How Much Compensation for a Broken Leg at Work?

Breaking a leg at work can cause a lot of pain and suffering which could mean you’re unable to work or function normally for many months. In some cases, a broken leg can be a life-changing injury. Crucially, if you’ve suffered a broken leg at work in an accident caused by your employer, you might be entitled to claim compensation. In this article, you’ll read about the types of accidents that could enable you to claim compensation for a broken leg at work. You’ll also read about potential compensation amounts and the evidence you could use to strengthen your case.

If you are thinking of claiming broken leg compensation, we can help. If you contact our legal advisors, a specialist will assess your case for free and offer no-obligation legal advice. If they suspect that a claim is feasible, you could be connected with one of our accident-at-work solicitors. To reduce the financial risk of taking on a specialist solicitor, they’ll manage your broken leg claim on a No Wi,n No Fee basis if you both agree to proceed.

To learn more about how we can help, you can:

• Call our legal advisors on 0333 241 2519.
• Connect to our live chat service right away.

Read on for more on how to claim compensation for a broken leg at work but please get in touch if you have any questions.

What Types of Broken Legs Can We Help With?

Your leg consists of 4 bones: the femur, tibia, fibula and the patella (the kneecap). If any of these bones is fractured, you could be entitled to begin a broken leg claim.

The most common types of broken leg injuries sustained in accidents are:

• Hairline or Undisplaced Fractures: Where a small fracture occurs but the bones remain in the correct place.
• Displaced Fractures: Where the two parts of the bone have become misaligned.
• Comminuted Fracture: The leg bone has been shattered into several pieces.
• Open Fractures: The bone has pierced the skin.

Hairline fractures can usually be left to heal on their own but you might need a plaster cast to protect the leg while it heals. The same is true for displaced fractures but only after a doctor has manipulated (reduced) the bones back into place usually under local anaesthetic.

More serious fractures where the bones have been split into multiple pieces may require surgery. This might involve the use of pins, screws, plates and rods to help secure the bones in position while they heal.

Can I Make a Broken Leg at Work Claim?

You may have grounds to start a broken leg at work claim if:

• You can show that your employer owed you a duty of care; and
• A negligent act by your employer caused you to be involved in an accident in the last three years; and
• You sustained a broken leg as a result of that accident.

Generally, you don’t need to be too concerned about proving you were owed a duty of care. That’s because all employers must abide by the rules of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other laws.

Therefore, it’s far more important to concentrate on finding evidence to prove how the accident occurred and how you’ve suffered as a result.

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

Here are a few examples of the types of workplace accidents that could result in a broken leg at work claim:

• If you tripped over a cluttered and poorly lit corridor at work and broke your patella as a result.
• Where you were knocked over by a forklift being driven in a pedestrian-only area of a factory which led to a broken leg injury.
• If your leg was crushed in the workplace and you suffered multiple fractures after a heavy object fell off unsuitable racking.
• Where you tripped on an extension cable trailed across an office floor that had not been taped down and suffered a hairline tibia fracture.
• If you fell from a cherry picker and suffered a shattered fibula, tibia and femur in both legs because you had not been provided with a safety harness by your employer.

Those were just a handful of examples of accidents at work that could result in a broken leg. Remember, if you’re to sue your employer for a broken leg at work, the incident that caused your injury must’ve been caused by employer negligence. To check if you might be entitled to compensation, why not call our legal advisors now?

What Should I Do If I Sustain a Fractured Leg in the Workplace?

If you suspect that your leg has been broken at work, you should:

• Go to A&E or call an ambulance so that your injury can be treated before further damage is sustained.
• Let your employer know that you’ve broken your leg.
• Tell your employer how the accident occurred so it can be logged in the company’s accident report book.

These steps will help you to fulfil your own health and safety responsibilities. They will also ensure that evidence exists to prove that the accident occurred.

What Evidence Can Be Used for Broken Leg Compensation Claims?

Evidence to prove how your accident occurred is crucial if you’re to be paid broken leg compensation. It must also prove that your accident was caused by your employer and the extent of your suffering.

The types of evidence that could strengthen a broken leg compensation claim include:

• Photographs that show any visible damage to your leg (bruising, deformities, swelling etc).
• A copy of an accident report form to confirm that your employer is aware that the accident happened.
• Hospital records including X-rays that show the severity of your broken leg.
• Details of any potential witnesses to the accident in case statements are required.
• Video footage (CCTV, mobile phone etc) and accident scene photographs to try and prove the cause of your accident.

As part of our free initial investigation into your broken leg claim, we could review any evidence you’re able to supply.

How Long Do I Have to Claim Broken Leg Compensation?

Any type of workplace accident claim made against an employer has a 3-year time limit. This is a requirement of the Limitation Act 1980. This will usually start on the date your leg was broken. However, if you were not immediately aware that your injury was caused by the accident at work, the three-year limit may start from the date you became aware that your injury was related to the accident.

