A broken wrist is one of those injuries people tend to underestimate until it happens to them. Suddenly you can’t drive, type, lift a kettle or do up your own buttons, and the weeks in a cast can stretch into months of physiotherapy. If someone else caused your accident, you may be able to claim fractured wrist compensation for the pain, the disruption and the money it has cost you.
This guide explains how wrist and hand fractures are valued in England & Wales, what the current court guidelines say, and how broken bone claims actually work, in plain English.
How Much Fractured Wrist Compensation Could You Get?
It depends mainly on how badly the wrist was broken and how well it recovers. A fracture that heals fully within a few months sits at the lower end of the scale, while a wrist left permanently stiff, painful or weak can attract a five-figure award, and a complete loss of function can reach around £79,080 for the injury alone.
Judges and insurers start with the Judicial College Guidelines, which were updated in their 18th edition in April 2026. The figures below cover the injury itself (known as general damages). Your financial losses are worked out separately and added on top.
| Wrist injury (18th edition guidance) | Guideline bracket |
|---|---|
| Complete loss of function in the wrist | Up to around £79,080 |
| Significant permanent disability, but some useful movement remains | £32,370 – £51,750 |
| Less severe injury leaving some permanent disability, such as lasting pain or stiffness | £16,640 – £32,370 |
| Fracture or soft tissue injury that recovers fully | Lower awards, depending mainly on how long recovery takes |
These brackets are a starting point, not a promise. Where your claim falls will depend on your medical evidence, your age, your work and how the injury affects your daily life, so no award is guaranteed. For a rough feel for your own situation, try our personal injury claim calculator.
Common Types of Wrist and Hand Fracture
Distal radius and Colles fractures
The distal radius is the end of the forearm bone nearest your thumb, and it’s the most commonly broken bone in the wrist. A Colles fracture is a particular type, usually caused by putting your hand out to break a fall. Many are treated in a cast at an NHS fracture clinic, while displaced fractures may need manipulation or surgery with plates and screws. Distal radius fracture compensation follows the brackets above: a clean recovery sits towards the lower end, and lasting stiffness, weakness or arthritis pushes the value higher.
Scaphoid fractures
The scaphoid is a small bone at the base of the thumb. It’s often broken in a fall onto an outstretched hand, and it can be slow to heal because of its limited blood supply. Some people need a long period in plaster, and a minority need surgery from a hand surgeon if the bone doesn’t knit together.
Metacarpal fractures and broken hands
The metacarpals are the long bones across the back of your hand. A fractured metacarpal is common in falls, workplace crush injuries and car accidents, where your hands are gripping the steering wheel at the moment of impact. Hand injuries are valued under their own section of the guidelines, taking into account grip strength, dexterity and any deformity.
Scaphoid Fracture Compensation Amounts
Scaphoid fracture compensation is usually assessed under the same wrist brackets. If the bone heals well and you regain full movement, expect an award towards the lower end. If you’re left with non-union (where the bone fails to join), ongoing pain, reduced grip or early arthritis, the claim is likely to move into the higher brackets for permanent disability. Your hand surgeon’s or orthopaedic expert’s report is what decides this.
One point worth making clear: this guide covers accidents caused by someone else, such as a fall or a collision. If your concern is that a hospital missed or misdiagnosed your scaphoid fracture, that is a clinical negligence matter, which is a different area of law and isn’t covered here.
What Else Can You Claim For?
Alongside the injury award, you can claim back the financial losses the accident has caused you. These are called special damages, and for many people with a broken wrist they make up a large part of the claim:
- Lost earnings, including overtime and bonuses, while you were off work or on lighter duties.
- Care and help at home, even if it was given free by your partner or family.
- Treatment costs, such as private physiotherapy, splints or hand therapy.
- Travel costs to A&E, fracture clinic and physio appointments.
- Other out-of-pocket expenses, like taxis while you couldn’t drive, or help with gardening and cleaning.
Keep receipts and a simple diary from the start. It makes a real difference later.
