Leg Injury Compensation Amounts
Leg injuries cover a wide range of harms — from simple fractures with full recovery through to severe compound fractures, soft-tissue damage, vascular injury, and amputation. They arise from road accidents (particularly motorcycle and pedestrian impacts), falls from height, workplace machinery, and direct trauma. The Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition) set out detailed brackets that reflect both the severity of the injury and the lasting functional impact.
In this guide
- Amputation Brackets
- Severe Leg Injuries (Less Than Amputation)
- Specific Fracture Types
- Compartment Syndrome
- Factors That Move a Case Up or Down the Bracket
- Special Damages in Leg Injury Claims
- Common Leg Injury Claim Scenarios
- Common Questions About Leg Injury Compensation
- Related Guides
- Our Partner's Fees Explained
- Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Injury
This guide explains the JC brackets for leg injuries, what affects valuation, and the special damages typically claimed alongside.
Amputation Brackets
The most catastrophic category. Leg amputation brackets are among the highest in the JC Guidelines, reflecting the lifelong functional impact and the requirement for prosthetics that need replacement throughout life.
Amputation of Both Legs — typically £270,000 to £316,000
Bilateral leg amputation. The functional impact depends on the level of amputation — above-knee bilateral amputation produces greater disability than below-knee bilateral amputation.
Below-Knee Amputation of Both Legs — typically £225,000 to £302,000
Bilateral below-knee amputation, the lesser of the bilateral options but still producing major disability requiring lifelong prosthetics.
Above-Knee Amputation of One Leg — typically £127,000 to £166,000
Single above-knee amputation. The knee joint loss significantly affects mobility and prosthetic function.
Below-Knee Amputation of One Leg — typically £115,000 to £156,000
Single below-knee amputation, the most common type. Modern prosthetics allow good function but lifelong replacement and adjustment are required.
For all amputation cases, see our amputation compensation claims guide for the wider framework. Special damages for prosthetics (typically £20,000 to £60,000 per prosthesis, replaced every 3-5 years over a lifetime) substantially exceed general damages in most cases.
Severe Leg Injuries (Less Than Amputation)
The Most Severe Leg Injuries — typically £127,000 to £180,000
Injuries falling short of amputation but with effectively similar functional outcome:
- Extensive degloving of the leg
- Gross shortening of the leg
- Permanent and very serious effects on the leg with limited function
- Multiple fractures over a long period of time that have failed to unite
Very Serious Leg Injuries — typically £69,000 to £109,000
Injuries that lead to permanent problems with mobility. The claimant may need crutches or canes for the rest of their life. Cases involve:
- Multiple fractures or severe crush injuries
- Significant scarring and loss of muscle bulk
- Significant ongoing pain and functional restriction
- Future need for further surgery
Serious Leg Injuries — typically £49,000 to £69,000
Compound or comminuted fractures, ligament damage with substantial recovery problems, and similar serious cases. The claimant may walk with a limp and have lasting functional impact.
Moderate Leg Injuries — typically £34,000 to £49,000
Complex or multiple fractures, some lasting disability. The claimant generally returns to normal activities but with some restriction.
Less Serious Leg Injuries
Subdivided into:
- Fractures from which an incomplete recovery is made — typically £21,000 to £34,000
- Simple fractures of femur with no damage to articular surfaces — typically £11,000 to £17,000
- Soft-tissue injuries, simple tibia/fibula fracture, or fractures of one leg only — typically £3,000 to £14,000
Specific Fracture Types
Femur (Thigh Bone) Fractures
The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the body. Femur fractures typically require substantial trauma — most commonly from road accidents or falls from height. Common patterns:
- Simple femur fracture with full recovery after intramedullary nail — typically £11,000 to £17,000
- Femur fracture with shortening or angulation — moves up the bracket
- Femur fracture with vascular or nerve damage — substantially higher
- Infected femur fracture (osteomyelitis) — particularly serious, often requires multiple surgeries
Tibia and Fibula Fractures
The tibia (shinbone) is one of the most commonly fractured bones in road accidents. The fibula is often fractured alongside. Common patterns:
- Simple closed tibial fracture with full recovery — typically £4,500 to £12,000
- Compound tibial fracture requiring fixation — typically £12,000 to £30,000
- Tibial fracture with complications (non-union, infection, nerve damage) — substantially higher
- Tibial plateau fracture (extending into the knee joint) — see our knee injury compensation amounts guide
Hip Fractures
Hip fractures are particularly common in elderly slip-and-fall claimants and have specific consequences:
- High mortality rate in over-65s — UK research consistently shows 20-30 per cent die within a year
- Significant loss of independence even in survivors
- Care home admission common
- Surgery (typically replacement or fixation) almost universally required
For elderly claimants the general damages may be in the Moderate to Serious bracket (£25,000 to £85,000) but special damages for care, adaptations, and lost independence are often much larger.
