By Lewis Cobain. Last Updated 8th October 2025. A proximal fractured humerus can be extremely debilitating, leaving those affected facing a lengthy and challenging recovery. In some cases, may never completely heal. If another party’s negligent actions caused your injury, then you may be able to start claiming compensation for a proximal fractured humerus. Getting started is as simple as contacting our team of advisors here at Legal Expert.
Our advisors will assess your eligibility, free of charge, and answer any questions you might have about how to claim compensation for a broken humerus. Why not reach out to discover how compensation amounts are calculated and learn more about the tailored services provided by our dedicated solicitors? You could find yourself one step closer towards getting compensation.
Answers To Some Key Questions
- What is a proximal humerus fracture? This is when the bone that forms the upper arm and part of the shoulder joint breaks.
- How is a proximal humerus fracture treated? You may need to wear a sling and undergo physiotherapy, but surgery is rarely required.
- What can I do to help the healing process? Avoid heavy lifting for the first 4 to 6 weeks, follow the exercises recommended by your doctor, and stay hydrated.
- What are the signs of this type of injury? Pain, bruising, swelling, and limited shoulder movement are common symptoms of a broken humerus.
- Can I recover the cost of physiotherapy? If these costs are directly related to your injury, then broken humerus compensation may account for the out-of-pocket expense.
4.8 (466 reviews) Slips, Trips And Falls
In elderly people, proximal humerus fracture treatment is far from straightforward. However, slips, trips and falls are very common in the UK, especially amongst the elderly. This means that despite the treatment being complex when it comes to treating a fractured humerus, NHS doctors have plenty of experience.
The Health and Safety Executive, the UK’s workplace safety regulator, states that slips, trips and falls are the most common accidents in the workplace. Or as in the case of this victim, as a member of the public entering a privately-operated place of work.
Details Of The Proximal Humerus Fracture
In this particular case, the shoulder injury was extremely serious with the medical condition being exacerbated by the age of the patient.
With the original injury being missed initially and left for an extra day without treatment, the shock and trauma to the patient were also severe.
Doctors discovered that it would take extensive corrective surgery to begin rebuilding the shoulder into a state where it could start to repair itself.
Humerus Fracture Shoulder Surgery
The initial treatment required fractured humerus surgery to fit surgical fixings and a philos plate. This required multiple surgeries to achieve, and for the duration of the treatment, the patient had to stay in the hospital as an inpatient.
It took continuous examinations over a 4-month period before doctors could be entirely sure that the injury had begun to heal. A full bone repair was not confirmed until 12 months later. During almost the entire 12-month recovery period, she was forced to wear a fractured humerus sling. Regaining basic shoulder functionality required physiotherapy and exercises for the fractured humerus.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Broken Humerus?
Are you wondering, ‘how long does it take to recover from a broken humerus?’. In the case study above, it took the claimant almost 12 months to recover from her broken humerus. This was down to factors including her age and the severity of the injury, so it may not always take a year to recover.
Under NHS guidance, a fractured humerus can take approximately 12 weeks to heal. However, to fully recover, it can take up to one year. For detailed information on recovery or treatment, we recommend seeking the advice of a medical professional.
Get in touch to find out how our expert personal injury solicitors could help you secure compensation after suffering a fractured humerus due to the negligence of another party.
Key Steps To Making Your Own Fractured Humerus Claim
If you have sustained a broken humerus because of negligence, there are steps you can take to strengthen your claim for personal injury compensation. Firstly, you should seek medical attention. This will ensure that your injury is treated correctly. Additionally, any diagnosis or treatment you are given will be logged in your medical records, which can then be used as evidence.
Other examples of evidence you can collect in support of a claim include:
- The contact details of any witnesses. Your solicitor can get in touch with them for a statement.
- Photographs of your injury.
- A medical report from an independent medical expert.
- Any evidence of financial harm if you are claiming special damages. For example, you could use a wage slip to prove a loss of earnings.
Finally, it’s important that you begin your claim within the time limit. As outlined in the Limitation Act 1980, you usually have three years from the date of the accident in which to start a claim.
Exceptions to the time limit can apply in cases where the injured party is under 18 or doesn’t have the mental capacity to pursue their own claim. To find out more about this, and whether the limitation period exceptions apply to your case, speak with a member of our team.
What Did The Compensation Settlement Include?
The retail store admitted full liability for the accident. However, it was not until a medical professional could make a full prognosis of the injuries at a later stage that a full compensation payout could be made. Initially, an interim payment of £4,000 was made in the short term. Once a period of proximal humerus fracture healing time had passed, it was possible to calculate a final settlement of £20,000, which covered:
- General damages for the pain, suffering and trauma caused by the physical injury.
- Special damage to cover the cost of having to hire in-home help to undertake day-to-day tasks.
- Medical costs such as medication and physiotherapy were incurred as the victim needed a course of humerus fracture recovery exercises to regain functionality of the shoulder.
- All costs associated with making the compensation claim.
Broken Arm Compensation Payouts
Arm injury claim payouts can vary from claim to claim, depending on the circumstances of each case. Payouts can include up to two heads of claim, the first of which is general damages. This head of claim addresses your injuries and the resulting pain and suffering you go through.
When evaluating this head of your broken arm compensation, solicitors often use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help. This is because the text provides guideline brackets for a number of arm injuries of varying severities. In the table below, we have included some of the JCG’s brackets for arm injuries. Please note that the initial figure isn’t from the document, and none of the brackets guarantee compensation.
| Injury | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with special damages, such as lost earnings and physiotherapy costs | Up to £350,000+ |
| Severe arm injuries | £117,260 to £159,770 |
| Injuries resulting in permanent and substantial disablement | £47,810 to £73,050 |
| Less severe arm injuries | £23,430 to £47,810 |
| Simple forearm fractures | £8,060 to £23,430 |
Your compensation for a broken arm could also include special damages. This head of compensation is intended to help you claim back any financial losses you experience because of your injuries. For example, this could cover a loss of earnings or travel costs to and from hospital appointments.
For more information on arm injury claim payouts, contact our team today. One of our advisors could provide a free evaluation of your claim and offer more advice on claiming broken arm compensation.
4.8 (466 reviews) No Win No Fee Solicitors For Broken Humerus Claims
This specific case is a good example of the benefits of using No Win No Fee solicitors. Our solicitors work under a specific type of arrangement called a Conditional Fee Agreement. It means you wouldn’t be charged a service fee at the start of your claim, nor as it progresses. These fees also won’t need to be paid if you lose the claim.
Instead, your solicitor will receive a success fee if you win. It’s deducted as a percentage of the compensation, but a cap on it will ensure you keep the bulk.
Contact Legal Expert Today
Get in touch today for free and confidential advice from our friendly team. You can start your compensation today using one of the options below:
- Call 0800 073 8804.
- Use our online contact form.
- Speak with an advisor through live chat.
Useful Links
- Broken bone compensation – A Legal Expert guide to compensation payouts for broken bones.
- Shoulder injury compensation – Find out if you can claim with our helpful guide.
- Broken humerus – NHS advice on dealing with a broken humerus.
