Fractured Sternum Claims
You may be entitled to claim compensation if you have fractured your sternum in an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Call 0333 358 3034 for a free initial discussion or contact us using our online form and we will call you back.
What is the sternum?
The sternum – sometimes referred to as the breastbone – is a long flat bone located in the central part of the chest. It links to the ribs using cartilage and forms the front of the rib cage, thus helping to protect the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels from injury.
If the sternum is broken it can lead to various complications which may lead to some extensive medical care being required. Your recovery time could also be fairly lengthy.
Common Causes of a Fractured Sternum
Blunt trauma, such as sporting accidents, car accidents or a fall, often leads to sternum injuries. In the majority of cases, other injuries accompany the sternum injury, such as:
- Head, arm, spinal or leg fractures
- Soft tissue injuries to vital organs, such as the lungs, heart, and diaphragm
- Chest wall injuries such as broken ribs
The level of pain that is experienced will generally be dependent on the type and severity of the sternum injury.
Treatment or surgery is not usually required to fix a broken sternum, but it is difficult to rest and recover from. This is mainly because the chest is constantly used when a person breathes. Normally it would take roughly four to six weeks to recover from a broken sternum, but the bruising should heal within two to four weeks.
TRY THE ONLINE ELIGIBILITY CHECKERReturning to work following a Sternum Injury
Jobs that involve active duties such as manual handling or lifting can be difficult to return to following a sternum injury. If you do return to work you might be restricted to performing fewer manual tasks until you have made a full recovery.
Average Settlement for a fractured sternum
Generally, fractured sternum cases tend to vary in the amount of compensation that is awarded. The table below provides a summary that indicates the amount you could expect for a fractured sternum based on historical cases:
Level of injury |
Potential compensation |
Fracture of the ribs or damage to connecting tissue, causing serious pain and short-term disability |
Up to £3,350 |
Mild sternum injury causing pain and some permanent damage |
£10,000 to £15,200 |
The amount of compensation that you will be awarded will be unique to your specific circumstances and illness. This amount of compensation is calculated by looking at two distinct categories: general damages and special damages.
GENERAL DAMAGES
The pain and suffering that your injuries have caused is the main factor that is used to determine how much compensation you are owed.
SPECIAL DAMAGES
However, compensation also takes into account any financial losses that you might have suffered as a result of your illness, such as a loss of earnings due to being unable to return to work.
Start your fractured sternum claim with Jefferies
You have three years from the date of your injury in which to make a personal injury claim. We recommend that you contact us if you believe that you have a fractured sternum claim.
Contact us on 0333 358 3034 today for a free initial chat or get in touch with our friendly team online via our website and we will call you back.