Broken Barbed Wire And Razor Wire Injury Claims – UK Guide

By Lewis Aaliyah. Last Updated 14th July 2023. Welcome to our guide on razor and barbed wire injury claims. In it, we explore when you could claim for an injury caused by broken barbed wire or razor wire in the UK. We also answer the question ‘Is barbed wire legal in the UK?’

When Could I Claim For A Barbed Wire Injury? Is Barbed Wire Legal In The UK?

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How to claim for a razor wire injury

If an organisation or individual uses barbed wire in a negligent manner, it could cause injuries to people. You could make a personal injury compensation claim following a barbed wire injury if you can establish that your injury was ultimately caused by the negligent behaviour of someone else. 

You’re welcome to contact us online by using our live chat service or complete our claim online form. If you’d prefer to call us, you can do so on 020 3870 4868

Services And Information

  1. I Was Cut On Barbed Wire – Am I Eligible To Claim?
  2. What Is A Razor Wire Injury?
  3. Types Of Barbed Wire Injuries
  4. Injuries Caused By Broken And Damaged Barbed Wire
  5. Compensation Payouts For A Razor Wire Injury In 2022
  6. Barbed Wire Injury – What Treatment Should I Get?
  7. Complications And Infections Caused By Razor Wire Injuries
  8. Is It Legal To Use Razor Wire Or Barbed Wire In The UK?
  9. How Much Time Do I Have To Claim For A Razor Wire Injury?
  10. I Suffered A Razor Wire Injury, What Should I Do?
  11. Claim For Barbed Wire Injuries With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
  12. Other Information Relating To Injuries Caused By Broken Barbed Wire Or Razor Wire In The UK

I Was Cut On Barbed Wire – Am I Eligible To Claim?

Before we discuss if you are eligible to claim after being cut on a barbed wire, it’s important that you understand what duty of care is owed to you. When you are in a public place, under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, the occupiers or owners of that land have a duty of care to ensure you are reasonably safe whilst visiting.

In order to seek personal injury compensation, you need to prove that the occupier breached their duty of care they owed you and caused you to sustain harm as a result.

Furthermore, you must begin court proceedings within the limitation period to avoid the risk of your personal injury claim becoming statute-barred. We’ll go into more detail about the time limits involved with razor wire fence claims later on in this guide.

What Is A Razor Wire Injury?

A person can be injured if they come into contact with razor wire or barbed wire. These types of injuries can potentially occur if the wire is set up in a negligent way.

When a person or party puts up barbed wire or razor wire, they (or whoever is responsible for maintaining it) owes the public a duty of care. This means whoever is responsible for maintaining the wire should take reasonable steps to make sure the wire is set up in a way where it is unlikely to cause injuries by accident.

Razor wire which is poorly set up or maintained could unintentionally cause an injury to someone. A person injured by razor wire may not have been making any attempt to trespass at the time they were hurt. In such cases, the injured person could make a compensation claim.

Types Of Barbed Wire Injuries

Razor wire and barbed wire can both be considered dangerous since contact with either can very easily lead to cuts and other serious injuries.

Both barbed and razor wire are installed in order to deter intruders and obstruct anyone who tries to trespass into an area. If they are installed in an appropriate and responsible manner, then they are usually unlikely to harm people in an accident.

Razor and barbed wire may become more dangerous if it is broken or damaged. That’s because it may end up in places it is not meant to be and someone could accidentally catch themselves on it.

Injuries Caused By Broken And Damaged Barbed Wire

It’s possible for barbed wire which is broken or damaged to cause different types of injuries. As mentioned earlier, barbed and razor wire can cause cuts, lacerations and puncture wounds to a person who is exposed to it. This still applies even if the wire is broken or damaged. Someone could accidentally be exposed to barbed wire if it’s broken or damaged, as it could end up in an area it’s not meant to be located.

Broken barbed wire could also be accidentally tripped on. A slip, trip or fall caused by broken barbed wire could cause a vast range of potential injuries. These can include head injuries, dislocated or broken bones and other injuries to the back, shoulder fractures and broken limbs such as a broken elbow or broken leg.

If you’ve been harmed in such a way, please get in touch with our personal injury claims team.

Compensation Payouts For A Razor Wire Injury In 2022

When you suffer a razor wire injury as a result of third-party negligence, you may wonder what kinds of compensation you may be eligible to receive. In most successful personal injury cases, your compensation may include general damages, and special damages. Every successful case is awarded general damages, as this compensates you for your injuries such as razor wire wounds, as well as the effects they have or will have on your life.

You can find some examples of potential compensation amounts in the table below, with figures taken from the 2022 edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a document used by legal professionals to help value claims.

Edit
Injury Severity Compensation
Digestive System – Damage Resulting From Traumatic Injury (i) Severe damage with continuing pain and discomfort £43,010 to £61,910
Digestive System – Damage Resulting From Traumatic Injury (ii) Serious non-penetrating injury causing long-standing or permanent complications £16,790 to £27,760
Digestive System – Damage Resulting From Traumatic Injury (iii) Injuries which are penetrating or include lacerations £6,610 to £12,590
Elbow Injury Moderate or Minor injuries which may include lacerations Up to £12,590
Hand Injury Moderate injuries including penetrating wounds, tissue damage and deep lacerations £5,720 to £13,280
Knee Injury Moderate injuries which may include lacerations £14,840 to £26,190
Foot Injury Modest injuries which may include lacerations Up to £13,740
Toe Injury Moderate injuries which may include lacerations Up to £9,600
Brain or Head Injury Minor damage £2,210 to £12,770
Back Injury Minor damage £4,350 to £7,890

The figures provided are only guideline amounts, and as such any compensation you might receive may differ. For a free estimated value of your claim, contact our advisors today. They can provide free legal advice surrounding your razor wire injury claim.

What Other Damages Could I Get For A Broken Barbed Wire Injury?

You could receive additional payments for ‘special damages’, which cover any financial losses caused directly by your barbed wire injury. Examples of things you could receive compensation for under special damages include the following:

  • The cost of medical treatments for your razor/barbed wire injury.
  • Travel costs that have accumulated attending appointments for medical treatment.
  • Loss of earnings due to having to take unpaid time off work because of your razor/barbed wire injury.

To get a more precise estimate of your potential compensation award or to learn what else can be factored into personal injury compensation claims, please get in touch with our team.

Barbed Wire Injury – What Treatment Should I Get?

When you suffer a barbed wire injury, we recommend you prioritise seeking medical attention. According to the NHS guide to cuts and grazes, most injuries of this nature, such as a cut from barbed wire, will likely start to heal on their own within a few days. However, in certain circumstances, you may need to consider seeking medical help.

If you’ve been cut by barbed wire and want to know more about making a claim, get in touch with our advisors at any time.

Complications And Infections Caused By Razor Wire Injuries

One of the potential dangers of getting a cut or puncture wound from razor wire is that such an injury could potentially become infected. This is more likely to happen if the razor wire which caused the injuries is dirty or rusted. Also, there may be the risk that dirt could get into the wounds at a later point.

You may be able to treat small wounds caused by razor wire in order to prevent infection. However, if you have any large wounds, then it’s best to see a medical professional who can help as soon as possible.

A wound may increase in redness, swelling or pain when it is infected, and it may be warm to the touch. Other symptoms of an infection include:

  • Aches and pains
  • Fever and chills
  • Nausea
  • Unusual colour or discharge around the wound
  • Vomiting

Is It Legal To Use Razor Wire Or Barbed Wire In The UK?

Are you wondering, ‘is razor wire legal in the UK?’. It is within your right to set up barbed or razor wires as long as it is an area you own and not a public place. Additionally, you are allowed to put up a barbed wire fence if the fencing belongs to you. However, there is legislation you must consider when using barbed wire.

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1984, owners of a space have a duty of care to ensure the safety of all visitors to that property. You are obligated to put up appropriate signage if you are choosing to put barbed wire on your property.

Should your property back onto a public road, you must also abide by the Highways Act 1980. As outlined in the act, any barbed wire you install must not be hazardous or pose a risk to drivers.

An expert personal injury lawyer from our panel can guide you through any questions you might have about legislation in the UK if you get in touch.

How Much Time Do I Have To Claim For A Razor Wire Injury?

As in other cases of personal injury, you generally will have 3 years to start barbed wire injury claims. This time limit is in the Limitation Act 1980.  This time limit will begin on the date that your injury was sustained. The date of knowledge also can act as the start date of your 3-year time limit For example, any lacerations you suffered could become infected well after the accident date.

If you allow this time limit to expire, then your claim may be time-barred. However, there are some exceptions.

Child Razor Wire Injury Claims

If a child is injured by barbed wire then their time limit will not begin until their 18th birthday. This is because those under 18 cannot make a claim themselves. Before they reach adulthood, their claims can only be made on their behalf by a legal adult. They would be known in this context as a litigation friend. This may be a parent or guardian, for example.

The claimant will have 3 years from their 18th birthday to make the claim themselves if it has not already been made for them beforehand.

Barbed Wire Injury Claims For Those With A Reduced Mental Capacity

If the claimant lacks the mental capacity to claim, then their time limit is also suspended. The time limit will only begin if and when they are deemed capable of making their claim.

Before this date, their claim can only be made by a litigation friend.

If you’re confused by any of these time limits, get in touch with us today.

I Suffered A Razor Wire Injury, What Should I Do?

If you suffered a razor or barbed wire injury, you may wish to claim razor wire injuries compensation. However, to do so, you will need to supply evidence of your razor wire injuries and the breach in duty of care that caused them.

Evidence examples include:

  • Medical records
  • CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage
  • Photos of your injuries or the accident scene
  • Witness contact details

Is barbed wire legal in the UK – Ask a solicitor for claims advice

When you have finished gathering evidence, you may wish to hire a solicitor before submitting your claim. A solicitor can be very useful since they should be able to guide you through all the legal steps to follow when making a personal injury claim. We recommend that you choose a solicitor who has experience with handling claims involving a razor or barbed wire injury.

Claim For Barbed Wire Injuries With A No Win No Fee Solicitor

If you are interested in claiming for an injury or laceration caused by barbed wire or razor wire, a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel may be able to help. If they agree to take on your case, they may offer you a kind of No Win No Fee arrangement known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

When claiming with a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis, they won’t charge you any upfront or ongoing fees. Additionally, you will not be obligated to pay for their services if the claim fails.

The only fee you will pay under this type of agreement comes only if your claim succeeds. This success fee is taken directly from your settlement award as a small percentage with a legislative cap, allowing you to keep the majority of what you receive.

Our advisors can tell you if you could be eligible to work with a solicitor from our panel. Through a free consultation, an advisor from our team can evaluate your claim and answer any questions you may have about the claims process. To learn more:

Other Information Relating To Injuries Caused By Broken Barbed Wire Or Razor Wire In The UK

You can check out some of our other guides below which may be useful to your potential personal injury claim:

Additional links you may find useful:

If you have any other questions related to is barbed wire legal in the UK, our advisors can help.