By Danielle Jordan. Last Updated 26th August 2025. Welcome to our guide on broken chair accident claims. A chair seems harmless on the surface, but accidents can easily arise if the chair you sit on is broken. This not only relates to chairs that break and leave you injured on the floor, but also to chairs that are not set up properly and cause lasting damage that occurs over time. No matter what type of chair accident it is, if it’s not your fault, you will be able to claim compensation.
We have many years of experience in broken chair accident claims and can help you to get the maximum payout you are entitled to. For more information about claims for damaged chairs injuries after duty of care breaches, please read on.
This guide informs you on many aspects of faulty chair claims, including in what instances you may be able to claim and the amount of compensation you may be able to receive.
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What To Do If You’re Injured In A Broken Chair Accident
No matter whether your chair broke in a restaurant or you have sustained a back injury due to sitting on a faulty chair at work, you need to prioritise your health.
The first thing you should always do is see a medical professional, irrespective of how minor your injuries may seem at first. Some injuries can seem minor at first, but they can often get worse over time if they are not treated properly. Plus, not only is seeing a doctor vital for your health, but it can help to strengthen your claim too. This is because the medical professional you visit will put together a report, which will be used to determine how much compensation you will receive for your broken chair accident claims.
Aside from this, it is a good idea to make a note of everything that occurred so that you do not forget anything important later down the line. You should also take photographs of the chair, as well as your injuries if they are visible. Getting the contact information of the liable party, as well as any witnesses, is advised. Witness statements can really help to strengthen broken chair injury claims, ensuring you get the maximum compensation payout.
Receiving broken chair injury settlements, as with any personal injury settlement, revolves around proving that your injury was caused by third-party negligence. Therefore, to receive compensation due to falling from a broken chair, you need to show that a third party had a duty of care to you and their actions that led to your injury breached this duty.
How To Begin A Broken Chair Claim
If you have suffered an injury due to a broken office chair, you will need to prove that your injuries were caused by a relevant third party breaching their duty of care to be eligible to make a personal injury claim. A breach of a duty of care that results in injury is known as negligence.
There are various situations where you are owed a duty of care. These include at work and in public spaces, including public transport. If you can prove that negligence took place, you may be entitled to compensation. Later in this guide, we will discuss the duty of care you are owed in various incidents in more detail.
If you have a valid case, you must also ensure that you start the claiming process within the personal injury claims time limit. This is typically 3 years from the date of the accident, as set by the Limitation Act 1980. However, there are certain exceptions to this limitation period.
Our advisors can inform you of what the expectations of this 3-year time limit are. They can also answer any questions you have about broken chair injury settlements. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with free advice.
Evidence That Can Support A Broken Chair Injury Claim
When making a personal injury claim following an accident involving a broken chair, it is vital that you obtain sufficient evidence. This evidence will need to prove both liability and the injuries you suffered.
Here are a few examples of evidence that might be helpful:
- Footage of the accident, such as from CCTV or a mobile phone.
- Photographs of the chair that caused your injuries, and/or pictures of your injuries (if they are visible).
- Contact information from anyone who witnessed the accident so they can give a statement later into the personal injury claims process.
- A copy of any medical letters from hospitals or your GP with details of the injury, including its nature and the treatment you needed.
If you would like free advice about what evidence you could submit to support your case for a chair injury, please contact an advisor from our team.
Who Can I Sue For Injuries Caused By A Broken Chair?
As we said above, broken chair accident claims can be made against various third parties if the duty of care has been breached and injuries have been caused. We have set out the duties of care owed in different scenarios, as well as provided an example of how it could be breached here:
Accidents At Work
Employers are required by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their workforce. This duty applies to both full employees and any agency staff or self-employed contractors. For example, if your employer has failed to carry out the required maintenance inspections on office furniture, and you sit on a chair with a faulty piston, you could be seriously injured.
Accidents In Public Places
The parties in control of public places, called occupiers, must take steps to ensure the reasonable safety of any visitors to the areas they are responsible for, as set out in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. So, if the managers of a cafe knew one of their benches was in need of repair but didn’t place a warning sign, unknowing customers could sit on the bench and fall through, injuring themselves in the process.
To get a zero-cost assessment of your eligibility to seek broken chair injury compensation, no matter your circumstances, talk to our team today using the details provided below.
Examples Of Broken Chair Accidents.
Here we’ve included a few incidents where broken chair accident claims could be made. Whether you’re at work or in a public place, any furniture, such as chairs, should be inspected for faults and repairs or replacements organised where necessary.
Below, we’ve provided scenarios where injuries were sustained because that duty of care was not upheld:
- You suffered back injuries at a restaurant when your chair gave way. A loose leg had been reported by wait staff, but the chair had not been removed from the restaurant floor.
- Despite complaints from multiple staff members that the chairs in the office were old and in need of replacement, no actions were taken by your employer. You sat down to begin work when the back of the chair snapped, resulting in you hitting your head on the desk.
- One of the slats on a park bench was broken. The local council had organised a repair, but no “Do Not Use” sign had been placed. You lacerated your arm on the splintered wood when you sat down.
You can get a free assessment of your eligibility to claim broken chair accident compensation and learn more about claiming for your particular accident by speaking to our advisory team today.
What Can Be Claimed For Through A Broken Chair Injury Claim?
When making claims for chair accidents, you can claim for the following:
- General damages – This relates to the payout you will receive for the pain and suffering you have experienced.
- Special damages – This element of your compensation aims to reimburse you for specific financial costs relating to your accident or injury. This could include some of the following:
- Medical expenses – Such as treatments not covered by the NHS.
- Loss of earnings – You can receive compensation for loss of expected earnings as well.
- Travel expenses – If you have needed to pay out of pocket for public transport, for example, due to being unable to drive, you could potentially claim these costs back.
- Care claim – If you have required paid assistance around the house while you recover, you will be able to file a care claim to recover the cost.
How Much Compensation Will I Get After A Broken Chair Injury?
One question we often hear is: how much broken chair compensation will I receive? It is understandable that you would want to know the answer to this when weighing up the prospect of a broken chair lawsuit. Unfortunately, it is impossible to provide you with a definitive figure regarding how much compensation you will receive. This is because every case is different and there are many variables.
You may have come across a slip and fall compensation calculator or any other type of compensation calculator online, but such tools only provide you with an estimate.
Below, you’ll see suggestive compensation brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines. This document is used by solicitors to value a person’s injuries, as the JCG matches those suggestive brackets with many forms of physical and psychological harm.
However, please remember that the brackets below aren’t a guarantee of compensation, nor is the top figure from the publication.
Compensation Table
| Type of Injury | Severity | Typical compensation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Serious Injuries with Special Damages (e.g. Travel Costs) | Very Serious | Up to £500,000+ |
| Brain Damage | Moderate (c)(i) | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Less Severe (f) | £18,700 to £52,550 | |
| Back Injuries | Severe (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 |
| Moderate (ii) | £15,260 to £33,880 | |
| Foot Injuries | Serious (e) | £30,500 to £47,840 |
| Moderate (f) | £16,770 to £30,500 | |
| Other Arm Injuries | Less Severe (c) | £23,430 to £47,810 |
| Simple Forearm Fractures (d) | £8,060 to £23,430 | |
| Less Serious Leg Injuries | Less Serious (i) Fractures From Which an Incomplete Recovery is Made or Serious Soft Tissue Injuries | £21,920 to £33,880 |
Simply call us, and we can explain further about your broken chair accident claims.
Faulty Chair Claims With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
One of the main features of our service is the fact that all of the broken chair injury claims we launch are done so on a No Win No Fee basis. What does this mean? In basic terms, you won’t need to pay us a penny in solicitor fees at the start of your claim, as it progresses, or if the case is lost.
Instead, you’ll only pay a small success fee from your compensation. It’s payment for your solicitor’s work, and the maximum percentage that can be taken is legally capped.
What this means is that anyone can hire a high-quality legal representative, irrespective of their financial situation. This is something we are very passionate about, as we believe all people should receive compensation for their hardship. It should not be something that is only open to those with money in the bank.
On the other hand, if you were to opt for a solicitor who charges by the hour, there is always the risk that they are merely taking on your case in order to take your money. After all, win or lose, they are going to receive the same payday regardless. But we strive to protect the client’s financial interests when filing the likes of broken chair accident claims.
If you would like to know more about how No Win No Fee agreements could work for you, contact us today:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online.
- Message the live chat below
Helpful Links
Other guides you may find helpful:
- You can check out our guides to burn injury claims and how much they can be worth.
- If you are looking to claim for a slip, trip or fall with a solicitor, you can read our guide about that here.
- For advice on claiming for a soft tissue injury, you can read our guide on the matter here.
Thank you for reading our guide about broken chair accident claims.
