Leg Injury Claims
Claim Compensation for a Leg Injury
If you have suffered a leg injury in the last three years, and it wasn't your fault, our lawyers may be able to help you claim compensation.
“This is an excellent PI team, who are highly respected in the PI sector. Their team includes bright, hard-working solicitors dedicated to achieving successful outcomes for their clients”
“Osbornes is a well-regarded personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims.”
Table of Contents
Leg injuries are some of the most debilitating. Our legs support the whole body so when they are hurt, it can be difficult to walk or stand, let alone work or carry out daily activities. The road to recovery can be long, often requiring months of rehabilitation.
In the worst case, a leg injury can have lasting consequences. Serious injuries may leave you with a limp, restricted movement and arthritis. These injuries attract some of the higher levels of compensation as a result.
While no amount of compensation can reverse a leg injury, a claim can provide some much-needed financial stability so you can focus on your recovery. Our personal injury solicitors handle serious leg injury cases every day and know exactly what it takes to make a successful claim.
What counts as a leg injury?
The leg is a complex structure comprising bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerve and blood vessels. When any of these are damaged, it can lead to a leg injury. Leg injuries can be classified as minor, moderate or severe, depending on their prognosis for recovery. They include:
- Sprains, strains and soft tissue injuries – even when they fall towards the minor end of the leg injury spectrum, sprains and strains can still be very painful and take six or more weeks to heal.
- Fractured leg bones – broken leg bones are moderate or serious injuries that can take upwards of six months to fully heal. More serious fractures may require pins and plates or a bone graft to support the healing process. It is likely you will need to use a wheelchair or crutches for several weeks or months depending on the severity of your injury.
- Nerve damage and paralysis – leg paralysis may be caused by damage to the nerves in the leg itself or damage to the spinal cord. It can be temporary or permanent but, in both cases, will significantly impact your mobility and independence.
- Amputation – the severest form of leg injury results in the amputation of all or part of one or both legs. Amputation compensation claim payouts tend to be high as they are life-changing injuries, although the amount will depend on the location of the amputation, the psychological effect of the injury and how easy it is to have a prosthesis fitted.
If you are looking for information on injuries that affect specific parts of the leg, see our pages on ankle injuries and foot injuries. [add links]
What are the common causes of leg injuries?
Leg injuries occur in a variety of settings, from the workplace to the playground. Some of the accidents that our personal injury solicitors have helped clients with include:
Accident at work leg injury claims
Leg injuries are common in work environments where there is a high risk of a slip, trip or fall or a fall from a ladder, such as on construction sites. Farm workers and operators of industrial machinery are also at risk of lower leg injuries due to inherent dangers of the equipment they use.
Employers have a duty to keep the workplace safe and provide appropriate safety equipment and training. If your employer has fallen short of its legal responsibilities, then it may be possible to make a compensation claim.
Road accident leg injury claims
Road accident leg injuries are so common that almost 40% of all front-seated car crash victims suffer some form of leg injury. Airbags do a good job of protecting the head and chest, but do nothing to protect against a leg injury. Cycling accidents, motorcycling accidents and pedestrian accidents also have a high risk of resulting in leg injuries on the road.
All road users have a duty to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to other road users. If someone’s driving fell behind the required standard of skill, then it may be possible to make a leg injury compensation claim.
Sporting accident leg injury claims
According to the NHS, approximately 2 million people end up in Accident & Emergency departments each year due to sports injuries, and many of them are leg and knee injuries. Contact sports such as rugby and football pose a risk of leg injury due to tackles, collisions or falls. Even non-contact sports like running can result in fractures and ligament tears if the surface is in poor condition.
If your leg injury was the result of someone else’s recklessness or negligence, such as the failure to maintain sports equipment and pitches, then you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim.
Holidays are meant to be a time for relaxation and enjoyment but, unfortunately, accidents can still happen. Poorly maintained hotel facilities are a leading cause of leg injuries abroad.
