Crush injury compensation claims

Many crush injuries cause a lot of damage and pain immediately. You may have experienced:

• Bleeding and bruising.
• Muscle, ligament, blood vessel or tissue damage.
• Fractures or bone breaks.
• Open wound lacerations.
• Nerve damage and numbness or impaired movement.
• Infection caused by bacteria entering any open wounds.

In the event of a severe crush injury, the consequences may be life-changing. Immediate medical attention should always be the priority in situations like these. Long-term rehabilitation or care might be needed in some cases.

Crush injuries are usually physically and psychologically traumatic. The initial injury can result in potentially serious complications, so you should always seek immediate medical help - even if the damage seems minor.

A severe crush injury can lead to:

• Degloving: This is where the top layers of skin and tissue are forcefully separated from the muscle and bone structures below. It can affect any part of the body caught in a crush injury and requires immediate surgical intervention.
• Hypovolemic shock: This is triggered by significant blood loss and can cause life-threatening organ damage or failure.
• Hyperkalemia: Sudden damage to cell membranes in crush injuries can release large amounts of potassium into the body. In some cases, this elevates the risk of life-threatening heart issues.
• Compartment syndrome: This painful condition can occur when increased pressure within a bundle (or compartment) of grouped muscles restricts blood flow to the area, damaging muscles, tissues and nerves.
• Kidney failure: Injured muscles release a chemical called myoglobin. Coupled with shock, an excess of myoglobin, called rhabdomyolysis, can cause serious kidney damage.

It's not uncommon to be left with life-changing injuries after a crush injury. The initial pain can be overwhelming but other complications can make the process of recovery more difficult.

If you've suffered through anything like this during and after an accident caused by someone else, we're here to help. Call us on , tell us your story and we'll see if we can help make things right.

Treatments for crush injuries vary depending on how severe the damage is. In serious cases, treatment will likely involve immediate hospitalisation, emergency surgery and an extended period of recovery. That process could include reconstructive procedures and physiotherapy, depending on where the damage is.

Even for less serious incidents, like a crushed finger or foot injury, recovery may include setting a break or fracture. Once healed, you might need physiotherapy to build back strength and your range of movement.

Whatever your treatment and recovery process looks like, crush injury compensation can help make things a little easier for you and your loved ones.

Whether you want to claim for a crush injury at work, in a road traffic accident or anywhere else, we generally advise that your case has to tick three boxes:

• Your crush injuries must have occurred in the last three years (although this doesn't apply in some cases).
• Your injuries must have been caused directly by an accident.
• Someone else's negligence or carelessness must have caused or contributed to the accident.

It's not always easy knowing who's liable in situations like this - we know. If you're unsure, the simplest thing to do is get in touch with our friendly helpline advisors on . They'll listen to your story and let you know whether you might have the grounds for a crush injury claim.

You can also try our free online claim checker to get an idea before reaching out to us.

Your crush injuries may have had a significant effect on your life and the lives of those around you. Compensation is designed to cover your immediate pain and suffering after the accident and the wider impacts you've felt in your life.

The physical pain, psychological shock and recovery process probably means you've had to take time off work. Lost earnings can make your recovery even more stressful. Pressure to return to work or unpaid medical bills can leave you and your family in a tough situation.

On top of this, you might be unable to carry on with the hobbies and everyday activities you usually do. We understand this can leave you feeling isolated or dependent on others. In serious cases, you might have to make widespread lifestyle changes or even change your line of work.

Your legal team will gather all the necessary evidence to make sure every kind of loss is considered. The aim of our partner crush injury lawyers is always to secure the full amount you deserve. Getting compensation is about recognising the true impacts of your injury and helping to ensure you can recover both physically and financially.

Each case is different, so there's no quick or easy answer to this question. The compensation awarded for a crushing brain injury will be different to crushed finger compensation, for example.

Payout amounts depend on several key factors, including:

• The severity of your crush injury.
• The degree of negligence involved in the accident.
• The impacts your injury and accident have had on your life and wellbeing.
• Your medical expenses and travel costs.
• The amount of income you've lost due to time off work, and any future losses expected.
• The ongoing care needs you may need.

Once they've gathered evidence and started the claims process, your legal team should be able to give you a better idea about crush injury compensation amounts.

For now, you can see the value ranges for typical crush injuries in our table below. These are taken from the latest edition of the Judicial College Guidelines.

Feel free to use our handy crush injury claims calculator too for an estimation based on the same figures.

You usually have three years from the date of the accident to settle a crush injury claim or start court proceedings. This legal timeframe, called the 'limitation period', applies to most personal injury claims.

If you're running out of time, call us as soon as possible on . Our friendly helpline advisors will pass you on to one of our partner crush injury lawyers who can start legal proceedings before it's too late. The three-year limit doesn't always apply, though. Claiming for someone else may mean you have more time to start your claim.

• Claiming on behalf of children: As their parent or guardian, you can claim for a child at any point until they turn 18. Once they do, they have until they're 21 to settle their own claim or start court proceedings.
• Claiming on behalf of someone lacking 'mental capacity': After a severe crush injury, someone may lack the 'mental capacity' to make their own claim. In these cases, there are no time limits applied. It's important to note that this means more than someone requiring extra assistance, and each case is assessed individually. If the person regains capacity at any point, the standard three-year time limit starts from this date. This applies if they regain capacity momentarily or for a longer period. The time limit won't stop, even if they lose capacity again.
• Claiming on behalf of someone who passed away due to a fatal crush injury. The usual three-year limitation period applies from the date of their passing, or from the date it was discovered that the accident was the cause. Within this period, the claim must either be resolved or legal proceedings must have commenced.

If our friendly helpline advisors think you deserve compensation, we'll connect you with a specialist from our nationwide panel of expert solicitors. They, and your wider legal team, will take care of everything for you in a crush injury claim. With your help in parts, they'll do everything from gathering evidence to starting negotiations with the other side's insurers.

Your legal team will make sure to keep you informed throughout the process. If they need anything from you, they'll tell you exactly what it is and how you can get it.

Find out more about what happens during the legal process and what's expected of you on our claims process page.

We offer no win no fee crush injury claims in most cases. If you're successful, this means you'll pay any expenses not paid for by the other side out of your compensation settlement.

If you don't get the compensation you deserve, you shouldn't have to pay a thing. Your legal team will arrange no-upfront-cost insurance for you before starting the legal process. This limits the financial risk for you by covering any legal fees if you don't win your case - in which case, the insurance will pay for itself. You must stick to the terms and conditions of the agreement for it to be valid, though. There are no charges upfront and never any hidden charges.

If you can't claim for your crush injury on a no win no fee basis, we'll let you know as early as possible. Your legal team will clearly explain your options if this is the case.

Many clients ask us if they'll have to go to court with their claims. Fortunately, most of our personal injury and crush injury cases are settled out of court. This means less stress for you while you focus on recovery and getting things back to normal.

Your legal team will do everything they can to get a settlement before the courts are needed. Even if they are, they will likely be able to attend on your behalf anyway.