Broken Jaw Compensation Claims
A broken or fractured jaw can affect eating, speaking, sleeping and working. Treatment may involve imaging, immobilisation, surgery, plates or screws, while some people experience continuing pain, altered sensation, dental damage or difficulty opening their mouth.
If the injury was caused by another party’s negligence, you may be able to make a civil compensation claim. If it resulted from a violent assault, a separate application through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) may be appropriate.
Tylers Solicitors can assess which route applies, explain the evidence and time limit, and consider whether we can act under a No Win No Fee agreement. Initial assessments are free and without obligation.
Can I Claim Compensation For A Broken Jaw?
There are two main routes to compensation. They should not be confused because they use different eligibility rules, deadlines and methods of valuation.
Civil broken jaw claims
A civil claim may be possible where another person, business, employer, public body or healthcare provider owed you a duty of care, failed to take reasonable care and caused or materially contributed to the injury.
Examples include a road traffic accident, an accident at work, a slip, trip or fall, unsafe premises or negligent dental treatment. A claim is not established simply because an injury occurred: liability and medical causation must be supported by evidence.
Broken jaw injuries caused by assault
If the jaw was fractured in a violent crime, you may be able to apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. CICA applications are governed by a statutory scheme and do not use the civil Judicial College Guidelines. Police reporting, cooperation, eligibility rules and the Scheme’s time limits can all affect an award.
In some circumstances, a civil claim against an offender or another responsible party may also need to be considered. Our team can explain the potentially available route after reviewing the facts.
How Much Compensation Could You Receive For A Broken Jaw?
There is no reliable universal “average payout” for a broken jaw. A straightforward fracture that heals fully is valued very differently from multiple fractures involving surgery, permanent numbness, eating restrictions, dental damage or facial disfigurement.
General damages
In a civil claim, general damages compensate for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Solicitors, insurers and courts use the current Judicial College Guidelines as one reference point, together with independent medical evidence and comparable cases. The 18th edition was published in April 2026, but the correct bracket still depends on the medical findings rather than the name of the injury alone.
Special damages
Proven financial losses can be claimed separately. Depending on the circumstances,
these may include:
- past and future loss of earnings;
- dental, surgical and rehabilitation costs;
- prescription, travel and parking expenses;
- care or assistance provided by family or professionals;
- future treatment, replacement dental work or specialist support; and
- other reasonable costs caused by the injury.
Your existing jaw compensation calculator can provide an initial indication. It should be treated as guidance rather than a guaranteed settlement figure.
Types, Symptoms And Treatment Of Broken Jaw Injuries
The lower jaw is called the mandible and the upper jaw is the maxilla. Fractures may be single or multiple, displaced or undisplaced, and may affect the jaw joint, teeth, gums, nerves and surrounding facial structures. A dislocated jaw or temporomandibular joint injury is different from a fracture, although symptoms can overlap.
Possible symptoms
- pain, swelling, bruising or bleeding around the jaw and mouth;
- difficulty chewing, speaking or opening and closing the mouth;
- an abnormal bite where the teeth no longer meet as before;
- loose, damaged or missing teeth;
- numbness or altered sensation affecting the lip, chin or gums; and
- visible deformity or movement at the fracture site.
Treatment depends on the location, stability and complexity of the fracture. It can range from observation and dietary modification to fixation, plates, screws or surgery. The claim should be valued using evidence from the appropriate medical and dental specialists, including the likely recovery and any future treatment.
Medical note: this page is not a diagnostic guide. A suspected jaw fracture, breathing or swallowing difficulty, uncontrolled bleeding or significant facial trauma requires prompt medical assessment through the appropriate NHS or emergency service.
What Evidence Is Needed For A Broken Jaw Claim?
The evidence required depends on how the injury happened, but useful material can include:
- hospital, GP, maxillofacial and dental records;
- X-rays, scans and details of surgery or fixation;
- photographs of the injury and accident location;
- accident reports, witness details, CCTV or dashcam footage;
- police and CICA reference numbers following an assault;
- wage records, invoices and receipts supporting financial losses; and
- a short record of eating, speaking, sleep, work and social difficulties.
How the claim process works
- Initial assessment: we consider the incident, potential defendant, evidence and time limit.
