Can I Claim Compensation for a Sprained Ankle at Work?

You might think that a sprained ankle is a minor injury at not something you’d think about claiming compensation for. However, more serious ankle sprains can take many months to heal and have a massive impact on your ability to function normally. Therefore, if you’ve suffered a sprained ankle at work and your accident was caused by your employer’s negligence, you may decide to try and claim compensation for the suffering caused. This guide explains how sprained ankle claims work and how much compensation you could be entitled to if your case is won.

Our team offers free advice about the claims process as part of a no-obligation telephone consultation. In your call, you’ll get the chance to ask any questions and your advisor will review the merits of your claim. If they suspect that you’re entitled to compensation for a sprained ankle at work, they’ll refer you to an accident at work solicitor from our team. If they accept you as a client, you’ll benefit from a No Win, No Fee service meaning your solicitor’s work is only paid for if you receive a compensation payout.

To talk to us about a sprained ankle injury claim today, you can:

• Contact our advisors by calling 0333 241 2519.
• Use our live chat option at any time of night or day.

There’s plenty more information about claiming compensation for ankle sprains throughout this guide. If you think of any questions whilst reading, please feel free to contact us.

Can I Claim Compensation for a Sprained Ankle at Work?

There is no specific legislation that says employers need to prevent ankle injuries in the workplace. However, there is an overarching duty of care in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) which means employers have a legal obligation to “ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work”.

Some of the practical steps employers could take to try and prevent work-related ankle sprains include:

• Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety boots where required (for free).
• Training staff on how to do their jobs safely.
• Conducting risk assessments of the workplace regularly.
• Ensuring the work area is free from clutter and trip hazards.
• Maintaining all workplace equipment and tools according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

If your employer has failed to take steps to try and keep you safe and you’ve suffered a sprained ankle at work as a result, you could be entitled to claim compensation. As such, one of our solicitors may offer to help you claim if:

• At the time of your accident, your employer owed you a legal duty of care.
• The accident occurred because your employer was negligent in some way.
• As a result of the accident, you’ve been diagnosed with a sprained ankle.

Shortly, we will review the types of evidence you could use to support a sprained ankle compensation claim and prove that all of the above is true in your case.

What Types of Negligence Can Lead to Ankle Sprains in the Workplace?

Any of the following accidents could give you grounds to claim compensation for a sprained ankle at work:

• Where you tripped on a pothole in the company car park and, as a result, tore ligaments in your ankle.
• If you suffered a sprained ankle after slipping on a wet floor in a corridor that had been cleaned recently but the cleaner had not used wet floor warning signs.
• Where you slipped in a factory because a piece of machinery was leaking oil but had not been repaired in a timely manner.
• If you landed awkwardly and sprained your ankle after becoming unbalanced on a step ladder and you’d not been trained on working at height.
• Where you rolled your ankle in a warehouse after an untrained forklift operator drove over your foot.

We are happy to check if you might be entitled to claim compensation for a sprained ankle at work even if we’ve not mentioned your accident here. Therefore, please give us a call and let us know about your claim today.

What Should I Do If I Sprain an Ankle at Work?

If you sprain your ankle at work, you’ll need to follow certain steps to protect your health and fulfil any health and safety obligations.

As such, you should:

• Visit A&E or your GP to ensure that your ankle sprain is properly diagnosed and treated, which can help speed up recovery and prevent further complications.
• Notify your employer about how your sprained ankle at work occurred. This ensures they are aware of the situation and can assess whether any health and safety measures need to be adjusted to prevent similar incidents.
• Make sure the details of your accident are logged in the workplace’s accident report book and get a copy of the report.

Taking these steps not only helps your recovery but also ensures that if you pursue a sprained ankle compensation claim, you have some crucial evidence to support your case.

What Evidence Can Be Used for a Sprained Ankle Compensation Claim?

It is always a good idea to try and present as much evidence as possible when making a personal injury claim against your employer. It should prove how the accident occurred, the injuries you’ve sustained and how your employer is responsible.

