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Wrist injury compensation in Scotland ranges from £4,670 for fractures with a full recovery to £79,080 where the injury results in complete loss of wrist function, 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.
Wrist 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.
Wrist Injury Compensation in Scotland — Judicial College Figures
Compensation for a wrist 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 type, grip or drive to being unable to work in a manual job. 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 Wrist Injury |
Typical Award |
| Complete loss of function in the wrist | £62,910 – £79,080 |
| Significant permanent disability, but some useful movement remains | £32,370 – £51,760 |
| Less severe – permanent stiffness or pain, function largely returns | £16,640 – £32,370 |
| Fracture or soft tissue injury with recovery within 2 to 3 years (includes Colles fractures) | £4,670 – £13,670 |
Source: Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition (April 2026), Chapter 7 – Wrist Injuries. 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 Wrist 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.
Wrist valuations turn on function. A fractured wrist that heals with full movement sits in the recovery bracket, while the same fracture leaving permanent stiffness, reduced grip strength or pain on use moves up substantially – particularly for people in manual or keyboard-heavy work, where the impact on earning capacity also drives special damages.
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 Wrist Injury Claims
Wrist injuries most often arise from falls – slips in shops, pavement trips and slips and trips at work – because people instinctively put their hands out. They also feature in cycling accidents and car accidents. If your wrist injury was someone else's fault, you can claim – and the same Judicial College brackets apply.
The Time Limit for Wrist 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.
Wrist Injury Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions
Wrist injury compensation in Scotland ranges from £4,670 for fractures with a full recovery to £79,080 for complete loss of wrist function, under the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, 2026). Special damages for lost earnings and treatment are paid on top of these figures.
A broken wrist that recovers within two to three years typically attracts £4,670 to £13,670 under the Judicial College Guidelines. Where the fracture leaves permanent stiffness or pain, the award rises to £16,640 to £32,370, and significant permanent disability attracts £32,370 to £51,760.
An uncomplicated Colles fracture – the classic broken wrist from a fall onto an outstretched hand – typically attracts an award in the region of £9,710. Where complications leave lasting stiffness, pain or reduced grip, the award moves into the higher brackets, and lost earnings are claimed in addition.
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 Wrist 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 wrist 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).