Breaking a leg, at best, might mean a 6 to 8 week recovery period. During that time,  you might not be able to work, carry out daily activities, or enjoy your hobbies. In the more serious cases, complex remedial surgery might be required that can result in you being out of action for much longer. Unfortunately, some leg fractures are so serious that they cause permanent disabilities or might even result in partial or full leg amputation.

In this guide to claiming compensation for a broken leg, we’ll look at what types of negligence might allow you to claim if your injury was caused by somebody else, and demonstrate how much compensation for a broken leg might be paid out.

We can support you if you’d like to seek damages. Initially, we provide a telephone consultation to review your options in which you’ll be given free advice. You don’t have to proceed at this point but if your broken leg compensation claim is strong enough, we could pass it to a personal injury solicitor from our team. They’ll make the claims process less stressful because, if your case is accepted, they’ll work on a No Win No Fee basis. That means you won’t be asked to pay their fees if your case doesn’t work out.

To find out more about how you claim compensation for a broken leg, please continue reading. Otherwise, if you’re ready to start a claim right away, please call our team today on 0800 6524 881.

Are You Eligible To Claim Compensation For A Broken Leg?

It’s not always possible to claim damages after breaking your leg. There are a few criteria that you’ll need to meet if you’re to be compensated. Your solicitor will therefore check whether:

• The party responsible (the defendant) had a duty of care towards your safety; and
• Due to a negligent act, they caused an accident to happen; and
• You suffered a broken leg because of that accident.

If you contact us, we can help you to ascertain whether a duty of care existed or not. Usually, laws like the Occupiers Liability Act 1984, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 or the Road Traffic Act 1988 can help with this. These laws might be appropriate if you’ve broken your leg in a shop, at work, or in a car crash for example.

Accidents That Could Result In A Broken Leg

As you might imagine, a broken leg can be sustained in a number of different accidents. Some examples that might result in a compensation claim include:

• If your leg is fractured following a slip while shopping where a wet floor wasn’t protected by warning signs.
• Where you’re knocked off your bike and your leg is broken in a road traffic accident.
• If your leg is broken in a fall at work because of inappropriate personal protective equipment.
• Where you trip and injure your leg because a trip hazard was obscured by poor light.
• If you fall because of a pothole on a public highway and your leg is fractured as a result.

These and other accidents could all entitle you to claim compensation for a broken leg where somebody else was to blame. If you’d like our help with the broken leg compensation claims process, please call today.

Types Of Broken Leg Injuries

There are three different bones in the leg that can be fractured. They are the:

• Femur (thighbone).
• Fibula (lower leg).
• Tibia (lower leg).

The difficulty in repairing leg fractures will depend on the site of the break. Those at the joints with the ankle, hip and knee can be more complex and require more difficult corrective treatment. Compensation for a broken leg could be possible for any type of break but it’s important that your claim is calculated correctly. That’s because you can only make a single claim.

Therefore, you’ll need to consider any long-term effects of your broken leg before settling your claim. For example, if your leg isn’t going to ever fully heal, your compensation will need to factor in any ongoing pain plus any care or treatment you’ll need to support you. Our solicitors understand the claims process fully so please don’t hesitate in contacting us to discuss how we could help you.

Types Of Leg Fractures

The treatment you’ll need for a broken leg will vary depending on the type of fracture. Here is some more information:

• Compound or open fractures. Where the broken bone pierces the skin.
• Incomplete fractures. Here the bone sustains a crack but does not split into separate parts.
• Closed fractures. Where the skin is not pierced.
• Complete fractures. This is where the bone splits into two distinct pieces.
• Displaced fractures. Where the fragments of the bone do not align properly. This type of injury is likely to need surgery to realign the bones so that the fracture can heal properly.
• Greenstick fractures. Where a crack doesn’t break the bone completely.

As mentioned above, if you require future treatment this can be factored into your broken leg compensation.

Evidence To Support Broken Leg Compensation Claims

Importantly, if you ask for compensation for a broken leg, you’ll need to show how the accident occurred and what injuries you sustained. Evidence you could use includes:

• Witness details. To help prove your version of events, your solicitor might ask any witnesses for a statement. Therefore, you should collect their contact details at the time of your accident.
• Medical reports. Any broken leg will require treatment at a hospital. Your x-rays and medical records from the visit could be used to show the extent of your injuries.
• Accident report forms. If the incident is recorded in an accident report book, your copy can be used to confirm where and when it took place.
• Camera footage. Where possible, try to obtain a copy of any footage of your accident if it was caught on dashcam or CCTV cameras.
• Photographic evidence. To make it easier to explain what happened if you go on to make a leg injury claim, it’s always good to take photographs of the accident scene.
• Financial evidence. If you’ve suffered financially because of your broken leg, keep any relevant receipts or invoices.

Our claims advisors are happy to review any evidence you’ve collected during your free consultation.

How Much Compensation For A Broken Leg?

When calculating how much compensation for a broken leg you should get, your personal injury solicitor will generally split the claim into two parts consisting of:

• General damages. Here you’ll focus on the pain, suffering and loss of amenity your broken leg has caused.
• Special damages. These damages may be possible if you’ve been left out of pocket because of your broken leg. For example, any travel expenses, medical costs, or lost income could be claimed back.

Your personal injury claim may require a medical assessment detailing how badly broken your leg is and your future prognosis. Your solicitor will therefore look to book an appointment for you locally with an independent medical expert.

What’s The Average Settlement For A Broken Leg?

The average settlement for a broken leg will primarily be based on general damages, so how much pain and suffering the injury has caused and the effect it has had on your life.

• Up to £11,840 compensation for simple fractures of the Tibia or Fibula.
• £9,110 to £14,080 compensation for a simple fracture of the Femur.
• £17,960 to £27,760 compensation for moderate leg fractures.
• £27,760 to £39,200 compensation for a moderate broken leg.
• £39,200 to £54,830 compensation for a seriously broken leg.
• £54,830 to £87,890 compensation for a very seriously broken leg.
• £96,250 to £135,920 compensation for a severely broken leg.

Please bear in mind that claim amounts vary based on how serious your broken leg is and how you’ve been affected. If your claim is accepted, your solicitor will estimate your compensation amount after everything has been reviewed.

Time Limits For Broken Leg Compensation Claims

It’s important to explain the time limits that apply to personal injury claims. In most cases, you will get 3-years to claim from the date of the accident. However, if your child has broken their leg, this limitation period won’t apply as you can seek damages (as a litigation friend) at any time before your child is 18 years old.

To make the claims process for a broken leg a little easier, we’d suggest beginning as soon as you can. That way, your solicitor will get ample time to collect evidence and prepare your claim. Furthermore, you’re likely to find it easier to recall how the accident happened and how you suffered.

Why Make A Broken Leg Compensation Claim Using A Personal Injury Solicitor?

Even if the defendant in your case admits liability for your broken leg, their insurer will want evidence that shows the extent of your injuries. If you can’t demonstrate this clearly, they might try to reduce the amount of compensation you’re awarded.

We believe it’s important, therefore, to have a personal injury solicitor on your side. If your claim is taken on, a solicitor on our side will try to ensure there is no room for argument and that enough evidence is supplied to ensure your injuries are fully compensated for.

During the process of claiming compensation for a broken leg, you won’t need to speak with the defendant or their representative as your solicitor will manage this for you. They will keep you up to date throughout the claims process, though, and let you know about how things are progressing.

If you would like to find out more about the claims process and how much compensation for a broken leg you could claim, please call us for free advice on 0800 6524 881.