A Guide To Vibration White Finger Injuries - How Much Compensation Can You Claim?

By Lewis Lennon. Last Updated 9th November 2022. In the sections that follow, you will read a full guide to making a compensation claim for a Vibration White Finger (VWF) injury. Within this guide, you will learn about many of the causes of this condition, and why you may be eligible to make a claim for it. We also cover employers’ liability, and how to get your claim started.

If you need some advice about making your claim or have any other kind of question, please speak to one of our claims team on 0161 696 9685. They will be able to explain how we can assist with your claim and answer any questions that you might have.

Select A Section:

A Guide To Vibration White Finger Injury Claims
What Is ‘Vibration White Finger’?
Vibration White Finger Compensation Payouts
What Do White Finger Compensation Payouts Include?
Vibration White Finger Symptoms Checker
Causes Of Vibration White Finger Injuries
Jobs And Equipment Which Can Cause VWF Injuries
How To Prevent Hand Arm Vibration Injuries
HAVS Facts And Statistics
I Have Been Diagnosed With Vibration White Finger, What Should I Do?
Vibration White Finger Compensation – How Long Do I Have To Claim?
How To Claim For Injuries To Your Hands And Fingers At Work
Claim For White Finger – No Win No Fee Injury Claims
How Our Advisors Can Help You
Contact Us
Claims Resources And Health Care Advice

A Guide To Vibration White Finger Injury Claims

Vibration white finger compensation claims guide

The goal of this guide is to provide you with all of the information that you need to know about the process of making a personal injury claim for VWF. This is so that you will have all the tools you need to make the best choices for you when it comes to making a claim. We’ll cover information such as:

A basic definition of what the medical condition known as Vibration White Finger is, and how it can have a profound effect upon the life of the sufferer. We also give a basic overview of the concepts of eligibility (being able to make a claim), and liability (who you might be able to claim against).
A table that details typical compensation ranges for VWF. This table includes entries for several different levels of severity of this medical condition.
A list of the most commonly awarded types of damages that a settlement for VWF could consist of. This covers both general damages and special damages.
Details of many of the main symptoms of VWF that can manifest, either occasionally or permanently, their severity and how advanced the condition may be.
A list of many of the most common ways that VWF is caused, as well as where/when/why they are encountered.
A list of many of the most common jobs for which VWF is an occupational hazard. Also, the types of equipment that can cause VWF when they are used for a prolonged time frame.
A list of ways that the risk of VWF can be reduced, and some of the best practices to minimise damage while working.
Several key statistics that relate to cases of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) in the UK, with a focus on workplace injuries.
A list of steps that a newly diagnosed VWF sufferer can take that will ensure that they are well prepared for making a compensation claim.
Information about the personal injury claim time limits that are in place and which you are going to need to begin your claim within in order to be eligible for compensation.
An overview of the process for starting your work-related illness claim, and how we can simplify the whole process, and get your claims started right away.
An introduction to the national claims service that we offer to people all across the UK. This is an effective way to have your accident at work claim processed, at absolutely no financial risk to yourself.

If you need more information on any of the topics covered in this guide, or simply need some advice on how best to proceed with your claim, then call our claims team on the number at the bottom of the page. They will be able to provide you with the assistance that you need.

What Is Vibration White Finger?

Vibration white finger is a condition that can be caused by the regular use of vibrating machinery and equipment. Regular use of vibrating machinery can lead to nerve damage, or potentially harm joints and blood vessels located within the hand.

If your work involves vibrating machinery, your employer will have a responsibility under health and safety law to:

Inform you of the risk of developing vibration white finger
Ensure measures are in place to help prevent you suffering from the condition

If your employer did not take any protective measures, such as providing appropriate PPE, leading to you developing the condition, you could be eligible to make a claim against them. Claims for white finger could see you earn compensation not just for the pain of your injury but to address the financial effects your condition may have led to.

If you are interested in making a white finger claim, please reach out to one our advisers to discuss vibration white finger compensation and see how our solicitors could help you make your claim.

Vibration White Finger Compensation Payouts

If you are interested in making a vibration white finger claim, you may be interested in finding out the amount you could claim in vibration white finger compensation. Unfortunately, we cannot provide an average amount in terms of payouts; this is because of how compensation claims are valued.

Legal professionals will consider the unique circumstances surrounding each case when valuing a claim, and as such each awarded amount is unique. However, we can still help you to find an estimate of what you could potentially receive.

The compensation calculator table below was compiled using figures from the 2022 edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a document that is often used by legal professionals such as lawyers, solicitors, and judges to help them value personal injury claims.

