Leg Injury Claims

A leg injury can make it very difficult for you to work or carry out daily tasks like shopping, cooking or doing household chores. A severe leg injury can even change your life forever. Your mobility could be permanently affected, and you might even need a prosthetic device or a wheelchair.

The most common leg injuries are sprains, strains or simple leg fractures that usually heal within a few months. A severe crash or forceful impact damaging the spinal cord could have catastrophic consequences like monoplegia, paraplegia or amputation of one or both legs.

You could suffer a leg injury after a slip, trip and fall, in a car accident or an accident at work. Sometimes, even medical negligence can lead to severe leg injuries. If your life or the life of a loved one was affected by another party’s negligence, you might be able to make a leg injury claim.

If your claim is successful, the compensation could cover your pain and suffering, lost wages, mobility aids, and any other financial expenses you incurred because of the accident.

The first step towards getting the leg injury compensation you deserve is contacting an experienced solicitor. They can let you know who might be liable for your accident and if you have a valid claim. If they take your case, you can usually claim compensation on a no win no fee basis.

To start your claim, speak to a trained legal adviser by calling 0800 678 1410 for a free consultation.

Can I make a leg injury compensation claim?

If you or a loved one were affected by a leg injury, you can usually claim compensation if:

• You suffered a leg injury in the last three years
• Another person breached their duty of care towards you by acting negligently
• Their negligence directly caused your injury

The easiest way to find out if you can make a claim for a leg injury is to contact a personal injury solicitor. They will offer you a free consultation to ask you questions about how and when the accident occurred, the extent of your leg injury and your recovery prospects.

Based on this information, a legal adviser can determine whether you can make a claim and who you should be claiming against. Depending on the circumstances of your injury, the liable party could be:

Your employer

According to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a legal duty of care to take all reasonable measures to keep employees safe and free of harm.

If you suffered a leg injury due to your employer’s negligence, for example, if they failed to provide you with personal protective equipment, you can make a leg injury claim against them.

A road user

Road traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injuries in the UK. Every road user has a duty of care to protect their safety and the safety of others.

According to The Road Traffic Act 1988, if a motorist doesn’t drive carefully and with consideration towards others, they are guilty of an offence and liable to pay compensation if their negligence caused you an injury.

The local council

Local councils are responsible for maintaining public domains like streets, parks and leisure facilities. If you suffer a leg injury due to poor alley lighting, potholes, damaged pavements or faulty playground and exercise equipment in parks, you might be able to claim compensation from your local council.

A medical professional

Healthcare professionals are supposed to provide care and treatment for anyone in need. Usually, they do a great job at taking care of patients, but accidents can sometimes occur.

Misdiagnosis, surgery mistakes or poor treatments can cause you to suffer an avoidable injury and might entitle you to claim leg injury compensation.

A business

Slips, trips and falls are common in public places such as restaurants, supermarkets, shops or even car parks. Business owners and operators have the legal duty to maintain their premises safe for visitors at all times. Failing to do so would make them liable if you suffer a leg injury while on their property.

A manufacturer

A defective bicycle, chair, vehicle or work equipment can lead to an unexpected leg injury. According to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you are entitled to claim compensation for your damages from the manufacturer within ten years from the product launch date.

Another individual

Dog owners have the responsibility to keep them from acting dangerously around others. If your leg injury was due to a dog bite, you might be able to claim compensation from the animal owner.

If your injury was due to a violent assault or domestic violence, you could make a claim for a leg injury through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

To find out if you have a valid claim, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 678 1410 to speak to a legal adviser.

What are the main types of leg injury?

Leg injuries range from minor superficial cuts to deep bone and nerve damage. They can occur anywhere in the foot, ankle, shin or thigh and might affect your life forever, depending on severity.

If your injury was due to another person’s negligence, you could make a leg injury claim for all the damages you incurred. Common types of leg injuries for which you can claim include:

Cuts and lacerations

Cuts and lacerations are typically caused by sharp objects and can be superficial and heal in a matter of weeks or deep, with long-lasting effects. Severe lacerations can affect muscles, tendons and ligaments, arteries or nerves and cause severe scarring, chronic pain and mobility issues.

Burn injuries

Burn injuries can be caused by hazards such as flames, hot liquids, corrosive substances or electric shocks. First-degree burns affect only the superficial layer of skin and usually have no complications but can cause short-term pain and discomfort.