Crucially, the time limit means claims may be refused if they are started outside of the statute of limitations. This could mean that you’ll not receive any compensation for a broken leg at work you might be entitled to claim.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to contact us as soon as you can to ensure that there’s plenty of time to file your claim.

How Much Compensation for a Broken Leg at Work?

Any broken leg at work compensation you’re awarded will be normally made up of two elements.

The first, general damages, aims to compensate you for the pain caused by the leg break and other forms of suffering (including the impact on your social and family life).

General damages are calculated using medical evidence and then comparing your injuries with those listed in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). As such, we’ve used JCG data in our broken leg compensation list for guidance. Please remember that the amounts listed are only examples and not guaranteed payouts.

• The most serious leg fractures which have required extensive treatment could see compensation of £96,250 – £135,920.
• Multiple fractures that have taken years to heal and led to permanent mobility issues may see compensation of £54,830 – £87,890.
• Serious compound or comminuted leg fractures that have caused instability and require lengthy treatment, with a high likelihood of developing arthritis, and extensive scarring, £39,200 – £54,830.
• Multiple or complicated leg fractures might fall somewhere between £27,760 – £39,200 compensation depending on factors like what treatment has been required, the impact on employment, and the risk of degenerative changes among others.
• Where a broken leg at work is less serious than those above, compensation may fall somewhere around £17,960 – £27,760.
• £9,110 – £14,080 for a simple fractured femur.
• A simple fractured tibia or fibula at work with a full recovery might see compensation of £7,080 – £9,000. If minor symptoms still exist compensation could be up to £11,840.

The second element that could form part of a successful broken leg at work claim is called special damages. This compensates for any out-of-pocket expenses linked to your injuries which could include:

• Medical costs including prescription fees and private hospital treatment.
• The cost of adapting your home if your broken leg leaves you with a permanent disability.
• Lost income and future loss of earnings.
• Support or care costs at home.
• Travel expenses.

If your claim is managed by a solicitor from our team, they’ll review it in detail to try and ensure that no aspect of your suffering has been missed.

Can I Claim for a Broken Leg if I’m Not Employed Full-Time?

Your employer’s duty of care towards your well-being at work applies to all staff regardless of how they’re employed.

As such, you could be awarded compensation for a broken leg if you’re a full-time worker, contractor, agency worker, zero-hours worker, consultant or subcontractor and one of our solicitors could help.

As mentioned already, you would need to prove that your employer’s negligence caused the accident. If you believe that’s possible in your case, why not speak to us now about your options?

Do You Need a Solicitor to Make a Broken Leg Claim?

Legally, there’s nothing to stop you from suing your employer on your own. However, their insurers might fight the case and ask you to answer difficult medical or legal questions.

That’s one of the reasons why you might want to work with a solicitor who has experience in handling such cases. Their legal skills and training should mean the claims process is easier for you and it might result in you being offered a higher settlement than normal.

Crucially, our solicitors offer a No Win, No Fee service for any broken leg claims they take on. That means that once you’ve signed a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), your solicitor can get to work on your claim.

There are no upfront payments needed for your solicitor’s work and it will only be paid for if you receive a compensation payout.

If your broken leg claim is won, a percentage of your payout will become your solicitor’s success fee. Legally, this is capped at 25 per cent because of the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.

If you’d like to claim broken leg at work compensation on a No Win, No Fee basis, please call us.

How Long Does a Workplace Injury Claim Take?

We can’t say exactly how long a broken leg at work claim might take because each case is different.

For instance, if you suffered an undisplaced leg fracture and you made a full recovery in a short period of time, you might be compensated in around 4 to 6 months (where your employer has already accepted liability).

On the other hand, broken leg claims could take up to a year or longer to resolve where the injury is more complex or if the case is contested. For instance, if your leg was crushed in an accident at work, it may take a lot longer for your prognosis to be properly defined. This would delay the claims process but you could receive interim payments to support you once liability for your injuries has been proven or agreed upon.

Do Broken Leg Claims Go to Court?

It is quite rare, in our experience, for broken leg compensation claims to be taken to court. More often than not, a work injury solicitor will aim to settle the claim directly with the employer’s insurers to avoid the extra time and costs associated with court hearings.

That said, some claims might go to court if the case is strong enough but the employer won’t accept liability for the accident or offer a settlement that is far too low.

Contacting Us About a Broken Leg at Work Compensation Claim

If you’ve suffered a broken leg at work and think you might be entitled to compensation, please get in touch now. To arrange a free consultation you can:

• Speak to an advisor by phoning 0333 241 2519.
• Use our free online chat service to discuss your options.

We will assess your case in detail, offer free legal advice and answer any questions you might have. Any broken leg at work claim taken on by our solicitors will proceed on a No Win, No Fee basis.