Broken Sternum Compensation Claims In The UK
By Cat Reeves. Last Updated 24th November 2023. Any injury to the lungs or chest cavity can be extremely alarming and create long-lasting problems for the sufferer. Any type of heavy impact onto the front of our body could result in cracked ribs or damage to an area called the sternum, a long bone in the centre that connects to our ribs. You might be eligible for broken sternum compensation if your injury was caused due to the lapse of the duty of care owed to you by a third party.
At UK Law we offer guidance and help to anyone thinking of starting a claim for damages for a personal injury such as this. Before you begin your claim it’s important that you feel confident the accident occurred because of negligence on the part of another. Why not:
- Call our friendly team right now on 020 3870 4868
- Start your claim online
- Refer to the ‘live support’ option for instant help
Broken sternum compensation claims guide
Services And Information
- When Could You Claim For A Broken Sternum?
- What Is A Fractured Sternum Worth?
- Broken Sternum Claim Time Limits
- Fractured Sternum Compensation – Evidence Examples
- Claiming For A Sternum Fracture With A No Win No Fee Lawyer
- Related Guides
When Could You Claim For A Broken Sternum?
In order to claim broken sternum compensation, you have to make sure that your case meets the personal injury claims criteria. This means that you have to be able to prove that:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- This duty of care was breached.
- You suffered a broken sternum as a result of this.
When and where you could be owed a duty of care can vary, but some common examples include:
- At work: Your employer owes you a duty of care to keep you safe while working. This is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). They must take reasonable steps to help ensure your safety.
- On the roads: Those using the roads owe one aother a duty of care to prevent harm to themselves and others while using the roads. To uphold this duty, they have to follow the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988.
- In public: The controllers of public spaces owe a duty of care to visitors. This means that they must ensure their reasonable safety while using the space for its intended purposes, as outlined in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
To find out if you could be eligible to claim for a broken sternum, contact our team of advisors today and start your free consultation. Or, read on to learn more about fractured sternum compensation claims.
What Is A Fractured Sternum Worth?
If you have sustained a broken breast bone injury due to a breach of duty of care, you may be eligible to claim. However, we cannot provide an average payout for a broken sternum, as every case is assessed according to the individual circumstances. You could receive both general and special damages.
General damages aims to compensate claimants for the pain and suffering they experienced as a result of their injury. The amount would depend on the severity of your broken breastbone injury and the impact on your quality of life.
Legal professionals also consider compensation amounts from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to guide them when valuing claims. This document was last updated in 2022 and includes figures based on past successful court claims. The table below shows figures from the JCG, except for the top entry.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries + Financial Losses | Multiple severe injuries, combined with significant financial losses, such as lost earnings. | Up to £200,000+ |
| Chest (a) | The claimant has suffered serious heart damage and/or total removal of a lung causing pain and significant scarring from their injuries. The award considers their age, scarring, capacity to enjoy life and life expectancy. | £100,670 to £150,110 |
| Chest (b) | The claimant has suffered permanent damage and functioning impairments from a traumatic injury. In this bracket, their life expectancy is reduced. | £65,740 to £100,670 |
| Chest (c) | The claimant experiences continuing disability due to damage to their chest. The award considers life expectancy, enjoyment of life, scarring and their age and gender. | £31,310 to £54,830 |
| Chest (d) | The claimant has permanent tissue damage but no significant long-term problems with lung function due to a relatively simple injury, such as a single stab wound. | £12,590 to £17,960 |
| Chest (f) | The claimant has made a full and uncomplicated recovery from collapsed lungs. | £2,190 to £5,320 |
| Chest (g) | The claimant experiences serious pain and disability over the course of a few weeks from rib fractures or soft tissue injuries. | Up to £3,950 |
What Else Can You Get Compensation For In A Fractured Sternum Claim?
You may be eligible to claim special damages as part of your fractured sternum claim. This aims to compensate people for how their injuries, or the harm they have suffered, has financially affected them.
If your cracked sternum had a financial effect on you, you could potentially claim these costs back. For example:
- Medicine or treatment costs
- Loss of income
- Paying for aids to help you cope with your injuries
- Travel expenses
Our list is not comprehensive – you can make a claim for any legitimate injury-related financial loss. Please reach out to one of our advisers to learn how much your fractured sternum injury could be worth in a claim.
Broken Sternum Claim Time Limits
Now that we have discussed the average payout for a broken sternum, you might be interested in knowing the time limits involved when beginning a claim. The time limit to take action is referred to as the limitation period and is set out in the Limitation Act 1980. Usually, you have three years to start a claim after suffering a broken sternum.
The limitation period is suspended for injured minors. The three-year time limit would instead begin on their 18th birthday, unless a litigation friend acts on their behalf. Anyone can be a litigation friend, such as a parent or guardian, but they must not have conflicting interests with the claimant.
If someone suffers a broken sternum but lacks the mental capacity to make their own claim, the limitation period is suspended unless they ever regain mental capacity. Again, a litigation friend can start a claim on their behalf.
Please get in touch if you are unsure whether or not you are within the time limit to take action. Our advisors can confirm free of charge and may also be able to connect with an experienced injury lawyer from our panel.
Fractured Sternum Compensation – Evidence Examples
Generally, evidence will need to show that you were owed a duty of care, and that this was breached, causing your injury.
If you, for example, suffered a broken sternum in a car accident, evidence could include:
- CCTV footage of the accident
- Photographs of the accident cause or injury
- The contact details of any witnesses willing to give a statement
- Medical reports
If you have suffered financial loss as a result of a broken sternum, you could potentially claim this back too if you had evidence such as receipts, invoices and payslips.
To learn more about what could help you claim fractured sternum compensation, please speak to a member of our team.
Claiming For A Sternum Fracture With A No Win No Fee Lawyer
If you are eligible to make a personal injury claim for a broken sternum, one of the lawyers on our panel could help you. They have lots of experience with various types of personal injury claims. Additionally, they will typically offer their services under a type of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
When a lawyer works with you on a No Win No Fee basis, they don’t charge you any upfront or ongoing fees. Additionally, if your claim is not successful, you won’t be asked to pay for your lawyer’s services.
However, if your lawyer is successful, they will take a legally capped success fee from the compensation awarded to you for your sternum fracture.
If you get in touch with our advisors, they could help you estimate the value of a fractured sternum claim. Additionally, they could connect you with one of the lawyers from our panel, if they believe you could be eligible to make a claim.
To speak with an advisor:
- Call 020 3870 4868
- Start your claim online.
- Use our live chat.
Related Guides
We appreciate you taking the time to read this guide on broken sternum compensation. In addition to the highlighted links throughout this article that offer more help, below are more resources to help in other areas of personal injury claims:
- Are you a victim of dental negligence?
- Or was it an accident in a shop?
- Read here about data breach compensation
- We can help with medical negligence claims
- Lastly, help with pedestrian accident claims
If you suffered a broken sternum because of negligence, we can help. Call our friendly team right now on 020 3870 4868 or email or write to us at UK Law.co.uk. You can also refer to the ‘live support’ option for instant help
Writer FE
Checked by EI.