Making a claim for holiday injuries is possible if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence or breach of duty. This can include tour operators, hotels and road users. Oedema, or swelling in the legs, is relatively common after a leg injury, which can make it potentially unsafe to take long flights home for several weeks after the accident. Expenses can soon rack up. Compensation can help cover the cost of medical bills, accommodation, flights and any other expenses incurred due to your injury.
Medical negligence leg injury claims
Sometimes, a medical professional’s negligence can cause or worsen a leg injury. Surgical errors, missed leg fractures, the late diagnosis of diabetes and compartment syndrome from a too-tight plaster cast, where blood flow to the legs is restricted, are some examples of medical negligence that can result in leg injuries.
Medical negligence is one of the most complex types of personal injury claims. Generally though, if the medical care you receive falls short of an acceptable standard, then you may be entitled to compensation.
How much can I claim for a leg injury?
The amount of compensation you could claim for your leg injury will depend on the severity of your leg injury, how much pain you have suffered, and whether you are going to need more treatment in the future.
As part of your claim, your solicitor will arrange for you to visit an independent medical expert. Their report will help determine the extent of your injury, how long you are likely to suffer from it, and whether you are likely to make a full recovery.
The medical examination is a routine process that helps your solicitor value your claim.
Compensation will also take into account any financial losses you have incurred and any future costs that could arise as a result of your leg injury. This may include:
- Loss of wages, overtime and bonuses
- Loss of future earnings, if you can no longer work in the same job as a result of your leg injury
- Medical treatment, physiotherapy and rehabilitation costs
- Travel expenses
- Wheelchairs, walking aids, prosthetics and other equipment
- Care and support from family members or professional carers
- The cost of adapting your home or car if you are now disabled
What are the average compensation amounts for a leg injury?
There is no “typical” compensation amount as every person’s situation is different. However, we can give you some general guideline sums for various types of leg injuries.
The following example payouts are taken from the Judicial College compensation tables. Solicitors use these tables as a starting point when calculating your leg injury compensation.
Please note – these figures refer to the pain and suffering caused by your leg injury. They do not include your lost wages and other out-of-pocket expenses.
- Soft tissue injury that heals in a few weeks – up to £2,450
How much compensation for a broken leg?
- Simple fracture of the tibia or fibula – up to £11,840
- Simple fracture of the femur– up to £14,480
- Multiple leg fractures or crush injuries – £27,760 to £39,200
- Serious broken leg resulting in leg deformities and/or permanent mobility problems – £54,830 to £87,890
How much compensation for losing a leg?
- Loss of one leg above the knee – £104,830 to £137,470
- Loss of both legs below the knee – £201,490 to £270,100
Can I claim for the psychological trauma of a leg injury?
While the mental health impacts of a leg injury are less visible, they are no less debilitating. Leg injuries often lead to anxiety about falling, especially in older people. More serious injuries may lead to serious mental health complications such as phantom limb syndrome, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In most cases, you will be able to claim for the psychological harm you have experienced as a result of your accident. Your solicitor will gather evidence from medical experts to support this part of your claim.
What are the time limits for claiming leg injury compensation?
There is a three-year time limit on leg injury claims. The clock starts from:
- The date you accident occurred, or
- The date your leg injury was diagnosed. This might be relevant in cases of medical negligence where the injury was not initially detected, for example.
Where the child has sustained a leg injury, the time limit does not start until the child is 18. This means they have until their 21st birthday to make a claim.
Although it may seem like you have ample time to make a claim, it’s essential to start the process as soon as possible. The earlier you begin, the better chance you have of gathering all the evidence and building a strong case for maximum compensation.
Why choose Osbornes Law for your leg injury claim?
Osbornes Law is a UK firm of personal injury solicitors with over 50 years of experience in handling leg injury claims. Our team is made up of experts in the type of accident or injury you have suffered so you will always be matched with the right solicitor for your case.
Here are a few reasons why you should choose us:
- We are experts in serious injury cases. Complex, high-value cases do not phase us, and we always fight for the maximum compensation possible.
- We are members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers so you can be sure you are dealing with a reputable and experienced firm.
