Broken Bone Claims
Claim Compensation for Broken or Fractured Bones
Our lawyers will guide you through how to claim compensation for a broken or fractured bone, what compensation you can expect, and the steps involved in making a claim.
“Osbornes fields a specialist personal injury team with standout expertise in catastrophic trauma, regularly securing multimillion-pound settlements in spinal, brain, and amputation cases. “
“Osbornes is a well-regarded personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims.”
Broken Bone and Fracture Compensation Claims
Every year, thousands of people suffer fractured or broken bones due to accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. If you’ve experienced such an injury, you may be entitled to compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and other related costs.
This page provides a guide to fractured bone claims, explaining eligibility criteria, types of injuries, compensation payouts, and the evidence needed to support your claim. We’ll walk you through the claims process, including time limits and no win no fee agreements, and offer tips on choosing the right personal injury solicitor.
Table of Contents
Do I have a broken bone claim?
Whether your injury resulted from a car accident, an accident at work, playing sport, or your fracture was misdiagnosed, understanding your rights is the first step toward securing the support you deserve. You may be able to claim compensation if:
- The accident was caused by another person’s negligence (for example, a driver, employer, or business).
- The injury resulted in a broken or fractured bone.
- The claim is made within the legal time limit (usually three years).
If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, speak to our specialist broken fracture lawyers for advice.
Common types of fractures and broken bone injuries
Broken bones can range from relatively simple hairline fractures to severe, life-changing injuries. Common examples include:
Hairline Fracture Compensation
A hairline fracture is a small crack in the bone. Although sometimes dismissed as minor, it can cause significant pain and time off work. Compensation takes into account pain, suffering, and financial losses during your recovery.
Compound Fracture Compensation
In a compound fracture, the bone pierces the skin. This type of injury usually requires surgery and carries a risk of infection. Because recovery is long and complications are common, compensation payouts for compound fractures are typically higher.
Comminuted Fracture Compensation
A comminuted fracture happens when a bone shatters into multiple pieces. These complex injuries often require metal plates, rods, or pins to stabilise the bone. Claims for comminuted fractures can include long-term rehab costs and compensation for permanent disability.
Multiple Fracture Claims
Some accidents cause more than one broken bone — for example, multiple fractures to the arm, leg, or ribs. These injuries often mean lengthy hospital stays and long periods away from work. Our solicitors will make sure your claim reflects the full impact on your life.
Broken Vertebrae and Broken Back Claims
A broken back or fractured vertabra is one of the most serious types of bone injury. These injuries usually result from high-impact accidents, such as car crashes, falls from height, or severe sporting collisions.
Depending on the severity, a vertebra fracture may cause:
- Long-term pain and reduced mobility
- Nerve damage, including weakness or numbness
- Spinal cord injury, which can lead to paralysis
Because of the risk of permanent disability, compensation for broken back injuries is often higher than for other fractures. Claims typically include not only pain and suffering but also lost income, the cost of rehabilitation, home adaptations, and ongoing care.
Other Common Bone Injuries
- Broken wrists, ankles, or arms
- Fractured hips or legs
- Broken ribs or collarbones
- Finger, toe, and hand fractures
The severity of a fracture can have a major impact on your recovery and the amount of compensation you may be entitled to. Serious breaks, such as compound fractures where the bone pierces the skin, or comminuted fractures where the bone shatters into multiple pieces, often require surgery and can lead to long-term complications, including ongoing pain or reduced mobility.
At Osbornes Law, we work closely with medical experts to build a detailed picture of your injury and its impact on your daily life. This allows us to pursue the full compensation you deserve for pain, suffering, loss of earnings and any ongoing care needs.
How much compensation could you get for a fractured or broken bone?
Compensation depends on:
- The type and severity of the fracture – e.g. hairline vs compound.
- The impact on your daily life – mobility, pain, or long-term complications.
- Loss of income – if you’ve had to take time off work.
- Out-of-pocket expenses – such as travel, prescriptions, or care support.
The Judicial College Guidelines provide a framework for compensation ranges. As an example:
- Minor fractures with full recovery – a few thousand pounds.
- Serious, complex fractures with lasting disability – hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Each case is unique. Our personal injury solicitors will assess your circumstances and provide a realistic estimate.
What evidence do you need to support a claim?
Gathering evidence is crucial, as it forms the foundation for a successful payout. Useful evidence includes
- Hospital and GP medical records
- X-rays and scan results
- Accident reports (e.g. workplace or road traffic)
- Photographs of the accident scene and injury
- Witness statements
- Proof of financial losses (payslips, receipts, invoices)
We will help gather and present this evidence on your behalf.
How long do I have to claim compensation?
The general rule is that you must start your claim within three years of the accident date.
Exceptions apply:
- Children: the three-year limit starts from their 18th birthday.
- Mental capacity: the time limit may be paused until capacity is regained.
- Medical negligence: in some cases, time limits start from the date that you became aware that negligence occurred.
It’s best to speak to one of our personal injury solicitors as soon as possible to ensure that your claim is made within the time limit.
Starting the claims process
- The first step in making a broken bone compensation claim is to seek advice from our personal injury solicitors.
- They will assess your individual circumstances and determine if you have a valid claim.
- We will then guide you through the claims process, which includes gathering evidence, preparing the claim, and negotiating with the defendant.
- The claims process can be complex, but with the right support, our solicitors can help maximise the chances of being awarded compensation.
Why choose our personal injury solicitors?
Our expert personal injury solicitors can make a significant difference to the outcome of your claim. We have been successfully representing clients for over 50 years. Our specialist knowledge and expertise in broken and fractured bone claims means we can provide you with the best possible legal advice and representation.
- We have been ranked in The Times Best Law Firm Guide for six consecutive years.
- We are highly rated by independent guides ot the legal industry, including Chambers & Partners and Legal 500
- We have hundreds of reviews on Trustpilot and hold an ‘Excellent’ rating.
We have particular expertise in serious injury claims, where compensation figures can run into hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds. We act on a no win, no fee basis, so there’s no financial risk to you in bringing a claim.
Osbornes Law is also a proud member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), which represents solicitors, barristers, academics and students dedicated to supporting injured people.
Contact us
To speak with one of our solicitors, contact us by:
- Filling in our online enquiry form; or
- Calling us on 020 7485 8811
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Sam Collard, head of cycling, specialises in severe injury and fatal accident cases.
Rob Aylott leads on amputation disputes, often working with major trauma units.
Department head Sophie Davies handles severe injury and fatality matters with a focus on early rehabilitation.
Osbornes fields a specialist personal injury team with standout expertise in catastrophic trauma, regularly securing multimillion-pound settlements in spinal, brain, and amputation cases.
Excellent firm with a good insight into and prosecution of catastrophic PI work handled by an experienced team.
Osbornes fields a solid team of high quality practitioners, active in a range of catastrophic injury claims.
Osbornes prepares cases well; the whole team is good and lawyers there know their stuff.
They deal with people compassionately and take on the right amount of detail. The firm has some really brilliant key solicitors.
The personal injury team is responsive and its level of service towards clients and other professionals is exceptional and high quality
The team offers specialist expertise in cycling-related injury claims and regularly acts for foreign nationals.
It has considerable experience in cases arising from motor accidents and accidents at work
Osbornes is a well-regarded personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims.
Their team includes bright, hard-working solicitors dedicated to achieving successful outcomes for their clients from partner level to paralegal. Their client care is exceptional.
They are a team who are highly respected in the PI sector.
This is an excellent PI team doing a broad range of PI work.
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims, with notable strength in acting for European clients for whom English is not a first language.
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims.
"Osbornes always provides work of excellent quality and the advice is sound."
"The firm has the ability to handle the most sophisticated and complex matters."
"Osbornes is always client-focused and works tirelessly to obtain the best outcomes."
'The team deals with multi-million pound, often multifaceted claims, involving such factors as severe brain, psychiatric, gynaecological and spinal injury, major trauma, amputation and fatality.'
"They are a boutique firm with highly experienced partners who are well-respected in the industry."
"The team at Osbornes deals with catastrophic injury claims with the same professionalism as the largest firms, but provides a much more client-focused experience."
"A really first-rate team, well capable of dealing with the most serious and complex injuries."
"This team has carved out an exceptional reputation in catastrophic injury work."
"Osbornes has impressed me with their personal touch for clients whilst offering a first-class handling of catastrophic injury claims. The partners all have vast experience and are highly respected in their field."
"This is a really excellent personal injury team that can be regarded as one of the major players in the London claimant personal injury market."
"Osbornes have managed to recruit a team of outstanding catastrophic injury lawyers who are at the top of the game."
"They punch well above their weight. The quality of service they provide equals that of any of the larger top-name firms in this area"
Ben Posford is fiercely bright, with an unrivalled passion for his clients’ cases. His encyclopaedic knowledge of all things PI is second to none. His foresight and commercial nous have propelled Osbornes into the highest echelons of the market where they rightly belong.
The firm has an excellent and innovative line in cases involving non-English speaking claimants, managed by recruiting paralegals with multi-language skills – an impressive route for expansion of the caseload.
Great expanding team with expertise and respect in the sector. Led by a commercially savvy and business minded team.
A really excellent group of PI solicitors, notable for their individual quality.’
A niche firm that punches well above its weight in the catastrophic injury sector, borne out by the quality of work they obtain.
This combination of experience and diligence reaps massive rewards for clients, Osbornes being well known in the industry as a fantastic firm.
