A fractured pelvis injury can be devastating. However, did you know that if you can prove third-party negligence was to blame, you could be entitled to compensation? In this article, we examine how you could make a personal injury claim with help from No Win No Fee personal injury solicitors. We’ve included an example case study to help illustrate how much a pelvis injury claim could be worth. In addition, we’ll explore different areas of liability, including:
- Accidents at work
- Road traffic accidents (RTA)
- Public place accidents
Fractured pelvis injury compensation
Throughout this article, you can click on any of the highlighted links to get more information. Alternatively, you can contact us with any questions. If you’d like, you can even get in touch now to discuss your claim:
- Call us on 0161 696 9685
- Fill out a contact form to get a callback
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Select a Section
- A Guide To Claiming Compensation Payouts For A Fractured Pelvis Injury
- What Is A Fractured Pelvis Injury?
- How Can You Suffer A Fractured Pelvis Injury At Work?
- Fractured Pelvis Injury In A Public Place
- How Can You Suffer A Fractured Pelvis Injury In A Road Traffic Accident?
- We Can Advise On Personal Injury Compensation Calculations
- What Are Special Damages?
- Case Study: £200,000 For A Fractured Pelvis Injury
- Our Accurate Free Legal Advice Can Help Value Your Claim
- No Win No Fee Policies
- Your Free Legal Advice Is With Our Team Of Experts
- More Resources And Guides On Fractured Pelvis Injuries
- Fractured Pelvis Injury FAQs
A Guide To Claiming Compensation Payouts For A Fractured Pelvis Injury
In this guide we hope to explain the following;
- What pelvic fractures are and how this can affect a person’s life.
- How pelvic fractures can happen at work and what legislation is there to protect your safety
- When pelvic fractures could happen in a public place and how the Occupiers’ Liability Act applies a duty of care
- Road traffic accidents and why the need to adhere to the Highway Code is so important.
- We examine an illustrative case study to show you how the claims process works
- And finally, we look at the service a No Win No Fee solicitor could offer.
Call our advisors today to learn if you could be eligible for pelvic fracture compensation. They can answer any pressing questions you have and tell you what your next steps could be.
What Is A Fractured Pelvis Injury?
A pelvis is a group of bones that supports the spinal column. If this structure suffers a traumatic impact, such as experienced in a high-speed car crash, the result could be a fracture. Similarly, a low impact incident, such as a fall, could also result in a fracture if the victim is elderly and has weaker bones. Such injuries can be classed as one of two types of fractures, depending on their severity:
- Stable fractures mean there is one break and the pelvis has kept its normal ring
- Unstable fractures involve more than one break and the normal ring structure of the pelvis is at risk of becoming misaligned. This type of injury can be very painful and debilitating, often requiring hip replacement surgery
Fractures can be open or closed (with protruding bone through the skin) and can range in severity from minor to life-threatening. Unstable fractures, such as those caused by road traffic accidents, can be particularly urgent and require emergency surgery to reduce any risk of organ damage.
Some common symptoms of fractured pelvis injury can include:
- Severe localised pain in the groin, hip, buttocks and lower back
- Bruising and acute swelling
- Numbness, tingling and sharp stabbing pains when trying to move
- Pain during bowel movements and blood in urine
How Can You Suffer A Fractured Pelvis Injury At Work?
In this section, we’ve provided some recent statistics from the Health and Safety Executive to help illustrate how common workplace accidents were in Britain in 2019/20:
- 111 workers were killed at work
- 65,427 workers suffered non-fatal injuries Under RIDDOR reporting
- 693,000 non-fatal injuries were reported from the Labour Force Survey
- 6.3 million working days were lost due to non-fatal injuries
What Is An Employer’s Duty Of Care?
In order to establish liability you must be able to answer yes to these three questions;
- Did a third party owe you a legal duty of care?
- Did that third party fail to uphold that duty of care to you?
- Did you suffer as a result?
Now, let’s take a look at the laws in place to help ensure employees’ health and safety in the workplace, establishing employers’ duty of care:
The Health And Safety At Work etc Act 1974 is the law that establishes a duty of care. It has some specific sections that are important to note:
- Section 2 requires employers to provide as safe a working environment as is reasonably practicable and to always consider the safety and wellbeing of all employees.
- Similarly, Section 3 asks that the same common duty of care should be extended to all visitors, contractors, and members of the public. Again, as much as is practicably possible.
- Section 7 asks employees to protect their own safety and wellbeing as much as they can. They should also try to protect the safety of their colleagues during their working day.
- And Section 33 states that if you can show your employer failed to adhere to this piece of legislation it may be considered an offence.
How Can My Employer Breach Their Duty Of Care?