The following could all help to make a sprained ankle claim stronger:

• Photographs of any visible symptoms including swelling and bruising.
• Medical evidence to prove your sprained ankle has been diagnosed by a doctor.
• Proof of where and when the accident occurred (i.e. an accident report form).
• Details of any witnesses to the accident so that statements can be collected if needed.
• Video footage of the accident along with accident scene photographs.

Crucially, you don’t need to have all of this evidence available to talk to a legal advisor about your options. Even if you don’t yet have everything listed, one of our accident-at-work solicitors could agree to represent you and they might even try to obtain evidence on your behalf as one of their services.

How Long Do I Have to Claim Sprained Ankle Compensation?

In law, the Limitation Act 1980 sets a 3-year time limit that applies to most personal injury claims. As such, if you’ve sprained your ankle at work, you’ll normally have 3 years to begin a claim from the date of your accident, or from when you recognised your sprained ankle was caused by the accident.

While this is plenty of time to start the ball rolling, it’s advisable to start your claim as soon as possible. That’s because your solicitor will need to perform many tasks prior to your claim being filed. These tasks can take some time so the sooner you begin the claims process, the better.

How Much Compensation for a Sprained Ankle at Work?

The level of compensation for a sprained ankle at work can vary depending on the severity of the injury and its long-term effects. For instance, an employee who suffers a sprain causing ligament damage and ongoing instability in the ankle might be awarded between £16,770 to £32,450. In contrast, a worker with a minor sprain that heals within a few months and causes minimal lasting issues might expect compensation in the range of £1,000 to £4,000.

On top of your physical (and psychological) suffering, your compensation payout could cover special damages including:

• Rehabilitation and medical expenses i.e. physiotherapy costs.
• Travel costs (for medical appointments for example).
• Lost earnings.
• Support costs if somebody cared for you while you were injured.
• Future loss of earnings for more serious ankle injuries.
• The cost of mobility aids or home adaptations if they’ll improve your quality of life.

Usually, you can only claim once for any particular accident. Therefore, if you are offered compensation for a sprained ankle at work, you should ensure that it covers all current and future suffering before agreeing to settle.

Do You Need a Solicitor to Make a Work Injury Claim?

Making a claim for a sprained ankle at work can be a complex process. It’s not just about proving your case but also ensuring you receive the correct amount of compensation for your sprain. Both of these tasks may be more straightforward with the help of a specialist solicitor who can guide you through the process and fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you decide to instruct one of our No Win, No Fee accident-at-work solicitors to help you make a sprained ankle claim (and they agree to represent you), some of the ways that they could help include:

• Searching for the evidence to prove your case.
• Filing the claim with your employer (or their insurers) correctly and within the allowable time limits.
• Arguing your case if any part of it is contested.
• Keeping you up to date about the progress of the claim.
• Trying to secure the maximum level of compensation possible.

If your case is accepted, your solicitor will ask you to sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) before they begin working on your case.

The CFA means that there are no upfront payments needed for your solicitor’s work and the only time you’ll pay them is if you are awarded compensation.

Within your contract, a success fee percentage is listed. This is a legally capped percentage of any settlement you receive that your solicitor will deduct as their success fee. The maximum success fee percentage when a CFA is used is 25 per cent.

To check whether you can make a No Win, No Fee sprained ankle injury claim, please call today.

How Long Should the Claims Process Take?

If you have sustained a grade 1 ankle sprain at work and made a quick recovery, you might expect to receive compensation in around 4 to 6 months. This would be dependent on your employer accepting liability for the accident quite quickly.

On the other hand, if you’ve suffered a grade 3 ankle sprain and require surgery, your claim could take up to a year or more to be finalised. This extension could be needed to allow your prognosis to be determined by medical professionals. In some cases, your solicitor could request interim compensation payments so you don’t need to wait for the claim to be settled in full.

Please contact our legal advisors for an estimate of how long your sprained ankle claim might take as every case is different.

Contacting Us About a Sprained Ankle Compensation Claim

If you’ve suffered a sprained ankle at work caused through no fault of your own, why not contact our team by:

• Calling 0333 241 2519 to speak to a legal advisor.
• Connecting to a live chat agent online (available 24 hours a day).

Remember, our initial consultation is completely free and if your sprained ankle claim is taken on, you’ll benefit from legal representation on a No Win, No Fee basis.