Ankle and foot injuries are among the most common causes of personal injury claims - from a simple ankle sprain after a kerbstone trip to a shattered pilon fracture after a fall from height. The Judicial College Guidelines 17th edition (April 2024) values ankle and foot separately - each with its own severity tiers - and recognises that foot injury can reach severe brackets where there is loss of function, extensive scarring, or post-traumatic arthritis.
Casibus works with SRA-regulated personal injury specialists on a no win, no fee basis. Every case depends on its evidence.
JCG 17th edition ankle injury brackets
Very severe ankle injury
Limited number of injuries producing deformity and significant risk of future arthrodesis / amputation. Top of the ankle bracket. Typically high-five to low-six figures.
Severe ankle injury
Injuries necessitating an extensive period of treatment and/or plaster, or extensive surgery. Residual ankle instability. Mid five-figures.
Moderate ankle injury
Fractures, ligamentous tears and the like which produce less serious disability such as difficulty walking on uneven ground. Low to mid five-figures.
Modest ankle injury
The less serious, minor or undisplaced fractures, sprains and ligamentous injuries. Duration of recovery sets where the case sits in the bracket. Typically low four-figures to low five-figures.
JCG 17th edition foot injury brackets
Amputation of both feet / loss of feet
Treated within the amputation category at the top. See amputation claims.
Amputation of one foot
Separate single-foot amputation bracket. Mid-to-upper five-figures at JCG 17th edition levels.
Very severe foot injury
Cases where permanent and severe pain or really serious permanent disability is established. Mid-five-figure range.
Severe foot injury
Fractures of both heels or feet with a substantial restriction on mobility or considerable or permanent pain, or heel fractures causing permanent disability and pain. Mid-five-figures.
Serious foot injury
Continuing pain from traumatic arthritis or risk of future arthrodesis, prolonged treatment, residual limp.
Moderate foot injury
Displaced metatarsal fractures, moderate permanent deformity and persistent symptoms. Low five-figures.
Modest foot injury
Puncture wounds, crush injuries, ruptured ligaments, sprains and fractures with recovery.
Common clinical patterns we see
- Weber B / C bimalleolar / trimalleolar ankle fractures - classic rollover injury; ORIF with plate and screws; risk of post-traumatic OA.
Routes to an ankle / foot injury claim
- Slip, trip, fall - classic ankle-rollover on uneven pavement, defective flooring, obstructed walkway. See slips, trips and falls and pavement accidents.
Special damages in ankle / foot claims
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation.