Have you been involved in an accident where you have suffered jaw injuries?

If so you may be entitled to compensation.

What sort of injuries can occur?

This is a very common facial injury and is medically called a mandible fracture. It is second only to nose fractures in this area of the body.

Injury to the jaw will most commonly be caused as a result of direct force, either as a result of an assault or a fall.

In the sliding scale of most common injuries to the body, a fractured jaw ranks in the top 12. It is a large bone in the face and easily broken as a result of direct trauma. Statistically men are three times more likely to suffer injury to the jaw than women and perhaps not surprisingly, men in their twenties are the most vulnerable group, suffering more jaw fractures than any other age group

Most jaw fractures will be to the lower jaw and can take months to heal.

Common symptoms of jaw injury include

• Pain in the jaw
• Inability to open the jaw properly
• Difficulty in speaking
• Swelling to the lower face, cheeks and mouth
• Numbness, bruising and discolouration including inside the mouth
• Numbness in the jaw and lips, potentially caused by nerve damage as a result of a fracture.

Sorts of treatment you might receive

If you have suffered injury to your jaw and think it might be fractured, then you need to seek immediate medical help. Visiting your hospital for x-rays and physical treatment are advised. You should be given tests to ensure that you can still bite, that you can move the jaw and to ensure that it is stable. X-rays should be done and the fracture if there is one, treated appropriately possibly by wiring, surgery involving plating and stapling for the more unstable fractures.

Jaw fractures can be very painful and take months to heal.

What sorts of injuries result in jaw fractures or other injury to the jaw?

• Slips, trips and falls onto the face. Often on public roads and pavements but they can also happen at work or in shops.
• Road traffic accidents. Facial and jaw injuries can be caused as a result of collision with the steering wheel, dashboard or seats
• Assaults.
• Sporting accidents.

What sorts of compensation could you receive?

A simple fracture which requires immobilisation but from which there is complete recovery will attract compensation between £4100 to £5600

A more serious fracture with more permanent results such as difficulty in opening the mouth or with eating or where there is serious numbness in that area, could attract compensation form around £9500-£11000

Where there have been serious multiple fractures with extensive treatment and permanent consequences such as severe pain, eating restrictions and risks of arthritis in the joint, the compensation for the injury could be up to £29000.

In addition there could be claims for loss of earnings and other losses.

The above are only estimates and actual compensation will be based on an individuals circumstances.

If you have suffered injury to your jaw in an accident or an assault that was not you fault, you should seek the services of a legal specialist at the earliest opportunity.