How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Chest Injury?

Chest injury is a very wide term which is used to describe a range of different injury types and illnesses. All of these can affect the chest area of the body, commonly the chest is defined as the area between the neck and the diaphragm. It can include everything from broken bones to musculoskeletal injuries to other problems. Some of these illnesses can include things such as chronic injuries and conditions affecting the heart and lungs. Specific types of injury can include;

• • Fractured and broken bones (including ribs, the clavicle, sternum or even the breastbone).
    Damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the chest and sternum.
  • Chronic illnesses affecting the heart and lungs which have been caused by unsafe working conditions. Chronic conditions can include the 900 new cases asbestosis caused by the workplace each year.
  • Any other injuries or illnesses which can affect the internal organs.

Chest injuries can have a serious and long-term effect on those who suffer from them. To get the compensation you deserve, talk to Legal Expert today.

What Are The Main Types Of Chest Injuries?

There are two main ways that an injury to the chest can occur. The two types of chest injuries are impact trauma and exposure to a hazardous substance. Whichever of these caused the accident, the cause is usually not related to the amount of compensation you may receive. Your compensation will be calculated with reference to the nature of the injury sustained, the immediate and long-term effects it has on the claimant and any financial losses incurred.

The main types of chest injuries are:

• Impact trauma: These injuries can be caused in a variety of ways such as traffic accidents, falls and even criminal assaults.
• The exposure to hazardous substances: this type of chest injury claim is commonly known as compensation claim for industrial disease. These types of injury and illness include pneumococcus and mesothelioma.

Whilst the cause of the accident doesn’t affect the amount of compensation you can claim, being able to establish the liability of the party responsible does. In order to make a successful claim for personal injury compensation, your solicitor will need to show negligence on the part of the responsible party.

Chest Injuries At Work

In 2013 there were 177 new cases of asthma caused by exposure to hazardous substances at work. When a chest injury or illness does occur due to exposure hazardous materials in the workplace, those affected can bring a claim for personal injury compensation against their employer. If you suffer an injury to the chest and your employer has not previously taken the necessary and reasonable steps to protect workers from danger, they may then be liable for the resulting injuries. Reasonable steps can include placing adequate ventilation and providing the necessary personal protective equipment.

Chest Injury Legislation

Where an injury to the chest or an illness has been caused by exposure to hazardous substances and materials whilst carry out duties at work, a claim can be brought against the employer which has not followed the relevant legislation. Employers have a legal obligation to reduce or remove any impacts which such hazardous materials may have under the ‘Health and Safety at Work Act 1974’ and the COSH (or Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations.

What Is My Chest Injury Claim Worth

You may be able to claim different amounts of compensation for different types of chest injuries. Most personal injury claims are made up of two elements. One is known as general damages for pain and suffering caused by the injury. The other, ‘special damages’, covers financial losses such as a loss of earnings or medical costs.

Below are some of the types of chest injuries and claim amounts you may be able to claim for.

Injury	Severity	Amount	Notes
Scarring to parts of the body	Moderate	£5,950 - £17,275	Noticeable laceration scars, singular or multiple.
Scarring	Moderste	£1,800 - £5.950	Noticeable scar pr several superficial scars. Some cosmetic damage.
Traumatic chest injury	Moderate	£50,000 - £76,000	Traumatic injury to the lungs and/ or heart. Permanent damage and impaired function. Reduced life expectancy.
Damage to chest	Moderate	£23,800 - £41,675	Damage to the chest and lungs with some continuing disability.
Damage to chest	Mild	£9,575 - £13,650	Simple or more mild injury which caused some permanent damage. No significant long-term damage.
Fracture	Moderate	Up to £3,000	Fractre of the ribs or damage to connecting soft tissues. Causing serious pain and disability.
Lung disease	Severe	£41,650 - £53,200	Conditions such as emphysema, causing significant and worsening lung function.

If you have suffered any type of chest injury, contact the expert personal injury claims solicitors at Legal Expert.

A Guide To Making No Win No Fee Chest Injury Claims

No win no fee agreements are also known as Conditional Fee Agreements or CFA’s. These are contracts between a claimant and their personal injury solicitor. This forms the basis of the terms and conditions of the relationship between the solicitor and the claimant. It means that if you don’t win a claim, you won’t have to pay anything. Charges and fees for what you will have to pay upon winning your case will be detailed in the agreement. At Legal Expert, we have no extra fees or upfront costs.

How To Make A Chest Injury Claim

Get the personal injury compensation you deserve for your chest injury by working with Legal Expert. We can provide all the help and advice you need after an injury at work. To talk to our legal experts, fill in the contact form on our website. Alternatively, you can call us today on 0800 073 8804 or send us an email.

Useful Links

Occupational Health
Information about occupational health and priorities from the Health and Safety Executive.

Accident At Work Claim
Find out how to make an accident at work claim.

Car Accident Claims – How Much Compensation Can I Claim?

If you have had a car accident get free legal advice and find out how much you can claim.