Broken Nose Compensation Claims
Find out if you can claim for a nose injury
If your nose was broken in an accident that was not your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. We will explain your options in plain English and tell you honestly whether you have a case.
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Can you claim compensation for a broken nose?
You can usually claim if someone else caused the injury and they owed you a duty of care. That covers a road accident caused by another driver, an assault, a fall on badly maintained premises, an unsafe workplace, or a sporting incident where the organiser failed to manage an obvious risk. You will normally have three years from the date of the accident to start a claim. Most nose injury claims are funded on a No Win No Fee basis, so there is nothing to pay upfront.
Why broken nose injuries often lead to claims
The nose sits at the front of the face and takes the impact in almost any forward fall or collision. Nasal bones are thin, so they fracture at forces that would leave other bones intact. That is why a broken nose is one of the most common facial injuries seen in A and E.
A nose injury is rarely just cosmetic. A displaced fracture can restrict breathing for years. A septal haematoma left untreated can destroy cartilage and collapse the bridge. Where the injury happened because someone else was careless, the law allows you to recover compensation for the harm and for what it has cost you.
non-fatal injuries to employees were reported by employers under RIDDOR in 2024/25. A separate Labour Force Survey estimate puts self-reported workplace injuries at 680,000 for the same year. The two figures are measured differently and are not directly comparable. Source: HSE, Non-fatal injuries at work in Great Britain, 2024/25.
Source: GOV.UK guidance on claiming compensation for a criminal injury. Check your own position with a solicitor.
How do most nose injury claims happen?
These are the situations we see most often. If yours is not listed, it is still worth asking.
Airbag deployment, steering wheel impact and seat belt restraint all put force through the face. Cyclists and pedestrians thrown forward are particularly exposed.
People rarely get their hands down in time. An unmarked wet floor, a broken paving slab or poor lighting can put someone face first onto a hard surface.
Falling objects, swinging loads, faulty machinery and missing face protection. Your employer has a legal duty to assess and control these risks.
Contact carries accepted risk, so not every sporting injury is claimable. Defective equipment, unsafe pitches or inadequate supervision are a different matter.
Assaults and criminal injury
If you were assaulted, you may be able to claim against the attacker, against an occupier who failed to keep premises safe, or through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
A missed nasal fracture, a septal haematoma that was not drained in time, or a rhinoplasty performed below an acceptable standard.
What types of nose injury can you claim for?
Claims are not limited to a clean break. The following are all recognised nasal injuries.
Nasal bone fracture
Deviated septum
Septal haematoma
Lacerations and scarring
Loss of smell
Associated facial fractures
How much compensation could you get for a broken nose?
There is no fixed figure. A claim is made up of two parts. General damages cover the injury itself, the pain and the effect on your life. Special damages cover what the injury has actually cost you.
General damages are assessed against the Judicial College Guidelines, the reference courts and solicitors use to value injuries. The bracket that applies to you depends on whether the fracture was displaced, whether surgery was needed, whether your breathing is permanently affected and whether there is visible scarring.
Special damages are calculated from evidence, so keep receipts. They commonly include lost earnings, private treatment or surgery costs, prescription charges, travel to appointments and help you have needed at home.
Not sure what your claim is worth? Our Claim Value Estimator gives an indicative guide, or speak to our team for an assessment based on your actual medical evidence.
- Pain and suffering from the injury
- Ongoing breathing difficulty or loss of smell
- Visible scarring or a change in appearance
- Psychological effects, including anxiety after an assault
- Lost earnings and loss of future earning capacity
- Treatment, surgery, travel and care costs
Every claim is valued on its own facts and on independent medical evidence. Nothing here is a promise of a particular outcome or figure.
How long do you have to make a nose injury claim?
Three years is the general rule, but several exceptions change the date the clock starts.
The standard three year limit
Under section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980 you normally have three years from the date of the accident to issue court proceedings. Starting early matters, because witnesses move on and CCTV is usually overwritten within weeks.
Children under 18
The three years does not begin until the child turns 18, so a claim can be brought at any point up to their 21st birthday. Before then a parent, guardian or other suitable adult can act as a litigation friend and bring the claim on the child’s behalf without waiting.
Where someone lacks mental capacity
Section 28 of the Limitation Act 1980 suspends the time limit for as long as the injured person lacks capacity to conduct legal proceedings, as defined by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. If capacity is regained, the three years runs from that point. A litigation friend can act in the meantime.
Injuries you only find out about later
Under section 14 of the Limitation Act 1980 the three years can instead run from your date of knowledge, meaning the date you first knew the injury was significant and attributable to someone else’s act or omission. This matters where a nasal fracture was missed at the time or where breathing problems only became apparent months later.
Criminal injury claims through CICA
A claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is a separate route with its own two year time limit, and it requires the incident to have been reported to the police. That two year limit does not shorten your right to bring a civil claim against the person responsible, which still runs for three years. CICA does not pay your legal costs, so the funding position is different too.
Fatal cases
Where a person dies, a new three year period runs from the date of death or from the date the personal representative first had the relevant knowledge.
Courts have a discretion under section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980 to allow a late claim, but it is not granted routinely. If you think you may be out of time, ask rather than assume.
What evidence supports a nose injury claim?
Do not worry if you do not have all of this. We can obtain most of it for you, including your medical records.
