QUICK ANSWER
Arm injury compensation in Scotland ranges from £8,730 for simple forearm fractures to £172,970 for severe arm injuries falling just short of amputation, under the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, 2026). You have 3 years from the date of your accident to claim under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. Scottish Claims Helpline works on a no win no fee basis – use the calculator below for an indicative figure, then complete the short form for a free, no obligation assessment.
Arm Injury Compensation Estimator
Scotland — based on the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition)
↑ Select your injury type above to see an estimated compensation range.
Estimated total compensation range
ⓘ This calculator provides indicative estimates based on the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, 2026) for solatium (pain, suffering and loss of amenity). Special damages for lost earnings and treatment costs are included as approximate additions only. Actual compensation depends on the specific facts of your case, independent medical evidence, and full assessment of all heads of loss. This tool does not constitute legal advice.
Arm Injury Compensation in Scotland — Judicial College Figures
Compensation for a arm injury in Scotland is assessed under two heads. Solatium covers pain, suffering and loss of amenity — the impact of the injury on your life, from struggling to dress and drive to being unable to work. Special damages cover every financial loss the injury causes. The table below shows solatium ranges from the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, published April 2026).
| Severity of Arm Injury |
Typical Award |
| Severe – injuries little better than amputation, e.g. serious brachial plexus damage | £127,050 – £172,970 |
| Serious fractures of one or both forearms with permanent and substantial disablement | £51,760 – £79,080 |
| Less severe – significant disability, but substantial recovery made or expected | £25,370 – £51,760 |
| Simple fracture of the forearm | £8,730 – £25,370 |
Source: Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition (April 2026), Chapter 7 – Injuries to the Arm. Solatium figures only — special damages are additional.
That's not all. The figures above cover the injury itself. Your total settlement also includes special damages — lost earnings while you were off work, the cost of physiotherapy or private treatment, medication, travel to appointments, and care provided by family while you recovered. For working people, special damages regularly add thousands of pounds on top of the table figures.
How Arm Injury Compensation Is Calculated in Scotland
Once fault is established, your solicitor will instruct an independent medical expert — usually an orthopaedic consultant — to examine you and produce a medico-legal report. The report documents the injury, links it to the accident, and gives a prognosis: whether you will recover fully, how long that will take, and what symptoms are likely to persist. That prognosis determines which Judicial College bracket applies.
Arm injury brackets are wide because outcomes vary so much: a simple forearm fracture and a compound fracture with nerve involvement start from the same event but end in very different places. The medical evidence on residual function – grip, rotation, strength and any nerve symptoms – determines the bracket, and for manual workers the impact on earning capacity often drives the special damages beyond the injury award itself.
Special damages are calculated separately and added on top: wage slips prove lost earnings, receipts prove treatment and travel costs, and even unpaid care from family members has a calculable value under Scottish law.
Common Causes of Arm Injury Claims
Arm injuries arise across motorbike accidents, cycling accidents, construction accidents, factory and warehouse accidents, and falls in public places. If your arm injury was someone else's fault, you can claim – and the same Judicial College brackets apply.
The Time Limit for Arm Injury Claims in Scotland
Under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, you have three years from the date of your accident to make a claim. For conditions that developed gradually, the three years runs from the date you knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that your injury was caused by someone else's fault. Children have until their 19th birthday, since the period does not begin until age 16 in Scotland.
Arm Injury Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions
Arm injury compensation in Scotland ranges from £8,730 for simple forearm fractures to £172,970 for severe injuries falling just short of amputation, under the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, 2026). Special damages for lost earnings and treatment are paid on top of these figures.
A simple broken forearm typically attracts £8,730 to £25,370 under the Judicial College Guidelines. Serious fractures with permanent and substantial disablement attract £51,760 to £79,080. Where you needed time off work, lost earnings are claimed on top.
A fractured humerus (upper arm) is valued within the arm injury brackets according to outcome: a fracture with good recovery typically falls in the £8,730 to £25,370 range, rising to £25,370 to £51,760 where significant disability persists despite substantial recovery.
3 years from the date of the accident, under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. For injuries that developed gradually, the 3 years runs from the date you knew the injury was caused by someone else's fault. Children have until their 19th birthday to claim in Scotland.
The calculator provides indicative ranges based on the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition) for solatium, with approximate additions for work impact and treatment costs. Your actual award depends on independent medical evidence and a full assessment of every financial loss by a specialist Scottish solicitor - the final figure can be higher than the calculator shows.
How Do I Start My Arm Injury Claim?
Contact Scottish Claims Helpline for a free, no obligation assessment. We will review your circumstances, advise on whether you have a viable claim, and connect you with a specialist Scottish solicitor who handles arm injury claims on a no win no fee basis. It takes 2 minutes and you pay nothing unless your claim succeeds.
About this page: Written by
David Gildea, Claims Manager and qualified Scottish paralegal at Scottish Claims Helpline. Last reviewed: August 2026. Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (
FRN 830381).