How Wrist Fractures Usually Happen
Most broken wrists come from an instinctive reaction: you fall, and your hand goes out to protect you. Here are a few everyday examples of when a claim might arise:
- A slip in a shop. For example, a shopper in Huddersfield slips on spilt milk that has been left on a supermarket floor with no warning sign. Shops owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 to keep them reasonably safe. Read more about supermarket accident claims.
- A fall on a council pavement. For example, someone walking through Halifax town centre trips on a badly broken flagstone. Councils have a duty to maintain public highways under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980. Icy pavements are harder, because the duty to grit is limited to what is reasonably practicable, but some cases do succeed. See our guide to slip, trip and fall claims.
- An accident at work. For example, a warehouse operative in Wakefield falls from an unsecured step ladder. Employers must provide safe equipment and training, and they must carry employers’ liability insurance, so a claim doesn’t come out of your boss’s pocket. Find out more about accident at work claims.
- A road traffic accident. For example, a driver is hit in a side-impact collision on the A629 and fractures a wrist against the door or steering wheel.
Can I Make a Claim?
You can usually claim if three things are true: someone else owed you a duty of care, they fell short of it, and that caused your injury. In practice, the evidence that helps most is:
- Your A&E and fracture clinic records, including X-rays.
- Photos of where it happened, ideally taken before the hazard was cleaned up or repaired.
- Names and contact details of any witnesses.
- An accident book entry or incident report, if it happened at work or in a shop.
- CCTV, which you should ask for quickly as it’s often deleted within weeks.
Once a claim is under way, your solicitor will follow the Pre-Action Protocol, which gives the other side a set period to investigate and respond on fault. You’ll be examined by an independent medical expert, usually an orthopaedic or hand surgeon, whose report sets out your injuries and outlook.
How Long Do I Have to Claim?
In England & Wales you normally have three years from the date of the accident to start court proceedings, under the Limitation Act 1980. For children, the three years doesn’t start until their 18th birthday, and different rules apply where someone lacks mental capacity. It’s still worth acting early, while evidence is fresh.
Claiming on a No Win No Fee Basis
Most wrist fracture claims are run under a Conditional Fee Agreement, better known as No Win No Fee. If your claim isn’t successful, you don’t pay our fees. If it succeeds, a success fee is deducted from your compensation, and by law this is capped at 25% of your general damages and past financial losses. We explain all costs clearly before you sign anything, so there are no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much compensation do you get for a broken wrist?
It depends on the severity of the fracture and how well you recover. Under the 18th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines, wrist injuries leaving some permanent disability start at around £16,640, with complete loss of function reaching around £79,080. Fractures that heal fully attract lower awards. Financial losses are added on top, and every case is assessed on its own medical evidence.
Is a scaphoid fracture worth more than other wrist fractures?
Not automatically. It is valued on its effects, like any wrist fracture. However, scaphoid fractures can be slow to heal and occasionally fail to join, and if that leaves you with lasting pain or reduced grip, the claim may fall into a higher bracket.
Can I claim for a fractured metacarpal or broken hand?
Yes. If someone else was at fault, a fractured metacarpal or other hand injury can be claimed in the same way as a broken wrist. Hand injuries have their own guideline section, which looks closely at grip, dexterity and any lasting deformity.
Do I need to have been to hospital to claim?
You don’t need to have been admitted, but you should get your injury checked, usually at A&E or an urgent treatment centre. Medical records are key evidence, and an X-ray is normally needed to confirm a fracture.
How long does a broken wrist claim take?
A straightforward claim where fault is admitted can often settle within a year. If your recovery is slow or fault is disputed, it can take longer, because it is usually best to wait until your long-term outlook is clear before settling.
Get Advice on Your Wrist Fracture Claim
If you’ve broken your wrist or hand in an accident that wasn’t your fault, a short conversation will tell you where you stand. Din Solicitors is based in Halifax and helps injured people across England & Wales. There’s no obligation and no pressure. Start your claim online or call 01422 647175 for a free assessment.
This article is general information, not legal advice for your specific situation. Din Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 8008984). Last reviewed: October 2026.