By Danielle Graves. Last Updated 25th November 2022. This guide will examine who could be eligible to make a bruised injury claim. If you have suffered a chest injury because there was a failure to uphold the duty of care to you a compensation claim may be valid. If it can be proven that a third party’s negligence caused your injury you could be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering as well as financial losses.
Bruised rib injury claim
There are many instances where we are owed a duty of care, for instance, at work, on the road or in public. There are laws that protect us each and everywhere we go.
This guide will explore the responsibilities someone may have with regard to your health and safety. For instance, an employer, a person in control of a public place or a road user.
However, if you need further information on personal injury claims after reading, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team:
- Telephone- 0333 000 0729
- Fill out your details on the call-back request form
- Speak to an advisor straight away using the live chat feature below
Jump To A Section
- A Guide To Calculating Bruised Ribs Injury Claims
- What Is A Bruised Ribs Injury Claim?
- Are Bruised Ribs The Same As Fractured Ribs?
- How Serious Could Bruised Ribs Be?
- Signs Of A Bruised Rib
- How Could You Injure Your Ribs?
- Cracked Or Bruised Rib – Claim Time Limits
- Bruised Ribs Injury Claim Compensation Calculator
- Personal Injury Damages
- Who Is Liable For Your Injury?
- Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor To Make A Bruised Ribs Injury Claim
- Speak To Legal Helpline
- Useful Links
- Frequently Asked Questions About Bruised Ribs Injury Clams
A Guide To Calculating Bruised Ribs Injury Claims
After sustaining bruised ribs, you may have faced various different challenges such as physical and psychological suffering and financial strain. If the incident that caused your bruised ribs was caused because there was a failure to keep you as safe as possible by those who have a responsibility towards your health you may find yourself considering putting forward a personal injury claim to seek compensation.
However, if you’re unsure of different aspects of the process, our guide can provide guidance. We’ll explore the steps you need to take to put forward a strong case. For instance, evidence that can help to prove someone else was negligent and caused you harm.
Additionally, you may be wondering how much compensation you could seek for your injuries. If so, our guide will provide you with an idea by looking at what your settlement figure may comprise and how it may be calculated.
Furthermore, you may have looked into seeking legal representation but are apprehensive of the costs associated. If this is the case, our guide could help by providing you with information on No Win No Fee agreements.
Remember, if you have any questions, our advisors are available to help. Simply call on the number above.
Alternatively, please continue reading for more information on claims for bruised ribs.
What Is A Bruised Ribs Injury Claim?
You may wish to make a bruised ribs injury claim if you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence. This could have happened in various types of situations such as while working, using the road or in a public place.
According to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR), there were 65,427 non-fatal injuries to employees in 2019/2020.
The graph below shows the number of torso injuries sustained in the workplace during 2019/2020. The figures come from RIDDOR.
An accident at work could have been caused by an employer failing to provide their employee with adequate training to use specialist equipment safely. As a result, the employee sustained a bruised or fractured rib by using the equipment incorrectly.
In addition, a bruised rib could have been sustained in a road traffic accident. For instance, if a driver failed to check their car was safe to drive and crashed into another car due to faulty brakes.
Furthermore, an accident in a public place could have caused someone to sustain harm. For instance, if the person in control of a public place failed to carry out risk assessments to check the space made available to the public was free from hazards.
For more information, please speak to a member of our team.
Are Bruised Ribs The Same As Fractured Ribs?
Although you may experience similar symptoms of a bruised or fractured rib, they are different.
When the ribs are bruised, you may experience pain due to the strain or injury of the ribs and tissue around the affected area. In addition, there may be a lower risk of complications with a bruised rib injury.
However, a fractured rib may mean that the bones have cracked or broken in two. Furthermore, there is a risk of different complications if the bones are broken, such as damage to organs in the chest area.
How Serious Could Bruised Ribs Be?
There are complications that could arise from a bruised or broken rib depending on the severity of the injury. For instance, if your injury was caused by a traumatic blow to the ribs, it could cause bleeding and harm to the tissues around the area.
Additionally, you could develop a chest infection as a complication of your injury.
Furthermore, if the blow has caused a broken or fractured rib, there may be damage to surrounding organs. For instance, a lung, liver or spleen depending on what part of the rib cage is injured.
For that reason, it’s important that you seek medical advice from a trained medical professional to avoid any complications from developing.
Signs Of A Bruised Rib
According to the NHS, you may experience the following symptoms for bruised or broken ribs:
- Pain in the chest area, more so when you breathe in
- Swelling or tenderness around the affected area
- Bruising
- You may feel or hear a crack at the time of the accident which may indicate a broken rib
Additionally, the NHS recommends seeking immediate medical advice if:
- The pain hasn’t improved
- You’re coughing up mucus that’s yellow or green in colour
- Your temperature is high or you feel shivery and hot
If you require further information on broken ribs, see the NHS website.
How Could You Injure Your Ribs?
Rib injuries can occur without it being someone else’s fault. However, in order to hold a valid claim, you must be able to demonstrate negligence. For instance, someone owed you a duty of care which they failed to provide resulting in you sustaining harm.
There are various ways you could have sustained damage to your ribs due to someone else’s breaching their duty of care.
The following sections will look at different examples to show you how someone could have acted negligently by failing to take reasonable steps to prevent you from coming into harm.
However, if you have any questions regarding your bruised ribs injury claim, call our team on the number at the top of the page.
Work-Related Accidents
A work-related accident isn’t always caused by an employer acting negligently. However, in some cases, your employer may have failed to do everything reasonably possible to stop you from sustaining an injury.
For instance:
- You were hit by a piece of moving machinery such as a forklift truck because your employer had failed to provide adequate training on how to use equipment safely.
- Another employee acted violently towards you, something that could have been avoided had your employer taken the multiple complaints against the violent employee seriously.
- You fell from a defective ladder because your employer failed to carry out regular safety checks on the equipment they provided.
Accidents On The Road
External factors may contribute to various road traffic accidents, such as the weather or poor road conditions. However, the following examples show how another road user could have been liable for the road accident in which you sustained harm:
- Another driver caused a head-on collision because they were texting while driving.
- You were hit by a motorcyclist while walking on a pedestrian crossing because they failed to adhere to the speed limits.
- A driver hit a cyclist after failing to check their mirrors when overtaking on a narrow road.
Falls, Trips And Slips
According to RIDDOR, slips, trips and falls were amongst the most common non-fatal kind of accidents that employers reported in 2019/2020. However, they aren’t just common to the workplace and can occur due to negligence in different public places too. For instance:
- Someone could trip on a paving stone if the council fails to maintain it.
- A customer could slip on a wet floor in a supermarket due to someone failing to put down a wet floor sign.
- A customer fell down customer stairs in a retail shop due to stock being left out.
Other Causes
There may be other ways you suffered harm such as a physical assault. In these instances, you could seek compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
For more information, visit the government website or speak to a member of our team and they can advise you on your rights.
Cracked Or Bruised Rib – Claim Time Limits
If you suffered a cracked or bruised rib due to negligence and would like to claim compensation, you must start your bruised rib claim within the personal injury claims time limit. This is typically three years as set by the Limitation Act 1980. The time limit can start from the first signs of your bruised ribs, such as the date of the accident. It may start when your cracked or bruised rib can be connected to negligence, such as when receiving bruised rib treatment.
However, exceptions to the time limit may apply. These include:
- If a claimant is under the age of 18 at the time of the cracked or bruised rib injury, then the time limit is suspended until their 18th birthday. A litigation friend could be appointed to start a claim on their behalf during this time. However, if a cracked or bruised rib claim is not started, the claimant will have three years after they turn 18 to start a claim.
- The time limit is suspended indefinitely if a claimant lacks the mental capacity to start a cracked or bruised rib claim themselves. However, a litigation friend can make a personal injury claim on their behalf. Should the claimant regain their mental capacity, they will have three years from this date to begin their claim.
Call our advisors for further information about making bruised rib claims.
Bruised Ribs Injury Claim Compensation Calculator
We have used figures from the Judicial College’s guidelines (JCG), however, when your claim is valued, other evidence will be used alongside the JCG. For that reason, you should only use the figures in the table as a guide as your actual compensation figure may vary.
| Injury type | Details of injury | Compensation award |
|---|---|---|
| Chest Injuries | (a) In the worst cases, injuries may include the removal of one lung, serious heart damage and ongoing pain. | £100,670 to £150,110 |
| Chest Injuries | (b) A traumatic chest, lung or heart injury that causes permanent damage as well as other ongoing issues. | £65,740 to £100,670 |
| Chest Injuries | (c) Chest and lung damage that causes an ongoing disability. | £31,310 to £54,830 |
| Chest Injuries | (d) A simple injury which might cause permanent damage to tissue but has no continuing effect on lung function. | £12,590 to £17,960 |
| Chest Injuries | (f) An injury that has resulted in a collapsed lung but the person makes an uncomplicated recovery. | £2,190 to £5,320 |
| Chest Injuries | (g) A rib fracture or soft tissue injury that results in serious pain. | Up to £3,950 |
For more information on what your settlement may include and the evidence, you may need to provide, see below. Alternatively, call our team on the number above.
