Leg Injury at Work – A Guide to Claiming Compensation

There is a chance that if you suffer a leg injury in a workplace accident, you might be entitled to claim compensation. That may be the case if your accident and subsequent suffering can be proven to be linked to your employer’s negligence. Therefore, this guide explores when leg injury at work claims might be possible, how the claims process works and how compensation for work-related leg injuries is calculated.

If you would like to check if you could be entitled to claim leg injury compensation, please get in touch. We provide a no-obligation initial consultation where you’ll be given free legal advice after your accident at work claim has been assessed by a specialist. If your claim appears to have strong grounds, you could be partnered with a specialist solicitor from our team. Importantly, all accepted leg injury at work claims are managed on a No Win, No Fee basis.

To arrange a free consultation about your leg injury claim, you can:

• Call us on 0333 241 2519 to speak with a specialist.
• Use our online chat service.

Please get in touch to get the ball rolling or read on for more about how to claim compensation for a work-related leg injury.

Types of Leg Injuries at Work We Can Help With

Before we look at the personal injury claims process, let’s take a look at some examples of the types of leg injuries that you could claim for. They include:

• Broken leg at work.
• Soft tissue injuries (tendon, ligament and muscle injuries).
• Cuts, bruises and lacerations.
• Knee and ankle injuries.
• Burn injuries.
• Leg amputations (above and below the knee).
• Foot and toe amputations.
• Achilles tendon injuries.
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries.

Don’t be put off from contacting us if we’ve not included your leg injury in our list. We are more than happy to assess your claim for free so please get in touch.

Can I Make a Leg Injury at Work Compensation Claim?

In all accident-at-work claims, the first thing to prove is that, at the point of your accident, you were owed a legal duty of care by your employer. Generally, this is quite straightforward because of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This piece of legislation means that to try and keep you safe at work, practical steps should be taken by your employer. For example, they should:

• Train you on how to do your job safely.
• Carry out regular workplace risk assessments to identify any hazards.
• If a hazard cannot be removed, provide free personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of injury.
• Ensure that all workplace equipment is in a good state of repair and maintained properly.

If your employer fails to uphold their legal obligations any subsequent suffering could enable you to claim compensation.

The main eligibility requirements that you’ll need to produce for leg injury claims are:

• Were you owed a duty of care by your employer?
• Were you involved in an accident that occurred because of your employer’s negligence?
• Did you sustain a leg injury diagnosed in the last three years from that accident?

If you suspect that you should be compensated for a leg injury, you can contact one of our specialist legal advisors now at the phone number above.

What Types of Negligence Can Lead to a Leg Injury at Work Claim?

Various types of accidents at work can result in leg injury at work compensation being paid if they were caused by an employer’s negligence. Here are some examples :

• You sustained a broken leg at work after you were pinned to a wall by a forklift truck operated by an untrained driver.
• You fell into a deep excavation on a building site and sustained leg, knee and ankle injuries because there were no warning signs to alert you to the danger.
• As a result of a spillage that hadn’t been cleaned up swiftly, you slipped and fractured your kneecap whilst working in a supermarket.
• Your leg was burned at work by hot oil that started spraying out of a poorly maintained piece of machinery in a warehouse. Skin grafts were required and you were left with permanent scarring.

These are just a handful of the types of accidents at work that could result in leg injury compensation claims. If we’ve not described yours, don’t worry. We are happy to review your case for free so please get in touch today.

What Should I Do If I Injured My Leg in the Workplace?

The following steps may all be appropriate after a workplace accident in which your leg was injured:

• Tell your employer about the accident as soon as you’re able to.
• Ask for the incident to be recorded in the company’s accident report book and request a copy of the accident form.
• Visit your GP or a hospital to have your leg injury properly diagnosed and treated.

Taking these steps can be important because they’ll ensure your employer is aware of what happened. In turn, this could enable them to make changes so that others aren’t involved in similar accidents.

Some serious leg injuries will be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It is not your duty to inform them about the accident but you should comply with their investigator and provide any information they ask for.

What Evidence Can Be Used for a Leg Injury Compensation Claim?

Given the opportunity, insurance companies (who usually deal with accident-at-work claims) will try to avoid paying compensation wherever possible or reduce the amount they pay out. Therefore, to make a leg injury at work claim stronger, solicitors will always try to collect as much evidence to prove what happened as possible.

The types of evidence that might help for work-related leg injury compensation claims include:

• Photos of any visible leg injuries taken over a period of time.
• Medical reports from the hospital that treated your leg injury.
• Witness statements from colleagues who saw your accident.
• Phone, dashcam or CCTV footage of your accident.
• Accident scene photographs.
• Your copy of the accident report form about the incident.

If you’d like us to check whether you have enough evidence to begin a leg injury at work claim, please call today.

How Long Do I Have to Claim Leg Injury at Work Compensation?

In the UK, the time limit for claiming compensation for a leg injury sustained at work is generally 3 years from the date of the accident or the date when you first became aware that your leg injury was related to your work. This is per the Limitation Act 1980, which sets out the time limits within which a claim must be brought.

However, it’s important to get legal advice based on your circumstances as there can be specific nuances and exceptions to these rules.

