Ankle injuries can be caused in road accidents, but the most common cause is usually the result of a slipping or tripping accident. Many thousands of claims are brought every year for injury to the ankle.

What are the most common injuries?

Fractures

This is an important joint for weight bearing purposes and fractures can have serious consequences for mobility. They are often painful injuries and can take a time to heal. Simple fractures where the fracture is a clean break in two and comminuted where there is a shattering of the bone into a number of pieces are the main type of fracture. Fractures can be displaced i.e. where the bones have shifted from their normal position and a non displaced fracture where there is some misalignment. Bones can come through the skin in some cases.

Surgical repair is usually necessary and there can be some damage to the tendons and ligaments all of which can have serious long term consequences, including arthritis.

Sprains and Strains

Where there is overstretching of the tendons or muscles. Tears to the ligament can result from the more severe sprains and the effects of both can be as painful as a fracture. If the ligament is badly torn, surgery may need to be done, but in most strain and sprains, there will usually have to be non weight bearing rest and elevation.

Dislocation

These can arise either as a result of a sprain or a fracture and occurs when bones that are joined, move as a result of an accident and no longer touch each other. All the tendons, muscles, ligaments and soft tissue around the bones including tendons and nerves can be affected. This medical problem occurs when adjoining bones are displaced and no longer touch each other. They are almost always associated with sprains or fractures. The dislocation may involve the tibia, fibula or talus.

How are ankle Injuries caused?

Many injuries to the ankles happen as a result of fall and trips, often in potholes in the pavement. They can also arise at work as a result of falls of ladders or other equipment, tripping over things left in thoroughfares and slipping on wet floors. Many more are caused in sporting accidents. There are many also caused as a result of road accidents

What sort of compensation can you expect?

1. Whilst it is true to say that the vast majority of ankle injuries attract less than £15000 in compensation, the most severe where there is significant damage with the potential for amputation of the lower leg as a result will be in the region of £44500.
2. Those injuries where there has been an extensive period of treatment/time in plaster or where there has been pinning or plating of the joint and there is significant enduring problems, including failed operations etc, compensation up to £32000 may be awarded.
3. Fractures, and tears to the ligament giving rise to less serious disabilities such as difficulty in walking on uneven ground, or problems on stairs or with pain or irritation from plates or pins and scarring. Up to £17000
4. Less serious minor fractures sprains and injuries to the ligaments. The compensation will depend on whether or not there has been a complete recovery, whether there is any scarring and the possibility of arthritis. Up to £8750.
5. For the less serious injury where there has been full recovery within a year.Up to £3500.

The above are estimates. The actual compensation you may receive will be based on your own individual circumstances.

If you have suffered an accident at work or on the road, and have got injury to your ankle, you should seek specialist legal advice.