Have you suffered a foot injury in an accident that wasn't your fault? If you have, you could be eligible to make a no win no fee foot injury compensation claim.
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Foot Injury Claims
If you’ve suffered a foot injury because of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to make a foot injury claim. Compensation can cover your pain and suffering, as well as lost wages, private medical treatment, rehabilitation costs and any other related expenses.
Foot injuries can occur in a wide range of accidents, including workplace accidents, slips, trips and falls, road traffic accidents, and medical negligence.
Our team of specialist foot injury solicitors can assess your case for free and, if you are eligible to proceed, offer you a no win no fee service.
For a free, no-obligation consultation over the phone, call 0800 470 0472 today or use our contact form to request a call back.
Key points about foot injury claims
- Eligibility: You may be able to claim if you injured your foot due to an accident at work, in public, or on unsafe premises.
- Common Causes: Trips, falls, crush injuries, road accidents, or inadequate PPE can all lead to serious foot injuries.
- Time Limit: You usually have 3 years to begin a claim from the date of the accident, although there are some exceptions.
- Compensation: Based on the type and severity of the foot injury, loss of mobility, time off work, and medical costs.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will offer a no win, no fee agreement, which means you can claim without any financial risk.
Table of Contents
What is a foot injury claim?
Human feet are complex structures consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, more than a hundred muscles, tendons and ligaments. The integrity of the foot is essential for standing, walking and running.
Even a minor foot injury can lead to loss of mobility, support and balance, making it difficult to engage in work tasks and daily activities. In severe cases, foot and toe injuries may cause permanent loss of mobility and balance.
If a foot injury is caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, it is possible to make a personal injury claim. The purpose of the claim is to recover compensation for the pain and suffering caused by the injury, as well as any financial losses linked to it.
Can I make a foot injury compensation claim?
If you suffered a foot injury without being at fault, you might be wondering whether you could claim compensation from the responsible party.
A free conversation with a legal adviser can help you understand who might be liable for your injury and how you can claim foot injury compensation.
Usually, it should be possible to make a claim if:
- You suffered or were diagnosed with a foot injury in the last three years.
- Another person who owed you a duty of care was responsible for the injury.
- The injury caused you pain, suffering and financial losses.
Who could be liable to pay compensation for a foot injury?
The party who might be liable to pay you compensation will depend on the circumstances of your accident. Usually, this would be:
- Another road user, such as a vehicle driver, cyclist or pedestrian, whose negligence led to a road traffic accident.
- Your employer, if you had an accident at work because they failed to follow the relevant health and safety guidelines.
- The local council, if you injured your foot due to a pavement trip, poor road maintenance, faulty playground equipment in public parks, or another poorly maintained public place.
- A manufacturing company or repair shop that delivered you a faulty product like a chair, bicycle or trampoline, causing you to have an accident.
- The owner of a shop, restaurant, supermarket or other business, if you were injured in an accident on their property.
- A medical professional who gave you substandard care or treatment, causing an avoidable injury to your foot.
- Another individual, if you suffered a foot injury in a violent attack or after being attacked by a dog.
What is the time limit to make a foot injury claim?
Usually, you must claim compensation for foot injuries within three years after suffering an accident or being diagnosed with a foot condition. This is known as the claim limitation date, after which it is generally no longer possible to start legal proceedings.
However, it is important to keep in mind that there are a few exceptions to the limitation period:
- Child injury claims can be made at any given time before the child turns 18.
- You have 2 years to claim compensation for a foot injury through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
- There is generally no limitation date for a litigation friend to start the foot injury claims process on behalf of a victim who lacks mental capacity.
- Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, if your foot injury was due to a faulty product or machinery, you can make a claim within ten years from the product’s launch date.
How do I make a foot injury compensation claim?
To make a foot injury compensation claim, it’s essential to take the right steps as early as possible. The process is typically straightforward and begins with a free consultation with a personal injury solicitor.
If your case has merit, they will offer their support and advice and help gather everything you need to make a solid claim for foot injury compensation. This could include:
- Photographs of the accident scene and your injuries.
- Statements from witnesses who can confirm how your injury occurred.
- Medical records stating the extent of your injury, treatments received and recovery prospects.
- CCTV or dash cam footage of the accident.
- Accident reports to the police, your employer or a business owner.
- Your notes on how the accident occurred and how your injury affected your life.
- Receipts of any financial expenses you incurred because of your accident.
Your solicitor might also arrange a free medical visit with an independent physician who will give a thorough report of your injury and any long-term effects it may have.
Once liability is established, your solicitor will send a letter of claim to the defendant and engage in negotiations with them. If liability is denied, they may issue court proceedings, but more than 97% of all cases are settled out of court.