Compartment Syndrome
Compartment syndrome — dangerous pressure buildup in the muscle compartments of the leg — is a surgical emergency that can follow leg fractures, crush injuries, and tight casts. Missed or delayed treatment leads to permanent muscle and nerve damage. Compartment syndrome cases often involve:
- A clear surgical emergency missed or delayed by treating doctors
- Major medical negligence component on top of the original injury
- Permanent functional disability (“Volkmann’s ischaemic contracture” in the worst cases)
- Compensation typically in the Severe or Very Serious bracket
For missed compartment syndrome there is usually both a personal injury claim against the cause of the original injury and a medical negligence claim against the treating doctor — see our medical negligence claims hub.
Factors That Move a Case Up or Down the Bracket
- Age of the claimant — younger claimants attract higher figures for longer projected disability
- Need for surgery — particularly multiple operations, plating and revision, or eventual amputation
- Risk of future osteoarthritis — particularly relevant for intra-articular fractures
- Impact on occupation — particularly relevant for trades requiring extensive walking, climbing, or physical work
- Scarring — significant lower limb scarring is a recognised loss of amenity element
- Leg-length discrepancy — adds to valuation due to back pain and gait abnormalities
- Combined with knee, ankle, or foot injury — multi-injury cases valued as a whole
Special Damages in Leg Injury Claims
Lost Earnings
Often substantial, particularly for trades like construction, retail, hospitality, nursing, and other roles requiring extensive walking or standing. Future loss of earnings for working-age claimants with serious leg injuries can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds — calculated using the Ogden Tables.
Treatment Costs
- Surgery — fixation, plating, revision, fusion, or amputation
- Hospital readmissions for complications
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
- Pain management programmes
- Prosthetics (for amputation cases) with lifetime replacement
- Custom orthotics and footwear
- Future revision surgeries
Aids and Adaptations
- Walking aids — sticks, crutches, mobility scooters, wheelchairs
- Home adaptations — stairlifts, downstairs bathrooms, grab rails, level access
- Vehicle adaptations — automatic transmission, hand controls (particularly for right-leg injuries)
- Specialist seating and beds
Care
For severe cases, family-provided care during recovery and ongoing assistance with mobility-dependent tasks is recoverable at non-commercial rates. Professional care for catastrophic cases (particularly bilateral amputation) is funded.
Common Leg Injury Claim Scenarios
- Road traffic accidents — particularly motorbike and pedestrian impacts. See our RTA hub
- Workplace falls — particularly from ladders, scaffolding, and unstable surfaces. See our falls from height claims guide
- Workplace machinery — crush injuries from forklifts, vehicles, or factory equipment
- Slips and trips — particularly hip fractures in elderly claimants. See our slips and falls hub
- Sports injuries — though these only succeed where another party was at fault
Common Questions About Leg Injury Compensation
I broke my leg in a road accident and recovered well. What is that worth?
A simple tibial or femur fracture with full recovery typically attracts £4,500 to £17,000 in general damages. The exact figure depends on the bone fractured, whether fixation was needed, the recovery time, and any residual symptoms. Special damages for lost earnings, treatment costs, and any private treatment add to this. RTA claims with clear liability typically succeed on a no win no fee basis — see our RTA hub.
I lost my leg in a workplace accident. What can I expect?
Substantial compensation. Below-knee amputation of one leg attracts £115,000 to £156,000 in general damages alone. Special damages typically dwarf this — lifetime prosthetic costs (typically £200,000+), lost earnings (often £500,000+ for working-age claimants), home adaptations, and care needs. Total settlements for single-leg amputation routinely reach £750,000 to £2 million depending on age, occupation, and family circumstances.
My mother fell and broke her hip. She is 78. What can she claim?
Hip fractures in elderly claimants typically attract £25,000 to £85,000 in general damages — but special damages are often the dominant component. Care needs, mobility aids, home adaptations, and loss of independence routinely add £50,000 to £200,000+ depending on the outcome. For elderly claimants who lose their independence completely (requiring care home placement), total settlements can exceed £300,000. The claim itself depends on who caused the fall — see our slips and falls hub.
My leg fracture became infected and needed multiple surgeries. Does that affect the value?
Yes, substantially. Infected fractures (osteomyelitis) are notoriously difficult to treat and often require multiple operations, bone grafting, and prolonged antibiotic treatment. Cases with osteomyelitis typically move 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.
I have a permanent leg-length discrepancy after my fracture. What is that worth?
Leg-length discrepancy adds substantially to valuation. A 2-3 cm discrepancy can cause chronic back pain, gait abnormalities, hip and knee strain, and the need for custom footwear. Cases with significant leg-length discrepancy typically move up at least one bracket from where the fracture alone would sit.
How long does a leg injury claim take?
Simple fractures typically settle within 12 to 18 months. Cases involving surgery, complications, or chronic symptoms can take 18 months to 3 years. Severe cases involving amputation or major complications can take 3 to 5 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
Knee Injury Compensation Amounts
Ankle Injury Compensation Amounts
Foot Injury Compensation Amounts
Amputation & Loss of Limb Claims
Falls from Height Compensation Claims
How Much Compensation for Personal Injury?
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