Foot and toe injury
compensation claims

If a foot or toe injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

Foot and toe injuries disrupt mobility and can have long-term repercussions. If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a serious foot injury or toe injury, we can help.

If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Compensation can cover medical costs, ongoing care or therapy, and the impact on your work and quality of life.

You are not alone

If you have suffered a painful foot or toe injury, you are not alone.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 477,000 workers suffered from a
work-related musculoskeletal disorder in 2021/22.

The data also shows that 7.3 million working days were lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the same period.

This data is compiled from work accident reports and does not include foot and toe injuries sustained outside work.

Data on foot injuries more generally, is harder to compile. However, foot and toe injuries are extremely common in road accidents, public place accidents and sporting accidents.

If you decide to make a 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.

If you decide to make a foot and toe 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.

I have been injured - can I claim compensation?

As a basic rule, you will be eligible to make a personal injury claim if you sustained an injury:

• in the last 3 years, and;
• another party was to blame, and;
• that party owed you a duty of care.

What types of foot injury and toe injury can I claim for?

With a total of 26 bones in the hindfoot, midfoot and forefoot, the feet and toes are one of the most complex skeletal structures in the .

When making a claim, your solicitor will arrange for an independent medical report of your foot injury. This report will detail the injuries sustained, and offer expert opinion on the likely impact of your injuries.

Injuries affecting feet and toes generally fall into the following categories:

Broken foot and toe injuries

Fractures and breaks in the bones of the foot, ankle and toes include:

• Broken anklebone (talus bone)
• Fractured heel bone (calcaneus bone)
• Metatarsal bones (just above the toes)
• Toe bones

Bone injuries can result in damaged ligaments and tendons, sometimes leading to foot deformities and on-going impairment.

Long-term issues are often associated with burn injuries to the foot. With particularly severe foot injuries, bones may have to be surgically fused, which can lead to permanent disability.

Sprains, strains and dislocations

Sprains and strains are a common foot and ankle injury resulting from a wrenching or twisting of the ligaments and muscles that hold the ankle together.

A sprain or strain can result in significant pain around the affected site, bruising and swelling, and difficulty walking or putting weight on the foot.

Although most strains and sprains will heal with a period of rest (typically 2 weeks), strains and sprains can be very painful. Sprained ankles often lead to a sustained period away from work and, depending on the context of the accident, a compensation claim is often justified.

Foot dislocations are relatively uncommon. Dislocations injuries are most commonly seen around the subtalar, the midtarsal, and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints.

Read more:

Ankle injury compensation claims

Lacerations

A cut or laceration to the foot could occur when standing on something sharp, such as a nail on a building site or broken glass around a swimming pool.

Deep lacerations can sever a nerve. Long-term nerve damage can be particularly debilitating if it compromises the function of the toe, foot or surrounding area.

Foot health injury

A foot health injury can occur in occupations involving standing for long periods, or where heavy protective footwear is required. Injuries of this type can include:

• Bursitis of the toes - inflammation of the fluid filled sacks protecting the toe joints.
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) - compression of the nerve behind the inner anklebone.
• Fungal infections

Amputation

An amputation might occur as the result of a accident with a power tool, plant equipment or in a car crash or other high velocity collision.

In some cases, a foot crush injury may require one or more toes to be surgically amputated.

With very severe fractures or breaks, amputation of the toe or foot may be necessary.

Amputations can also occur during a medically negligent procedure.

See also:

Medical negligence compensation claims

Amputation compensation claims

What can I claim compensation for?

Compensation awards take into account both the financial and personal impact of the injury. Your lawyer will assess the value of your claim based on your medical report, and previous awards for similar foot and toe injuries.

Compensation settlements may include amounts for:

• Costs of medical treatment
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of amenity - social and personal adjustments made as a consequence of the injury
• Loss of earnings - including future earnings
• Expenses associated with the injury - such as the purchase of mobility equipment, or taxi costs to hospital

In severe cases, the court may award an interim payment, in advance of the final settlement.

Do I have a foot or toe injury claim?

If you've been injured in an accident that was caused another person or organisation in the last 3 years, you will be entitled to make a claim for financial compensation.

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.

Compensation claims with shared fault

It's not unusual for personal injury claims to involve fault on both sides.

In our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, we found that 13.99% of respondents felt they had at least some responsibility for the injuries they sustained.

Claiming compensation is still an option even if you were partly at fault. These contributory negligence cases are typically resolved with a split-liability agreement.

Read more:

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

How long after a foot and toe injury do I have to claim compensation?

In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of your accident or injury.

If you were injured when you were under 18, a parent, guardian or adult 'litigation friend' can make a claim on your behalf. Once you turn 18, you have until your 21st birthday to start an injury claim.

How much compensation can I claim for a foot and Toe 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).

For example, severe toe injuries, including amputations, are usually awarded between £11,730 and £17,790, depending on the level of injury.

A serious foot injury is usually awarded between £21,320 and £33,450.

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 foot or toe injury, such as X-rays, CT and MRI scans, and physiotherapy.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Average injury general damages compensation

The following 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 for PTS or other psychological trauma?

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.

Injuries to feet and toes often lead to anxiety about loss of mobility, hampering physical recovery, and depression linked to chronic pain.

Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.

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 process for a foot and toe injury claim depends the circumstances of the accident. To learn more, click the icons below:

Work
accidents

Public
places

Road
accidents

Medical
negligence

Other
accidents

Injury FAQs

How long does an injury claim take?

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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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Handled with the utmost professionalism... extremely kind, courteous and empathetic.

The Good Solicitor Guide

Kevin Walker obtains £80,000 for a construction worker's catastrophic hand injury

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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.