Rib injuries are more than just painful, they can disrupt your daily life, lead to financial losses, and even result in serious complications if not properly treated. If you’ve suffered a rib injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Whether your injury happened in a road traffic accident, a workplace accident, or a public setting, this guide explains everything you need to know about making a personal injury claim.
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Jump To A Section
- How To Make Rib Injury Claims
- What Compensation Could I Get For A Rib Injury?
- What Types Of Rib Injuries Can I Claim For?
- The Common Causes Of Injured Ribs
- What Are Rib Injury Symptoms?
- How Can I Prove Negligence Led To My Rib Injury?
- No Win No Fee Rib Injury Claims
- Learn More
How To Make Rib Injury Claims
To make a successful rib injury compensation claim, the following eligibility criteria must be met:
- A third party owed you a duty of care.
- That duty was breached.
- You suffered a rib injury, such as fractured ribs, cracked ribs, or a collapsed lung, because of that breach.
Your claim must be supported by evidence showing how the accident occurred, the extent of the injuries you suffered, and the financial losses incurred.
Under UK law, duty of care is defined differently depending on the setting:
- Employers owe employees a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. If you suffer an injury in the workplace as a result of negligence, you could make an accident at work claim.
- Occupiers of public spaces are bound by the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. If you were injured in a public place as a result of negligence, you could make a public liability claim.
- Road users must follow the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code. If you suffer a rib injury as a driver, pedestrian, cyclist or passenger, you could make a road traffic accident claim.
If a breach of any of these duties caused your injury, you may be eligible to claim rib injury compensation.
Is There a Time Limit for Rib Injury Claims?
Yes, there is a time limit for bringing personal injury claims, including rib injury claims. According to the Limitation Act 1980, you have:
- 3 years from the date the injury happened, or
- 3 years from the date you became aware your injury was caused by negligence.
Exceptions include:
- Children: The time limit begins on their 18th birthday and ends on their 21st. Minors can’t claim for themselves.
- Adults without mental capacity: The time limit is paused for people who don’t have the needed mental capacity to make their own claims until they regain capacity.
A litigation friend may make a claim on behalf of someone unable to do so themselves. Contact a member of our advisory team to learn more.
What Compensation Could I Get For A Rib Injury?
Compensation in rib injury claims is divided into two categories:
- General damages: For the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by your injury.
- Special damages: For the financial losses and out-of-pocket expenses linked to your injury.
General damages reflect the physical pain, psychological trauma, and lifestyle limitations caused by your rib injury. This head of claim compensates for both short-term suffering and any long-term effects such as continuing disability or permanent damage. For example, if you’ve experienced ongoing chest pain, breathing difficulty, or reduced mobility due to fractured ribs, this would be reflected in your general damages award.
To calculate general damages, your solicitor will refer to your medical evidence and compare it with the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a publication used by legal professionals and the courts in England and Wales to value compensation in personal injury cases. It sets out bracketed figures for a wide range of injuries based on their severity and prognosis.
Below is a table of general damages amounts taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Please note that the first entry in this table is not a JCG figure.
| Injury | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with special damages, which covers financial lossse like lost earnings | Up to £500,000+ |
| Severe chest trauma involving lung removal or heart damage | £122,850 to £183,190 |
| Chest injury affecting lungs or heart | £80,240 to £122,850 |
| Injury to chest and lungs leading to ongoing symptoms | £38,210 to £66,920 |
| Penetrating chest wound causing permanent tissue damage | £15,370 to £21,920 |
| Collapsed lung injuries that heal fully without complications | £2,680 to £6,500 |
| Rib fractures or chest bruising causing intense pain and short-term disability | Up to £4,820 |
Can My Rib Injury Compensation Cover Other Damages?
Yes. In addition to general damages, you may be able to claim compensation for special damages, including:
- Lost earnings from time off work
- Medical expenses, including physiotherapy and private care
- Travel costs for hospital or rehabilitation appointments
- Home care or paid assistance during recovery
- Special equipment like rib braces or support pillows
- Modifications to your home if you’ve suffered permanent damage
To recover these costs, you’ll need to retain receipts, invoices, and records. Speak to a member of our team today to learn more about compensation in rib injury claims.
What Types Of Rib Injuries Can I Claim For?
You may be eligible to make a rib injury compensation claim for a range of injuries, such as:
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Rib Fractures: Common in falls, car crashes, or sports. Can range from minor cracks to multiple breaks.
