How To Claim Compensation For A Hip Injury

Have you sustained a hip injury, such as a fractured or broken hip, dislocation, a muscle tear or a torn ligament? If so, you may be looking for information on how to claim compensation for a hip injury. At Advice.co.uk we have created this guide to hip injury claims to take accident victims through the different types of accidents which can cause hip injuries and how to make a personal injury claim. We have also included a personal injury claims calculator so that you can see examples of what your hip or pelvis injury claim could be awarded.

According to recent findings, broken hips are one of the most common forms of serious injuries seen in older people. Such injuries cost the social care services and the NHS a combined £1 billion annually. 65,000 people over the age of 60 were treated in 177 hospitals across the UK (excluding Scotland) in 2016 for this type of injury. Whilst not all of these people will have been injured as a result of an accident which was not their fault, it helps to illustrate the prevalence of hip injuries.

Find out more about how our experts can help you in our guide on how to claim compensation for a hip injury below.

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A Guide To Claiming Compensation For A Hip Injury

Hip injury compensation claims guide

Hip injury compensation claims guide

The hips are a highly important part of the body. They are essential in balancing you and provide a base and support for the upper body. If any part of your hips or your pelvis is damaged, such as suffering a pelvis fracture, you can be left with either a very long recovery period, or a being unable to walk. Put simply, hip and pelvis injuries can have a serious effect on your daily life.

Whilst making a hip injury claim cannot make up for what has happened to you, claiming compensation for hip injury at work, from a vehicle crash, or other cause, can help you to cover any expenses and allow you to get on with your life.

What Is A Hip Injury?

Suffering an injury to the hip, such as a break or fracture, dislocation or a torn muscle can seriously affect your mobility. Severe injuries to the hips could result in your needing long-term medical treatment or other care. They could also affect your ability to work or your social life.

There are many different types and variations of hip injuries which people can suffer and many different ways in which they can happen. Some of the most common hip injuries include tears of the muscles or ligaments, dislocations of the hip joint, and breaks.

Whilst hip injuries can happen as a result of congenital deformities or osteoporosis of the bones which leave the joint vulnerable, you can have a healthy joint and suffer injuries in a workplace or road traffic accident.

Anatomy Of The Hips And Pelvis

The hips and pelvis form an interconnected part of your body and is often taken to refer to the part of your body between the thighs and the abdomen. There are two main pelvic bones which connect the legs and the spine and two smaller bones. These are called the coccyx and the sacrum. There are then three parts of the hips, the pubis, the ischium, and the ilium. The hip is what is commonly called a ‘ball-and-socket’ joint. The ‘ball’ of the femur (the thigh bone) meets the socket of the pelvis. The joint is then supported by large tendons, ligaments, and muscles. These hold the ball and socket in place to prevent dislocations and to allow the joint to function. An injury to the hips or injury to the pelvis could affect any of these parts.

Hip Injury Compensation Calculator

There are a variety of different types of injury which can happen to the hips. As we will see in the personal injury claims calculator below, these injuries can vary significantly in terms of both the nature and their severity. In the table below we look in some detail at the different types of injuries, you can suffer and provide you with examples of settlements, such as how much compensation would be awarded for a broken pelvis. Therefore each of the injuries, the amount of compensation which can be awarded in that bracket depends on factors such as;

  • The impact the injury has had on your functionality.
  • Whether you are left with a disability and how serious it is.
  • How your ability to work and carry out social activities has been impacted.
  • What treatment is required and how long it will take you to recover.
  • Whether you are left in pain, and how serious this pain is.
  • The impact on sexual and reproductive function.

