By Stephen Kane. Last Updated 1st September 2023. Welcome to our guide to ankle injury settlement amounts for UK claims. In it, we look at why using an ankle injury compensation calculator in some cases could be misleading. We also answer questions such as ‘What is the average payout for a sprained ankle?’ ‘ How much can I claim if I broke my ankle at work?’ and ‘Would I get more compensation for broken ankle permanent damage than for a sprain?’
The ankle is a complicated joint. It is crucial in supporting the leg, helping us to walk and run. We tend to think that an ankle injury is something that affects sports people, and they are often associated with exercise. If you have had an ankle injury, such as a fractured ankle, sprained ankle, or have twisted your ankle and are reading this guide you will know that ankle injuries do not have to be either related to or caused by exercise. Walking on uneven ground or a simple fall could cause you to suffer serious soft tissue injuries, such as damage to the ligaments supporting the joint.
In this guide, we will look in detail at the circumstances in which you could suffer an ankle injury, as well as looking at some of the most common types of ankle injury suffered in the UK. We will then advise you on the best way to make a personal injury claim for compensation and answer common questions such as “how much can I claim for an ankle injury?”. We have also included our contact details at the bottom of this guide.
Select A Section
- Ankle Injury Settlements – Examples Of Compensation
- What Is An Ankle Injury?
- Evidence That Could Support An Ankle Injury Claim
- Potential Causes Of An Ankle Injury
- Time Limits – How Long Do I Have To Claim Compensation?
- How To Start A Fractured, Sprained, Or Twisted Ankle Claim
- Claim Compensation For An Ankle Injury With A No Win No Fee Lawyer
Ankle Injury Settlements – Examples Of Compensation
Ankle injury settlement amounts vary depending on your level of pain and suffering, along with whether you’ve suffered financially as a result of your injury. The head of claim for your pain and suffering that you experienced due to your injuries is known as general damages.
The more severe an injury, the more compensation you tend to be awarded. For instance, with a very severe broken ankle, a permanent change to your life may occur if it never fully heals. This would typically mean you’re owed more than if you were to make a complete recovery from a minor ankle injury.
Ankle Injury Compensation Claims Guide
Settlements are calculated by legal professionals associated with your case. To assist them, they often use resources such as medical evidence, and a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Last updated in 2022, the JCG contains guideline compensation brackets corresponding to different injuries.
We’ve included some entries from the JCG in the table below. However, you can get in touch with us to find out the potential value of ankle injury claims and other foot injury compensation payouts. The amounts below should only be used as a rough guide.
| Injury Type | Level of severity | Settlement amounts | Comments about injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankle Injury | Very severe | £50,060 to £69,700 | Injuries falling into this bracket are ‘limited’ and ‘unusual’. Examples include a bilateral fracture causing degeneration in the joint. |
| Ankle Injury | Severe | £31,310 to £50,060 | Injuries which require an extensive rehabilitation period. |
| Ankle Injury | Moderate | £13,740 to £26,590 | Less serious fractures, sprains and ligaments. |
| Ankle Injury | Modest | Up to £13,740 | Injuries will be resolved in a short amount of time. |
| Achilles Tendon | Most Severe | In the region of £38,430 | Severed tendon and peroneus longus muscle. |
| Achilles Tendon | Serious | £24,990 to £30,090 | Repair of a completely severed tendon, with residual weakness. |
Special Damages
It’s worth noting that you should only use the figures above as guidelines.
You could also be eligible to claim special damages. They relate to any financial losses that you have suffered because of your injuries.
Special damages may include:
- A loss of earnings
- Medical expenses
- Home adaptations
It’s important to provide evidence of any financial losses, such as:
- Pay slips
- Receipts
- Invoices
Our advisors could connect you with a personal injury solicitor from our panel to more accurately estimate the value of your claim if you get in touch.
Ankle Injury Compensation Calculator
You could use an ankle injury compensation calculator or a personal injury claims calculator as an alternative. However, you should only use the figure you’re provided as a guide because you’re actual ankle injury settlement amount will vary.
If you wish to get a more accurate valuation of your injuries, you may find it beneficial to hire a solicitor. A solicitor from our panel could take your case on a No Win No Fee basis. As part of their services, they could accurately value your claim.
For more information on the ankle injury settlement amounts in the UK, call our team.
What Is An Ankle Injury?
Your ankle is one of the more complex joints in the body. It has to move through a variety of different plains of motion, rotate and support the body. The joint is made up of several bones, tendons, and ligaments. With a variety of tissue types and functions, the joint is susceptible to a variety of injuries. These include a fractured ankle, twisted ankle, sprains & strains, as well as dislocations.
An injury to any part of the ankle can be very painful and due to the joints function, they can place a severe restriction on your ability to walk and move about. Even minor injuries can result in you needing to take time off and rest the joint.
What impacts ankle injury settlement amounts in the UK?
As we have discussed, compensation in a claim will be influenced by the effects of the injury. Ankle injury compensation amounts could be higher or lower depending on:
- Severity of the injury – more severe injuries generally attract higher amounts of compensation
- Impact on ability to work – you can seek compensation for a loss of income if the injury left you unable to work
- Type of treatment – the average payout for an ankle injury after surgery can be higher depending on post-surgery needs (I.e. care costs or physiotherapy)
To discuss the different factors that can influence ankle injury settlement amounts in the UK, please reach out to one of our advisers.
