Upper limb injury compensation

Arm, hand and shoulder damage can be caused by a single accident or by industrial disease.

Examples of disease are the so called Repetitive Strain Injury (or Work Related Upper Limb Disorder) cases, where prolonged use of vibrating tools or exposure to an ergonomically unsuitable work station or work equipment or process causes symptoms.

Vibration White Finger is often found in people who have used hand-held vibrating tools like road drills and chainsaws, especially in the construction and mining industries.

Poor working conditions can cause a variety of complaints, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, tenosynovitis and tendonitis. These claims can be difficult to prove, in terms of establishing a breach of workplace regulations or that a breach caused the symptoms, but they are worth pursuing where possible because they can involve serious injuries requiring surgery and sometimes leading to the Claimant’s loss of job and livelihood. Secretaries and other keyboard users can be vulnerable to these types of injury.

Fractures to the long bones and joints are common injuries. Fractures that recover uneventfully usually attract damages of £3500 to £4500. Those involving the joint and the risk of osteoarthritis and those requiring surgery are valued higher. The most serious fractures are worth more than £20,000 and amputation cases are valued at up to £110,000.

Personal injury compensation is divided into two main categories, one for the injuries themselves (general damages) and a second for the financial losses caused by the injury (special damage). This second category includes compensation for loss of earnings, care, and medical expenses. In amputation cases the special damage claim will often be worth several hundred thousand pounds because of the need for prosthetics and other equipment.