Injury	Severity	Notes	Compensation
Vibration White Finger	Most serious	A younger person, with very severe and permanent symptoms. A severe effect on home life, and the need to change employment due to inability to perform the current type of work.	£31,640 to £38,430
Vibration White Finger	Serious	Symptoms will only manifest very frequently, and will affect some or all fingers at once. There will a significant impact on both the work or home life of the victim.	£16,760 to £31,640
Vibration White Finger	Moderate	These will generally be middle ages claimants, who have worked in a job causing vibration for a long time. In cold weather, the symptoms would be much more pronounced.	£8,640 to £16,760
Vibration White Finger	Minor	Symptoms will only manifest now and then, and will not affect all fingers at once. There will be very little impact on either the work or home life of the victim.	£2,990 to £8,640
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)	Severe	A poor prognosis, with a greatly reduced if not removed ability to work.	£52,500 to £84,010
CRPS	Moderate	A chance of some future recovery and return to work reflected in the prognosis.	£28,030 to £52,500

However, it is important to note that these figures are only guidelines, and are not guarantees of what you will receive should your claim succeed. In the following sections, we will go into more detail about what you can claim for, and who is eligible to make a claim.

To get a free estimate of what your claim could be worth, contact our team of expert advisors today.

What Do Vibration White Finger Compensation Payouts Include?

When it comes to calculating Vibration White Finger compensation amounts, the total you receive as a settlement will depend upon the types of damages the settlement consists of. There are many common types of damages, covering both physical harm and also financial and other losses. Let’s look at them in more detail.

General damages

General damages are intended to compensate you for any loss of amenity, suffering and importantly the pain you endured because of your injuries. Specifically, general damages accounts for:

Pain and suffering of the initial medical condition and also its treatment.
Mental trauma attached to being diagnosed with a non-recoverable condition.
Psychological injuries such as depression, anxiety and new phobias.
Painful recovery and extended treatment.
Permanent disability or loss of functionality in the hands.

Special damages

The purpose of special damages is not only to restore you to the financial position you were in before you developed the condition, but also to account for any long-term financial impacts your VWF might have. You can claim for the likes of:

Travel costs if you had to travel to get treatment for your condition.
Medical fees if you had to pay for some kind of private healthcare.
Care costs if you had to hire a nurse or a home helper to assist you.
Loss of earnings if you have missed work and lost out on wages/salary.
Lowered earning potential if you will not be able to do the same job in the future, or possibly not able to work full-time or even at all.

Vibration White Finger Symptoms

According to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) guide on vibration at work, these are some of the early symptoms of Vibration White Finger you could look out for:

Not being able to feel things properly
Loss of strength in the hands
Tingling and numbness in the fingers
Fingers going white, then becoming red and painful on recovery

Though symptoms can appear within months of exposure, it’s possible you may not experience symptoms for years afterwards. If you were unaware of your condition until years later, you can still potentially claim. You can claim within 3 years from the date of knowledge – the date from which you became aware of your condition or injury.

If these symptoms match your own, then we recommend that you see a doctor as soon as possible. Once you have seen a doctor, contact our claims team to learn how we can assist you in getting the compensation you are eligible for.

Causes Of Vibration White Finger Injuries

Hand-Arm Vibrations Syndrome (HAVS), the overall group of medical conditions that includes Vibration White Finger (VWF), is recognised as being a widespread industrial disease. Therefore, it should be no surprise to hear that Vibration White Finger claims are also very common.

This is a medical condition that affects all parts of the hand, including the joints, muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. Furthermore, once the damage is done, it cannot be repaired. The primary cause of VWF is constant and repeated exposure to vibration within the 5 to 2000 Hz frequency range. However, the really dangerous frequency range is within 50 to 300 Hz. Safety guidelines, such as those laid out in the ISO 5349-1 safety standards, states that the 8 to 16 Hz range should also be considered high risk.

If you have suffered from VWF due to your employer not following safety standards, then a personal injury lawyer could be able to process a compensation claim for you.

Jobs And Equipment Which Can Cause VWF Injuries

To answer the question, “can you still claim for vibration white finger?” then the answer is yes you can, as long as you can prove that your employer was the underlying cause. According to the HSE guide on vibration at work, there are a number of industries where workers may be more at risk of HAVS or VWF. This includes:

Shipbuilders, shipwrights and ship repair.
Working for a gas, electricity, or water company.
Car repairs and manufacture.
Working in a mine or quarry.
Working at a concrete plant.
All forms of heavy industry.
Working at a foundry.
Working as a forester.
Working as a groundsman or estate manager.
Heavy construction.
Road and railway maintenance.

There are also a large number of different types of equipment that have been proven to cause VWF, some of these being:

A strimmer or lawnmower.
Scabblers.
Power sanders.
Power chisels and power hammers.
Rotary polishers.
Pedestal grinders.
A jigsaw or fretsaw.
Impact wrenches.
Hand-held grinders.
Jackhammers.
Breakers.
Whackers or whacker plates.
Chainsaws (fuelled or electrical).

