A broken jaw affects almost everything you do. Eating, talking, sleeping and even smiling can hurt for weeks, and some people are left with a numb lip or a bite that never feels quite right again. If someone else caused your injury — a careless driver, an employer who cut corners, or a person who attacked you — you may be able to claim.
This guide explains how fractured jaw compensation works in England & Wales: what affects the amount, how eye socket and cheekbone fractures are valued, what to do if you were assaulted, and how our broken bone claims team can help on a No Win No Fee basis.
How Much Compensation for a Fractured Jaw?
There is no fixed figure. Fractured jaw compensation is valued using the Judicial College Guidelines, which judges and insurers use to put a figure on pain, suffering and loss of amenity. A simple break that heals fully sits at the lower end, while multiple fractures with permanent problems sit at the top. Money you have lost because of the injury, such as wages, is added on top.
| Severity | What it typically looks like | Where it tends to sit |
|---|---|---|
| Simple fracture, full recovery | A single break treated with wiring or plates that heals completely | Lower bracket |
| Serious fracture with lasting effects | Ongoing difficulty opening the mouth or eating, numbness in the lip or chin, or a changed bite | Middle bracket |
| Very serious or multiple fractures | Several breaks, prolonged treatment and permanent pain, disability or risk of arthritis in the jaw joint | Upper bracket |
We haven’t printed pound figures in this table on purpose. The 18th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines came out in April 2026, and we’d rather value your claim on your own medical evidence than on a number lifted from a chart. Awards depend on that evidence and are never guaranteed. For a broader picture of how injuries are valued, see our UK compensation payouts guide.
What Affects the Value of a Broken Jaw Claim?
Two people with the same fracture on an X-ray can end up with very different awards. That’s because compensation follows the effect on your life, not just the break itself. Things we look at include:
- The type and number of fractures — a single clean break of the lower jaw (mandible) is very different from fractures on both sides, or a break near the jaw joint (the condyle).
- The treatment you needed — many jaws are fixed by a maxillofacial surgeon with small titanium plates, while others are wired shut for several weeks, meaning a liquid diet and weight loss.
- Nerve damage — the nerve running through the lower jaw can be bruised or cut, leaving tingling or numbness in the lip and chin, sometimes permanently.
- Your bite and jaw joint — a misaligned bite, clicking or pain in the jaw joint, or difficulty opening your mouth fully.
- Damage to your teeth — broken or lost teeth often go hand in hand with a jaw fracture.
- Scarring — from the injury itself or from surgery.
- Psychological effects — anxiety, low mood or post-traumatic stress, which are especially common after an assault.
Financial losses are added on top
As well as compensation for the injury, you can claim back money you’ve lost or spent because of it. These are called special damages and can include:
- Lost earnings, including overtime or bonuses you missed
- Private dental or cosmetic treatment not available on the NHS
- Prescription charges and travel to hospital and clinic appointments
- Care and help given by family or friends while you recovered
- Future losses, if your injury affects your work in the long term
Keep receipts, payslips and a simple diary from the start. It makes a real difference later.
Fractured Eye Socket and Cheekbone Compensation
A blow hard enough to break a jaw often damages other bones in the face too. The two we see most often are the cheekbone (the zygoma) and the eye socket (the orbit).
A fractured eye socket is often a “blowout” fracture of the thin floor beneath the eye. It can cause double vision, a numb cheek or upper lip, and in some cases a slightly sunken eye. A fractured cheekbone may flatten the shape of the face or make it painful to open your mouth. Some heal on their own; others need surgery to lift the bone back into place and hold it with plates. Treatment is usually led by an NHS maxillofacial team, working with eye specialists if your vision is affected.
The Judicial College Guidelines value facial bone fractures in their own brackets, from simple fractures that heal without surgery up to serious fractures needing reconstruction that leave permanent deformity. If your eyesight is affected, the guidelines for eye injuries may come into play as well. As with a broken jaw, your award depends on your recovery and is assessed on the medical evidence.
Facial fractures can also come with a head injury, even where the scan looks clear. If you’ve had headaches, memory problems or changes in mood since the accident, tell your GP and your solicitor. Our guide to head injury compensation explains more, and our brain injury claims team can help where symptoms persist.