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Medical records
A and E notes, GP records, X-rays or CT imaging, and any ENT or maxillofacial referral.
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Photographs
Pictures of the injury taken soon after the accident and again as it heals. Facial swelling and bruising fade quickly, so early photos carry real weight.
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Incident reports
A workplace accident book entry, a RIDDOR report, a police reference number, or a report logged with the shop, venue or local authority.
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Witness details
Names and contact details for anyone who saw what happened. Ask early, before people move on.
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CCTV or dashcam footage
Request it in writing straight away. Most systems overwrite within 30 days and some within 7.
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Proof of financial loss
Payslips covering the period before and after, plus receipts and invoices for anything you have paid out.
Funding
How does No Win No Fee work for a nose injury claim?
You start under a Conditional Fee Agreement, so there is nothing to pay upfront and nothing to pay us for our work if the claim does not succeed.
If the claim succeeds, a success fee is deducted from your compensation. By law that deduction cannot exceed 25% of your damages for pain, suffering and past financial loss. Your damages for future losses are not touched by it.
There may also be disbursements, which are costs paid out to third parties such as medical experts and court fees. We will normally arrange After the Event insurance to cover these if the claim is unsuccessful, and we will tell you what that costs before you sign anything.
You will receive the full terms in writing and have the chance to ask questions before your claim begins. Read more about how No Win No Fee agreements work.
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We review what happened and tell you honestly whether you have a claim.
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We gather your medical records, evidence and witness accounts.
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We arrange an independent medical assessment near you.
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We put the claim to the other side and deal with their insurers.
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We negotiate settlement and keep you updated at every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
The things people ask us most before they decide whether to go ahead.
How long do I have to make a nose injury claim?
Three years from the date of the accident in most cases. If you were under 18 when it happened, the three years starts on your 18th birthday, though an adult can bring the claim for you before then as a litigation friend. If the injury or its cause only became clear later, the three years may run from that date of knowledge instead. A claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has a shorter two year limit.
Can I claim if my nose healed on its own?
Yes. A claim is not limited to injuries that needed surgery. Compensation reflects the pain you went through and how the injury affected you at the time, as well as any lasting effects. A fracture that settled without treatment is usually valued lower than one that left permanent breathing problems or a change in appearance, but it is still a claim.
Can I claim if my nose was broken in an assault?
What if I was partly at fault?
Will I have to go to court?
How long does a nose injury claim take?
Do I need a solicitor to claim for a broken nose?
Can I claim if the accident happened at work and I still work there?
Related
Related claim types
Road traffic accident claims
Facial injuries are common in collisions. Find out how RTA claims work and what the process involves.
Accident at work claims
What your employer owes you, how employers’ liability insurance works, and how to raise a claim.
Slips, trips and falls
Claims against occupiers and local authorities where premises or pavements were not maintained.
Can’t talk right now?
Check if you can make a claim
Tell us what happened and we will review your details and come back to you. We will explain your options in plain English, with no obligation to go ahead.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 970 2727.
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Take the next step
Don’t leave it too late to claim
Most nose injury claims must be started within three years. The sooner you begin, the easier it is to obtain CCTV, witness accounts and the medical evidence your claim depends on.
Get a free claim assessment Can I claim if my nose was broken in an assault?
There are usually two possible routes. You can bring a civil claim against the person responsible, though that only helps in practice if they have the means to pay. You can also apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which requires the incident to have been reported to the police and an application within two years. If the assault happened somewhere an occupier should have controlled the risk, such as a licensed venue with inadequate security, there may be a claim against them as well.
What if I was partly at fault?
You can still claim. This is called contributory negligence, and it means your compensation is reduced by the share of responsibility that falls to you. Being partly at fault does not remove your right to bring a claim, so it is worth asking rather than ruling yourself out.
Will I have to go to court?
Most personal injury claims settle by negotiation without a hearing. Court proceedings are sometimes issued to protect a limitation deadline or to put pressure on a defendant who is refusing to engage, and even then the case usually settles before trial. If yours does need a hearing, we prepare it with you and are there with you on the day.
How long does a nose injury claim take?
It depends on whether the other side accepts responsibility and on how long your recovery takes. A straightforward claim where liability is admitted and the injury has settled can conclude in a matter of months. Where responsibility is disputed, or where we need to wait to see whether breathing problems or scarring are permanent, it takes longer. Settling before your medical position is clear risks undervaluing the claim, so sometimes waiting is the right call.
Do I need a solicitor to claim for a broken nose?
There is no legal requirement to use one. The practical point is that the other side will have an insurer with an experienced claims team behind them. A solicitor who handles these claims regularly knows what medical evidence is needed, what the injury is worth, and when an early offer is too low.
Can I claim if the accident happened at work and I still work there?
Yes. Employers are required to hold employers’ liability insurance, so a claim is dealt with by the insurer rather than paid out of the business. Dismissing or treating an employee badly because they have brought a personal injury claim can amount to unlawful detriment. This is the single most common worry we hear from people injured at work, and it should not stop you asking.
Check if you can make an office claim
Tell us what happened and we will review your details and come back to you. We will explain your options in plain English, with no obligation to go ahead.
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Check if you can make a claim
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Find out whether you have a claim
If your injury came from an assault, the deadline is shorter than most people expect, so it is worth asking sooner. Whatever caused yours, the conversation is free, private and puts you under no obligation.
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