Making a hand or finger injury claim
Your hand was crushed or cut in the crash and fine movements are still hard.
A hand and finger injury claim covers a crush injury, a fracture, or damage to a tendon or nerve in the hand. It sits within a wider road accident claim, sometimes alongside a wrist fracture from the same impact.
Hands are used constantly and in fine detail, so even a small injury can affect daily life a great deal.
What a hand or finger injury covers
A crush injury is common where a hand is trapped between a vehicle and another surface. It can damage bone, skin and the structures underneath at once.
A finger fracture is generally simpler, though it can still limit movement if a joint is involved. Tendon and nerve injuries are often the most significant. They can affect grip, feeling, or moving a finger independently, even after a cut has healed.
How it affects daily life and work
Buttoning clothes, writing, cooking and using a phone all rely on fine hand movement. An injured hand may not manage these comfortably.
Jobs involving typing, tools or precise handwork are usually affected most, sometimes for months. Where a nerve is damaged, numbness makes it harder to notice heat or sharp edges, which makes everyday tasks risky.
The evidence this claim needs
A hand surgeon’s assessment is central, since a general orthopaedic report may miss the detail a tendon or nerve injury needs. The specialist medical report should record grip strength, range of movement in each affected finger, and any lasting numbness.
Occupational therapy notes, tracking hand function over several sessions, give a measurable record of improvement.
How the injury factors into your claim
General damages are assessed against a published compendium of injury awards, together with the medical evidence.[1] A tendon or nerve injury is generally valued higher than a straightforward fracture, since the effect on function is greater.
If reduced grip or dexterity affects your job, it can support a claim for loss of earning capacity. Ongoing hand therapy and further surgery are claimed as future care and future medical costs.
Recovery and outlook
A simple finger fracture often heals within some weeks. A tendon repair or nerve injury generally takes considerably longer, with hand therapy playing a major role. Some loss of fine movement or sensation can remain after the best treatment.
What to do next
Start hand therapy as early as the surgeon allows. Early movement often affects how much function returns.
The general deadline to bring this claim is six years from the accident in Peninsular Malaysia.[2] That gives time for hand function to be properly assessed.
An independent lawyer can take the claim on and gather your surgeon’s and therapist’s records. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no), and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Why does a hand injury sometimes affect life more than a bigger fracture elsewhere?
Hands are used in fine, constant movement throughout the day, so even a small loss of grip, feeling, or finger movement can affect eating, dressing, writing, and work all at once. This is why hand injuries are assessed with close attention to actual function.
What is the difference between a fracture and a tendon injury in the hand?
A fracture is a broken bone and generally heals with rest or fixation. A tendon injury affects the ability to bend or straighten a finger independently, and often needs surgery and hand therapy, with recovery taking considerably longer than a simple fracture.
Can numbness in the fingers be part of this claim?
Yes, where a nerve was damaged in the accident. Numbness affects both safety and daily tasks, since it becomes harder to feel heat, sharp edges, or how hard you are gripping something, and should be recorded by a hand specialist.
How important is hand therapy for the claim, not just recovery?
Very. Occupational therapy notes tracking grip strength and movement over several sessions give a measurable, objective record of how the hand is actually recovering, which supports both your treatment and the medical evidence for the claim.
Sources
- Malaysian Bar Circular No. 255/2018 (Revised Compendium of Personal Injury Awards 2018) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Limitation Act 1953, s.6(1)(a) (Government of Malaysia) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.