Were You Assaulted? Claiming Through the CICA
Many broken jaws and facial fractures are caused by violence. Picture someone punched outside a bar on a night out in Leeds city centre, for example. The person who hit them is very unlikely to have insurance or money to pay compensation, so a normal civil claim against them rarely makes sense.
Instead, most assault victims claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), a government-funded scheme for blameless victims of violent crime. Key points to know:
- Report it to the police as soon as you reasonably can, and co-operate with their investigation.
- The attacker doesn’t need to be caught or convicted for you to apply.
- Apply within two years of the incident. Extensions are only allowed in exceptional circumstances, and different rules apply to people injured as children.
- Awards follow a fixed tariff set by the scheme, not the Judicial College Guidelines, so they’re often lower than a civil claim would be.
- Awards can be reduced or refused, for example if you have unspent criminal convictions or your own conduct contributed to the incident.
You can read the official rules on the GOV.UK criminal injuries page. Our guide to CICA claims explains the process step by step, and our criminal injury claims team can prepare the application and challenge a low offer.
Sometimes a civil claim is possible after an assault — for instance where an employer failed to protect staff from a known risk of violence. We’ll tell you honestly which route suits your situation.
Other Common Causes of Jaw and Facial Fractures
Not every facial fracture comes from violence. For example:
- Road accidents — a driver rear-ended in queuing traffic on the M1 near Wakefield could strike the steering wheel or be caught by the airbag at an awkward angle.
- Falls in shops and public places — a shopper who falls down a poorly lit staircase with a loose stair edge in a Halifax shop may be able to claim under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
- Accidents at work — a worker struck by a falling tool, or who falls from scaffolding on a Bradford building site, can usually claim against their employer, who must carry employers’ liability insurance by law.
These are illustrations, not real cases. Every claim turns on its own facts.
What to Do After a Broken Jaw
- Get medical help — go to A&E and attend every maxillofacial follow-up. Your records are key evidence.
- Photograph your injuries as they heal, and the place where it happened.
- Report it — to the police after an assault, in the accident book at work, or to the shop or venue manager.
- Note witnesses and ask about CCTV quickly, as footage is often kept only for a short time.
- Keep receipts and a record of time off work.
- Speak to a solicitor early so evidence can be gathered while it’s fresh.
How Long Do I Have to Claim?
For a civil claim in England & Wales, you normally have three years from the date of the accident under the Limitation Act 1980. For children, the three years starts on their 18th birthday, and different rules apply where someone lacks mental capacity. For a CICA claim, the limit is usually two years from the incident, so don’t wait.
Claiming on a No Win No Fee Basis
We handle fractured jaw and facial injury claims under a No Win No Fee agreement. There’s nothing to pay upfront, and if your claim doesn’t succeed you won’t pay our fees. If you win, our success fee is capped by law at 25% of the damages for pain, suffering and past losses. We explain every cost clearly before you sign anything, so there are no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much compensation could I get for a fractured jaw?
It depends on how serious the fracture was and how well you recover. Simple fractures that heal fully attract the lowest awards, while multiple fractures with permanent effects attract the highest. Lost earnings and other expenses are added on top, and nothing is guaranteed.
Can I claim if I was assaulted and the attacker was never caught?
Yes. You can usually apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority even if nobody is caught or convicted, as long as you reported the assault to the police and apply within two years.
Is a fractured eye socket valued differently from a broken jaw?
Yes. Eye socket and cheekbone fractures have their own brackets in the Judicial College Guidelines, and eye injury guidelines may also apply if your vision is affected. Where you have several facial fractures, they are valued together.
How long do I have to claim for a broken jaw?
Usually three years from the date of the accident for a civil claim, starting from the 18th birthday for children. Criminal injury claims through the CICA normally have a two-year limit.
Will I need a medical examination?
Yes. An independent medical expert, often a maxillofacial specialist, will examine you and write a report on your injuries and recovery. We arrange this for you, usually close to home.
Get Advice on Your Fractured Jaw Claim
A broken jaw or facial fracture is painful and frightening, and you shouldn’t have to carry the cost of someone else’s actions. Din Solicitors helps injured people across England & Wales, and we’ll give you straight, honest advice about whether you can claim. Start your claim online or call 01422 647175 for a free, no-obligation chat.
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.