Broken Nose Claims
Does your claim qualify? Get free, no obligation advice!
Broken noses are one of the most common injuries that happen (which is unsurprising given the protruding nature of the nose). If you’ve broken your nose and it was someone else’s fault, you could claim compensation from those responsible.
The nose is a vital part of human physiology and an important feature that helps define our facial appearance.
Broken noses can be extremely painful. It’s not uncommon for someone to break their nose by bumping into a door or a metal bar, simply because they weren’t looking where they were going. But in many cases, the person has been injured because of someone else’s breach of duty of care or carelessness.
A broken or fractured nose can result from an accident caused, for instance, in a road traffic accident, in workplace accidents, a slip or trip in a supermarket or even a criminal assault. Where someone else was responsible, they should be held accountable for the injuries sustained. If you’ve broken your nose, you may even be left with ongoing pain, difficulties with breathing and sleeping – and you could be left with a crooked nose.
The purpose of broken nose compensation is to compensate you for the extent of pain and suffering caused and to make your recovery easier. If you’ve suffered a fractured nose and someone else was responsible, you could start your no win no fee personal injury claim today. For more about no win no fee claims you can speak with legally trained advisers by calling 0800 234 6438, or if you prefer, you can request a call back using the claim form here.
Your personal injury solicitors will be able to take on your claim on a no win no fee basis if you have a reasonable chance of winning. This means the financial risk to you of claiming for a broken nose injury is removed.
You’ll sign a ‘conditional fee agreement’ which means you will have no legal costs to pay if your nose injury claim is unsuccessful. And if you win, you’ll receive your compensation award. Out of your compensation, you will then pay your solicitor a ‘success fee’ to cover your legal fees (this will never be more than 25% of your nose fracture compensation).
To start your no win no fee nose injury compensation claim process, simply call 0800 234 6438 for a no obligation consultation with specialist solicitors. Importantly, the personal injury law firm will be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority – giving you much needed peace of mind during the nose injury claims process.
The nose is made up of cartilage and two nasal bones which are different sizes and shapes in each individual. They give the nose its overall shape. These facial bones are small symmetrical bones located in the middle of the face. Each of the bones has four borders and two surfaces, joining to form what’s commonly known as the ‘bridge’ of the nose.
The bones support two key pieces of cartilage – the upper lateral and the lower lateral cartilage – which support the sides of the nose, shape the nostrils and the tip of the nose. The nostrils are the two spaces through which the air flows when we breathe. The air is breathed into the nasal cavity – the hollow behind the nose; and mucus drains from the sinuses and into the nasal cavity and out through the nostrils.
The septum is bone and cartilage and is effectively a wall dividing the inside of the nose.
If the nose is damaged, the function of the nose could be impaired – sometimes a permanent reduction in your sense of smell; or you could be left with a deformed nose.
This depends on the nature and extent of the fracture itself, but thankfully there is normally a complete recovery within around three weeks. With just two identical bones in the nose, a broken nose is usually a fracture to either or both of them.
However, a fractured nose may also involve a fracture to the cartilage in the nose or the septum, which will need medical treatment. There are several types of nasal fractures, in order of seriousness:
A broken nose is classed as a serious injury. If the nose is deformed by the break you will probably need to have your nose manipulated by a doctor to straighten it once the swelling has reduced. A broken nose injury can also cause the cartilage in the nose to bend, and these can also be straightened under anaesthetic. This is normally done under anaesthetic. A nasal speculum is used to open up the nostrils so that the bones and cartilage can be manipulated into position.
Severe broken noses may need to have a plate inserted to keep the bone in place. If the injured person has difficulty breathing, they may even need to be intubated, which carries additional risks of infection and soft tissue damage.
If the trauma causes severe bleeding from nose, it can be an even more traumatic experience. The bleeding will usually be stemmed by having a soft gauze pad inserted into the nose.
In rare cases the force exerted to the nose can be so powerful as to cause injuries to the head of neck. If you experience any symptoms that are not typical of a broken nose, make sure you seek medical attention.
The human nose serves some remarkable functions: it enables us to breath in, it is our tool of smell and filters the air that we breathe. You will probably know it if you’ve broken your nose – you may well have heard or felt a crunch or crack on impact. The typical symptoms of a broken nose include:
While the injured person can usually treat their broken nose at home with ice, painkillers and some self-care, it is a good idea to see a medical professional for proper advice. This is particularly important if someone else was responsible for your broken nose. When you come to start your broken nose compensation claim, the medical notes and records will be vital evidence to support your claim.
There are also medical reasons why it is worthwhile to visit your local minor injuries unit or accident and emergency department. If, for example, the pain and swelling or your nosebleeds worsen, breathing is becoming more difficult or you develop a temperature, you may need additional medical treatment.
In serious cases, there could be a head injury. Symptoms that you should not ignore as they could suggest a more serious head injury include double vision, watery nasal discharge, a severe headache and feeling faint. Urgent medical help is needed in these cases.
A broken nose is almost always caused by excessive force (trauma), whether as a result of your own clumsiness or someone else’s negligence or being involved in a fight. Nose fractures are often caused by falling, or by walking into a door or an obstacle that’s at face-height. Other common causes of a broken nose include:
Anyone employed in manual work or work that involves you moving around and carrying objects, such as construction or factory work, is at an elevated risk of broken nose injuries and other injuries such as a broken ankle. However, employers are legally required to comply with the relevant health and safety regulations to protect their employees from the risk of personal injury.
A physical assault, such as a punch in the face, can break the victim’s nose and cause other injuries.
Sports accidents, particularly in the case of contact sports such as boxing and hockey, can cause nose injuries. Most participants are aware of the risk of personal injury when they play – with plenty of fists, feet and elbows flying around. But not all sporting injuries are unavoidable. For example, if a coach has failed to provide helmets, face guards or boxing gloves and a player is hit in the face and injured, the individual could make a compensation claim if their nose is broken.
Tripping on an uneven surface or over an obstacle on a walkway or steps could lead to a broken nose injury, particularly if the victim is elderly. However, local authorities are responsible for ensuring their property is properly maintained and safe for people to walk on. If they fail in their duty of care and someone trips or falls and breaks their nose, they can face a claim under ‘public liability’ laws.
If you’ve suffered a broken nose on private property and it wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation from the property owner/occupier under ‘occupiers’ liability’ law.
Road traffic accidents involve speed and force and can cause nose fractures if your face hits the steering wheel, as well as multiple fractures and other injuries. Vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are at a particularly high risk of being involves in a car accident. If you’ve been involved in a road traffic accident caused by someone else, you should be able to start a personal injury claim for your nose injuries.
With prompt treatment and self-care to your broken nose, your injuries should heal quickly with few if any lasting problems. If your nose needed surgical manipulation to straighten it, you may need longer to fully recover but it shouldn’t be long before you’re back to normal.
That said, there are potential complications following a broken nose, including:
Neck or head injury – If the force which broke the nose was powerful enough, further injuries to the head of neck could also be caused.
Permanent deformity – Many people, mostly men, who have suffered a broken nose are not too concerned if their nose has changed shape. However, for some people the emotional impact of being left with a noticeable facial disfigurement after the injury has healed is profound. It can impact their self confidence and social life – through no fault of their own. Thankfully, further surgery – a rhinoplasty – can take place to put things right. This is revisionary surgery to straighten the nose or help with breathing. Although prompt manipulation of a broken nose normally straightens the nose successfully, it may not be fully successful in the case of serious breaks. Though expensive, the cost can be recouped as part of your broken nose compensation claim.
Deviated spectrum – If the septum (the wall of cartilage separating the nostrils) is displaced, the nasal passage will be narrowed and can cause problems with breathing. The condition can be eased with the use of antihistamines and decongestants but in severe cases, surgery may be required.
Blood clots –Blood clotting called a septal haematoma can pool in either or both nostrils which could lead to cartilage damage if not drained promptly.
Nerve damage – In cases where a broken nose bone pierces a nerve, the injured party could be left with chronic nerve pain. It can also lead to an impaired sense of small
Risk of infection – Where the injured person needed intubation to help them breathe following a severe broken nose, there is a heightened risk of infection and also damage to the trachea.
Spinal injury – A fractured nose, particularly following trauma to the upper nose, can cause a spinal injury in the neck. In some situations, an injury to the spine may be even more serious than the primary nose injury.
FACT
A sneeze is the physiological mechanism by which we clear the nose of mucus, dust, dirt and smoke
Deformity of the nose – If the nose is deformed after it has healed, you could experience ongoing issues with eating, speaking – and even breathing and sleeping. Your appearance may also be affected, leading to loss of confidence and affecting your social life.
Thankfully, your compensation claim will take into account the full impact of your injuries on your life and you can rely on your solicitor to recover maximum compensation for a broken nose. Call us free to speak with an experience legal team on 0800 234 6438, or if you prefer, ask for a call back using the claim form here.
Yes, if your broken nose was caused by someone else – they should be held responsible. Whether your nose was broken at work, while playing contact sports or falling over a pallet in a supermarket, you could be entitled to claim compensation.
To prove the other party was negligent, your solicitor will have to demonstrate on balance that they had a duty of care towards you; they breached that duty; and your injuries were foreseeable and directly caused by their negligence..
Your personal injury solicitor will talk you through how nose injury compensation claims are conducted; and tell you what information they will need to prove your case. The most important step you can take is to call on 0800 234 6438, or if you prefer, you can request a call back using the injury claim form here.
As an employee or worker, your employer is legally required to ensure your workplace is safe from the risk of injuries. Their general responsibilities are set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other laws. One of an employer’s key duties is to undertake initial and ongoing regular risk assessments and to swiftly deal with any health and safety risks identified.
Where a risk of personal injury is identified, such as a broken nose and other head and facial injuries, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as helmets and eye and mouth shields should be supplied. Clear warning signs should also be placed in appropriate areas.
If an accident occurred at work and you’ve suffered a broken nose, it’s highly likely your employers has failed to adequately protect you and it’s only fair that they should be held responsible.
So, if you’ve broken your nose in a workplace accident, ask sure your employer to record the incident in the accident logbook; and formally report it to the Health and Safety Executive as required under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013).
You shouldn’t need to worry about the financial impact on your employer if you win, because your compensation will be paid out by their insurers – and not out of their profits.
To start claiming fractured nose type compensation following a workplace accident, call for a free consultation on 0800 234 6438, or if you prefer, you can request a call back using the claim form here.
FACT
A scaffolding company was fined £160,000 after a scaffold fitting fell 60ft onto a member of the public, breaking his nose and causing further head and facial injuries. The firm pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches.
If your broken nose was caused by someone else, the most important step you can take is to speak with a trained legal adviser. They will assess your case and confirm whether you have the right to make a compensation claim. Just call 0800 234 6438 for free legal advice about your nose injury claim or request a call back using the claim form here.
Assuming you can start a claim, you will be partnered with a specialist solicitor experienced in no win no fee nose injury claims. They will ask about how your nose was broken, the treatment and your recovery – and how it is still impacting your life. You will be asked for information and evidence so that a strong claim can be built on your behalf.
To make this as speedy as possible, make sure you have photographs of the scene and of your injury; names and contact details of any witnesses; any CCTV or dashcam footage; and any accident reports made to your employer or the property owner; and to the HSE.
Once your solicitors have enough evidence, they’ll contact those responsible for your injury, and attempt to negotiate how much compensation you deserve. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, the parties involved agree to settle without going to court.
Your solicitors will seek maximum compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced, including any longer-lasting damage such as a deformity of loss of smell. This is known as ‘general damages’ and how much compensation you win should reflect the full extent of your nose injury.
Broken noses vary from one person to another, so we’re not able tell you exactly how much you might win for your fractured nose injury so early. However, once your personal injury solicitor has a fuller picture of your injury and its effects on your life, they will be able to discuss your potential compensation with you.
Helpfully, there are official guidelines – the Judicial College Guidelines (2022 edition) – which personal injury lawyers refer to when calculating compensation amounts. For example a simple nose fracture where there is full recovery can attract up to £2,400; while at the other end of the scale, a serious and complicated broken nose leaving permanent damage and deformity could be worth between £10,000 and £22,000.
You can also try our online compensation calculator for a rough initial estimate, but bear in mind it should only be treated as a guide (especially if you also have other injuries). However, you can be reassured that your lawyers will work hard to recover maximum nose injury compensation.
CASE STUDY
In 2018, a 41-year-old man serving a prison sentence for murder, who suffered a broken nose after being beaten up in prison, was awarded £10,000 compensation by the Ministry of Justice
You can also claim for your financial losses caused because of your broken nose. These are known as ‘special damages’. The compensation awarded will usually include an amount to cover loss of earnings and the cost of medical treatment. Typical financial losses that a claimant can seek repayment of as part of their settlement include:
FACT
Broken noses (nasal fractures) are the most common form of facial fracture, accounting for more than half
It’s not uncommon for a broken nose to heal leaving a deformity, whether that’s a bump or even a crooked nose. Once the injury itself has healed, you may be able to undergo further surgery – nose reshaping or rhinoplasty – to improve the appearance of your nose.
In the UK, initial consultations and the surgery itself can cost thousands of pounds. Fortunately, you should be able to recoup the cost involved from the person responsible for you injury, so long as the costs are reasonable.
It’s not uncommon to be punched or kicked in the face and end up with a broken nose. Though it’s unlikely in these cases that a negligence claim could be made, there is a separate legal right to claiming compensation if you are the innocent victim of a violent crime.
If someone else was to blame for the assault, you can to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) – a government-run scheme which pays out even in cases where the attacker has not been identified. To be eligible to make a claim to the CICA:
When considering your claim, the CICA will look at your own role in the incident. So if, for example, you were involved in a fight and you are found also to blame, it’s unlikely you’ll be entitled to compensation.
If you are due an award, the amount available is fixed, depending on the actual injury (unlike ‘normal’ compensation claims where the range of potential compensation is wide). These include £2,400 for a broken ethmoid bone requiring surgery; and £3,500 for a partial loss of smell and taste.
For detailed information about the CICA scheme, see our guide here. You can also telephone 0800 234 6438, or if you prefer, ask for a call back using the claim form here. A personal injury solicitor will be able to explain what the best course of action is for your case and will help you make your claim on a no win no fee basis.
Yes, medical evidence is almost always necessary in personal injury claims. This is partly why it’s vital to seek medical treatment if you suspect you have a fractured nose. All your medical notes and records in relation to the injury will be crucial to your claim.
You will also be asked to attend a medical assessment, probably with a maxillofacial consultant, who will discuss your nose injury with you and examine you. They will then write a report on your injury, the impact on your life and indicate whether further surgery will be necessary. Your solicitor will do this on your behalf under the terms of your no win no fee agreement.
CASE STUDY
A teacher who was punched in the face by a suspended pupil has won almost £1 million after he was left with PTSD and unable to teach in the classroom
Yes, most personal injury claims must be started within three years from the date of the accident. Broken noses are rare in children, but if the injured person is under 18, the three-year time limit does not start to run until they reach 18.
If the individual lacks mental capacity, the three-year time limit is extended – it does not start to run unless and until they regain their mental capacity.
To find out about the personal injury claims process, get in touch with specialist advisors on 0800 234 6438, or use our contact form and ask for a call back. You’ll be partnered with specialist injury lawyers for a free initial consultation.
Nicola is a dual qualified journalist and non-practising solicitor. She is a legal journalist, editor and author with more than 20 years' experience writing about the law.
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