While 3 years seems like a lot of time, it’s usually best to start the claims process as early as possible. That should mean there is enough time for evidence to be sought and to prevent your claim from becoming statute-barred.

How Much Compensation Do You Get for a Leg Injury?

The first element in any workplace accident claim is called general damages. It compensates for physical and mental pain and suffering. It also covers loss of amenity so you could be compensated if your leg injury prevents you from enjoying your usual hobbies.

To make sure you receive the proper compensation, your solicitor will obtain copies of your medical records. They’ll also arrange a meeting with an independent medical expert so that the extent of your leg injury at work can be fully understood.

To put a value on a leg injury claim, your solicitor may refer to settlement figures from similar cases plus those listed in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The leg injury compensation table below lists JCG figures for several leg injuries.

• £240,790 – £282,010 compensation for total amputation of both legs.
• £201,490 – £270,100 for amputating both legs below the knee.
• £104,830 – £137,470 for amputating one leg above the knee.
• £97,980 – £132,990 compensation for amputating one leg below the knee.
• £54,830 –  £87,890 compensation for a broken leg at work resulting in permanent mobility issues.
• £39,200 – £54,830 for severe compound fractures or injuries to joints and ligaments causing instability, extended treatment periods, and potential arthritis.
• £27,760 to £39,200 for multiple fractures or significant crushing injuries to one leg.
• £17,960 – £27,760 compensation for a broken leg at work leading to reduced mobility.
• A simple fracture of the femur may receive compensation from £9,110 to £14,080.
• Simple fractures of the tibia and fibula may result in compensation up to £11,840.
• Compensation for minor soft tissue leg injuries that heal within a few months is likely under £2,450.

You should use these figures as guidance only as the amounts listed are not guaranteed compensation payouts.

On top of general damages, special damages could also be considered if your leg injury has left you out of pocket. For example, you could also be compensated for:

• Care and support costs.
• Rehabilitation and medical expenses.
• Lost income plus any future loss of earnings.
• The cost of home adaptations if they will make it easier to cope with your leg injury.

If you’d like to check how much compensation for a leg injury you could receive, please use the number above to call our team today.

Can I Claim Broken Leg at Work Compensation if I’m Not a Full-Time Employee?

The type of employment contract you have does not have a direct impact on your employer’s duty of care towards your well-being whilst you are working. Therefore, zero-hours staff, contractors, the self-employed, consultants and subcontractors have the same rights as full-time workers when it comes to safety in the workplace.

Therefore, if you have sustained a broken leg at work or another type of injury and you believe your employer was to blame, call our legal advisors to check your options.

Can I Claim Compensation if My Injured Leg Was Caused by Defective Equipment?

You might think that if a piece of machinery or equipment broke and caused you to suffer a leg injury, you wouldn’t be entitled to claim compensation. However, that’s not always the case.

That’s because employers must ensure as much as reasonably possible that workplace equipment is safe, fit for purpose and properly maintained. This duty is established by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

As such, if you’ve injured your leg at work because of a faulty piece of machinery or equipment, you could be eligible to begin an accident at work claim. Call our team today to find out more.

Do I Need a Solicitor to Make a Leg Injury Claim?

Suing your employer for a work-related leg injury can be a complex task. You’ll probably have to deal with their insurer who may try to avoid compensating you or limiting the amount of compensation they award.

So, while you could manage the claims process on your own, it may be easier if you have a specialist solicitor on your side. If you work with one of our accident solicitors, their services may include:

• Finding evidence to prove your case.
• Using the correct processes to file the claim on time.
• Dealing with your employer’s insurance provider on your behalf during negotiations.
• Sending updates to you about your case on a regular basis.
• Aiming to secure the maximum level of compensation possible.

Importantly, if your leg injury compensation claim is accepted, your solicitor will use a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to provide a No Win, No Fee service. The CFA means that:

• You don’t need to pay in advance for your solicitor’s work.
• There are no charges for your solicitor’s services if the claim is lost.
• An agreed percentage of any compensation you receive will be used as your solicitor’s success fee if the claim is won.

To help ensure that you keep hold of any compensation you’re awarded, the maximum success fee percentage allowed when using a CFA is 25 per cent.

If you’d like to check if you’re eligible to make a No Win, No Fee leg injury claim, please call today.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

In our experience, it’s unusual for work-related leg injury claims to end up in court. Mainly, that’s because insurers and solicitors know that hearings can be expensive and time-consuming so try to avoid them wherever possible.

That said, if your solicitor believes your case is strong enough but your employer won’t accept liability for your leg injury or their settlement offer is too low, they could use a court hearing as a last resort.

Contacting Us About a Leg Injury Compensation Claim

Now that you’ve read our guide on work-related leg injury claims, please feel free to get in touch. To find out if you have a valid claim, you can:

• Phone 0333 241 2519 to speak with an advisor.
• Chat online with one of our specialists.

We’ll provide no-obligation legal advice in the initial consultation to discuss your options. If a compensation claim against your employer appears feasible, we could connect you with a solicitor who’ll work on a No Win, No Fee basis if your leg injury at work claim is accepted.