Serious orthopaedic injury claims

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 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:

• Physical health
• Mental health
• Ability to work
• Social life
• Financial impact

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 are the parent or legal guardian of a person under the age of 18, you can act as a litigation friend to bring a claim on their behalf.
• You can also act as a litigation friend to bring a claim on behalf of someone who does not have the mental capacity as defined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Unfortunately, some orthopaedic injuries are fatal. When this occurs, the Executor or Administrator of the deceased’s Estate can bring a claim on behalf of the deceased and any dependents.

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.

What our clients say