Making a hip injury claim
A hip injury from the accident is affecting how you walk, sit or sleep.
A hip injury from a road accident can affect walking, sitting and sleeping for a long time after the crash. This applies whether it is a fracture, a dislocation or damage to the joint itself. It is evidenced in a road accident claim with its own specific medical picture.
This page explains what a hip injury involves and how it factors into a claim.
What a hip injury involves
Hip fractures, dislocations and cartilage or labral damage are common in road accidents. Pedestrians and motorcyclists struck directly on the side of the body are particularly at risk. Older adults are more vulnerable to a fracture even from a moderate impact, because bone density naturally decreases with age.
How it affects daily life and work
Walking, climbing stairs, sitting for long periods and even finding a comfortable sleeping position can all become difficult during recovery. Some of these effects last well beyond the initial healing. Jobs involving standing, walking or manual work are usually the hardest to return to.
The evidence and specialist report you need
An orthopaedic surgeon’s report should set out the diagnosis, any surgery performed, such as a hip replacement, and the outlook for your mobility. This should be supported by imaging and physiotherapy records. Together these anchor the medical report for your claim, particularly where surgery was involved.
How it factors into your claim
Pain, suffering and loss of amenities are assessed against the Revised Compendium of Personal Injury Awards and your medical evidence, under section 28A of the Civil Law Act 1956[1]. A hip replacement is generally treated as a more serious injury, given its long-term implications. A replacement joint has a working lifespan and may need revision surgery later, a genuine future medical cost. Where mobility affects your ability to work, a future earning capacity claim may also apply, generally available up to age 60[2].
Recovery and prognosis, realistically
Many people, particularly younger patients with a straightforward fracture, recover good function with treatment and physiotherapy. Those needing a hip replacement, or with a more complex fracture, often face a longer recovery. A realistic chance of reduced mobility over the years ahead should be set out honestly by a specialist.
What to do next
Keep every orthopaedic and physiotherapy record. If a hip replacement is being considered or has been done, ask your surgeon to address its expected lifespan in their report. The general deadline to bring a personal injury claim is six years from the accident[3]. A hip injury claim is stronger once your recovery and any surgery outcome are properly documented.
If mobility remains reduced, loss of mobility explains that head of loss further. Claiming for future surgery covers a likely revision procedure later on.
Common questions
What kind of hip injuries happen in road accidents?
Hip fractures, dislocations and damage to the joint's cartilage or labrum are common, particularly among pedestrians and motorcyclists struck from the side. Older adults are at higher risk of a fracture even from a lower-force impact, because of naturally more fragile bone.
If I needed a hip replacement, does that make the claim bigger?
It generally means a more serious injury with real future costs, since a replacement joint has a working lifespan and may need revision surgery years later. This is a genuine future medical cost, supported by your orthopaedic surgeon's report.
I already had some hip wear before the accident. Can I still claim?
Yes, though it is worth being upfront about this with your specialist, who can explain how the accident affected an already ageing joint. A pre-existing condition does not usually rule out a claim; it shapes how the injury is assessed.
Will a hip injury affect my ability to walk long-term?
It depends on the injury and your recovery. Many people regain good function after treatment and rehabilitation, while a more severe fracture, dislocation or the need for a joint replacement can leave a longer-term change in mobility, which your specialist's report should address honestly.
Sources
- Malaysian Bar Council Circular No. 255/2018 (Revised Compendium of Personal Injury Awards, 2018) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Skrine, The Civil Law (Amendment) Act 2019 Age limit raised from 55 to 60, in force 1 September 2019 (Act A1591) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Limitation Act 1953, s.6(1)(a) (Government of Malaysia) (accessed 2026-09-22)