Long After Breaking My Wrist Can I Claim Compensation?

After breaking your wrist, you generally have 3 years to claim compensation. This time limit runs from the date your accident took place, as set out within the Limitation Act 1980. Exceptions to this time limit may apply, which you can learn more about in our guide dedicated to the personal injury claims limitation period.

To see how we can help you gather supporting evidence and ensure your claim is submitted within the time limit, contact us today.

How Public Interest Lawyers Can Help A Broken Wrist Compensation Claim

Here at Public Interest Lawyers, we can help you with making a broken wrist compensation claim by applying our years of knowledge and expertise to achieve the best possible outcome. We understand that a fracture can impact every aspect of life, from your career to your ability to drive. This is why we will prioritise your long-term recovery and immediate needs by:

  • Connecting you with any occupational therapy or physiotherapy services needed to help you restore wrist strength and regain independence.
  • Ensuring your settlement accounts for all out-of-pocket expenses, including lost income and the cost of wrist support straps and rehabilitation.
  • Arranging an independent medical assessment to provide a detailed analysis of how the break impacts your grip strength, range of motion, and daily life.
  • Gathering evidence to support your wrist injury compensation claim, including X-ray scans detailing the nature of the fracture.
  • Using all the evidence we have helped obtain to ensure your wrist fracture claim is accurately valued, factoring in persistent pain and the long-term impact on function and movement.

These are only some of the services available from Public Interest Lawyers. To find out how we can help you with your claim, contact us today.

Broken Wrist Compensation On A No Win No Fee Basis With Public Interest Lawyers

Broken wrist compensation claims can be made on a No Win No Fee basis with us here at Public Interest Lawyers. We specifically offer to work on our clients’ claims under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement. With this particular No Win No Fee arrangement in place, you will not need to pay us for our services prior to starting work on your claim, while the claim is underway, or if we do not succeed in obtaining compensation for you.

However, should we successfully obtain compensation for you, we will take a legally limited percentage of this as our success fee.

To learn more about how we could help you with your personal injury claim, contact us today:

A personal injury solicitor helps someone to make a fractured wrist injury claim.

More Information

In addition to the resources and information provided above, you can learn more in these guides:

Further references:

Thank you for reading our guide on what the average compensation for a broken wrist UK is. Please get in touch with our team to find out how one of our personal injury solicitors could help you.