Leg and knee injuries run a very wide range - from a meniscal tear that heals with physiotherapy to catastrophic crush injury requiring amputation. The Judicial College Guidelines 17th edition (April 2024) has two separate categories for this anatomical region: 'leg injuries' (spanning the hip-to-ankle bone, soft tissue and amputation spectrum) and 'knee injuries' (ACL / MCL / PCL / LCL ligament damage, meniscal injury, patellofemoral pain, post-traumatic arthritis). Most serious RTA, fall-from-height and workplace leg injuries sit in the leg bracket; most sport, manual-handling twisting, and kneeling-on-a-hazard injuries sit in the knee bracket.
Casibus works with SRA-regulated personal injury specialists on a no win, no fee basis. Every case depends on its evidence.
JCG 17th edition leg injury brackets
Leg - amputation
Loss of both legs or one leg, at various levels (below-knee, above-knee, hindquarter). These are the highest leg-related brackets - see the dedicated amputation claims page for the full treatment.
Leg - severe leg injuries
Most serious: catastrophic injuries falling just short of amputation (e.g. degloving with significant residual disability); very serious (e.g. leg shortening requiring extensive treatment, prolonged non-weight-bearing, risk of arthritis); serious (e.g. compound or comminuted fractures with permanent limping, pain and reduced mobility); less serious (fractures with prolonged recovery or residual limp).
Leg - moderate and minor
Moderate brackets cover complicated or severe crush injuries with a reasonable recovery. Less serious and minor brackets cover uncomplicated femur / tib/fib fractures and soft-tissue injuries with reasonable recoveries. The lower bracket can dip into the low-five or even high-four figures for a simple fracture with full recovery.
JCG 17th edition knee injury brackets
Severe knee injuries
Serious injury with disruption of the joint, gross ligament damage, considerable pain, need for lengthy treatment, extensive arthritis, substantial functional impairment. At the top end - comparable in order of magnitude to severe leg fracture brackets.
Moderate knee injuries
Dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus with continuing symptoms, mild future disability. Covers most ACL / meniscal cases with a degree of residual symptoms and some future risk of osteoarthritis.
Minor knee injuries
Laceration, twisting or bruising injuries with complete or near-complete recovery. Duration of symptoms drives where the case sits in the minor bracket - weeks at the bottom, many months approaching the top.
Common clinical patterns we see
- Tib/fib fracture - common in pedestrian-knockdown and motorcycle cases; often requires intramedullary nail fixation; risk of non-union / mal-union, residual deformity, compartment syndrome.
Routes to a leg or knee injury claim
- RTA - pedestrian and cyclist knockdowns, motorcycle crashes, car-occupant lower-limb impact. See road traffic accidents.
Special damages in leg / knee claims
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation (private rates).