Ankle injuries in the UK are quite common. Each year, people visit A&E to seek treatment for this problem by the thousands.
According to a 2018 report published in the British Journal of General Practice, doctors recorded a staggering 346, 067 cases of foot or ankle pain (data collection took place over three years).
Our ankles support almost the entire body weight while we stand, walk, or run. But, only flexible ligaments support these joints. So, it is no surprise that injuries to this part of the body happen a lot. Even a slight foot twist can result in a bruised, sprained, dislocated or broken ankle.
Some people are more prone to experience foot injuries due to the nature of their daily activities. However, sometimes people can suffer such damage due to an accident.
If the injury occurs as a result of a third party’s mistake or someone else’s carelessness, the afflicted person is entitled to seek compensation in the form of ankle injury claims.
Ankle accidents can have disastrous consequences that will impact you in more ways than one. Not only do they cause a painful injury, but can also keep you off your feet for a while. As a result, your productivity may reduce, and mobility becomes a challenge.
However, making a claim can help you recover some of the losses that would arise from the accident.
Reasons For Claiming Ankle Injury Compensation
Not all ankle injuries lead to a claim. It depends on how the incident occurred. If it was avoidable had a liable party exercised a duty of care, then this is when claimants should seek compensation.
With that in mind, below are some common reasons why people seek ankle injury claims.
Workplace Accidents
People do incur ankle injuries in the workplace. Often, this may occur due to a hazardous working environment. It is common for employees to slip, trip or fall due to poorly maintained or obstructed floors.
Employees in particular industries are at a higher risk of slipping accidents. A few examples include construction, retail, and hospital workers. Injuries sustained at work significantly limit a person’s mobility and ability to carry out his/her job duties.
In the United Kingdom, many laws address issues of health and safety at the workplace. Any breach of such regulations is a crime. And, if an employer is found negligent, you may be awarded for damages.
Road Traffic Accidents
Although airbags protect the head and upper body during a car crash, the lower extremities tend to remain vulnerable. As a result, foot injuries are quite common after a road traffic accident. When involved in such a misfortune, speaking to a traffic accident solicitor can help you get compensation.
Slips, Trips, Or Falls In Public Places
Ankle injuries sustained in public spaces often result from slips, trips and falls. These incidents may happen in retail stores, supermarkets, restaurants, public parks, or even on the streets.
Unfortunately, many people involved in such accidents easily overlook the possibility that someone else could be liable. For instance, most of us would be quick to take personal blame after tripping over a rubbish bag on the street or slipping due to walking on uneven or icy pavement.
The truth is that local authorities or business owners are responsible for the safety of the spaces they provide. If they neglect this duty, then cases of ankle injury claims may arise after a slip, trip, or fall in a public setting.
Besides the causes listed above, there are other reasons people may want to seek ankle injury claims. Some cases can also be sports-related. For instance, this may be due to unmaintained fields or gear. Other causes may include violent behaviour between players, as well as poor coaching when trainers misadvise athletes to use tactics that lead to injury.
Personal injury lawsuits may result from medical negligence as well. A good example is when incorrect treatment or misdiagnosis leads to an ankle injury.
What To Do After Suffering Ankle Injury From An Accident Caused By A Liable Party
The actions you take after sustaining an ankle injury can largely determine whether any legal claim you make for compensation will turn out to be a success.
First, it is essential to get treatment as soon as possible. In addition to that, here are other steps you can take to build a strong case.
Gather Evidence On The Scene Of Accident
This may include photos of the place where you incurred the injury. Getting information about safety regulations relating to the immediate vicinity may also be helpful.
Report The Incident
If you are involved in a road accident, don’t drive off before traffic police come to the scene and write a report.
Document Your Injury
Make an effort to write down how the accident happened, including the timeline and what events led up to it. Taking a photo of the injury as photographic evidence of the damage you suffered can also help.
Besides making sure you have all the facts straight, documenting the injury should help in case your memory fails later on.
Get Witness Testimonies
For accidents that happen in a public place, take contact details of any eye witness who are willing to help. They may be able to offer invaluable testimonies should your ankle injury claim end up in court.
Keep All Medical Documents
When seeking treatment, make sure to keep a record of all medical documentation. That may include X-rays, diagnosis reports, prescription receipts, and so on. Such medical documents will offer critical evidence of the financial toll and suffering that deserve consideration in an ankle injury claim.
What Kind Of Compensation Can You Claim For An Ankle Injury?
After following the steps outlined above, you can begin the process of making a claim. At this point, you can start to think about seeking legal assistance.
Ideally, find a lawyer with experience in this field, and one who has an impressive record of securing settlements for similar cases. You can use our form here to help get your claim started.
With legal representation, you might get compensation for the following reasons.
Medical Expenses:
An ankle injury will incur costs during treatment. And, depending on how severe it is, you may need pain medication, surgery, physical therapy, or a combination of all. All medical bills, along with those that you may continue to incur due to ongoing treatment, can qualify for compensation.
Travel Costs:
You can also claim travel expenses incurred while making numerous visits to doctor appointments.
Loss Of Earnings:
Even a minor ankle sprain can take anywhere between two and four weeks before recovery. As such, this may amount to missed workdays for people who are always on their feet when working.
A court of law may account for lost income if your ankle injury prevents you from carrying out your duties. Sometimes consideration is also given to potential future earnings if the claimant is yet to recover fully.
General Damages:
These pertain to losses that impact your quality of life due to an injury. Compensation amounts factored under this category will look into pain and suffering of the claimant, which can be physical, emotional, or physiological.
Factors Affecting Ankle Injury Claim Amounts
The compensation due to you for an ankle injury will depend on several factors. Every person will have a unique case, but the settlement amount will generally depend on the following aspects.
1) Severity Of The Ankle Injury
The ankle is a complex joint consisting of muscle ligaments, tendons and bones. As a result, it can suffer a wide range of injuries.
The extent of damage you suffer will largely determine the payout awarded to you after filing a successful claim. For instance, minor ligament tears and hairline fractures will be on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to ankle injury compensation amounts.
On the other hand, payouts for very severe injuries that lead to permanent disability or result in deformities can be in the tune of five figures or more. Treatment for severe ankle damage is not cheap.
So, it comes as no surprise that settlement for such cases tends to be on the higher side. There may be a need for surgery, or even pins and plates to support the joint if it has multiple fractures. Some cases require physiotherapy to aid recovery, which often takes a lengthy period for severe injuries.
2) Evidence Against The Liable Party
You have to prove that someone else was responsible for the harm brought upon you when filing an ankle injury claim.
It may be possible to do that with police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and photos of the accident scene. The amount of evidence, or lack thereof, will determine whether a ruling will be in your favour.
3) Strength Of Your Medical Records
Medical records will provide the legal backing that you need to justify the compensation amount claimed for an ankle injury. Such documentation will also illustrate the financial toll you have to bear and degree of suffering incurred.
Ankle Injury Claims: Conclusion
You always have the choice to pursue an ankle injury claim on your own, however if you would like some guidance we can help. Use the form below to arrange a free, no obligation call with a claims advisor.
Our advisors can help you address essential issues, help determine if you have a valid claim and help you start your claim.