If you have had to use equipment like this at work, and this has caused VWF, then we could be able to help you make a work-related illness claim.

How To Prevent Hand Arm Vibration Injuries

Although there is no Vibration White Finger treatment that can reverse the damage, there are plenty of preventative measures that can be taken to minimise the risk of developing it in the first place, and this could include:

Always try to find low vibration variants of tools.
Use the correct tool for the task at hand.
Be sure to maintain tools correctly.
Keep saws and other cutting tools sharp.
Keep tool usage to a minimum.
Make sure that your workplace is warm.
Use anti-vibration gloves.
Employers should carry out annual health screenings of their employees to see if there are any signs of them developing symptoms of HAVS.

These are the kinds of preventative measures that will minimise the risk of you contracting VWF or some other HAVS-related medical condition.

HAVS Facts And Statistics

The Health and Safety Executive provides helpful statistics about injuries and diseases that have occurred in the workplace. Though there are no statistics specific to Vibration White Finger, there are statistics about Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, which can include VWF.

From these statistics, we can see that there were 80 instances of HAVS reported to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme in 2020.

The graph below demonstrates which industries have reported the most instances of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Graph

I Have Been Diagnosed With Vibration White Finger, What Should I Do?

Before you seek a Vibration White Finger compensation solicitor to process your claim for you, there are a number of things that you can do to streamline the process of making a claim, and these are:

Take photographs to support your claim. For example, of any faulty equipment you have had to use, or if you experience an episode of blanching (whitening of the fingers), take pictures of that too.
If any of your work colleagues can support your claim by confirming how your condition was contracted, get their contact details so they can be used as witnesses later.
Make sure that you have reported your condition to your employer, and followed all the proper rules for taking time away from work when you are sick.
Make sure that you see a doctor about your condition, and that the doctor can support the claim by proving you have contracted VWF.

Steps like these will make processing your claim simpler. If you are ready to move forward with your claim, talk to one of our claims team today.

Vibration White Finger Compensation – How Long Do I Have To Claim?

Personal injury claim time limit

When making a claim for vibration white compensation, it’s important that you’re aware of how much time you have to do so. In accordance with the Limitation Act 1980, the general time limit you have to begin a claim is 3 years. However, it may still be possible in some circumstances to begin a claim later than this.

For example, vibration white finger is often a cumulative injury. This means that it is unlikely to have been sustained on one date in particular. Therefore, the time limit may only begin once you have been diagnosed or become aware of the cause of your injury. This is known as the date of knowledge.

Additionally, anyone under the age of 18 cannot make their own claim. If they wish to do so, they must wait until they turn 18. Then, they have 3 years to begin their claim. If a claim is to be made before this date, it must be done by an appointed litigation friend.

If the claimant has a reduced mental capacity, a litigation friend must also be appointed to make a claim – regardless of the age of the injured party. However, should their mental capacity ever reach a point where they are deemed to be capable of making their own claim, then the 3-year time limit would begin from this date. Before then, it remains suspended.

If you have any more questions about time limits for claiming white finger compensation payouts, get in touch with our advisors today.

How To Claim For Injuries To Your Hands And Fingers At Work

Starting a vibration injury claim is very simple. We have an easy to understand claims process. Speak to one of our claim advisors, and they will go over your claim with you, and then discuss your legal options. Once they know a little about your claim, they will offer you some free legal advice on how to proceed with a claim today.

Claim For White Finger – No Win No Fee Injury Claims

When claiming for white finger, you might enlist the help of an accident at work solicitor to help you prepare your claim. They could help you gather evidence to show you have suffered pain or loss as a result of a vibrating finger injury at work due to negligence.

However, if you are worried about the financial risk of using a solicitor, you may benefit from working with a solicitor from our panel. They could potentially help you on a No Win No Fee basis. The arrangement they can offer is known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, you won’t pay for your solicitor’s services should the claim fail.

Should your claim succeed, a success fee is deducted from your compensation. However, this is capped by law.

You can check your eligibility to work with our panel of expert solicitors at any time and at no extra cost to you. Once our advisors establish that you have a valid claim for a white finger injury, you could be connected.

How Our Advisors Can Help You

Although there is no real average compensation for Vibration White Finger, we can give you a pretty good estimate of how much you might claim if you give us a call. We will always try and get you the most compensation that we can, and do all that is within our power to make sure your claim is successful. We use plain English with no legal jargon to make sure you always understand what we are doing on your behalf. The simple three-step process below shows how easy it is to start a claim with us.

Contact our team via phone at 0161 696 9685, contact form or our live chat
Our team will assess your claim
Once you are ready, we can connect you with a solicitor from our panel to start a claim

Contact Us

Do you have questions such as, “can I claim compensation for vibration white finger?” Or are you simply ready to move on to making your claim right now? If so, speak to one of our claim advisors on 0161 696 9685, and they will get your claim started right away.