Can I Claim Compensation For A Leg Injury At Work?

Have you suffered a leg injury at work and want to see if you could claim? Are you struggling to find your way through the legal jargon and confused about where to go next? Our guide could help you.

A guide about making a leg injury at work claim

What’s more, our advisors are available 24/7. They give free legal advice and, if you have a favourable claim, could connect you with our panel of personal injury solicitors. They can help you through the process and find you the right compensation.

You can get in touch by calling the number at the top of the page, contacting us via our website or using our live chat. Alternatively, click the banner above.

Choose A Section

Can I Make A Leg Injury At Work Claim?
How Could A Leg Injury Happen At Work?
What Should I Do If I Injure My Leg At Work?
How Much Compensation Is A Leg Injury At Work Claim Worth?
What are No Win No Fee Agreements?
Further information About Leg Injury At Work Claims

Can I Make A Leg Injury At Work Claim?

If you have suffered a leg injury while in the workplace due to employer negligence, you could make a personal injury claim against them. This can be an injury to any part of your legs such as the ankle or knee. Symptoms of leg injuries include:

Broken bones
Broken bone piercing through the skin
Extreme pain
Swelling and bruises
Inability to walk

The claims process can seem daunting but as you follow the advice we are giving, it should help clear any misconceptions or confusion you may have. All employees have the right to work in an environment that is not unreasonably risking their health and safety.

Time Limits For Making Claims

There is a general time limit to start a claim within 3 years of the date of the accident. Alternatively, this could be 3 years from the date you gained knowledge that negligence at least contributed to your injuries. This is set out in the Limitation Act 1980.

If you don’t make the claim within the 3-year time limit then it could be time-barred. This means that, within the eyes of the law, it is too late to make the claim.

However, there are exceptions to this 3-year time limit. If you’re under the age of 18 or lack the mental capacity to claim, you may have longer. To find out what time limit applies to you, get in touch with our advisors or click the banner at the top of the page.

Official Accident At Work Statistics

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a government body that enforces health and safety legislation. It also produces accident at work statistics for Great Britain. For the year 2020/21, there were over 1.7 million people who were suffering with a work-related illness (whether long-standing or new).

441,000 people suffered an injury at work according to the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Employees use this survey to self-report injuries.

33% of non-fatal injuries to employees (as reported by employers) were due to trips, slips and falls on the same level. Due to COVID-19 working from home measures, the number of people who suffered from workplace injuries, such as leg injuries, may have been impacted.

This guide aims to help you understand how to make a leg injury at work claim. If you want to get free legal advice, follow the banner at the top of the page or call us.

How Could A Leg Injury Happen At Work?

A leg injury can be sustained through workplace negligence. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, it is the employer’s duty of care to ensure they take reasonable measures to keep the workplace safe. To do this, they can maintain all equipment and facilities to a safe standard. If this standard is not maintained, it can lead to a number of workplace accidents, such as leg injuries, back injuries and head injuries.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the central piece of legislation that governs responsibilities in the workplace in terms of health and safety. It is often referred to as the HSWA or the HSWA 1974, and it sets out the guidelines for all employers to follow when ensuring the safety of visitors, employees and anyone who is self-employed on their premises.

An example of a leg injury happening at work is as simple as slipping on a wet surface. It is an employer’s role to mark out any hazards in the workplace, such as wet floors, with the appropriate signage and follow the correct health and safety procedures. If these conditions are not met then an accident can occur and you could be well within your rights to begin processing a claim against them if you’re injured.

Another example is when a heavy object falls and crushes your leg. If this is in a warehouse setting, pallets are often full of ready-to-transport goods to fulfil an order. Unsecure pallets could fall from a height and result in injuring any employee below.

What Should I Do If I Injure My Leg At Work?

The first step of the process is to seek medical attention. A leg injury may need to be assessed by a first aider. If the injury is too severe for the first aider then you may need to receive advanced medical attention.

Once you have received the appropriate medical attention, then the second step is to gather evidence. This is used to strengthen your claim.

Examples of evidence are:

CCTV footage/photos
Medical documentation
Witness statements

The third step is to make sure that you have completed an entry in the workplace accident book if the relevant party hasn’t already done so. This can act as written evidence of the event and you could use it within your claim.

When you have completed the first three steps of your claim, make sure to obtain legal advice. This is so you have a clear understanding of where the process is going to bring you and what else you can do to make your claim as successful as possible.