- We take most leg injury cases on a no-win, no-fee basis so you will not have to pay any legal costs unless your claim is successful.
- We have won numerous awards for our expertise and client service; you will always receive the highest level of support and professionalism from us.
- We provide a free, no-obligation consultation so you can speak to us about your leg injury claim in confidence. Don’t worry – there’s no obligation to use our services after this consultation. We’re happy to share our knowledge so you can make the best decision for your situation.
What other types of injuries can I claim for?
We have helped clients claim compensation for a wide range of injuries including:
Osbornes prepares cases well; the whole team is good and lawyers there know their stuff.
They deal with people compassionately and take on the right amount of detail. The firm has some really brilliant key solicitors.
The personal injury team is responsive and its level of service towards clients and other professionals is exceptional and high quality
The team offers specialist expertise in cycling-related injury claims and regularly acts for foreign nationals.
It has considerable experience in cases arising from motor accidents and accidents at work
Osbornes is a well-regarded personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims.
Their team includes bright, hard-working solicitors dedicated to achieving successful outcomes for their clients from partner level to paralegal. Their client care is exceptional.
They are a team who are highly respected in the PI sector.
This is an excellent PI team doing a broad range of PI work.
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims, with notable strength in acting for European clients for whom English is not a first language.
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims.
"Osbornes always provides work of excellent quality and the advice is sound."
"The firm has the ability to handle the most sophisticated and complex matters."
"Osbornes is always client-focused and works tirelessly to obtain the best outcomes."
'The team deals with multi-million pound, often multifaceted claims, involving such factors as severe brain, psychiatric, gynaecological and spinal injury, major trauma, amputation and fatality.'
"They are a boutique firm with highly experienced partners who are well-respected in the industry."
"The team at Osbornes deals with catastrophic injury claims with the same professionalism as the largest firms, but provides a much more client-focused experience."
"A really first-rate team, well capable of dealing with the most serious and complex injuries."
"This team has carved out an exceptional reputation in catastrophic injury work."
"Osbornes has impressed me with their personal touch for clients whilst offering a first-class handling of catastrophic injury claims. The partners all have vast experience and are highly respected in their field."
"This is a really excellent personal injury team that can be regarded as one of the major players in the London claimant personal injury market."
"Osbornes have managed to recruit a team of outstanding catastrophic injury lawyers who are at the top of the game."
"They punch well above their weight. The quality of service they provide equals that of any of the larger top-name firms in this area"
Ben Posford is fiercely bright, with an unrivalled passion for his clients’ cases. His encyclopaedic knowledge of all things PI is second to none. His foresight and commercial nous have propelled Osbornes into the highest echelons of the market where they rightly belong.
The firm has an excellent and innovative line in cases involving non-English speaking claimants, managed by recruiting paralegals with multi-language skills – an impressive route for expansion of the caseload.
Great expanding team with expertise and respect in the sector. Led by a commercially savvy and business minded team.
A really excellent group of PI solicitors, notable for their individual quality.’
A niche firm that punches well above its weight in the catastrophic injury sector, borne out by the quality of work they obtain.
This combination of experience and diligence reaps massive rewards for clients, Osbornes being well known in the industry as a fantastic firm.
The Osbornes personal injury team now comprises some of the most technically adept and hard hitting lawyers in the business.
Ben Posford is one of London’s best catastrophic injury lawyers, in my view. He is a real brain injury specialist.
Excellent coverage of personal injury, and traumatic brain injury. There is a real specialism in claimants who do not speak English as a first language.
The group is noted for its expertise in matters relating to cycling injuries, and is the official legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign charity.
To complement its strong reputation for high-value and complex personal injury work, the firm continues to develop its 'excellent and innovative line in cases involving non-English speaking claimants'
"Osbornes comprises some of the most technically adept and hard hitting lawyers in the business"
"A small but high-powered team, dealing with cases of significant value and complexity."
"An excellent firm which achieves fantastic outcomes for clients."
"Osbornes Law have captured the magic of keeping the customer service levels of a smaller firm whilst having all the expertise and power of the biggest firms."