- Liability investigation: relevant reports, records, footage and witness evidence are obtained.
- Medical evidence: an independent expert assesses the fracture, treatment, recovery and prognosis.
- Valuation: general damages and supported financial losses are calculated.
- Negotiation or proceedings: an appropriate settlement is pursued; court proceedings are issued where necessary.
Most claims settle without a final trial, but every case depends on its evidence and the other party’s response.
Broken Jaw Compensation Calculator And Guidelines
Find out how much compensation you could claim
Need more information? Don’t worry, one of our professional claims solicitors will advise you along the way
Use the jaw injury calculator already installed on this page for a broad initial indication. The result is not a guaranteed award and should not be treated as legal advice. A solicitor must consider the medical prognosis, comparable awards and any financial losses before giving an individual valuation.
What Should The Jaw Compensation Calculator Consider?
A useful estimate should distinguish between a simple fracture with full recovery, a serious fracture with permanent effects, and multiple or complex fractures. Surgery, altered sensation, eating restrictions, dental damage, scarring, time away from work and future treatment can all materially affect a civil claim.
Simple Jaw Fracture With Full Recovery
This category may apply where the fracture requires appropriate treatment or immobilisation but heals without material permanent symptoms. The recovery period, pain, disruption to eating and speaking, and any short-term financial losses remain relevant.
Serious Fracture With Permanent Consequences
A higher civil valuation may apply where a fracture causes continuing difficulty opening the mouth, eating problems, pain or altered sensation. The medical prognosis, treatment and effect on work and ordinary life are central to the assessment.
Multiple Or Complex Jaw Fractures
The most serious jaw-fracture categories can involve multiple fractures, prolonged treatment, permanent eating restrictions, paraesthesia, jaw-joint problems or a risk of arthritis. Associated dental damage, scarring and other facial injuries may also need to be valued without duplicating the same loss.
CICA Tariffs For A Jaw Fracture Caused By Assault
CICA awards use fixed statutory tariffs rather than civil Judicial College brackets. The current tariff lists £1,500 for a fractured jaw requiring no operation with substantial recovery; £3,500 where there is continuing significant disability without an operation; £1,800 where an operation is required with substantial recovery; and £6,200 where an operation is required with continuing significant disability.
These figures apply only if the wider Scheme criteria are satisfied. Different rules govern multiple injuries, loss of earnings and special expenses. See the official CICA tariff for current information.
Table of Contents
Broken Jaw Compensation Claims FAQs
How Long Do I Have To Make A Broken Jaw Claim?
For most civil personal injury claims in England and Wales, the usual limitation period is three years from the accident or relevant date of knowledge. Where the injured person was under 18, the ordinary three-year period normally begins on their 18th birthday. Time may be treated differently for people who lack mental capacity, accidents abroad and certain defendants.
An adult CICA applicant should normally apply as soon as reasonably practicable and within two years of the violent incident. Different provisions apply to applicants who were children, and extensions are limited. Seek individual advice promptly rather than relying on a general deadline.
Can I Claim Compensation If My Jaw Was Broken In An Assault?
You may be able to apply through CICA if you were the victim of a qualifying violent crime and satisfy the Scheme’s other rules. The incident should be reported to the police promptly and you must cooperate with the authorities. A criminal conviction is not always required. A possible civil claim should be assessed separately where an offender or another party may be legally responsible.
Can I Claim For Dental Damage And Lost Earnings As Well?
In a civil claim, reasonable and evidenced losses caused by the injury may include dental treatment, lost earnings, travel, care and future treatment. CICA applies different and more restrictive rules to loss of earnings and special expenses, so the two routes should not be described as if they provide the same recovery.
Can A Broken Jaw Claim Be Funded On A No Win No Fee Basis?
If we accept a civil claim, we may be able to act under a Conditional Fee Agreement, commonly called No Win No Fee. We will explain any success fee, insurance and circumstances in which costs could be payable before you decide whether to proceed. Funding and representation for a CICA application should be discussed separately.
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Start Your Broken Jaw Compensation Claim
If your jaw injury was caused by negligence or a violent crime, contact Tylers Solicitors for a free, no-obligation assessment. We will identify the potential route, review the evidence and deadline, and explain the available funding options before you decide whether to proceed.