How much is a foot injury compensation claim worth?
The amount of compensation awarded for a foot or toe injury will depend on its severity and impact on your life, and will cover two types of damages:
- Special damages (financial losses), such as:
- Medical expenses, including private treatment, medication or surgery costs.
- Counselling and rehabilitation.
- Costs of medical and mobility aids, including prostheses.
- Adaptations to your home or vehicle.
- Lost wages, including compensation for future lost earnings.
- General damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity, including:
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional and psychological trauma.
- Reduced quality of life.
- Loss of a unique career.
- Inability to pursue a hobby.
Examples of foot injury compensation payouts
The guidelines offered by the Judicial College (18th Edition) are used as a starting point by solicitors and judges when calculating general damages. Some examples of foot injury compensation payouts include:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Foot Injuries | Amputation of both feet | £224,000 - £266,000 |
| A very severe foot injury causing permanent severe pain or serious disability | £111,000 - £145,000 | |
| Amputation of one foot | £111,000 - £145,000 | |
| A severe foot injury, such as fractures of both heels or feet, with restricted mobility | £55,000 - £93,000 | |
| A serious foot injury causing ongoing pain or risk of future arthritis | £33,000 - £52,000 | |
| Displaced metatarsal fractures causing permanent deformity and ongoing symptoms | £18,000 - £33,000 | |
| A foot injury with complete recovery or only minor ongoing symptoms | Up to £18,000 |
Will my solicitor offer me a no win no fee service?
If your solicitor believes you have a valid claim with a fair chance of success, they will work on your behalf without asking for any upfront solicitor fees. Furthermore, you won’t have to pay them anything if you lose the case.
Therefore, you are taking no financial risks by making a no win no fee foot injury claim. You will only have to pay a success fee to cover the work your solicitor did on your behalf if you make a successful foot injury claim.
The success fee cannot exceed 25% of certain parts of your compensation (damages for your pain, suffering and past financial losses), and you will agree upon it before starting legal proceedings.
What are the signs and symptoms of foot injuries?
Foot injuries can be minor annoyances that heal within days or weeks or might cause you a permanent disability. Depending on the severity and type of your foot injury, physical symptoms may include:
- Throbbing pain or tenderness at the injury site.
- Pain that increases with activity.
- Redness and swelling.
- Tenderness and inflammation.
- Difficulty walking and inability to put any weight on the foot.
- Bruising and deformity.
- Muscle spasms or cramping.
What are the most common types of foot injuries?
There are many types of foot injuries that could lead to a foot injury claim, including:
Read More: How much compensation can I claim for a broken foot?
- Plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the heel and foot arch
- Osteoarthritis of the feet
- Athlete’s foot, a fungal skin infection caused by warm and humid environments
- Metatarsalgia, inflammation of the ball of the foot caused by strenuous activity or ill-fitting shoes
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome, caused by repeated pressure that results in nerve damage
You could also claim compensation if you suffered minor or severe cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds or burns to the feet in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. The severity of the injury will determine how much compensation you could be awarded.
What accidents result in foot injury claims?
Foot injuries for which you could start a personal injury claim are due to various types of accidents and negligence, including:
- Slips, trips and falls.
- Falls from a height.
- Repetitive motions and overexertion.
- Stepping on sharp objects.
- Being caught in heavy machinery or vehicles.
- Standing or walking for extensive periods.
Typical injuries include sprains and strains, foot fractures, puncture wounds, tendonitis and cartilage damage or even amputations. If your employer has failed to protect your health and safety, you could make an accident at work claim.
The impact with parts of the car or flying objects can also lead to cuts, lacerations and bruising. In severe collisions, your feet may get crushed between car parts, which could result in foot amputations.
Repetitive activity or heavy impact during sports may also cause stress fractures, broken ankles and toes, bursitis, Achilles tendonitis, metatarsalgia or heel pain, a common running injury.
Negligent diagnosis, treatment or surgery can cause severe nerve, bone or muscle damage to any part of your foot. Delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis or poor management of diabetes or infections may cause injuries as severe as foot amputations, leading to permanent disability.
How long will it take to claim compensation for a foot injury?
Every foot injury claim is different, and the time it might take to receive compensation can vary significantly, depending on the severity of your injury and various other factors.
For example, in straightforward claims following a road traffic accident, the average claim duration is 4 to 9 months. On the other hand, a complex medical negligence claim could take up to five years to settle.
After considering the details of your claim, an experienced solicitor can give you an estimate of how long the claiming process might take.
To find out if you are entitled to compensation for a foot injury, do not hesitate to call 0800 470 0472 or use our contact form to request a call back. You will receive a free case assessment with a specialist foot injury solicitor, with no obligation to proceed.