Some other essential measurements for employers to implement include:
- Conducting regular written risk assessments and acting upon the findings
- Giving adequate training and supervision to all employees
- Clear instruction of handling and storage of materials and correct procedures
- Meeting with safety representative
Some typical examples of scenarios that could plausibly cause a work-related fractured pelvis injury include:
- Being struck by poorly stacked stock falling
- Falling from a height on a faulty ladder
- Slipping on an unattended spillage
- Tripping on debris in a walkway
- Falling victim to workplace violence
- Carrying out a high-risk task without proper training upon instruction
In addition to these rules, all employers are expected to have employers’ liability insurance which is what your claim for compensation would be made against. Speak to our personal injury claims team for free legal advice about work accident claims.
Fractured Pelvis Injury In A Public Place
You could also sustain a fractured pelvis injury in a public place accident. The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 applies to those in control of public places, establishing a common duty of care to those using or visiting spaces including:
- Restaurants, cafes and bars
- Public roads, motorways and footpaths
- Council-run premises, such as libraries
- Parks, beaches and playgrounds
- Shops and shopping centres
The Duty Of Care Of Those In Control Of Public Spaces
The following would generally apply to public places:
- Premises can be any type of public area; shops, parks, open land
- The occupier is usually the person in control of the space
- There should be a consistent and even standard of care for the safety and well-being of all visitors
- Give clear, visible indications of any unavoidable risks on their premises
- Provide disclaimers if they do not wish to assume the above responsibility (keep out or private property signage)
- Accept and make allowances for the fact that children are not as able to assess personal safety and may require extra provisions
- Extend the common duty of care to all visitors, contractors and members of the public that may come across their premises
This is a list of expectations for those in control of public places. Therefore, if the Occupiers Liability Act is not adhered to they can be liable for any harm suffered by visitors.
How Can This Duty Be Breached?
Some typical breaches of the duty of care in public spaces might include:
- Ungritted icy steps in hazardous weather conditions
- Poor food hygiene standards
- Lack of official HSE signage where required
- Faulty machinery due to poor maintenance
- Neglecting to amend previously reported hazards
- Blocked fire exits
Those in control of public places have a legal duty to consider your safety and follow this legislation in order to prevent accidents from happening. If a clear breach can in this duty be proved and you were harmed as a result of it, please speak to our team today about making a public liability claim.
How Can You Suffer A Fractured Pelvis Injury In A Road Traffic Accident?
A fractured pelvis injury could also happen in a road traffic accident, such as:
- High-speed collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- ‘T-bone’ or side-impact collisions
- Multi-car pile-ups
Recent statistics below show how common road traffic accidents are, which The Highway Code is in place to try and minimise.
Duty Of Care Of Road Users
All road users should be familiar with the duty of care owed to one another outlined in the Highway Code:
- Have an up to date driving license, MOT certificate and road tax
- Drive a roadworthy vehicle
- Be of the minimum legal riding or driving age
- Have a minimum of third party insurance
- Be able to produce these documents upon request by the police
How Can A Road User Breach Their Duty Of Care?
The Highway Code asks that irrespective of experience or age, every driver demonstrates a requisite standard of due diligence and care whilst driving. Showing this duty of care to each other makes the roads safer and helps prevent needless injury or death.
Government statistics from 2020:
- 1,472 road users were killed in Britain
- 115,333 casualties of all severities occurred
- 22,014 road users were seriously injured
Now, let’s look at how accidents may happen:
- Speeding – a serious and persistent issue accord to the Metropolitan Police
- Looking at mobile phones
- Reckless or ‘risk-taking’ driving
- Driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs
- Any form of undue care and attention behind the wheel
We can help you start a personal injury claim for a fractured pelvis if you sustained it due to another road user’s negligence. Furthermore, if you were impacted by an uninsured driver, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) can offer compensation in certain circumstances.
We Can Advise On Personal Injury Compensation Calculations
The first step would be for you to undergo a medical assessment to confirm your injuries and have a report written as evidence. If you choose to work with a lawyer, they can arrange this for you.
Using the findings of this report, a lawyer would then go on to calculate how much compensation you could be entitled to for your injuries.
Personal injury claims are calculated using general damages and special damages as categories. General damages are awarded to compensate for any pain and suffering that you’ve experienced, both physically and psychologically.
Some suggested brackets of compensation for general damages can be found in the Judicial College Guidelines. Though the figures provided here are not guarantees of how much your claim could yield, suggestions are based on previous claims and cases.
What Are Special Damages?