Evidence That Could Support An Ankle Injury Claim
To make a valid ankle injury claim, you’ll require evidence that confirms the injuries you’re claiming for. You’ll also need evidence that shows that another party owed you a duty of care, and that this duty of care was breached.
Examples of evidence that may support claims for ankle injury settlements could include the following:
- Your medical records
- The contact details of any witnesses who could provide a statement
- Video footage that shows your accident, such as CCTV footage
- Photographs of the accident scene and your injuries
- If your ankle injury occurred in a work accident, then you may also be able to include a copy of the work accident report from your employer’s accident book
If a solicitor has agreed to help with your claim, then they can assist with gathering evidence that strengthens your case. For more advice on gathering evidence when seeking a broken ankle settlement or a settlement for another type of ankle injury, contact our advisors for free today.
Potential Causes Of An Ankle Injury
In this section, we want to discuss potential causes of an accident that may result in ankle injury compensation amounts being awarded. The causes we highlight will include instances where another party has acted negligently.
Below are some examples of what could cause ankle injuries:
- You could visit a restaurant and slip on a wet floor that hadn’t been signposted by staff. Subsequently, you damage your ankle.
- If a motorist is not paying attention to the roads and hits you, the car accident could lead you to suffer permanent damage from a broken ankle.
- Should your employer fail to carry out routine maintenance checks and not identify any trip hazards, you may trip over a loose wire and twist your ankle.
Please don’t worry if your accident is not listed above. Get in touch and we can confirm if your incident may result in you being awarded a compensation payout free of charge. Additionally, we’ll be able to discuss typical payouts for a personal injury in the UK, so you’ll know what award to expect if your claim is successfully settled.
Time Limits – How Long Do I Have To Claim Compensation?
According to the Limitation Act 1980, the time limit for beginning a personal injury claim to seek compensation for a broken ankle is three years. This time limit usually begins from the date of the incident that caused your injury.
In some circumstances, the time limit can be different. For example, if a child suffers an ankle injury the time limit is paused until the day of their 18th birthday. Before that point, a claim could be made on the child’s behalf by a court-appointed litigation friend. Once they turn 18, they will have three years to start a claim, if one has not already been made.
If the injured party lacks the mental capacity to make a claim on their own, then the three-year time limit is indefinitely suspended. In these circumstances, a litigation friend could make a claim on their behalf. However, if they were to regain this mental capacity, they will have three years to start a claim from the date of recovery if one has not already been made.
How To Start A Fractured, Sprained, Or Twisted Ankle Claim
When you are injured the first thing that you should do is to get any medical help and treatment you need. Your health should always be your primary concern. To be able to sue for your sprained ankle or other types of injury there are several steps you should take.
Make sure that you report the injury to any relevant parties such as a shop, the local council, driver of a vehicle, etc. Make sure that the injury is recorded in any appropriate accident report books. Combined with the immediate medical report, this begins creating a trail of evidence your solicitor can use in your claim.
Ankle injury claims process
Next, we recommend that you do sit down and make a note of your injuries. If you can, accompany this with any photographs of the injury and the area the accident happened in. Also, make a record of any witnesses who could provide evidence.
These immediate steps will help your solicitor or lawyer to build a stronger case for your claim.
We would next recommend contacting a personal injury lawyer or solicitor and obtaining legal advice. These specialists can provide advice as to the validity of your claim and whether or not you are likely to be successful.
If the solicitor takes on your case they will conduct steps such as forwarding evidence of your accident and injuries to the defendant and details of how your case will be pursued. In straightforward cases, it is likely that there will be an out of court settlement. In the majority of cases, the ankle injury claim will be settled out of court.
Claim Compensation For An Ankle Injury With A No Win No Fee Lawyer
Now that you’ve learned more about ankle injury settlements and how to claim broken ankle compensation, you may be wondering if a No Win No Fee lawyer could help you.
Our panel of expert No Win No Fee lawyers take claims from all over the country, meaning you aren’t limited to choosing someone local. Our panel also offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a kind of No Win No Fee contract. When you work with a lawyer under a CFA, you aren’t asked to pay any upfront or ongoing fees in order for them to work on your case. Alongside this, you won’t be asked to pay any fees for their work if your claim fails.
However, if your claim succeeds, then your lawyer will take a success fee. This fee comes straight from your compensation as a small percentage. But, there is a legislative cap in place, which helps to ensure that you keep the larger share of your award.
To find out if you could be eligible to work with a lawyer from our panel, contact us today by:
- Calling 0161 696 9685
- Using the live chat feature
- Contacting us online
Advice And Resources On Ankle Injury Claims And Ankle Injury Settlement Amounts For UK Cases
NHS Guide To Broken And Fractured Ankles
In this guide from the NHS, you can find information on fractures and breaks to the ankle.
Sprains And Strains
In this NHS guide, you can find information about treating sprains and strains. We do recommend that you seek medical treatment from a doctor even for a minor injury if you wish to make a claim later.
Did you sustain an ankle injury at work due to your employer’s negligence? If so, see our helpful guide.
Visit this guide on seeking compensation for injuries sustained in a pavement tripping accident.
See the guide above for information on claiming compensation for an ankle injury sustained in a car accident.
Compensation Claim For Foot Injuries
Visit the guide above if you have experienced a foot injury due to someone else’s negligence.
We hope this guide on the ankle injury settlements in the UK has helped. If you have any additional questions about making an ankle injury compensation claim, please get in touch using the details above.