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Delivering legal expertise since 1845

Serious orthopaedic injury claims

Whether caused by medical negligence, a workplace incident, or a road traffic accident, the effects of a serious orthopaedic injury can be life-changing. At Shoosmiths, we’re here to support you every step of the way and help you secure the compensation you deserve.

What is a serious orthopaedic injury?

A serious orthopaedic injury, or an orthopaedic trauma, refers to a severe injury to the musculoskeletal system. This includes damage to bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves, typically caused by a high-impact accident, such as a road traffic collision, a workplace incident, or a fall from height. Musculoskeletal injuries account for more than 20% of all injuries globally and, In the UK alone, orthopaedic trauma is responsible for over 30% of all hospital admissions related to injuries.

In some cases, these injuries may also result from medical negligence, such as a missed fracture diagnosis, surgical error, or delayed treatment.

Who can make a serious orthopaedic injury claim?

You may be eligible to make a serious orthopaedic injury claim if you have suffered a musculoskeletal injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence. To pursue a claim, you’ll typically need to show that another party was at fault and that their actions (or inactions) directly caused your serious injury.

What type of serious orthopaedic injuries can Shoosmiths Serious Injury help with?

Serious orthopaedic injuries can happen in many different situations, often without warning. Injuries we can help clients claim for include:

Serious orthopaedic injury as a result of a high-impact accident

Traumatic accidents

A high-impact accident, such as a fall from height or a crush injury , can result in a serious orthopaedic injury and can cause severe damage to bones, joints and soft tissues. These accidents often occur because another party failed to maintain safe conditions.

Workplace accidents

Workplace accidents often arise from unsafe environments, inadequate training, faulty equipment, or a lack of proper safety measures. In the UK, falls from height are the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries, accounting for 30% of all fatal injuries to workers in recent years. When employers fail to maintain safe working conditions, their negligence can lead to such orthopaedic injuries.

Road traffic accidents

Road traffic accidents involving a collision between cars, vans, and lorries can cause a serious orthopaedic injury. Vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists or pedestrians often suffer the most severe types of musculoskeletal trauma. Road traffic accidents are responsible for up to 50-60% of serious orthopaedic trauma in young people and are the leading cause of death among those aged 5-29 years worldwide. Negligent driving, speeding, failure to obey traffic laws, or poor road maintenance can result in such orthopaedic injuries.

Slips, trips and falls

These incidents can happen anywhere, such as in public places, shops, or private properties. When property owners fail to address hazards like wet floors, uneven surfaces, or inadequate lighting, their negligence may be responsible for causing a serious orthopaedic injury.

Sports injuries

While many sports injuries are accidental, some serious orthopaedic injuries may occur due to inadequate supervision, poor maintenance of facilities, or failure to provide proper safety equipment, which can amount to negligence.

Serious orthopaedic injury as a result of medical negligence

Medical negligence can be the cause of a serious orthopaedic injury. This can happen when a healthcare professional fails to diagnose, treat, or manage an injury properly, leading to further damage and long-term complications.

Serious orthopaedic injury experts

Meet our experts

Our team of specialist serious orthopaedic injury solicitors have decades of experience in handling complex, high-value claims. We understand the serious consequences of these injuries. That’s why we work tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome for every client.

When you contact Shoosmiths, you’ll speak with a solicitor who specialises in serious orthopaedic injury claims. They’ll guide you through every step of the process, from your first consultation to the final settlement, with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Sharine Burgess

Sharine Burgess

Partner

Sharine Burgess

Sharine is an award-winning lawyer in the personal injury department, acting on behalf of claimants and their families through a wide range of cases, so give her a call.

Chris  McKinney

Chris McKinney

Partner

Chris McKinney

Chris will come to your home or hospital. He specialises in serious personal injury and has won several multi-million pound claims for clients. Call Chris today.

Serious orthopaedic injury client stories

We’ve helped our clients rebuild their lives after sustaining serious injuries. Here is a selection of powerful client stories that show how Shoosmiths Serious Injury made a difference when it mattered most.

Negligent elbow surgery - Joanne Aldridge's story

Multiple broken bones' client story

Compensation for fractured elbow

How can a serious orthopaedic injury affect you?

