Torn Cartilage Injury
Compensation Claims

Suffering from a torn cartilage injury? We can help you claim

A torn cartilage injury can be incredibly painful and severely impact your mobility. Whether it occurs in your knee, shoulder, or another joint, this type of injury often results from a sudden trauma like a fall, a sports injury, or an accident at work. Torn cartilage can require surgery, physical therapy, and a long recovery period, during which time you might be unable to work or enjoy your normal activities.

If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

What to consider when making a torn cartilage claim

• Compensation awards for cartilage injuries vary, from around £8,060 for a minor tendon injury to up to £29,050 for serious knee injuries with weakness and loss of function.
• If your injury resulted from a workplace accident, a traffic incident, a hazard in a public place, or medical error, you can claim.
• You may also be able to claim if your injury happened while playing sports or at the gym, if your accident was caused by the staff negligence, or a trainer or coaches improper instruction.
• You have up to 3 years to claim from the date of your accident.
• You can start a claim with no win, no fee.
• Your compensation amount will be influenced by the extent of your injury, and on the impact on your work and daily life. Discover how much you could claim with our compensation calculator.
• If your cartilage injury requires rehabilitation and physio, a claim will also cover the cost of this treatment.

With over 10,000 cartilage injury admissions every year, you are not alone

10,171 people were admitted to hospital in 2022-23 for cartilage injuries and disorders, according to an analysis of NHS England data (digital.nhs.uk).

Torn cartilage is most often a knee injury from twisting or impact in sports or other accidents, leading to pain, swelling, and joint instability. Treatments include rest, ice, compression, elevation, and physiotherapy, with surgery a possibility for more severe tears.

For information on knee injury symptoms and treatment, see: meniscus tear (nhs.uk).

How much compensation can I claim for torn cartilage?

The amount of compensation you can claim for torn cartilage is determined by:

• the seriousness of your injury,
• the extent to which your injury impairs your daily life and work,
• the financial costs and losses you have experienced due to your injury.

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying compensation for lost earnings, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as arthroscopic surgery, pain medication, physical therapy and joint injections.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Average torn cartilage injury compensation payouts

The following torn cartilage 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

Knee injury

Do I qualify for torn cartilage injury compensation?

Yes, you can start a compensation claim for torn cartilage, if:

• you were injured within the last 3 years, and;
• someone else was responsible, and;
• they had a legal responsibility to prevent foreseeable harm.

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.

What if the accident was partly my fault?

Attributing blame for an accident isn't always clear-cut.

In our 2025 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, we found that 13.99% of respondents felt they had at least some responsibility for the injuries they sustained.

The legal term for cases where an injured person was (to some extent) responsible for their injuries is 'contributory negligence'. If there is fault on both sides of a claim, it is possible to pay reduced compensation on 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 start a torn cartilage injury claim?

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.

What is a torn cartilage injury?

Cartilage is a flexible, shock-absorbing tissue found throughout the body. It distributes weight evenly across the bones and protects the joints from wear and tear.

In the knee, the primary areas of cartilage tissue are known as menisci. The knee also contains secondary areas of cartilage known as articular cartilages - these protect the ends of the bones at the knee joint. Both of these areas of cartilage may become damaged causing significant pain and discomfort for the injured person.

Torn cartilage is often the result of sudden physical trauma, such as a sports injury. It can also be the result of gradual damage over time (osteoarthritis). In some cases, torn cartilage injuries are sustained in accidents caused by someone else's negligence.

Your solicitor will arrange for a medical assessment to prove what caused your torn cartilage and to work out how much compensation you should receive.

Who is at risk of suffering a torn cartilage injury?

Torn cartilage injuries can happen whenever you are involved in a collision, fall or twist awkwardly. Overuse and repetitive tasks can also lead to cartilage injuries.

The meniscus comprises two bands of cartilage on the inside and outside of the knee. It absorbs shock, ensures that weight is distributed evenly over the knee joint and generally allows the knee to function.

Certain types of physical trauma can cause damage to these cartilages. The classic injury is a footballer who rotates his knee in order to tackle whilst the foot is still on the ground.

Other accidents include:

• Road traffic accidents that deliver a large impact to the knee.
• Accidents at work such as heavy loading or machine failure.
• Sports and recreational activities, typically football, rugby, tennis and skiing.

Can I still claim if an accident made an existing cartilage injury worse?

Yes. Your right to claim is not affected if you have existing cartilage damage, or are at greater risk of injury.

Older people are at special risk of cartilage tears since the meniscus weakens with age. More than four out of ten people aged 65 or older have experienced some sort of damage to the knee cartilage, according to the NHS. Treatment depends on how much of the cartilage is torn and the exact site of the damage.

While most cartilage tears heal on their own, larger tears, or a rupture in the middle of the meniscus, may not heal fully without surgery. This is mainly because the centre of the meniscus has no direct blood supply. In the long term, people who have had meniscus surgery are at a greater risk of developing arthritis in later years.

How the cause of your torn cartilage injury impacts the claims process

The claims process is influenced by how you tore your cartilage. Click the icons below to find out more.

Work accidents Public places Road accidents Medical negligence Other accidents

Sources

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.