Humerus Fracture Compensation Claims In The UK
By Lewis Aaliyah. Last Updated 10th September 2025. The humerus is a long bone that makes up the upper arm and connects the arm to the shoulder joint. In an accident, the humerus bone can be broken. A break to the humerus may make it difficult for you to use your arm. For the pain, inconvenience and impact on your work and lifestyle that you suffer as a result, you could claim humerus fracture compensation.
Broken Humerus Compensation Claims In The UK
If you experience a fractured humerus in an accident that was caused by someone neglecting the duty of care they have towards you, you could be entitled to make a claim. You could be awarded compensation if you are able to provide proof that someone else’s negligence caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. We will look at the different scenarios in which you may have experienced a breach of duty of care.
A proper diagnosis is crucial for your recovery from a Humerus fracture. If medical negligence has led to a misdiagnosis, and as a result, you were made to suffer more than you would have if the injury had been diagnosed, you could be entitled to claim compensation for the avoidable harm and suffering you experienced. If you want to learn more about claiming compensation for a broken arm or for misdiagnosis of a fractured arm, contact us through the information below.
Get In Touch With Our Team
If you want to ask questions about what you have read here, or if you want to make an enquiry about making a compensation claim, you can contact our advice teams. Use the following methods to reach us:
- Our phone number 020 3870 4868
- The phone call request page
- Our live chat
Services And Information
- What Are The Different Types Of Humerus Fractures?
- How Do You Know If You Have Broken Your Arm?
- What Can Cause A Broken Arm?
- Broken Arm Compensation – How Is It Calculated?
- What Is A Misdiagnosed Fracture Of The Humerus?
- Why Could A Broken Arm Be Misdiagnosed?
- Is There A Time Limit On Broken Arm Injury Claims?
- What To Do Next
- No Win No Fee Claims For Humerus Fracture Compensation
- About Related Claims
- Broken Arm Compensation Claim FAQs
What Are The Different Types Of Humerus Fractures?
The different types of humerus fractures are categorised by location and are diagnosed via X-ray. It’s vital that you seek medical attention immediately, not only for your health but also to strengthen your humerus fracture compensation claim. To put it another way, your X-ray scans can be used as evidence to fortify your broken humerus compensation claim and will also articulate a timeline for your injury and subsequent treatment, which again, can be used as evidence.
The different types of humerus fractures are:
- Proximal humerus fractures – These occur in the uppermost part of the humerus, just below the shoulder joint.
- Mid-shaft humerus fractures – These fractures are located in the middle part of the humerus bone.
- Distal-end humerus fractures – These fractures happen towards the lower part of the humerus, just above the elbow joint.
Notably, the type of fracture to the humerus can also be further categorised by shape or complexity of the break:
- Simple Fractures: The bone has been broken cleanly into two pieces.
- Wedge Fractures: The bone has a triangular fragment.
- Complex Fractures: The bone has been broken into multiple pieces.
- Other Patterns: These can involve a range of different breaks, such as transverse, oblique, spiral, or segmental fractures.
It’s possible for some humerus fractures to be repaired with no further complications and can heal in as little as a few months. Other humerus fractures are not always as straightforward and can have a lengthy recovery period, as long as several years. Don’t worry, if the latter type of fracture happened to you and you’re looking at an extended recovery, this will be taken into account when your compensation is being calculated.
Whatever type of fracture you have, we can help you secure compensation for a fractured humerus. Ring us, contact us online or text us via our live chat so we can get the ball rolling.
How Do You Know If You Have Broken Your Arm?
It can sometimes be hard to tell if your arm is broken or if you’ve simply suffered a sprain or strain in your injured limb. However, there are a number of signs of a broken bone that you can look out for.
Some common signs of a fractured bone include:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Deformity
However, there may be other signs that you have suffered a broken humerus. For instance, you may notice a grinding or popping sound as the bone breaks. You may also find it difficult to move your arm or wrist without pain or tenderness. The pain caused by the injury may make you feel sick or dizzy.
