When you injure your ankle, it’s a wake-up call to just how much the body part does for us on a daily basis. It can affect how we walk, our ability to stand, and it can cause a lot of pain. If you’ve been in an accident that wasn’t your fault and your ankle has been damaged as a result, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation from those responsible.
Can I claim compensation for an ankle injury?
Injuries to your ankle are more than just a nuisance – they can seriously impede your quality of life and ability to work. Whether it’s a sprain, fracture, dislocation or another type of injury, even seemingly innocuous slips or falls can lead to serious pain, limited mobility and costly medical bills.
Ankle injuries can often happen as a result of negligence in the workplace or in a public setting. Owners of businesses, shops, restaurants and other public buildings have a legal duty of care to keep you safe whilst on their premises according to the Health & Safety Act 1974. So, if you were involved in an accident that injured your ankle because health and safety regulations weren’t followed, you may be entitled to ankle injury compensation.
What types of ankle injury can I claim for?
There’s a surprising variety of ankle injuries, all of which can be claimed for if another party was at fault:
- Ankle bursitis.
- Breakage.
- Cuts.
- Dislocations.
- Fractures.
- Lacerations.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Sprains.
- Soft tissue damage.
Even smaller issues like cuts and scrapes to the ankle can make life difficult due to its location on the body. Simple tasks like pulling up socks or putting on shoes can turn into a debacle with an ankle injury.
Common causes of ankle injuries
Ankle injuries are fairly common when a person slips, trips, or falls over, especially when such an accident causes loss of balance. However, there are a handful of ways ankle injuries can be caused or exacerbated by others:
- Ankle bursitis: Can be caused by repetitive motion or pressure during daily activities. Excessive running, jumping or walking can lead to inflammation. If you work in a job that requires repetitive motion or pressure, you may be at risk of ankle injury.
- Breakage: This can happen because of crushing, falling objects, uneven surfaces and more. Whoever is responsible for your ankle injury if any of these types of accidents occur will be liable to pay compensation.
- Cuts: These can occur if broken glass or unsoftened edges on fixtures and furnishings puncture your ankle skin.
- Dislocations: Slippery floors can cause trips and falls that can dislocate ankles and other body parts. It’s the responsibility of the manager or owner of the shop, venue or building you’re visiting to ensure all surfaces are dry or to inform the public that they are wet.
- Fractures: Trips and falls are notorious for causing fractures, but trapped limbs from falling objects or closing doors can also cause such an injury.
- Osteoarthritis: Consistent wear and tear on the ankle joint can lead to this chronic injury. Again, if you work in a job that requires a lot of repetition, you should take regular breaks.
- Sprains: This happens when the joint is twisted or rolled, and can be avoided when the ground is stable and even. It’s down to the owner or staff of the establishment you are visiting to ensure the ground is so.
- Soft tissue damage: This can happen because of overstretching or blunt trauma, where the ankle is exerted to the point that it damages the tissue around the bone.
What evidence do I need to support my ankle injury claim?
To build a strong claim, we’ll need some detailed information from you about what happened to your ankle. Here’s what we’ll need to know:
- The date, time, and specific location of the accident.
- Details of the incident, including your account of what happened and who you believe was at fault.
- Contact and insurance information of all parties involved.
- Any available police reports documenting the occurrence.
- Photos or videos from the scene, which could include photos taken by you or CCTV from the scene.
- Contact details for any witnesses.
- Records of any medical treatment you received, whether at the scene or afterwards at the doctor’s office or hospital.
When you reach out to Injury Lawyers 4U, our skilled team will offer you comprehensive, free legal advice. We’ll help you to understand your rights and whether or not you have a valid claim.
What is the average compensation payout for an ankle injury in the UK?
The amount of compensation you might receive for an ankle injury claim depends on how the injury occurred, the severity of the injury and the wider impact it has had on your life beyond the event.
To find out how much you’ll likely be entitled to, use our nifty compensation calculator. This will tell you how much compensation you should expect for general damages. For any special damages, like compensation for travel, physiotherapy or more esoteric costs. You’ll have to get in touch with our legal experts who will give you a more rounded estimate.
What are the time limits for making an ankle injury compensation claim?
The best port of call is to always start your claim as close to the time when the injury took place as you can. This is so you can be assisted as soon as possible with any costs. However, if you have waited a while to make your claim, you should be aware of the time limits involved:
You can make a claim in regards to an ankle injury up to three years from the date the accident took place. However, if you are under 18 years old when injured and haven’t yet made a claim, you have until your 21st birthday.
The next step in your ankle injury claim process
If you think that your ankle injury may be grounds for compensation, then it’s time to get in touch with Injury Lawyers 4U. Our expert team has many years experience handling all kinds of personal injury claims. We’re here to ensure that our clients receive the compensation that they deserve.
So if your ankle is injured, it wasn’t your fault, and you want to pursue legal action, contact us via our quick contact form. Alternatively you can phone us directly on 0333 400 4445.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do immediately after sustaining an ankle injury?
The first thing you should do after sustaining any kind of injury is to seek medical attention. Once you are safe and have been treated, be sure to gather as much evidence of the injury as you can to assist any future claim you may make.
What compensation can I expect to receive from a successful ankle injury claim?
Compensation can cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, travel expenses for medical treatment, and any future loss of earnings or ongoing medical needs related to the injury.
Do I need a lawyer to file an ankle injury compensation claim?
It is possible to make a claim on your own, but using an experienced injury lawyer can help you when you encounter complexities you may not have anticipated. They can also handle negotiations if they become tense and difficult.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Depending on your level of responsibility for the accident itself, it is still possible to make a claim. Your level of involvement will be analysed by a legal professional to see what we can do before diving into the claim fully.
What if the responsible party denies liability for my ankle injury?
If those responsible deny responsibility, you may still be able to build a successful case, though it may take a longer time to get justice. By getting a trusted injury lawyer onside, this process will be easier than alone.
