Achilles tendon injury
compensation claims

If an Achilles tendon injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

An Achilles tendon injury can halt anyone in their tracks, leading to pain, lengthy recovery, or even surgery. An injury can occur from an accident at work, sports, or in public places, and you may be entitled to compensation if it was caused by unsafe conditions or someone else's negligence.

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by an Achilles tendon injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

You can make a compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

You are not alone

Achilles tendon injuries produce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) which affect the muscles and tendons in the ankle. These injuries can be caused by a very wide range of circumstances:

• Slips, trips and falls
• Road accidents
• Accidents at work
• Overuse at work
• Sporting activities

How your Achilles tendon injury happened will affect how the claim process works, and your chances of making a successful claim.

Can I claim for an overuse Achilles tendon injury caused by my job?

Yes. MSDs like Tendinopathy and Tendonitis affect a significant number of people in the workplace. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recorded 480,000 work related musculoskeletal disorders in 2019/20. HSE figures show, around 20% of all work related MSDs affect the lower limbs. The majority of work related MSDs develop progressively over time, usually as a result of continuous, repetitive movements.

If you have developed an overuse injury to your Achilles tendon, you have up to three years from the date your injury was diagnosed. The cause of your injury could have occurred earlier, over the course of months or years.

If you decide to make an Achilles tendon injury claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you deserve.

Types of Achilles tendon injury

The Achilles tendon is located just above the heel of the foot. This tendon connects the heel bone to the calf muscles. Achilles tendon injuries can lead to long-term pain, restricted movement and difficulty walking, and may require specialist treatment and physiotherapy.

The main types of Achilles tendon injury are:

• Sprain - violent wrench or twist of the ligaments
• Strain - tearing of the muscle fibres as a result of over-stretching
• Tendon rupture - a sudden full or partial tear in a tendon
• Tendonitis - inflammation of a tendon
• Tendinopathy - the gradual deterioration of a tendon
• Tenosynovitis - inflammation of the protective sheath surrounding a tendon

When you start a compensation claim, your solicitor will arrange for an independent medical professional to assess your injury and the impact it has had on your life and work.

Evidence of your injury, to support your claim, will be detailed in a medical report prepared by the independent medical expert. The medical report will be arranged by your solicitor at no cost to you. Using the information in this medical report, your solicitor will determine how much compensation your Achilles tendon injury claim should be worth.

Do I qualify for achilles tendon injury compensation?

If you've been injured or made ill in the last three years and it wasn't your fault, then you will be entitled to claim compensation for achilles tendon injury.

Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.

Can I claim compensation if I was partly at fault?

The law concerning liability (or blame) for an accident is complex, and varies depending on the situation.

In our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents believed they were partly responsible for their injuries, or were uncertain.

When fault on both sides caused a claimant's injuries, this is called 'contributory negligence'. In these situations, compensation may still be payable on the basis of a split liability agreement.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to claim achilles tendon injury compensation?

For most injury claims, you have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start the claims process.

The 3 year limitation period does not apply to minors (under 18s). A parent, guardian or litigation friend can start a claim on a child's behalf up to their 18th birthday and the child has until their 21st birthday to claim for themselves.

How much compensation can I claim for an Achilles tendon injury?

The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

If it can be proved that your injury left you unable to work, special damages can be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.

These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your Achilles tendon injury such as RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), physiotherapy, pain medication and orthotic devices.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Average achilles tendon injury general damages compensation

The following achilles tendon injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, Sixteenth Edition by the Judicial College.

Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).

Can I claim compensation for a psychological injury?

If you have experienced psychological issues in addition to physical symptoms, you are not alone.

Our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey found that 29.03% of claimants reported a psychological injury, with 70.97% of these relating to a physical injury.

An Achilles tendon injury can cause anxiety about future mobility, affecting future participation in physical activities, and kinesiophobia (fear of movement or motion due to injury).

Compensation for psychological harm can help you access mental health support and therapies not always available through the NHS.

Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.

What happened?

The claims process for an achilles tendon injury will depend on where and how the accident happened. Click the icons below for more information:

Public
places

Work
accidents

Road
accidents

Medical
negligence

Other
accidents

FAQs

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How we can help you with your injury claim

Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning injury claims.

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Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher

About the author

Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.