Sometimes, but not always, you could be able to tell if a bone is broken by the affected area being bent out of its normal shape. In severe cases, the sharp broken ends of a bone could protrude from the skin. If this is the case, you should seek medical attention right away, as this could increase your risk of infection.
What Can Cause A Broken Arm?
Your arm bones could be broken in situations where too much pressure is put on them. This could be from a sudden impact, weight or strain being put on them, or too much repetitive strain and motion.
You may suffer a broken arm as the result of a slip, trip or fall. This could be the result of an accident at work or an accident in a public place. For instance, you may slip over a spill in work or while out in public that had not been cleaned up or signposted in a reasonable timeframe. This could result in you falling and putting your arm out to break your fall. In turn, this could cause you to break your arm.
The circumstances that caused your accident may be caused by a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (in the case of workplace accidents) or the Occupier’s Liability Act 1957 (in the case of accidents that occur in public places). If this is the case, then you could be owed compensation.
Similarly, you may suffer from a broken humerus as the result of a road traffic accident. This could be because another driver failed to adhere to the duty of care outlined in the Highway Code.
For instance, a driver may pull out of a junction when unsafe to do so. This could cause you to be hit as a pedestrian at a junction. The impact could result in your humerus being broken.
No matter how your injuries occurred, if you can show that they were caused by the negligence of someone who had a responsibility to ensure your safety, you may be able to claim compensation. Get in touch with our team today for free legal advice.
Broken Arm Compensation – How Is It Calculated?
If arm injury claims are successful, the settlement could be made up of two heads of claim:
- General damages – relates to the pain, suffering or loss of amenity caused directly by your injuries. For example, you might have broken your humerus and been unable to participate in your usual hobbies.
- Special damages – covers any financial loss or damage caused by your accident or injuries. For example, your injury may result in you taking time off work to recover. You may be compensated for a loss of earnings if you keep evidence of this harm, like a pay slip or invoice.
The table below was created using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG features compensation brackets relating to personal injuries such as a broken humerus bone. Legal professionals use this document when assessing general damages. Please note that the figures below should only be used as guidelines and the first entry has not been taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Compensation Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries With Special Damages | Up to £250,000+ | Multiple severe injuries with special damages such as care costs and property adapatations. |
| Severe Arm Injuries | £117,360 to £159,770 | Injuries are close to resulting in amputation. |
| Arm Injuries Resulting in Permanent and Substantial Disablement | £47,810 to £73,050 | One or both forearms may be seriously fractured. |
| Less Severe Arm Injury | £23,430 to £47,810 | A substantial degree of recovery is anticipated. |
| Severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | £73,050 to £122,850 | All aspects of your life are badly affected. |
| A Severely Disabling Injury to the Elbow | £47,810 to £66,920 | Symptoms will likely have a substantial impact on you. |
| Less Severe Injuries to the Elbow | £19,100 to £39,070 | Function may be impaired but it symptoms are not too grossly disabling. |
| Moderate or Minor Injury to the Elbow (iii) | Up to £15,370 | It may take three years to recover from your injury. |
| Severe Shoulder Injuries | £23,430 to £58,610 | May be associated with neck or arm injuries. |
| Serious Shoulder Injuries | £15,580 to £23,430 | A fractured humerus may lead to shoulder movement being restricted. |
| Moderate Shoulder Injuries | £9,630 to £15,580 | Symptoms persist for around two years. |
A solicitor will account for both general and special damages when valuing your personal injury claim. If you would like an evaluation of your claim, get in touch for a free consultation at any time.
What Is A Misdiagnosed Fracture Of The Humerus?
In some cases, your doctor may fail to diagnose a broken or fractured humerus. If this has happened, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim. To receive compensation, you need to show that the misdiagnosis caused you to suffer more than you would have if the injury had been properly diagnosed.
Misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of a fractured arm may be considered medical negligence. In order to show that your doctor was negligent, you will need to show that the care they provided fell short of the standard expected of their profession. To show whether or not a doctor was negligent, the court may administer something known as the Bolam Test.
In the Bolam test, a panel of the doctor’s peers will be asked if they would have acted in a similar way to the doctor when presented with the same information. If they can confirm that they would have acted differently, the doctor may be considered negligent. But if they say that they would have acted in the same way, the doctor may not be considered negligent as they have acted in accordance with the standard expected of their profession.
