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

A foot or toe injury will affect your 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 No Win, No Fee compensation. Compensation can cover medical costs, ongoing care or therapy, and the impact on your work and quality of life.

Key advice when claiming for a foot and toe injury

  • Compensation can range from £8,060 for a minor foot or ankle injury to £223,550 for a traumatic amputation.
  • Injuries at your job, on the road, in public spaces, or from healthcare errors can entitle you to make a compensation claim.
  • You must start your claim within 3 years from when your injury occurred.
  • Your compensation is based on how serious your injury is, along with your financial losses and expenses. Check our compensation calculator to see how much you could claim.
  • Compensation can also cover the cost of mobility aids (e.g. a wheelchair or walker) and any modifications that must be made to your home or vehicle.
  • You can make a no win, no fee claim.

With over 17,000 hospital admissions for foot injuries every year, you are not alone

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

473,000 workers are suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (hse.gov.uk), leading to 7.3 million working days being lost.

This data relates to work accidents, with the overall number of foot and toe injuries being far higher. 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.

17,274 patients were admitted with foot and ankle injuries in 2022-23, according to the NHS (digital.nhs.uk).

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 need to move forward.

If you need information on foot pain symptoms and treatment, visit: foot pain (nhs.uk).

How much compensation can I claim for a foot and toe injury?

Your compensation for your foot or toe injury depends on:

  • the severity of your injury,
  • the ways in which your injury affects your daily activities and job,
  • any economic losses or costs you?ve incurred due to your injury.

Foot and Toe injury compensation calculator

Find out how much compensation you could claim in just a few minutes. Check your legal eligibility and see if you qualify for a No Win, No Fee claim.

Updated November 2024 Compensation Calculator v3.1

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 (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages are 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.

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 table

The following injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).

These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.

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

Achilles tendon injury

Example Amount
Twisted ankle with some tendon damage and full recovery £8,060 to £13,970
Partial rupture with pain and some loss of function £13,970 to £23,370
Severed tendon fully repaired with surgery £27,730 to £33,380
Severed tendon with permanent symptoms Around £42,640

Ankle injury

Example Amount
Minor fractures, sprains, and ligament injuries with full recovery Up to £15,250
A fracture or ligament injury with mild ongoing symptoms £15,250 to £29,500
Lengthy treatment required, and your ability to walk has been permanently affected £34,740 to £55,540
Severe ongoing symptoms that are likely to worsen in the future £55,540 to £77,340

Foot injury

Example Amount
One foot £93,150 to £121,650
Simple metatarsal fractures, ruptured ligaments, or puncture wounds Up to £15,250
Both feet £187,940 to £223,550
Displaced metatarsal fractures, deformity and/or continuing symptoms, where further surgery is required £15,250 to £27,730
Injuries affecting your mobility, including fracture of both heels or feet, heel fusion, osteoporosis, ulceration and symptoms including deformity that requires a brace £27,730 to £43,490
Serious mobility restrictions, with considerable ongoing pain caused by injuries including degloving or heel fusion, and that requires extensive surgery. £46,560 to £77,690
Permanent severe pain and/or serious permanent disability (e.g. traumatic amputation of the forefoot or severe heel damage) £93,150 to £121,650

Toe injury

Example Amount
Simple fractures or cuts, with discomfort and scarring, or worsening of an existing condition Up to £10,650
Multiple fractures of two or more toes or a serious injury to your big toe, and/or permanent disability from pain or sensitive scarring £10,650 to £15,250
Crush injuries to one or more toes, possibly requiring amputation, and other injuries resulting in severe damage £15,250 to £23,370
Of the big toe Around £34,740
Of all toes £40,520 to £62,210

Do I have a foot or toe injury claim?

You can start a compensation claim for a foot and toe injury, if:

  • you became ill within the last 3 years, and;
  • another person was responsible, and;
  • that person owed you a duty of care.

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 2024 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.

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 body.

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

Toe amputation and foot 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. These injuries can be particularly traumatic, and the courts recognise the psychological impact of an amputation with higher compensation awards.

If you have suffered an amputation injury, your solicitor will work with you to understand the full impact on your life and mental health, to ensure you get access to the support you need.

See also:

Medical negligence compensation claims

Amputation compensation claims

Can I claim for PTSD or other psychological trauma?

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

Our 2024 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 factors affect the foot injury claims process?

How you injured your foot impacts the claim process. Click the icons below to explore further.

Can I make a no win, no fee foot and Toe injury claim?

Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim foot and Toe injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.

Find out more about how no win, no fee claims work

Get expert advice now

Interested in talking to an injury specialist about your claim?

  • Calls are FREE
  • Confidential consultation
  • No obligation to claim
  • No Win No Fee solicitors

Call 0800 376 1001

We are open until 5pm this evening.

or arrange a callback

Sources

(reviewed: 30/07/2024)

Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher

Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher