Our serious personal injury team successfully secured £125,000 for a young part‑time worker who suffered a serious crush injury to the thumb while operating machinery at an outdoor leisure site.
Here, Andy Tindall explains the background to the case and how we reached the settlement.
Injury, affects & treatment
The injury occurred when our client attempted to adjust a piece of wood on a log‑splitting machine, inadvertently activating the piston mechanism. His thumb became trapped, resulting in extensive damage to the soft tissue and bone.
He sustained a complex crush injury to the non‑dominant thumb, including a fracture, degloving injury and loss of tissue at the tip. Over the following year, he underwent multiple surgical procedures, including initial repair, reconstructive plastic surgery and later corrective surgery to address scarring and functional restriction. He required physiotherapy, occupational therapy and intensive hand therapy for many months.
The injury led to long‑term difficulties with grip strength, dexterity and sensation. Everyday tasks such as fastening buttons, tying shoelaces and handling small objects became challenging. Our client also developed cold intolerance in the affected hand and was left with permanent scarring on the thumb, hand, forearm and donor site on his foot.
Our work — gathering evidence, ensuring rehabilitation & funding equipment
After obtaining an early admission of liability, our team worked with the insurer to arrange appropriate case management to put in place a necessary rehabilitation programme to aid his recovery. This included hand therapy, scar management and psychological treatment.
Once our client’s initial treatment and therapy had concluded, independent evidence was obtained from experts in hand surgery, prosthetics and psychology.
One of the most significant aspects of the claim concerned our client’s future needs. The prosthetics expert recommended a high‑definition silicone thumb prosthesis, silicone protective caps, specialist gloves and orthotic footwear support. These aids were projected to require periodic renewal throughout his adult life.
Settling the case
Following detailed negotiations, the case settled for £125,000 — providing our client with essential funding to support his future treatment, equipment and practical needs.