Broken Leg Compensation Amounts
Leg fractures are among the most common UK personal injury claims, particularly from road traffic accidents involving motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians, falls from height at work, and slips on stairs or uneven surfaces. The Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition) value broken leg cases under the wider leg injury brackets, with the eventual figure depending on which bone is broken, whether surgery was needed, how well it healed, and what lasting impact remains.
In this guide
- Broken Leg Bracket Structure
- Specific Fracture Types
- Factors That Move a Broken Leg Case Up or Down the Bracket
- Special Damages in Broken Leg Claims
- Common Broken Leg Claim Scenarios
- Common Questions About Broken Leg Compensation
- Related Guides
- Our Partner's Fees Explained
- Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
This guide focuses specifically on broken leg compensation amounts. For the full leg injury framework — including soft-tissue injuries, amputation, and complex multi-injury cases — see our leg injury compensation amounts guide.
Broken Leg Bracket Structure
The Judicial College Guidelines do not have a single “broken leg” bracket — they categorise leg injuries by overall severity, with specific notes for different fracture types within each bracket. Typical broken leg valuations:
Simple Tibia or Fibula Fracture — typically £4,500 to £12,000
A single uncomplicated fracture of one of the lower leg bones with full recovery. Within this range:
- Stable fracture treated in a cast with full recovery — lower end (£4,500 to £8,000)
- Fracture requiring surgical fixation with full recovery — middle (£8,000 to £10,000)
- Fracture with some minor residual symptoms — upper end (£10,000 to £12,000)
Simple Femur Fracture — typically £11,000 to £17,000
Fracture of the thigh bone (the largest bone in the body) with no damage to articular surfaces. Femur fractures typically require intramedullary nailing (a metal rod inserted down the bone), but recovery is usually good.
Incomplete Recovery After Leg Fracture — typically £21,000 to £34,000
Where the fracture healed but with ongoing symptoms. Common features:
- Continuing pain at the fracture site
- Limited range of motion in adjacent joints
- Risk of future osteoarthritis
- Restriction on heavy work, sport, or extended walking
Moderate Leg Injuries — typically £34,000 to £49,000
Complex or multiple fractures, with some lasting disability but eventual return to most activities.
Serious Leg Injuries — typically £49,000 to £69,000
Compound or comminuted fractures with substantial recovery problems. The claimant typically walks with a limp and has lasting functional impact.
Very Serious Leg Injuries — typically £69,000 to £109,000
Permanent problems with mobility — the claimant may need crutches or canes for life. Cases involve multiple fractures, severe crush damage, or significant complications.
For the very severe and amputation brackets see our leg injury compensation amounts and amputation compensation amounts guides.
Specific Fracture Types
Femur (Thigh Bone) Fractures
The femur is the strongest bone in the body — fracturing it usually requires substantial trauma. Common scenarios:
- High-energy road traffic accidents — particularly motorcyclist injuries
- Falls from significant height
- Pedestrian impacts
- Industrial machinery accidents
Most femur fractures are treated with intramedullary nailing under general anaesthetic. Recovery typically takes 4-6 months for primary union. Complications can include:
- Non-union or delayed union (case moves up the bracket)
- Infection (case moves up substantially)
- Nerve damage at the fracture site
- Vascular injury (rare but serious)
- Leg-length discrepancy after healing
- Knee dysfunction (if the fracture extends near the knee joint)
Tibia (Shin Bone) Fractures
The tibia is one of the most commonly fractured bones in UK accidents. Common patterns:
- Closed tibial fracture — bone broken but skin intact — typically £4,500 to £12,000
- Open (compound) tibial fracture — broken bone exposed through skin — typically £12,000 to £30,000 because of infection risk and complex repair
- Tibial plateau fracture — fracture extending into the knee joint — typically £14,000 to £45,000 depending on outcome
- Tibial pilon fracture — fracture at the ankle end of the tibia — particularly difficult to treat, often produces ankle arthritis
Fibula (Outer Calf Bone) Fractures
The fibula is the smaller, outer bone of the lower leg. Isolated fibula fractures are usually less serious than tibia fractures because the fibula bears less weight. Common patterns:
- Isolated fibula fracture — typically £3,000 to £8,000 with full recovery
- Fibula fracture with ankle joint involvement (Weber fracture) — typically £8,000 to £20,000 depending on outcome
- Both tibia and fibula fractured — typically valued under the tibia framework
Hip Fractures
Hip fractures (typically the femoral neck — the section just below the hip joint) are particularly common in elderly slip-and-fall claimants. They have specific consequences:
- High mortality rate in over-65s — UK research shows 20-30 per cent die within a year
- Significant loss of independence in many survivors
- Care home admission common
- Surgery (replacement or fixation) almost always required
Hip fracture compensation in elderly claimants typically falls between £25,000 and £85,000 in general damages — but special damages for care, adaptations, and lost independence are often much larger. See our leg injury compensation amounts guide for the wider picture.