"A superb boutique catastrophic injury firm."
"Really good at dealing with people who have suffered a serious injury."
"Affable and charming with very good client-handling skills."
"superb firm with consummate professionals and a human touch."
Osbornes now has a team of highly experienced personal injury lawyers; particularly strong on high-value quantum cases, workplace accidents and claims involving foreign workers injured in the UK.
The team provides fantastic strength-in-depth for personal injury claims. It is also particularly well placed to service clients from Eastern Europe with specialist native language speakers. From the smallest case to a multimillion-pound spinal injury case, Osbornes has the right staff to manage every claim.
Ben Posford remains pre-eminent in his field with expert understanding of litigating cases of the upmost severity. His experience builds on Stuart Kightley’s running of the firm with recent partner additions of Rob Aylott making a fantastic addition.
A firm going from strength-to strength-which retains its client care whilst being able to offer a full personal injury service.
Beneath Ben Posford’s calm and reassuring presence, which clients love, lies a formidable tactical and legal brain. His experience tells and he gets it right at every stage of the process from arranging the best possible rehabilitation, to ensuring, so far as possible, a polite relationship with those acting for the defendant in order to ensure best and early resolution of the claim.
"Clients say he is very impressive, in terms of both his experience and his management of the personal injury team."
"They have an expanding profile in personal injury and clinical negligence and offer a superb, broad service in accidents abroad, enabled by their recruitment of bilingual legal executives who can guide non-English speakers through complex litigation."
"Solid personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims arising from fatalities and severe head and spinal injuries."
"Offers specialist expertise in cycling-related injury claims."
"Offers specialist expertise in cauda equina syndrome cases."
"An exceptional outfit. They take on difficult cases, fight hard and win."
"Stuart Kightley is an incredibly empathetic solicitor who is very knowledgeable about traumatic brain injury."
"They are an outstanding firm to work with. They are consistently impressive in their work."
"Osbornes often handles claims valued at over £1m, particularly relating to severe brain and spinal cord injuries and niche areas such as cauda equina syndrome and cycling accidents."
"The hard-working, thorough and committed Robert Aylott, who brings significant heavyweight personal injury experience."
"Key team members include the energetic and personable Stuart Kightley who is head of the personal injury department."
"Osbornes has a growing influence and impressive work load and is gaining a reputation for handling complex catastrophic work."
"Catastrophic injury cases head Ben Posford is an excellent practical litigator who offers exceptional service."
"Stuart is also very experienced in advising on fatal accidents and workplace accidents."
Thank you for the hard work and patience and for being so patient with my constant questions.
"I have found Osbornes to be thorough, clear and understanding from the initial call. They do exactly what they say they will and with passion! I would recommend them to anyone".
Very good efficient service. Would not hesitate to use again.
I will use Osbornes for any future needs.
I don't think I could have asked for anything more. One of the best dealings I've had with the legal profession.
Sam was excellent and very professional in dealing with our claim.
Head of the personal injury department, Stuart Kightley is a first-rate practitioner, wholly focused on getting his client the best outcome in a pragmatic, sensible and consensual manner.
As a real specialist in spinal cord injuries, Ben Posford is always looking at new angles on how to maximise his cases.
Ben Posford is one of the best catastrophic injury lawyers around.
They provide exceptional service, great knowledge and understanding of the law, excellent client care and tactical nous
Stuart Kightley is praised for his expertise in catastrophic and fatal claims. Clients say he is very impressive, in terms of both his experience and his management of the personal injury team.
My claim was dealt with efficiently and professionally. Communication was excellent, and timely. Shrewd and sound advice was provided at every stage of the claim from beginning through to completion. On the basis of my personal experience I would strongly recommend Osbornes.
I just wish to thank you for your hard work and successful outcome. I am pleased with the result and would recommend you and your firm to anyone in the future.
Ben Posford … is ‘tactically astute’ and ‘one of the best personal injury solicitors around’.
Ben Posford ‘knows how to maximise the value of the claim for his clients’.