The Osbornes personal injury team now comprises some of the most technically adept and hard hitting lawyers in the business.
Ben Posford is one of London’s best catastrophic injury lawyers, in my view. He is a real brain injury specialist.
Excellent coverage of personal injury, and traumatic brain injury. There is a real specialism in claimants who do not speak English as a first language.
The group is noted for its expertise in matters relating to cycling injuries, and is the official legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign charity.
To complement its strong reputation for high-value and complex personal injury work, the firm continues to develop its 'excellent and innovative line in cases involving non-English speaking claimants'
"Osbornes comprises some of the most technically adept and hard hitting lawyers in the business"
"A small but high-powered team, dealing with cases of significant value and complexity."
"An excellent firm which achieves fantastic outcomes for clients."
"Osbornes Law have captured the magic of keeping the customer service levels of a smaller firm whilst having all the expertise and power of the biggest firms."
"A superb boutique catastrophic injury firm."
"Really good at dealing with people who have suffered a serious injury."
"Affable and charming with very good client-handling skills."
"superb firm with consummate professionals and a human touch."
Osbornes now has a team of highly experienced personal injury lawyers; particularly strong on high-value quantum cases, workplace accidents and claims involving foreign workers injured in the UK.
The team provides fantastic strength-in-depth for personal injury claims. It is also particularly well placed to service clients from Eastern Europe with specialist native language speakers. From the smallest case to a multimillion-pound spinal injury case, Osbornes has the right staff to manage every claim.
Ben Posford remains pre-eminent in his field with expert understanding of litigating cases of the upmost severity. His experience builds on Stuart Kightley’s running of the firm with recent partner additions of Rob Aylott making a fantastic addition.
A firm going from strength-to strength-which retains its client care whilst being able to offer a full personal injury service.
Beneath Ben Posford’s calm and reassuring presence, which clients love, lies a formidable tactical and legal brain. His experience tells and he gets it right at every stage of the process from arranging the best possible rehabilitation, to ensuring, so far as possible, a polite relationship with those acting for the defendant in order to ensure best and early resolution of the claim.
"Clients say he is very impressive, in terms of both his experience and his management of the personal injury team."
"They have an expanding profile in personal injury and clinical negligence and offer a superb, broad service in accidents abroad, enabled by their recruitment of bilingual legal executives who can guide non-English speakers through complex litigation."
"Solid personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims arising from fatalities and severe head and spinal injuries."
"Offers specialist expertise in cycling-related injury claims."
"Offers specialist expertise in cauda equina syndrome cases."
"An exceptional outfit. They take on difficult cases, fight hard and win."
"Stuart Kightley is an incredibly empathetic solicitor who is very knowledgeable about traumatic brain injury."
"They are an outstanding firm to work with. They are consistently impressive in their work."
"Osbornes often handles claims valued at over £1m, particularly relating to severe brain and spinal cord injuries and niche areas such as cauda equina syndrome and cycling accidents."
"The hard-working, thorough and committed Robert Aylott, who brings significant heavyweight personal injury experience."
"Key team members include the energetic and personable Stuart Kightley who is head of the personal injury department."
"Osbornes has a growing influence and impressive work load and is gaining a reputation for handling complex catastrophic work."
"Catastrophic injury cases head Ben Posford is an excellent practical litigator who offers exceptional service."
"Stuart is also very experienced in advising on fatal accidents and workplace accidents."
Thank you for the hard work and patience and for being so patient with my constant questions.
"I have found Osbornes to be thorough, clear and understanding from the initial call. They do exactly what they say they will and with passion! I would recommend them to anyone".
Very good efficient service. Would not hesitate to use again.
I will use Osbornes for any future needs.
I don't think I could have asked for anything more. One of the best dealings I've had with the legal profession.
Sam was excellent and very professional in dealing with our claim.
Head of the personal injury department, Stuart Kightley is a first-rate practitioner, wholly focused on getting his client the best outcome in a pragmatic, sensible and consensual manner.
As a real specialist in spinal cord injuries, Ben Posford is always looking at new angles on how to maximise his cases.
Ben Posford is one of the best catastrophic injury lawyers around.
They provide exceptional service, great knowledge and understanding of the law, excellent client care and tactical nous
Stuart Kightley is praised for his expertise in catastrophic and fatal claims. Clients say he is very impressive, in terms of both his experience and his management of the personal injury team.
My claim was dealt with efficiently and professionally. Communication was excellent, and timely. Shrewd and sound advice was provided at every stage of the claim from beginning through to completion. On the basis of my personal experience I would strongly recommend Osbornes.
I just wish to thank you for your hard work and successful outcome. I am pleased with the result and would recommend you and your firm to anyone in the future.
Ben Posford … is ‘tactically astute’ and ‘one of the best personal injury solicitors around’.
Ben Posford ‘knows how to maximise the value of the claim for his clients’.