In order to claim compensation for harm called by medical negligence, it is not enough that you suffered; you need to prove that you experienced more pain and suffering than you would have if the injury had been properly diagnosed. For this reason, medical negligence claims can be complex. Get in touch with our team today for free legal advice around claims of this nature.
Why Could A Broken Arm Be Misdiagnosed?
There are a number of different ways that misdiagnosis could occur. Here are a few examples:
- Not performing X-rays, MRI’s, or CT scans correctly
- Failing to analyze the results of these scans correctly
- Not arranging for the correct scans to be carried out
- Failing to spot the outward physical signs of the broken bone
- Only spotting part of the fracture or thinking that the fracture is less serious than it is
- Administrative errors causing the results of a diagnosis to be misplaced
- Unreasonable delays in the diagnosing of the fracture
If medical negligence has caused you more pain and suffering than you would have if the injury had been correctly diagnosed, and the doctor can be said to have acted negligently, then you may be able to claim compensation. Our panel of personal injury solicitors could help you to make a medical negligence claim.
Is There A Time Limit On Broken Arm Injury Claims?
There is generally a three-year time limit to making a broken arm injury claim. However, there are some exceptions to this time limit that can apply.
For instance, if you were under 18 when you suffered a broken humerus as the result of a breach of duty of care, then you would not be able to claim on your own behalf while still underage. While you’re underage, the time limit is suspended, and a litigation friend can claim on your behalf. If no claim has been made for you by the time you turn 18, you have until your 21st birthday to make your own claim.
Similarly, some claimants may lack the mental capacity to claim on their own behalf. In these cases, a litigation friend can claim for them, and there is no time limit to do so. In the event that the claimant regains their mental capacity to claim, the three-year time limit is reinstated.
What To Do Next
While there is no legal obligation to seek legal representation in order to make a claim for humerus fracture compensation, we believe that the support and guidance of a solicitor could increase your claim’s chances of success.
In order to speak with us, you can get in touch via:
- Our phone number 020 3870 4868
- Our callback form
- The live chat at the bottom of the screen
The solicitors on our panel offer representation on a No Win No Fee basis. To find out more about what this means, read on to our next section.
No Win No Fee Claims For Humerus Fracture Compensation
When you seek the services of a solicitor to make a claim, you may be worried about the legal costs that this can incur. However, with a No Win No Fee agreement, you don’t need to worry about paying your solicitor upfront or while they work on your claim.
A No Win No Fee agreement is a contract between you and your solicitor that sets out what they need to do to receive payment. It means that you won’t be asked to pay them anything before your claim starts or while it’s ongoing. You also won’t be asked to pay them anything in the event that your claim is unsuccessful.
If your claim is successful, the solicitor’s fees will be covered by a small, legally capped percentage deducted from your compensation. This will be agreed upon beforehand between you and your solicitor.
About Related Claims
Broken Jaw Compensation Claims
Time Limits to Medical Negligence Claims
Can I Make A Claim Without Taking Time Off Work?
Check Your Eligibility For Statutory Sick Pay
Broken Arm Compensation Claim FAQs
Could I claim for complications caused by a broken bone?
The amount of compensation you could be owed for a broken bone could be influenced by any complications you experience. For instance, you may receive a higher amount of compensation if you suffer from damage to your radial nerve and your grip is permanently weakened as a result.
Can I claim for the long-term impacts of a break or fracture?
Sometimes, your injuries may cause long-term repercussions to your quality of life. For instance, depending on what your job is, a fractured humerus may prevent you from returning to work at all. In these cases, your future lost earnings may be taken into consideration when your compensation is calculated.
Am I eligible to claim compensation?
In order to claim compensation, you must show that your injuries resulted from a breach of duty of care that someone owed to you. If you can prove this, then you may be eligible to claim.
Thank you for reading our guide on humerus fracture compensation
Also read: A Guide On Claiming Compensation For A Fracture Of The Humeral Head.
Guide by KL
Published By NC