Third and fourth-degree burns are severe injuries that could cause damage to bones, muscles and nerve endings and require immediate medical assistance. The recovery process is often long and painful. It might require an extensive hospital stay, surgeries or grafting and, in extreme cases, might lead to amputation of the affected area.

Soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries commonly refer to damage to the muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments. They are often caused by a sudden, unexpected or uncontrolled movement, blunt trauma or overuse. Common soft tissue injuries include:

• Bruises are common skin injuries caused by damaged blood vessels after bumping into something. Depending on the severity, it will result in a discolouration of the skin after some days or weeks. Initially, they might cause pain and swelling but usually heal quickly and leave no permanent damage.
• Sprains are usually associated with a slip or trip, causing a wrench or twist of the ankles or knees. Pain, swelling and inflammation are common symptoms. Severe sprains may cause a complete ligament tear and might require surgery and extensive physical therapy.
• Strains are injuries to a muscle or tendon, often occurring in the back of the leg. They can vary in severity from a simple overstretching of the muscle or tendon to a partial or complete tear. Symptoms include pain, swelling, muscle spasms and weakness and might heal within a few weeks or several months, depending on the severity.
• Tendonitis is a type of overuse injury to the tendons, causing inflammation around a joint. It is a type of repetitive strain injury caused by repetitive movement or spending long periods in a fixed position at work. Symptoms include pain, swelling and inflammation that worsens with activity.

Dislocations

Dislocations can affect any joints in the leg or ankle and occur when the bones are forced out of alignment. They may cause significant pain and swelling and might permanently affect joint stability. The most common dislocations are knee injuries.

Leg fractures

Bone fractures can be extremely painful and might involve any of the bones in the leg: the femur, patella, tibia or fibula. Fractures can cause swelling, bruising and deformity, and you might not be able to walk or drive for up to six months. Other than wearing a cast, some severe fractures might require surgery.

Leg Amputations

Amputations can be caused by an extreme severe accident that would directly sever one or both of your legs, such as in a machinery accident at work. Medical negligence could cause the worsening of a condition such as an infection or diabetes, which might lead to the amputation of a leg.

Limb amputations can be very traumatic. Your physical and psychological recovery can take a long time and have a significant impact on your life and the well-being of your family.

Paralysis

Paralysis is usually caused by localised nerve damage or severe trauma to the spinal cord. This can affect either one or both legs, and it can be reversible or irreversible, depending on the cause of injury.

If another person is liable for your injury, you might be eligible to make a leg injury claim. The compensation award is a crucial financial support to overcome your trauma and get the care and medical devices you need to get your life back on track.

What are the most common causes of leg injuries?

No matter how you got a leg injury, if it happened in the last three years and another person was to blame, you may be entitled to make a leg injury claim. Common accidents include:

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls are some of the most common accidents that can cause a leg injury. Uneven flooring, potholes, unmarked changes in floor level, wet floors and numerous other hazards can cause you to sprain your ankle or twist your knee.

A bad fall, especially from a height such as a fall from scaffolding, can cause severe fractures or an injury that might lead to leg paralysis. If a council, restaurant, shop, supermarket or other business owner failed to keep the premises safe, you might be able to claim leg injury compensation.

Road accidents

Leg injuries are common in road traffic accidents, especially among vulnerable users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorbike riders. From bruising, abrasions, cuts and lacerations to fractures and nerve injuries, road accidents can cause life-changing leg injuries.

You are entitled to make a leg injury claim if another driver’s negligence caused you to suffer an injury. You may be able to claim even if you were partially at fault, for example, by not wearing your seatbelt or crossing the street without care as a pedestrian.

Accidents at work

Employers have a legal duty to take all reasonable measures for protecting the health, safety and welfare of employees. Keeping machines in good working order and providing adequate training and personal protective equipment to employees are just some of the required safety standards they should follow.

Without good working practices, you could suffer a leg injury in working areas with high risks of a trip, slip and fall, burns, machinery accidents, or falls from a height. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be able to make a leg injury claim against your employer.

Medical negligence

Sometimes, a medical professional’s negligence can cause unnecessary and avoidable suffering. Examples of medical negligence that could lead to a leg injury include surgical errors, cancer misdiagnosis, misdiagnosed or mistreated infections and incorrect treatment of diabetes.

Medical negligence could cause scarring, deformities, chronic pain, mobility issues, and even severe leg injuries like amputation and paralysis. Your solicitor can let you know if you could make a leg injury claim against your doctor.