Factors That Move a Broken Leg Case Up or Down the Bracket
- Need for surgery — particularly multiple operations, plating, revision
- Open vs closed fracture — open fractures attract higher compensation due to infection risk and complexity
- Articular involvement — fractures into the knee or ankle joint produce higher figures
- Non-union or infection — substantially moves cases up the bracket
- Risk of future osteoarthritis — well-documented in many leg fractures
- Leg-length discrepancy after healing — adds to valuation
- Need for permanent walking aids
- Impact on occupation — particularly for trades requiring extensive walking or physical work
- Age of the claimant — younger claimants attract higher figures for longer projected disability
Special Damages in Broken Leg Claims
Lost Earnings
Typical leg fracture absence is 8 to 16 weeks — substantial lost earnings for most workers. For trades requiring extensive walking or standing, return to full duties can take 6-12 months. For cases preventing return to previous occupation, future loss can be substantial.
Treatment Costs
- Surgical fixation, plating, revision
- Removal of metalwork (often needed 1-2 years after initial fixation)
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
- Pain management
- Future revision surgeries
Aids During Recovery
- Crutches, walking sticks, walking frames
- Wheelchairs (for non-weight-bearing periods)
- Bed rails, raised toilet seats
- Sleeping aids and pillows for cast support
Travel and Mileage
Travel to medical appointments, taxi fares while non-weight-bearing, and mileage at HMRC rates are all recoverable.
Common Broken Leg Claim Scenarios
- Motorcycle accidents — see our motorbike accident claims guide
- Pedestrian accidents — see our pedestrian accident claims guide
- Falls from height — see our falls from height claims guide
- Slips on stairs — both at home, work, and public premises
- Workplace machinery — particularly forklifts and factory equipment
- Sports injuries — only where another party was at fault
- Cycling accidents — see our cycling accident claims guide
Common Questions About Broken Leg Compensation
I broke my tibia in a road accident. What is the rough value?
A simple closed tibial fracture with full recovery typically attracts £4,500 to £12,000 in general damages. An open fracture or one requiring surgical fixation typically attracts £12,000 to £25,000. Special damages (lost earnings, treatment, taxi fares, any private physiotherapy) typically add £3,000 to £15,000 for a working-age claimant. Total recovery for an uncomplicated tibial fracture in an RTA commonly reaches £10,000 to £40,000.
I broke my femur falling from a ladder at work. What can I expect?
A simple femur fracture with intramedullary nailing and full recovery typically attracts £11,000 to £17,000 in general damages. Femur fractures usually involve 4-6 months off work and substantial special damages. The workplace fall claim typically succeeds where the ladder use breached health and safety duties — see our falls from height claims guide. Total settlements for working-age claimants in this scenario commonly reach £20,000 to £45,000.
My broken leg has not healed properly (non-union). Does that increase the value?
Yes, substantially. Non-union typically moves cases from the Simple Fracture bracket (£4,500 to £17,000) into the Incomplete Recovery bracket (£21,000 to £34,000) or higher. Cases requiring bone grafting or further surgery move further up. Where the non-union eventually produces permanent disability the case can move into the Serious or Very Serious brackets.
My broken leg became infected. How does that affect valuation?
Infected fractures (osteomyelitis) substantially increase compensation. The infection typically requires multiple surgeries, prolonged antibiotic treatment (sometimes years), and often produces ongoing symptoms. The case moves up the bracket significantly. Where the infection was due to inadequate hospital infection control, there may also be a separate medical negligence claim — see our hospital negligence claims guide.
My broken leg has caused a leg-length discrepancy. Is that compensable?
Yes, and it adds substantially to valuation. A 2-3 cm leg-length discrepancy after fracture healing produces back pain, gait abnormalities, hip and knee strain, and the need for custom footwear. Cases with significant discrepancy typically move up at least one bracket from where the fracture alone would sit.
How long does a broken leg claim take?
Simple fractures with clean recovery typically settle within 12 to 18 months. Cases involving fixation surgery, complications, or chronic symptoms can take 18 months to 3 years. Cases with infection, non-union, or significant career impact can take 2 to 4 years because the long-term position needs to stabilise. See our how long does a claim take guide.
Related Guides
Compensation by Injury Type | UK Payout Amounts
Leg Injury Compensation Amounts
Knee Injury Compensation Amounts
Ankle Injury Compensation Amounts
Broken Foot Compensation Amounts
Amputation Compensation Amounts
How Much Compensation for Personal Injury?
Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Start a free claim check in minutes — no upfront cost. No win, no fee if your claim is accepted.
