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Case Study | £20k Compensation For A Broken Leg

By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 2nd October 2024. This is a case study guide to making a compensation claim for a broken leg claim.

At Legal Expert, we have helped people across the country to claim the compensation, such as compensation for a broken leg injury, that they deserve after accidents and injuries which were not their fault. This case study deals with a claimant who was playing a football match.

The claimant was participating in an amateur football match. At the time of the accident, they were not within playing distance of the ball. A player from the opposing team kicked the back of the claimant’s leg resulting in significant injuries. The claimant was left with a fracture of the leg which led to ongoing health and lifestyle issues. As a result, they decided to make a broken leg compensation claim.

To contact Legal Expert about a potential claim, use any of the methods below. Our experienced advisors can offer free, personalised advice about your case:

An injured man receiving medical aid to their right leg, which is in a cast.

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Broken Leg Claim – Case Study

In this case, the claimant was participating in an amateur football match. When they were kicked in the back of the leg by an opposing player they were not within playing distance of the ball and the event was considered to be a deliberate foul play.

The broken leg injury was immediately treated at a local hospital. The claimant was x-rayed which allowed the doctors to diagnose a transverse fracture to both the fibula and tibia bones. Initial treatment included surgery to repair the fractured bones as well as an operation to insert bolts, screws, and nails to secure the bones in place.

Following the surgery, the claimant was unable to work for a six week period. When they returned to work, they spent another six weeks confined to lighter duties. As such, their broken leg compensation claim included damages for loss of earnings and the injury. The claimant was left with impaired movement in their foot, ankle, and knee. It took around 24 months after the accident for the claimant to regain full movement in the affected leg. At this point, they were still left with a degree of sensitivity where the bolts and nails were inserted into the leg.

Could you claim after a football broken leg injury? If you’re a football player with a broken leg caused by negligence, contact our team to find out your eligibility to claim.

The Allegation And Establishing Liability

The allegation held that the defendant dangerously kicked the claimant’s leg from behind in either a deliberate or negligent way. At the time of the accident, neither player was in possession of the ball and it was not close to them. The kick to the claimant’s leg caused a serious fracture which, as highlighted above, caused several surgeries and the placement of nails and bolts to correct. The claimant was unable to work for six weeks, losing earnings during this period. They also suffered a degree of restricted movement for two years after the initial kick.

How The Settlement Was Negotiated

Whilst cases such as this can sometimes proceed to court, with a defendant refusing to admit liability, in this case, the defendant did admit their liability for the injuries suffered by the claimant. As such the matter was able to be settled out of court by solicitors acting on behalf of the claimant and defendant.

The claimant was awarded a total of £20,000 compensation for a broken leg and other damages. This was made up of a combination of general damages for the injuries sustained to their leg, and special damages. The special damages included an award for loss of earnings over the six week period the claimant was unable to work, as well as future medical costs, travel expenses and other sundry expenses.

The Criteria For Starting A Broken Leg Compensation Claim

To be eligible to claim for an accident that caused a broken leg, you will need to meet the following requirements:

  1. Another party owed you a duty of care.
  2. This duty of care ended up being breached by that party.
  3. Due to this breach, you suffered a broken leg.

There are various instances where you are owed a duty of care, these include:

  • Using the roads – Road users must adhere to the regulations and rules set out for them in the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code. They must also use the UK roads in a way that avoids causing any harm to either themselves or other road users.
  • In the workplace – Your employer owes you a duty of care under what’s called the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Per this duty of care, each employer must take all reasonably practicable steps which can help to ensure the health and safety of their employees whilst they are at work and completing work-related duties.
  • In public places – Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, anyone in charge of a public place must take all the necessary steps to ensure your reasonable safety while you are using that space for its intended purposes. This is their duty of care.

If you can prove that a relevant third party breached their duty of care and that this caused your injury, you could make a broken leg claim.

You will also need to ensure that your claim is filed within what’s known as the personal injury claim’s time limit. This is set out as 3 years beginning specifically from the date when the accident happened under the Limitation Act 1980. There are also certain exceptions that may apply to this limitation period.

To learn what these exceptions are, or to see if you may have a valid claim, you are more than welcome to contact one of our friendly advisors today.

Examples Of Compensation For A Broken Leg Claim

Compensation for a broken leg claim varies on a case-by-case basis. This is because the amount awarded will be driven by factors like the claimant’s level of pain and the longer-term impact on their quality of life.

Broken leg compensation payouts for UK claimants include general damages, which covers you for the physical harm your injury has caused plus any psychological harm that has occurred too.

Those who value a leg injury claim for general damages may look at the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) for guidance. This document includes compensation brackets for different forms of harm, including broken bones and fractures.

The list below outlines some of the JCG compensation brackets included for various leg injuries and other related injuries. Please note that the list’s top entry is not included in the JCG and all the figures are for guidance purposes only:

  • If you’re eligible to make a claim for multiple serious injuries, such as a severe leg injury, as well as special damages like loss of earnings, then you may be awarded a payout of up to £200,000 or more.
  • For the most serious leg injuries that fall just short of amputation, such as where leg fractures have not united, then the compensation bracket ranges from £117,460 to £165,860.
  • When claiming for a very serious leg injury, such as multiple fractures that have taken years to heal, the compensation ranges from £66,920 to £109,290.
  • If you’re claiming for a leg injury deemed serious, such as serious compound or comminuted fractures, the compensation amount is £47,840 to £66,920.
  • For a moderate leg injury, such as multiple fractures, the compensation bracket is £33,880 to £47,840.
  • For a less serious leg injury (i), such as a fracture injury that has largely been recovered from, but some impaired mobility remains, the compensation amount ranges from £21,920 to £33,880.
  • If you claim for a severe knee injury (i), which has caused considerable pain and loss of function, then the compensation payout is £85,100 to £117,410.
  • When claiming for a moderate knee injury (i), which results in issues such as minor instability or weakness in this area, the compensation ranges from £18,110 to £31,960.
  • If you’re claiming for a very severe ankle injury, such as a transmalleolar fracture or bilateral ankle fractures, then the compensation amount could range between £61,090 to £85,070.

Can My Claim Cover Financial Losses Caused By A Broken Leg?

In our case study, the claimant received a payment for a loss of earnings under the special damages head of loss. This head does not just account for missed work payments, but any financial losses that were caused directly by the injuries. A special damages payment might also cover:

  • Medical bills.
  • Travel costs.
  • Home healthcare fees.
  • Money spent on mobility aids.

If you’re wondering what you may potentially be awarded in a broken leg compensation claim, all you have to do is call today and a friendly advisor will be on hand to discuss how payouts work.

Can I Make A Broken Leg Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?

At Legal Expert, we can work with claimants on what’s known as a No Win No Fee basis. More specifically, you could claim under a conditional fee agreement which means that no matter your financial situation you can work with experienced and dedicated solicitors who can help you claim the compensation you deserve, without having to worry about upfront payments or hidden fees. No Win No Fee means that if your compensation claim is not successful, you won’t have to pay any fees to your solicitors. If your solicitor does recover damages for you, their success fee is ultimately taken from this amount. By law, solicitors can’t take more than 25% of the total award. Using a No Win No Fee solicitor means that you won’t face additional financial hardships as a result of making a claim.

The specialist personal injury solicitors we work with believe it is more important for a claimant to spend time resting and recuperating, rather than worrying about solicitors fees and their case. Legal Expert aims to do as much of the work as we can, leaving you to concentrate on getting better.

Contact Legal Expert Today

Talk to the dedicated professionals at Legal Expert today to start making your compensation for a broken leg or another personal injury claim. You can find out more information about leg injuries and broken leg compensation payouts in our guide here. Contact Legal Expert today by calling 0800 073 8804, or email us on Info@legalexpert.co.uk. Alternatively, use the online contact form on this page.

Useful Links

Leg Injury Claims
Find out more about making a leg injury compensation claim with Legal Expert’s guide.

NHS Advice For Broken Leg Injuries
What to do if you have a broken leg as well as advice on how best to recover.

Sporting Injuries
Information and advice from the NHS for a range of common sporting injuries.

How Much Compensation For A Broken Bone?

What bone have you broken? calculate the amount of compensation you could claim for each bone or contact us today for free advice.