The term lower limb injury refers to injuries to the hips, legs, knees, ankles and feet. These can range from sprains and ligament damage, to broken and fractured bones, and amputations.

Lower limb injury can be considerable because it affects your mobility and impact your day-to-day life. You may no longer be able to move freely around your home, struggle to get up and down stairs, you might not be able to drive or use public transport, and you might not be able to work.

Common lower limb injuries

The most common types of lower limb injuries include:

• Torn ligaments
• Broken bones and fractures
• Dislocations
• Pulled muscles
• Sprains and strains
• Amputation
• Cartilage damage

Workplace lower limb injuries 

Employers have a legal duty to ensure that the workplace is a safe environment for their employees. When employers fail to follow proper health and safety measures, this can lead to accidents in the workplace caused by:

• Uneven flooring
• Wet flooring
• Falling from a height
• Tripping on broken stairs
• Tripping or falling due to poor lighting

Lower limb injuries in a public place

Owners and occupiers of public places or premises are legally bound to provide a hazard-free environment. If you have suffered injuries due to a slip, trip or fall in a public place, due to the negligence of the occupier you could be entitled to claim compensation.

Accidents which occur in public places include those which take place in shopping centres, supermarkets, office space, parks and leisure centres.

Common accidents which occur in public places include:

• Trips and falls due to uneven flooring
• Slips or falls on wet flooring
• Children falling in public playgrounds
• Tripping on broken stairs
• Tripping or falling due to poor lighting

If you have had an accident in a public place, it is important to report the incident to the occupier of the premises, so that they keep record of it in their accident log book. Should you wish to take legal action against the occupier of the premises, contact a solicitor as soon as possible to start the claims process.

Lower limb injuries in road traffic accidents

Lower limb injuries can occur due to the impact of a road traffic accident, be that either as a driver, a cyclist, a passenger or pedestrian. When it can be proven that your injuries were caused due to the driver’s negligence you may be entitled to submit a claim.

Types of lower limb injury

If the injury is minor, say a soft tissue injury such as a sprained ankle or sore knee, then recovery could be relatively quick, perhaps lasting no more than a few weeks or months and causing little disruption.

A more serious injury, such as a broken ankle, a fractured femur, or knee ligament damage may require surgery, immobilisation in plaster, and a course of physiotherapy before a full recovery is achieved.

Even without complications the recovery period could be lengthy, say several months to a year, and may necessitate a period of absence from work.

A life changing injury, such as a limb amputation, will require specialist intervention and treatment, with physiotherapy and the fitting of a prosthetic limb continuing for many months after the accident. In addition, there may need to be adaptations to your home, your car and your place of work as a result.

How long is a lower limb injury claim?

The length of time it takes to settle lower limb person injury claim depends on three factors; whether the other party admits they were at fault, the severity of your injuries, and the amount and complexity of your losses and expenses.

A straightforward lower limb injury claim can be settled within three months but generally the more serious the injury the longer it will take to settle your claim.