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Flail Chest: Multiple rib fractures cause part of the chest wall to move abnormally, impairing breathing.
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Pneumothorax: A collapsed lung, often caused by a rib puncturing lung tissue.
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Hemothorax: Blood builds up between the lung and chest wall, often from a broken rib.
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Major Vessel Damage: Upper rib fractures can tear the aorta or other large arteries.
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Organ Damage: Lower rib breaks may injure internal organs like the liver, spleen, or kidneys.
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Pulmonary Contusion: Bruised lung tissue from blunt chest trauma, affecting breathing.
If you’re wondering whether you could be entitled to make a rib injury compensation claim, speak to our team today.
The Common Causes Of Injured Ribs
Below are typical causes of rib injury claims and how negligence might be involved:
Road Traffic Accidents
- A driver speeds through a red light and collides with your vehicle, resulting in fractured ribs and shoulder injuries.
- A cyclist is struck by a car door opening unexpectedly, causing cracked ribs and a serious injury to the chest wall.
Accidents At Work
- You fall from faulty scaffolding due to your employer’s failure to conduct proper safety checks, resulting in a broken rib injury.
- Working in a warehouse without proper training causes overstacked boxes to fall on you, leading to bruised ribs and muscle strain.
Public Liability Accidents
- A shop fails to clear a spill, causing you to slip and hit your rib cage on a shelf.
- In a park, faulty play equipment collapses, leading to fractured or broken ribs in a child.
These are only a few examples of how rib injury claims can come about. Even if you don’t see your situation here, you may still be able to claim. Contact us today.
What Are Rib Injury Symptoms?
If you suspect a rib injury, watch for the following symptoms:
- Sharp chest pain, especially when breathing or coughing
- Swelling or tenderness around the ribs
- Bruising or discolouration
- Crackling sensation at the time of injury
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain when twisting or moving the upper body
These may indicate fractured or broken ribs or other chest injuries. Always seek medical attention promptly.
Our team can give information on making a rib injury claim when you get in touch today.
How Can I Prove Negligence Led To My Rib Injury?
You’ll need strong evidence to support your rib injury claim and show how a duty of care was breached. Examples include:
- Medical reports detailing your injuries and treatment
- Photographs of visible bruising or hazards at the scene
- Witness contact details to give statements later
- CCTV or dashcam footage
- Accident report book entries (for workplace or public accidents)
- Police reports (especially for road traffic incidents)
- Receipts for expenses such as travel or medical care
If you need help collecting evidence, our panel of personal injury solicitors can assist. Speak to an advisor today to learn more.
No Win No Fee Rib Injury Claims
Making a compensation claim after a rib injury might feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With UK Law, you can work with a solicitor from our panel under a No Win No Fee agreement, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This arrangement is designed to help you pursue your claim without needing to cover your solicitor’s costs upfront.
Here’s how it works:
- You won’t be asked to make any payments to your solicitor before your claim begins.
- There will be nothing to pay them while the claim is ongoing.
- If your case is successful, a small, legally capped success fee is deducted from your compensation.
- If your case is unsuccessful, there’s nothing to pay your solicitor for the work they’ve done.
It’s a practical and accessible way to seek justice with a solicitor, especially during a time when you may be recovering from a painful injury or facing unexpected costs.
When you claim with UK Law, our panel of experienced personal injury solicitors will:
- Build the strongest case possible using all available evidence
- Handle all communication with insurers or third parties
- Ensure your claim is brought within the correct time limit
- Keep you updated at every stage
We’re committed to making the process simple, transparent and focused on your needs.
Contact UK Law
If you’ve suffered broken or bruised ribs, a collapsed lung, or any other chest injuries due to someone else’s negligence, don’t wait. UK Law is here to help you claim the compensation settlement you deserve.
Our team of experienced advisors is available to answer your questions, assess your claim, and connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel.
- Contacting us online
- Calling us on 020 3870 4868
- Using the live chat feature
Learn More
For more helpful guides:
- Learn how to make a claim for a fracture of the humeral head
- Find out how to make a hip injury compensation claim
- Get help making a claim for a broken nose
Or, for further resources:
- Information on broken ribs from the NHS
- Learn how to request CCTV footage of yourself
- Get health and safety basics from the HSE
Thank you for reading our guide to rib injury claims.