Personal Injury Damages
Your bruised ribs injury claim may comprise general damages which compensate you for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced as a result of your injury.
Furthermore, the impact the injuries have had on your quality of life as well as the long term impact they may have. In order to determine the severity of your injury, you will need to provide evidence in the form of medical records. For instance:
- Doctor reports
- Hospital records
In addition, you may be invited to attend an independent medical assessment. This can be particularly helpful if your injury didn’t happen recently, as it can show the current state of your condition and the impact it’s had on you.
As well as seeking compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced from your injuries, if your case is won you could claim back any financial losses. For instance, if you were unable to work and received a reduced wage, you could seek reimbursement for loss of earnings.
Other past and future losses might include:
- Care costs
- Medical expenses such as painkillers
- Travel expenses such as getting to and from doctors appointments
However, it’s important that you provide evidence of any losses such as receipts or payslips detailing the amount you’re claiming for.
For more information, speak to an advisor by calling us on the number at the top of the page.
Who Is Liable For Your Injury?
Where your accident happened can determine who owed you a duty of care. You are likely owed a duty of care at a public place, workplace or on the roads.
The following legislation states that employers, people in control of a public place and road users must do everything reasonably possible to prevent others from sustaining harm:
- Occupiers Liability Act 1957
- Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- The Highway Code
Failing to adhere to the legislation or taking reasonable steps to prevent you from being injured, could result in negligence.
A reasonable step might include:
- A shop owner ensures the shop floor is clear of hazards to prevent customers from tripping over and injuring themselves.
- Your employer regularly checks that the workplace equipment is safe to use to avoid you getting injured.
- A road user driving with due care and attention, such as checking mirrors, not texting while driving and adhering to the speed limits.
If you have evidence of someone failing to take a reasonable step which then resulted in an accident that caused your injury, call our team.
Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor To Make A Bruised Ribs Injury Claim
If you haven’t considered seeking legal representation due to the cost normally accompanying the service a solicitor provides, we have an option that could help. Our panel of solicitors all take cases on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning if the claim loses you won’t be asked to pay solicitor fees.
If your claim wins, you’ll need to pay a success fee which will be deducted from your overall settlement figure. However, the fee is legally capped and as part of the agreement, your solicitor will make you aware of it prior to starting your bruised ribs injury claim.
More importantly, seeking compensation under this agreement means you can avoid upfront costs. In addition, you can avoid any other costs that may incur while your claim is still in progress.
If you’d like to connect with a solicitor from our panel to help you get the compensation you deserve, see below for how an advisor can help put you in touch.
Speak To Legal Helpline
We hope you found our guide helpful and you’re feeling more informed moving forward with your personal injury claim. However, if you have any further queries, our team of expert advisors are available 24/7 to help.
They can evaluate your claim and provide an estimate of how much it could be worth. Furthermore, if they feel your case has a chance of succeeding, they can appoint a solicitor to work with you.
Alternatively, they can provide a further explanation of any aspect of the personal injury claims process you’re unsure of. So, why not get in touch using the following details:
- Telephone- 0333 000 0729
- Fill out your details on the call-back request form
- Speak to an advisor straight away using the live chat feature below
Useful Links
Were you involved in a car accident as a passenger? If so, our guide could help you understand the rights you have.
Did you break your knuckle in an accident at work? For more information on seeking compensation for your pain and suffering, see our guide.
If you suffered your broken rib in a supermarket accident claim, our guide could help.
Visit the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) for guidance on preventing accidents in various environments.
See the government guide on seeking compensation after an accident or injury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bruised Ribs Injury Clams
Please see the following section for more information on personal injury claims.
Who claims if a child was injured?
If someone under the age of 18 was injured, someone could put forward the claim on their behalf by acting as a litigation friend. For instance, a parent, guardian or solicitor.
What if my injury hasn’t been diagnosed?
If your injury has been missed or misdiagnosed due to a medical professional failing to provide you with the correct level of care, you could make a medical negligence claim.
Do I need to know how serious the injury was?
When putting forward a personal injury claim, you may need to provide medical evidence such as doctors reports. This can highlight the severity and nature of your injury.
What claims need to go to court?
If you claim with a solicitor, they will likely work with the defendant’s solicitor to avoid the claim going to court. However, for more complex claims where liability isn’t being admitted and further evidence is required, it may need to go to court.
Thank you for reading our guide exploring how you can make a bruised ribs injury claim. We hope you found it useful.
Written by EC
Edited by IE.