All the out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred as a result of your injury can be compiled and recovered as part of your payout. If your claim is successful, you could claim compensation to reimburse all the unwanted financial costs. Items that could be included are:
- Loss of earnings
- Future loss of earnings
- Costs for professional care or help from family members that helped you
- Travel expenses to and from hospital, counselling or other related appointments
- Any private physiotherapy and specialist treatment
- Medical aids
- Childcare, pet care, gardening and cleaning expenses
These payments are just some of those that could form part of your fractured pelvis injury claim. Our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors are skilled at spotting any costs that you could include in your claim and explaining how to track ongoing or future costs.
Unexpected accidents and injuries can throw up a huge array of unwanted costs. Speak to our team now for further information on how you could make a claim to take a little pressure off you financially.
Case Study: £200,000 For A Fractured Pelvis Injury
Mr Clark worked on a building site. He had worked as a bricklayer all his life and knew his job inside and out. Due to his firm going into liquidation he had been made redundant. He battled with the idea of choosing a different type of job but soon realised his main skill was bricklaying.
Mr Clark applied for several jobs and because of his glowing references and work experience he was hired almost instantly. As soon as she started working for his new employer he was aware straight away that health and safety were not taken very seriously.
On his second day, he was asked to use the scaffolding to do the upper layer of a house. Just after dinner, he was bringing his equipment up to the top areas of the scaffolding when it gave way. Mr Clark fell face-first onto the floor. An ambulance was called straight away. Mr Clark was rushed into emergency surgery as he had lost feeling in his legs and a CT scan showed he had suffered a shattered pelvis.
Mr Clark had suffered a horrendous injury; there had been extensive fractures to his pelvis which required multiple surgeries. The lower organs such as his bladder and bowel had also been affected by the fall. At home, his property required modifications and he also needed care while he recovered. After following the advice of his lawyer, he was able to present a detailed account of his out-of-pocket expenses. He was awarded £200,000 in his final settlement. Our table explains in detail:
| general damages | how much? | special damages | how much? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severe extensive fractures to the pelvis £73,580 to £122,860 | £122,860 | Lost wages 12 months | £40,000 |
| Modifications at home | £3,500 | ||
| Loss of pension contributions | £2,000 | ||
| Travel costs to hospital | £500 | ||
| Stress counselling | £230 | ||
| Home Nurse | £10,000 | ||
| Carer | £10,000 | ||
| Cook, cleaner, gardener, dog walker, child minder | £5,000 | ||
| Wife's loss of earnings | £3,000 |
This case is purely an example. It is built on past experiences but it illustrates how a fractured pelvic compensation claim could proceed.
Our Accurate Free Legal Advice Can Help Value Your Claim
Why not call our advisors for some free advice. In a no-obligation chat, they can assess your case to see if it is valid and if you can proceed with a personal injury claim. If they can see your case may be eligible for compensation they can connect you with a solicitor from our panel.
We work with a panel of No Win No Fee solicitors who have experience handling cases like this. Online compensation calculators, can offer generalised figures rather than more accurate estimates. Call our advisors and they can provide you with a compensation estimate that includes all the details of your case.
To learn more about No Win No Fee agreements, please read on or get in touch today for a free consultation on whether you could benefit from one.
No Win No Fee Policies
No Win No Fee agreements are purpose-designed to help people get legal help without having to worry about paying anything upfront.
With no upfront costs required and no running fees, if your case fails, there are no fees to pay at all to your solicitor. A successful case requires only a small percentage of your settlement as payment and this ‘success fee’ is capped.
No Win No Fee solicitors are a choice for many. Call our personal injury claims team to learn if your case could receive compensation.
Your Free Legal Advice Is With Our Team Of Experts
Getting in touch with our friendly team of specialist advisors is easy. We’re available 24/7 to discuss your case. You can:
- Call us on 0161 696 9685
- Fill out a contact form to get a call back
- Chat to us live using the pop-up on your screen
More Resources And Guides On Fractured Pelvis Injuries
Thank you for reading our guide to calculating compensation for a fractured pelvis injury. Below are some links to further reading on the topics we’ve discussed.
- More information about injury at work claims
- Road traffic accident (RTA) compensation calculation advice
- For more details on No Win No Fee agreements and how we can help
- More information about fractured pelvis injury
- More statistics about accidents in the workplace are available
- Learn more about paying for your own self-care as you recover
Fractured Pelvis Injury FAQs
Can you walk with a broken pelvis?
This would all depend on the type of fracture and how severe the break was.
What’s the biggest long-term effect of a fractured pelvis?
In some cases, arthritis develops. For instance, even after a hip replacement procedure.
Is infection a risk?
Yes. Always seek medical attention as soon as you can if you show any symptoms of a fractured pelvic.
Guide by NS
Edited by AS