A serious orthopaedic injury can significantly impact various aspects of your life, often going beyond the physical injury. This type of serious injury can be long-lasting, affecting your overall well-being and your day-to-day activities. Some of the ways a serious orthopaedic injury can affect you include:

Understanding these challenges is important, and at Shoosmiths, we’re committed to helping you get the support and compensation needed to rebuild your life.

How to make a serious orthopaedic injury claim with Shoosmiths?

The first step in making a serious orthopaedic injury claim is simple – just get in touch with our expert team of serious injury lawyers by calling 03700 868687 or sending us a message.

Usually, the person who has suffered a serious orthopaedic injury makes the claim, but there are circumstances where you can bring a claim on behalf of someone else:

 

If you’re unsure if you’re eligible to claim compensation on behalf of yourself or someone else, here at Shoosmiths, we can advise you on the options available.

Why choose Shoosmiths for your serious orthopaedic injury claim?

At Shoosmiths, we understand how life-changing a serious orthopaedic injury can be; that’s why we focus on getting you the compensation you deserve to help rebuild your life. Not only are we with you at each stage of the claims process, but we’ll also stay by your side for years to come – even once your claim is settled and compensation awarded.

As a major UK law firm with over 175 years of experience, Shoosmiths combines deep legal expertise with a personal, empathetic approach. We understand that serious injury can strike at the most difficult times, and we are committed to being a source of clarity, support, and strength.

You can trust that we have the right expertise to help you with your serious orthopaedic claim - we have specialist accreditations, and we comply with best practice and standards:

  • We're accredited by the Law Society Personal Injury Panel; Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL); Headway; and Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA)
  • Our team is recognised with top tier ranking by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners UK for their specialist knowledge, expertise and understanding of serious injury claims.
  • We’re signed up to the APIL/FOIL Guide to the Conduct of Cases Involving Serious Injury.

About Shoosmiths

Serious orthopaedic injury claims FAQs

  • How does a serious orthopaedic injury claim work?

    While every case is unique, the claims process typically follows these key steps:

    1. Your case will be assigned to one of our serious injury experts, who will be your dedicated point of contact throughout.
    2. We’ll discuss your funding options, including the possibility of a “no win, no fee” agreement
    3. Our team will gather all necessary evidence to support your claim, such as medical records and expert assessments. You may also be asked to undergo independent medical examinations to fully understand the extent of your serious orthopaedic injury.
    4. The responsible individual or organisation will then be formally notified of the claim and asked to accept or deny liability.
    5. If liability is accepted, we will seek interim compensation to help cover immediate treatment costs and ease financial pressures.
    6. We will carefully calculate the full compensation amount, taking into account your current and future needs, including any long-term care and support.
    7. If liability is denied, we will begin court proceedings. While most claims are resolved out of court, this step ensures there is a clear timeline for resolving.
  • How much compensation could you receive for a serious orthopaedic injury claim?

    The amount of compensation you could receive for a serious orthopaedic injury claim is dependent on several factors and individual circumstances, which will vary with every case. This may include: 

    • Your ability to work
    • Any loss of earnings
    • Your rehabilitation needs
    • Medical expenses
    • Adaptations required for your home life
    • Additional care and support
  • Can I claim on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis?

    The answer is usually yes. As long as your case has reasonable prospects of success (51%). If you are unsure whether you are eligible for a ‘no win, no fee’ claim, then get in touch with our serious injury team, who can talk you through your available options.

  • How long do you have to start a serious orthopaedic injury claim?

    To make a serious orthopaedic injury claim, you need to make it within 3 years of knowing your injury was due to negligence. However, there are limited exceptions to the rule, such as when you’re acting on behalf of someone under the age of 18 or on behalf of someone who lacks the capacity to make the claim themselves.

Call us now

Call us free and speak with a member of our client relationship team who will be happy to help.

0370 086 8687

Lines are open from 8:30am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday, and 10am to 4pm Sunday.

Message us

If you would prefer to write to us, you can send us a message by clicking below and we will get back to you Send us a message or

Arrange callback

Leave your name and number below for us to call you back.


 
Select

Thank You

Thank you for contacting Shoosmiths Serious Injury. Your enquiry is important to us. A dedicated member from our client relationship team will be in touch with you shortly.

What our clients say

Who we work with

  • Brain Injury Group
  • CESS
  • ABIF

Our accreditations

  • Accredited Personal Injury
  • Apil
  • Avma