By Marlon Wilkinson. Last Updated 25th January 2023. A sprained ankle doesn’t sound like a serious injury but when you consider that recovery times are generally between 2 and 6 weeks, you’ll realise that they are more serious, and painful, than they first appear. To claim compensation for a sprained ankle, there are certain criteria that need to be met. This guide will provide the relevant information.
Advice.co.uk are personal injury specialists who can help with ankle injury claims if somebody breached their duty of care and caused the accident which lead to the injury. If you would like to begin a claim right away, call our team on 0161 696 9685 and we’ll begin.
If you think that you need more information before making a claim, please carry on reading this helpful guide.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Claiming Compensation For A Sprained Ankle
- What Is An Ankle Sprain?
- Sprained Ankle Compensation Personal Injury Calculator
- Twisted Ankle – Other Settlement Examples
- Common Causes Of Sprained Ankle Injuries
- Sprained Ankle Injuries At Work
- Sprained Ankle Injuries In A Public Place
- Sprained Ankles Caused By A Slip Or Fall
- What Are The Different Grades Of Ankle Sprain?
- How Is The Severity Of Your Injury Assessed
- What Should I Do After Having A Sprained Ankle?
- How Long Will I Have To Make My Ankle Sprain Claim?
- How Do I Start A Claim For An Ankle Sprain?
- No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For A Sprained Ankle
- How Our Advisors Can Help You
- Contact Our Advisors Today
- Additional Advice After A Sprained Ankle
A Guide To Claiming Compensation For A Sprained Ankle
Sprained ankle compensation claims guide
Ankle injuries, including sprained ankles, can happen following lots of different types of accidents and also while participating in sports. They can lead to a lot of pain and, in severe cases, may require hospital treatment.
This guide is going to provide information about common causes of sprained ankles, how the severity of an injury is assessed, what you should do following an accident, how to claim for accidents at work and how you can use a no win no fee service to make your claim.
Ankle injury claims can be made for accidents that have occurred in public places or in the workplace and can include any type of accident such as a slip, trip or fall.
We really want to ensure you have all of the right information while you decide whether to claim or not, which is why we’ve written this guide and why we’re happy to provide free legal advice when you call us.
What Is An Ankle Sprain?
A sprained ankle occurs when there is a bad twist or pull of the foot at the ankle joint. The pain you feel is where the ligaments in the ankle have been torn or strained.
It is a very painful injury to sustain and you’ll struggle to put any weight on the joint while recovering. In extreme cases, surgery may be required to repair the ligaments, or any damage can become permanent. This can lead to problems completing everyday task as well as work tasks.
To successfully claim compensation for a sprained ankle you’ll need to be able to demonstrate that somebody else was liable for your accident. To do this, you would need to prove:
- That the defendant (the person, company or organisation responsible for the accident) owed you a duty of care in some way;
- That they breached the duty of care;
- And that, because of their breach, you were involved in an accident and suffered injuries.
The duty of care is pretty much covered if you’re in a public place or at work (which we’ll cover later in the guide), so the important part is proving that a negligent act took place to cause the accident.
The severity of an ankle injury can be graded after a medical assessment which we will cover in more detail, later in this guide.
Sprained Ankle Compensation Personal Injury Calculator
We don’t offer a personal injury calculator, every claim is unique. Each claim has completely different factors affecting the amount of compensation that can be awarded which we’ll cover in more detail in the following section.
Before that though, we can provide the following table which shows compensation that can be paid for the pain and suffering caused by ankle injuries:
| Ankle | Very Severe | £50,060 to £69,700 | Again including multiple fractures this range of injuries will result in a loss of some of the ankle functionality on a permanent basis. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankle | Severe | £31,310 to £50,060 | These are injuries such as multiple fractures causing immobility extensive period of treatment and/or a lengthy period in plaster or where pins and plates have been inserted. |
| Ankle | Moderate | £13,740 to £26,590 | This range includes serious sprained ankles and fractures. The level of the award within the bracket will be determined by whether or not a complete recovery has been made. |
| Ankle | Modest Injuries | Up to £13,740 | This range includes ankle sprains, soft tissue damage and undisplaced fractures. |
You’ll notice that we’ve included some more serious ankle injuries as well for your reference.
This is just one part of a compensation claim and other factors may be added which means compensation amounts may differ.