Personal Injury Compensation Calculator

Nature or type of hip injuryHip injury compensation amountsComments and notes
Severe (i)£73,580 to £122,860An extensive hip or pelvis fracture which is accompanied by a variety of other injuries, such as a lack of bladder and bowel control. May also include sexual dysfunction, post injury hip deformity and other complications.
Severe (ii)£58,100 to £73,580Less serious than above.It could result in a fracture and dislocation of the pelvis which leads to impotence or traumatic myositis and complications.
Severe (iii)£36,770 to £49,270Major injuries which are lesser than in the previous categories. Still includes injuries resulting in a variety of complications.
Moderate (i)£24,950 to £36,770Whilst injuries will be significant, disabilities will not be major.
Moderate (ii)£11,820 to £24,950May require a hip replacement.
Lesser (i)£3,710 to £11,820Significant injury with little to no disability as a result.
Lesser (ii)Up to £3,710This includes how much compensation you can get for soft tissue damage where you fully recover.

For an accurate assessment of how much compensation can you get for soft tissue damage, a fracture, break or dislocation, speak to our experts today.

Damages You Can Be Compensated For

When claiming damages, you can be compensated for the injuries you have suffered, such as those listed above, as well as for other effects.

General damages

We have provided examples of these damages in the table above for your reference.

Special damages

There are different types of compensation payments which fall into the category of special damages.

Medical and care costs

Hip injuries can be very complicated and this complexity may require multiple treatments, medication, and care, either in the home or in a care facility. Your claim can include these costs and you can claim for costs already met, as well as costs which you will have to meet in the future.

Loss of income

A fractured pelvis or hip replacement can take a long time to recover from. In the meantime, you may not be able to work and suffer serious effects on your income and ability to meet everyday bills. As such, you can be compensated for the effects on your income.

These are not the only costs which your personal injury claim could compensate you for

Common Causes Of Hip Injuries

Whilst hip injuries can be caused in a variety of ways, some causes or circumstances are much more common than others. In the following sections, we will look at some of these more common circumstances for causing hip injuries, such as a slip or fall car accident hip injury or a broken hip at work.

Workplace Accidents Causing Hip Injuries

The most common accidents in the workplace result from failures in following health and safety practices, such as not providing the right training, or providing protective equipment. Failures to meet the requirements could lead to your suffering, such as a broken hip at work. Hip injury workers compensation claims could result from some of the most common accidents in the workplace. These include; falls from a height, being struck by a moving vehicle or object and being trapped under something.

If your employer or another member of staff was negligent and caused your injury we could help you to make a personal injury claim. You can find information on workplace injury statistics in this HSE guide.

Road Traffic Accidents Causing Hip Injuries

Around 200,000 people are injured on the road in the UK each year. Whilst many of these are not as serious, some will be and a broken hip or fractured pelvis can be one of the more serious types of injury from a road traffic accident. If you have suffered an injury to your hips as a result of an accident which was not your fault, you can claim damages.

Find out more about claiming compensation for an accident as a vehicle passenger in this guide.

Hip And Pelvis Injuries Caused By Falls

As we have already seen, hip injuries and an injury to the pelvis are one of the most common types of injury caused by tripping or falling over. Whether a walkway is in a public place or on private land, in a shop or your place of work, someone such as the local authority, an employer, or the operator of a retail establishment has a duty of care to ensure that the walkway is free of obstruction and safe to walk on. If you slipped or fell over because of a lack of maintenance, or neglect, you could claim compensation.

 

Common Forms Of Hip And Pelvis Injuries

In the following sections, we will look at some of the most common forms of hip or pelvis injuries, however, first, we shall look at some of those which are less common such as a muscle tear, torn ligaments, and bursits.

Bursitis: The bursa is a fluid sack sitting between the leg and pelvis. It reduces friction and allows the leg to move freely. If this is inflamed, it becomes painful to move the leg as the hips swell up. Bursitis will usually heal by itself in a few weeks.

Tears: Hard impacts and overstretching can cause damage to the ligaments and muscles supporting the hips and pelvis. In many cases a muscle tear can heal by itself, however, a torn ligament may require further treatment.

Hip Fractures

A broken hip injury or a pelvic fracture can be some of the most serious forms of injury to that part of your body. A serious hip or pelvis fracture could lead to life-altering and long-term consequences. Hip fractures could lead to similar consequences as leg amputations. It can impact your ability to move about, work, and impair sexual function.

