Hand Injury Claims

Type Estimated (£)
(a) Total or Effective Loss of Both Hands £92,000 to £132,000
Serious injury resulting in extensive damage to both hands such as to render them little more than useless will justify an award of £85,000 or more. The top of the bracket is applicable where no effective prosthesis can be used.
(b) Serious Damage to Both Hands £36,000 to £55,500
Such injuries will have given rise to permanent cosmetic disability and significant loss of function.
(c) Total or Effective Loss of One Hand £63,000 to £72,000
This bracket will apply to a hand which was crushed and thereafter surgically amputated or where all fingers and most of the palm have been traumatically amputated. The upper end of the bracket is indicated where the hand so damaged was the dominant one.
(d) Amputation of Index and Middle and/or Ring Fingers £40,650 to £59,500
The hand will have been rendered of very little use and such grip as remains will be exceedingly weak
(e) Serious Hand Injuries £19,000 to £40,650
Such injuries will, for example, have reduced the hand to about 50 per cent capacity. Included would be cases where several fingers have been amputated but rejoined to the hand leaving it clawed, clumsy and unsightly, or amputation of some fingers together with part of the palm resulting in gross diminution of grip and dexterity and gross cosmetic disfigurement.
(f) Less Serious Hand Injury £9,500 to £19,000
Such as a severe crush injury resulting in significantly impaired function without future surgery or despite operative treatment undergone.
(g) Moderate Hand Injury £4,100 to £8,700
Crush injuries, penetrating wounds, soft tissue type and deep lacerations. The top of the bracket would be appropriate where surgery has failed and permanent disability remains.
(h) Minor Hand Injuries £600 to £2,850
Injuries similar to but less serious than (g) above with recovery within a few months.
(i) Severe Fractures to Fingers Up to £24,100
These may lead to partial amputations and result in deformity, impairment of grip, reduced mechanical function and disturbed sensation.
(j) Total Loss of Index Finger In the region of £12,250
(k) Partial Loss of Index Finger £8,000 to £12,250
This bracket also covers cases of injury to the index finger giving rise to disfigurement and impairment of grip or dexterity.
(l) Fracture of Index Finger £6,000 to £8,000
This level is appropriate where a fracture has mended quickly but grip has remained impaired, there is pain on heavy use and osteoarthritis is likely in due course.
(m) Total Loss of Middle Finger In the region of £10,250
(n) Serious Injury to Ring or Middle Fingers £9,750 to £10,750
Fractures or serious injury to tendons causing stiffness, deformity and permanent loss of grip or dexterity will fall within this bracket.
(o) Loss of the Terminal Phalanx of the Ring or Middle Fingers £2,600 to £5,150
(p) Amputation of Little Finger £5,700 to £8,000
(q) Loss of Part of the Little Finger £2,600 to £3,850
(r) Amputation of Ring and Little Fingers In the region of £14,350
(s) Amputation of the Terminal Phalanges of the Index and Middle Fingers In the region of £16,400
Such injury will involve scarring, restriction of movement and impairment of grip and fine handling
(t) Fracture of One Finger £2,000 to £3,125
(u) Loss of Thumb £23,250 to £36,000
(v) Very Serious Injury to Thumb £12,900 to £23,000
This bracket is appropriate where the thumb has been severed at the base and grafted back leaving a virtually useless and deformed digit, or where the thumb has been amputated through the interphalangeal joint.
(w) Serious Injury to the Thumb £8,250 to £11,000
Such injuries may involve amputation of the tip, nerve damage or fracture necessitating the insertion of wires as a result of which the thumb is cold and ultra-sensitive and there is impaired grip and loss of manual dexterity.
(x) Moderate Injuries to the Thumb £6,300 to £8,250
These are injuries such as those necessitating arthrodesis of the interphalangeal joint or causing damage to tendons or nerves. Such injuries result in impairment of sensation and function and cosmetic deformity.
(y) Severe Dislocation of the Thumb £2,600 to £4,450
(z) Minor Injuries to the Thumb In the region of £2,600
Such an injury would be a fracture which has recovered in six months except for residual stiffness and some discomfort.
(aa) Trivial Thumb Injuries In the region of £1,450
These may have caused severe pain for a very short time but will have resolved within a few months.

Figures shown are based on Judicial Boards Guidelines (JSB) of what a particular type of injury may be valued by a Court of Law. An injury is valued by the Courts on the basis of the Guidelines provided by the guide and specific cases that the Courts have settled. The value of each claim will depend upon the injury and the medical evidence obtained, though these figures give you some idea as to where your injury would be within the bracket.