Twisted Ankle – Other Settlement Examples
The compensation shown in the previous section is called general damages.
Another form of compensation you could seek alongside general damages is compensation for any financial losses caused by your injury. This is called special damages.
For example, a hurt ankle could potentially result in losses such as:
- Lack of income due to needing time off work
- Treatment or care costs
- Travel expenses
You may be required to present evidence that supports your claim. As an example, if you had lost out on income due to your sprained ankle, from time off work, you could present bank statements or payslips to show this loss.
Please reach out to one of our advisers for more information about what could be included in compensation for a twisted ankle.
Common Causes Of Sprained Ankle Injuries
There are some types of accidents that result in clients seeking compensation for a sprained ankle. These are just some common causes, so remember that we can help with any type of accident caused by the negligence of somebody else even if it’s not listed here.
Sprained Ankle Injuries At Work
Compensation for a sprained ankle following an accident can be made if your employer has been negligent in any way.
All employees are protected by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which means employers need to make provisions to ensure staff safety.
Usually, employers carry out risk assessments of tasks and provide safety equipment where risks are highlighted. They should also ensure all staff are trained in how to complete tasks as well as health and safety procedures.
Furthermore, equipment, machinery and tools used at work should be safe to operate, well maintained and repaired when faulty.
If any of the above hasn’t happened and were the cause of your workplace accident, you may be entitled to bring a case against your employer.
It’s important to note here that your employer is not allowed to discipline you, reduce your hours or treat you badly if you bring a claim against them (by law). You shouldn’t be put off from claiming because of fear and you shouldn’t worry about the financial impact as your employer will be covered by insurance.
Sprained Ankle Injuries In A Public Place
There is legislation in place in the UK, The Occupiers Liability Act 1959, which means that anyone lawfully entering a building such as a local supermarket, office, restaurant or any other public building is protected, and the occupier has a duty of care to ensure their safety.
Therefore, if an accident occurs in any public place including on the street run by a local council, and there was some form of negligence, they could be liable to pay compensation.
As you’ll see in the next section, there are a number of reasons why somebody may be responsible for your accident happening. If negligence can be proven then you may be eligible to begin a claim.
If you suspect that an accident in a public place has been caused by the negligence of staff, because of something they did or didn’t do, please call us to discuss the specifics of your case.
Sprained Ankles Caused By A Slip Or Fall
A slip or trip leading to a fall can happen just about anywhere in day to day activities, in the street, at work, in public places, just about anywhere at all.
If you tripped over simply because you weren’t paying attention or failing to look where you were going, you wouldn’t be able to make a claim.
If somebody who owed you a duty of care in some way was negligent and their actions led to your trip and fall, then you could seek compensation against them for your injuries.
Examples of how somebody else could be liable for a trip or fall include:
- Uneven flooring or pathways including potholes, damaged kerbstones and raised paving slabs.
- Broken handrails on stairs causing you to fall when using the rail to support your weight.
- Poor or damaged lighting which prevented you from seeing a trip hazard and then falling over it.
- A spillage or leak that hasn’t been cleaned up by staff.
- A wet or slippery floor caused by cleaning where adequate warning signs haven’t been put in place to alert you to the hazard.
What Are The Different Grades Of Ankle Sprain?
Minor ankle sprain injury
When a sprained ankle is assessed by a doctor, it will be graded according to the severity of the injury. The 3 grades doctors use are:
- Grade 1: This is where the ligaments in your ankle have been stretched but are not torn at all. The ankle will suffer from soreness and there may be slight swelling of the ankle and surrounding area.
- Grade 2: The severity of the sprain has increased somewhat and a grade 2 means you’ll have a partial tear of the ligament. The ankle will probably show signs of bruising due to bleeding under the skin and the pain will make it difficult for you to put all of your weight on the ankle.
- Grade 3: A good indication of a grade 3 sprained ankle is hearing a popping noise when the accident happens. You’ll have a fully torn ligament in the ankle with severe bruising, pain and swelling all noticeable. You won’t be able to put any weight on to the ankle at all because of the ligament damage.
How Is The Severity Of Your Injury Assessed
Any compensation for a sprained ankle will be determined by the severity of the injury as described above. You’ll require an assessment by a medical specialist, even if you’ve been seen by a doctor previously.