Violent attacks

An unprovoked attack can be extremely distressing and could cause life-changing leg injuries. Deep lacerations caused by a knife can affect your muscles, bones and nerves and cause permanent mobility issues and severe disability.

If you suffered a leg injury after being attacked, you could claim compensation through the CICA within two years of the incident.

Animal attacks can also cause severe leg injuries. Even a minor bite can get infected, and you might require medical treatment. If you were attacked due to the owner’s negligence, you could claim leg injury compensation from them.

Sports injuries

From football and hockey to skiing and contact sports, most sporting activities carry an inherent risk of leg injuries. You could also get an injury while biking, horse riding, mountain-climbing or practising another solo activity.

Someone else might be liable for your leg injury if it was caused by faulty equipment, poor training, bad advice or poorly maintained facilities. If you suffered any harm while participating in a sports activity, a solicitor could let you know if you are entitled to claim leg injury compensation.

If you feel you may have a valid claim, call 0800 678 1410 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a legal adviser.

How much compensation can I claim for a leg injury?

If you suffered a leg injury caused by the negligence of another party, you might be entitled to make a leg injury claim. The compensation you might receive mostly depends on the circumstances of your accident, the severity of your injuries, and any financial losses you incurred as a result of getting hurt.

It is sometimes difficult to determine the severity of your injury and any long-lasting effects. In most cases, you will have to undergo an independent medical examination with a government-approved physician who will assess your injury, recovery prospects and recommend further necessary treatments.

Their medical report will serve as an essential piece of information for calculating a suitable compensation award. The final compensation amount will cover:

• Physical pain and suffering
• The emotional and psychological distress caused by your injury
• Rehabilitation and counselling costs
• Treatment and medication
• Mobility aids, including prostheses and wheelchairs
• Lost wages, both present and future
• Loss of earning capacity
• Costs of care
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of amenities like inability to pursue a hobby
• Decreased quality of life

The compensation for economic losses will be calculated by summing up all the expenses incurred after your injury. Future losses take into account the claimant’s annual earnings, the expected medical expenditures and costs of care, life expectancy and many other factors, making it an extensive and laborious process.

Compensation for general losses awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity is calculated following the guidelines offered by the Judicial College. According to them, you could receive:

• £2,020 to £7,380 for minor scarring
• £6,680 to £19,390 for severe laceration scars
• £7,780 to £12,010 for minor leg injuries with full recovery within a few months
• £11,730 to £47,830 for severe toe injuries leading to amputation of one or all toes
• £15,320to £46,780 for moderate leg injuries with partial recovery or near certainty of arthritis or mobility issues
• £22,340 to £37,070 for moderate knee injuries resulting in ongoing discomfort and chronic pain
• Up to £11,730 for a minor ankle injury with full recovery within a year and no scarring
• £11,730to £59,730 for moderate foot injuries resulting in permanent deformity and mobility issues
• £43,710 to £67,410 for very severe leg injuries with permanent symptoms
• £83,550 to £109,570 for loss of one leg below the knee
• £160,600 to £215,310 for amputation of both legs below the knee
• £191,950 to £240,590 for loss of one or both legs above the knee

If you sustained multiple injuries, you would receive the upper bracket for the most severe one and reduced amounts for the other less severe damages. Based on the circumstances of your accident and the extent of your injury, your solicitor can give you a rough estimate of your compensation prospects.

How do I make a leg injury compensation claim?

The first step you should take if you want to claim for a leg injury is to contact an experienced personal injury solicitor. They can let your know if you have a solid case and will assist and advise you in every step of the claiming process.

To make a successful leg injury claim, you will need relevant proof that another party is liable for your accident. This could be:

• Medical records of your injuries. If you suffered a severe injury, you should immediately call an ambulance or have someone take you to the A&E. Otherwise, remain at the accident scene and try to get any relevant evidence of negligence and visit a hospital as soon as possible afterwards.
• Photographs of the accident scene before anything is moved. Try to capture the exact cause of your injury, such as a pothole or wet floor, if you had a slip or trip accident, or the scene of a road accident if you were hurt in a collision.
• Pictures of your injuries and a photographic journal of your recovery process. These can help to better understand and determine the pain and suffering you endured because of your accident.
• Copies of any CCTV or dash cam footage that might have captured how you got injured.
• Details of anyone involved in your accident and their licence plate and insurance details if you were the victim of a road traffic accident.
• Contact details of any witnesses who might support your leg injury compensation claim.
• An expert report from a medical specialist in the field relevant to your treatment if your leg injury was due to medical negligence.
• Accident reports. Businesses and employers are required by law to keep an accident log book. Make sure you report your injury to the responsible party and get a signed copy of the report.
• Police reports. If you suffered an injury in a hit and run or were the victim of a violent attack, you should immediately report the accident to the police and wait for their arrival. The police report will serve as essential support in your leg injury claim.
• Write detailed notes as soon as possible about how the accident occurred, what you were doing at the time and what happened afterwards. In time, you might forget some essential details that could change the course of your leg injury compensation claim.
• Keep track of all the financial expenses you incurred, such as mobility aids, medical care and adaptations to your home or vehicle. Keep all the relevant receipts.

After you gather all the required evidence and prepare the necessary legal documents, your solicitor will send a claim notification form to the party you hold responsible for your leg injury. They will have up to four months to investigate your claim and send you a letter of response.

If the defendant admits liability for your injuries, your solicitor will start negotiating a compensation amount with their insurer. If the other party denies liability or you can’t agree on a compensation amount, you will have to issue court proceedings.

If your case ends up in court, you will have to argue your claim before a judge. They will assess liability based on the evidence presented by you and the defendant and will decide on a suitable compensation award. If your claim is successful, you should receive compensation within a month.

For a free consultation with a legal adviser, call 0800 678 1410. They can let you know how to start your leg injury claim and answer any questions you may have.

What is the time limit for making a leg injury claim?

If you suffered a leg injury without being at fault, the time limit to claim leg injury compensation is usually three years from the date of your accident. This is known as the claim limitation date, after which your case becomes statute-barred, and you can no longer start legal proceedings.

The time limitation date can vary in certain circumstances:

The three-year countdown will start on the date of knowledge of your injury, namely on the day you received a diagnosis. This applies in the case of repetitive strain leading to a leg injury, for example.

If the victim of a leg injury is a child, a parent, guardian or another litigation friend can claim compensation on their behalf at any point while they are still under the age of 18. Afterwards, the injured child has another three years to start a claim as an adult.

There is no limitation date to make a leg injury claim on behalf of an individual who lacks the mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings. A victim may lack mental capacity due to:

• High levels of stress or anxiety
• An intellectual disability like Down syndrome
• Mental disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Stroke, traumatic brain injury or being in a coma

If the victim regains intellectual ability, they will have three years to start a claim on their own.

If you suffered a leg injury in a violent attack, you have two years to claim for a leg injury through the CICA from the day you were injured.

You can also claim compensation for an injury you suffered abroad, but the limitation date is subject to each country’s laws. You should always contact a solicitor as soon as possible to make sure you will not miss your chance to make a leg injury claim.

To find out what limitation date might apply to your unique case, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 678 1410 to speak to a legal adviser.

Can I claim for a leg injury using no win no fee?

Suffering a leg injury can be very traumatic and distressing for you and your loved ones. If you have gone through severe trauma, the recovery process can take many months, and in the worst cases, you might suffer permanent disability.

If another party was at fault for your accident, you might want to claim leg injury compensation for all the pain, suffering and financial damages you incurred. It’s understandable that, in such a stressful situation, going through the claiming process might not be at the forefront of your mind.

A leg injury claim might require a lot of time, effort and legal costs you might not want to spend without the certainty you’ll win your case. Fortunately, a legal adviser can take care of all the required paperwork, gather evidence and negotiate with the other side while you can focus on your recovery.

The best part is, if you have a strong claim with a fair chance of success, your solicitor will offer you a no win no fee agreement. By making a no win no fee leg injury claim, you don’t have to worry about any upfront fees or legal charges. Furthermore, if you lose the case, you don’t have to pay a single penny to anyone.

This protection comes from the After the Event (ATE) insurance policy your solicitor will take out on your behalf before starting the legal proceedings. If your claim is unsuccessful, the ATE insurance provides total coverage for all the legal fees you incurred.

You will only have to pay anything if you receive compensation. This is called a success fee, which covers the work your solicitor did on your behalf. The success fee cannot exceed 25% of the compensation that is awarded for your injury, and you will agree upon the percentage before the solicitor takes on your case.

To find out if you can make a no win no fee leg injury claim, call 0800 678 1410 for a free consultation with a legal adviser. They can let you know if you have a valid claim and answer any questions you may have.