However, if you need free legal advice now, why not contact our advisors? They’re available 24/7. Alternatively, click the banner at the top of the page.

How Much Compensation Is A Leg Injury At Work Claim Worth?

The amount of compensation that you can be entitled to can differ depending on factors such as the severity of the injury and whether you suffered financial loss as a consequence of your injuries.

To help you understand how much you could claim for a leg injury at work, we have provided the compensation table below. The table shows brackets of potential compensation as outlined by the Judicial College Guidelines. This is a publication that solicitors use when valuing injuries.

Leg Injury	How Much?	Description
Amputation: Loss of Both Legs (i)	£225,960 to £264,650	When an injury results in the loss of both legs above the knee. The amount may vary on the severity of phantom pains, any associated mental health issues and there is need for a prosthetics.
Amputation: Below Knee Amputation of Both Legs (ii)	£189,110 to £253,480	When the injury results in the amputation of the legs below the knee. The amount may vary due to any mental health issues, any side effects such as back pain or the risk of developing degenerative changes in the joints.
Amputation: Above the Knee Amputation of One Leg (iii)	£98,380 to £129,010	The award amount will vary depending on whether the claimant is suffering from any severe phantom pains, side effects such as backache or any developing degenerative changes.
Severe Leg Injuries: Very Serious Leg Injuries (ii)	£51,460 to £85,600	Any injury resulting in permanent problems with mobility, such as the use of crutches or a wheelchair.
Severe Leg Injuries: Moderate Leg Injuries (iv)	£26,050 to £36,790	Within this bracket are injuries such as multiple fractures or severe crushing injuries. The award amount may vary due to any impact on employment, extent of treatment undertaken and limited joint movements.
Less Serious Leg Injuries: (i) Serious Soft Tissue Injuries or Fractures with Incomplete Recovery	£16,860 to £26,050	In this bracket, the injured person will make a reasonable recovery, however they are left with a metal implant.
Less Serious Leg Injuries: (iii) Soft Tissue Injuries or Simple Fractures to the Fibula or Tibia	Up to £11,110	The amount will be influenced by the time spent in a plaster cast.
Knee Injuries: Severe (i)	£65,440 to £90,290	Serious knee injury where there has been disruption of the joint and the development of osteoarthritis.
Knee Injuries: Moderate (i)	£13,920 to £24,580	The amount awarded depends on whether dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus which results in minor instability.
Ankle Injuries: Severe	£29,380 to £46,980	An injury that has resulted in a long period in a plaster cast and involves pins or plates being inserted.

General damages compensate you for the mental or physical injuries caused by negligence. It is designed to compensate the claimant for the pain and loss of amenity experienced due to their injuries.

To prove general damages, you’d attend a medical assessment as part of the claims process. An independent medical professional would check over your injuries and make a report. The report can act as evidence and could be used to value your injuries.

The term special damages is used for the damages that are awarded to a claimant who has suffered financial loss associated with their injuries. When the claimant has been forced to pay out-of-pocket for any expenses that have been added as a result of their injuries, and they can prove it, they could seek special damages. These special damages can include loss of wages, personal care costs and medical expenses.

You can prove special damages by supplying documents such as payslips, invoices or receipts.

If you’d like our advisors to value your claim for free, follow the banner at the bottom of the page.

What Are No Win No Fee Agreements?

No Win No Fee agreements are contracts that are between you and your solicitor. It’s important to note that you don’t need to use a solicitor’s services to claim, but there can be many benefits.

Funding the services of a solicitor under No Win No Fee means that if the claim for compensation is unsuccessful, you don’t have to pay their fee. However, if the claim is successful then the solicitor is entitled to take a fee from your compensation. This fee is capped by law and only taken after your compensation comes through so you’re not left out of pocket.

These agreements are put in place to give the claimant the financial security and the confidence to pursue the claim with the help of a legal professional.

Begin Your Leg Injury At Work Claim

Where to begin with your claim for a leg injury at work can seem difficult, but we could help. Our panel of solicitors can guide you to achieve the amount of compensation you are entitled to.

If you have any further questions, feel free to:

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Further Information About Leg Injury At Work Claims

Losing the ability to walk can have a damaging effect on mental health. For any advice on any mental health issues see the NHS website.

The HSE has advice about lower limb disorders in the workplace and how employers should protect you.

The NHS has guidance on how to tell if you’ve broken a bone.

You can also check out our other guides including the following:

If you have any unanswered questions about making a leg injury at work claim, why not get in touch?