Dislocated Hips

Dislocated hips can be very painful. They happen when the ‘ball’ at the top of the femur comes out of the pelvis socket. Hip dislocations are a type of car accident hip injury. They require hospital treatment and a lot of rest. During this time you may also lose feeling in your feet.

How Your Injury Is Assessed

If you are claiming compensation for a hip injury, your solicitor and other relevant parties will review medical assessments of your injury to determine how serious it is. The more severe the injury, the higher the weighting and the more hip injury compensation amount will be paid out.

As you can see in the personal injury calculator earlier in this article, the more serious the level of your injuries, the higher the compensation you could be entitled to claim.

What Should I Do If I Have Had A Hip Injury?

If you have suffered a hip or pelvis injury, whether you intend to make a pelvic injury compensation claim or not, there are several steps which you should take.

  • If you think that your injury is more minor and you can move about with little trouble you can see your GP for an assessment of your injuries and treatment. We do always recommend that you get some form of medical treatment or consultation, no matter how minor it is.
  • Give your doctor as much detail as you possibly can about your injuries. This information could be taken down on your medical records and can be a vital factor in successful pelvic injury compensation claims.
  • If you are claiming compensation for a hip injury at work, make sure that you have reported the accident and injuries to your employer. This should be done at the earliest possible opportunity.
  • If there is any visible marking or bruising you should take photographs of your injuries. If you can not do so, ask someone else to take a photo for you.

Is There A Time Limit To Make A Hip Injury Claim?

In order to make your compensation claim, you need to do so within the applicable personal injury claim time limit. These can vary under certain conditions and for some claimants. To help, we have included this table for you to consult.

Claimant or circumstancesPersonal injury claim time limit
Injuries resulting from a criminal attack.2 years through the CICA
Standard personal injury claim time limits.3 years
Injuries to a child3 years after they become 18. Parent can claim at any point before this.

Starting Your Personal Injury Claim

Hip injury claim process

Hip injury claim process

After getting your injuries assessed contact a specialist personal injury solicitor or lawyer who can help you through a no win no fee agreement. To help your claim you should collect any evidence you have, such as the medical records or photographs we discussed earlier, as well as asking any witnesses to your accident if they are happy to provide a statement. A solicitor can then review all the evidence and if you do have a claim, can get started on recovering compensation for you.

No Win No Fee Hip And Pelvis Injury Claims

At Advice.co.uk our panel of solicitors are able to provide services through what are commonly called no win no fee agreements. Also known as conditional fee agreements, they are a type of contract through which solicitors may provide services to a claimant. In the simplest terms, under a no win no fee agreement you will only need to pay legal fees to your solicitor if your claim is successful and you are awarded compensation.

Typically, the fees due will be calculated as a percentage of the final damages awarded to you. This amount is agreed in advance and will be clearly explained to you by your solicitor before you agree to go ahead with your claim.

How We Can Help You

Our team is trained to understand your case and to provide you with all of the advice you need. If you want to make a compensation claim for a broken hip injury or another pelvis injury, follow the simple steps below.

Get in contact with our expert teamOur advisors will review your case.If you have a legitimate claim, we could help you.

Contacting Our Advisors

For a free initial consultation and advice on whether you can make a personal injury claim and whether one of our panel of personal injury solicitors can help you contact us by phone on the number at the top of this page, via contact form (click the link above) and by email to [email protected].

To discuss your hip injury, talk to us today.

Medical Resources And Additional Guides

Below we have included several resources which can be useful for victims of hip injuries, whether similar accident claims guides as well as medical resources.

NHS Guide To Hip Fractures
In this NHS guide, you can find out more about hip fractures, including how they happen, treatment options and recovery.

NHS Guide To Hip Pain
In this NHS guide, you can find out more about how to deal with hip pain.

Slip And Fall Claims Guide
This is our guide to making a slip and fall compensation claim where you can find information on how to make a claim and how much you could be awarded for an injury such as a torn muscle.

Broken And Fractured Bone Claims
In this guide, you can see how much compensation you can claim for a variety of other fractures or breaks.

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