What Should I Do After Having A Sprained Ankle?
Following an accident that results in a preventable sprained ankle, regardless of the severity, there are a number of things you can do to make the claim easier, including:
- Gather photographs of the scene of the accident with as much detail in as possible, including the root cause of the accident.
- If you attended a doctor following your accident, for assessment and treatment, ask for a copy of the medical records created at the time. These can make a claim much easier as they confirm the injuries sustained, what treatment you were subject to and the prognosis.
- Take photographs of any visible signs of injury
- Ask any witnesses to provide their contact details.
- If your accident occurred in a public place or at work, report it to staff or a supervisor. The accident should be recorded in an accident report book and you should ask for a copy of the report.
How Long Will I Have To Make My Ankle Sprain Claim?
As with all claims for personal injuries, compensation for a sprained ankle has to be claimed within specific time limits. The current limits are:
| Accident type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Workplace, road accident, slip or fall, medical | 3 years from the actual date of the incident - 3 years from knowledge date (the date you became aware of the injury) |
| Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority | 2 years from the actual date of the incident |
| Children | Parent claiming; till the child turns 18. Child has ability to claim up to three years in most cases from their 18th birthday. |
| Brain injury | The time limit for those who lack mental capacity does not apply until they have recovered. |
You could contact us with details of your claim as soon as possible after the accident took place to allow your solicitor enough time to build a case and gather the necessary evidence.
How Do I Start A Claim For An Ankle Sprain?
Simply put, to begin your claim, give us a call using the details at the bottom of this guide. Before you do though, pull together as much of the evidence detailed earlier in this guide.
Also, write down what happened to refresh your mind. You should do this soon after the accident if possible as it is quite easy to forget specific details in the weeks and months that follow an accident.
Once you’ve gathered as much of the evidence as possible, pick up the phone and let one of our advisers know the full details of your claim. We’ll listen to the details that you provide and how the accident has affected you and then provide you with an idea of whether you’ll win compensation or not.
No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For A Sprained Ankle
It is very possible that you’ve thought about claiming compensation but have been put off because of the potential legal costs involved in claiming. This is completely understandable and why we only use personal injury solicitors who offer no win no fee agreements.
A no win no fee solicitor who’ll be paid by retaining a percentage of your compensation (the maximum amount allowed is 25%) if they win the case, but if they lose – they don’t get paid at all.
You don’t have to provide any funds up front, or when a case is won as the fee is taken out of your compensation. This is a big advantage for a lot of clients who may not have claimed at all if no win no fee wasn’t available.
How Our Advisors Can Help You
The team of personal injury specialists provide free legal advice. We work professionally and efficiently to try and reduce the amount of time a claim takes to get started and know all of the relevant questions to ask. This means that we won’t waste your time asking irrelevant questions.
When you contact us to begin a claim, we’ll follow this process:
| You make contact with our team via phone or email | We'll assess the merits of your claim | If we confirm your claim is viable, and you're happy to proceed, we'll begin your claim. |
Contact Our Advisors Today
If we take your case on, then we’ll always provide you with a solicitor who provides a no win no fee service.
If you’re happy to begin a claim with us, please make contact using any of these methods:
- The easiest way is to call our advisers directly on 0161 696 9685 and we’ll start assessing your claim straight away.
- Send us an email, with details of your accident, to [email protected]. We’ll call you back when it’s convenient for you.
- Or, you could use our online form to start your claim.
Whichever method you choose, one of our specially trained advisers will listen to the details of your accident, the injuries you suffered and how the accident occurred. Based on the information and evidence you supply us with, we’ll give you an honest assessment of how likely you are to win a claim for compensation.
If we think the chances are high, we’ll connect you to a personal injury solicitor who will begin to work on your claim for you.
Additional Advice After A Sprained Ankle
Hopefully, now you’ve read this guide about claiming compensation for a sprained ankle, we hope you’ve received all of the information required to begin a claim. For further guidance, we’ve included another relevant guide for you:
Sprains and Strains – a guide from the NHS regarding the symptoms and treatment of all types of sprains.
Ankle Injury Settlements In The UK– A helpful guide exploring the compensation you could claim for an ankle injury.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we’ll try to provide you with the relevant information.
Other Useful Compensation Guides
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