An overview of foot injuries
As many of us spend so much time on our feet, personal injuries to the feet are fairly commonplace. Fractures, sprains, dislocations and infections of the foot are among the most regular injuries suffered.
Foot injuries usually take a considerable amount of time to heal and those that spend a substantial amount of time standing such as bar workers, chefs and shop workers may find the suffering and inconvenience particularly prominent.
Some serious foot injuries, although painful, are difficult to detect. There is an old myth which states that a bone can't be broken if you can still move it but most people are still able to walk after sustaining small chip or fractures to the foot or toe and this is the reason why such foot injuries go untreated.
Foot injury types
There are many personal injuries that affect the feet, including the toe and heel areas. Here are some examples of such injuries:
- Achilles tendonitis - this is inflammation and degeneration of the tendon that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. It is particularly common among those that undertake high-impact exercise or have a shortened Achilles tendon due to an inborn structural abnormality.
- Bursitis of the toe - this is an inflammation of the fluid filled sacks which protect your toe joints, especially the big toe. Bursitis can be caused by irritation from rubbing shoes.
- Foot sprain - this is the overstretching of one or more of any ligaments in the foot. This can range in severity from a mild sprain (tearing of some ligament fibres) to a severe sprain (complete rupture of the ligament or separation of ligament from the bone). It also affects the tissues surrounding the sprain such as the blood vessels, tendons, bone, periosteum and muscles.
- Ingrown toe nail - these usually develop when tight-fitting shoes put too much pressure on the outside of your big toe or when the toe nail is trimmed incorrectly. However, fungal infections, injury to the toe and abnormalities in the structure of the foot may also lead to an ingrown toenail.
- Stress fractures of the foot - stress fractures usually occur in one of the five metatarsal bones, particularly the second and third. Although uncommon, if a stress fracture occurs in the thick metatarsal bone that leads to the big toe it can have a huge impact on the way you walk and bear your weight. They are usually a result of overuse during strenuous exercise such as high-impact aerobics.
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome - this can result from compression of the nerve that runs from a narrow passage behind your inner anklebone down to your heel. It may be caused by an ankle injury, such as a sprain or fracture, or by a growth that presses against the nerve.
Foot injury treatment advice
It can take as long as six weeks for a foot injury to heal and it is advised that those suffering from a foot injury follow these guidelines in order to give it the best and speediest chance of recovery:
- Rest - restrict your activity and take the weight off your foot.
- Ice - lightly place a bag of crushed ice wrapped in a towel on the injured area but ensure that it is not directly touching the skin. Apply the ice in a 20-minute-on, 40-minute-off cycle during the first 48 hours for maximum effect.
- Compression - wrap a bandage around the injured area without pulling it too tight. Apply a warm compress or heated pad as with the ice.
- Elevation - sit in a position which allows you to elevate your foot above chest level.
- Walking - if you must walk use assistance such as a cane or crutches.
- Bathing - bath or shower in lukewarm water for the first three days of your injury and avoid getting water on the damaged foot as much as possible.
- Pain relief - take aspirin to ease the pain (unless you have an open wound at risk of bleeding heavily) or ibuprofen with food or milk for anti-inflammatory relief.
- Bleeding - cleanse the area well, apply pressure with a towel and cover with a clean dressing.
- Foreign objects - deeply embedded foreign objects such as glass should be removed by a medical professional.
Foot and toe injury compensation amounts
Foot injuries
- Modest - up to £7,500
These may include straightforward metatarsal fractures, ruptured ligaments and puncture wounds. Simple fractures, lacerations and contusions from which complete or near complete recovery is made would justify awards at the lower end of this bracket. Awards between £3,750 and £7,500 may be given where a permanent limp, pain or aching is experienced.
- Moderate - £7,500 to £13,750
Displaced metatarsal fractures resulting in permanent deformity and continuing symptoms.
- Serious - £13,750 to £21,500
Cases which fall into the higher end of this bracket include severe burns to both feet requiring multiple operations and result in disfiguring scars and irritation. Injuries qualifying for the lower end would be less severe than the injuries in the bracket above but may lead to fusion of the foot joints, continuing pain from traumatic arthritis, prolonged treatment and a future risk of osteoarthritis.
- Severe - £25,000 to £37,000
Fractures to both heels or both feet with a large restriction on mobility or where significant or permanent pain is suffered. Also includes unusually severe injury to just one foot resulting in heel fusion, osteoporosis, ulceration or any other disability which prevents the wearing of ordinary shoes.
- Very severe - £46,000 to £60,000
Injury produces permanent, severe pain or a serious permanent disability. For example, traumatic amputation of the forefoot where there is a significant risk of the need for full amputation and serious aggravation of an existing back problem or cases of the loss of a large part of the heel so that mobility is greatly restricted.
- Amputation of one foot - £46,000 to £60,000
This is also similar to a below-knee amputation because of the loss of the ankle joint.
- Amputation of both feet - £93,000 to £110,000
This injury is treated like a below-knee amputation of both legs because it is also facilitates the loss of the ankle joints.
Toe injuries
- Moderate toe injuries - up to £5,250
Relatively straightforward fractures or the worsening of a pre-existing degenerative condition. Awards of £3,250 and less would be given for straightforward fractures of one or more toes where recovery is complete within a short period. Minor injuries such as lacerations, cuts, contusions and bruises where a complete, or near complete, recovery is made would qualify for less.
- Serious toe injuries - £5,250 to £7,500
Serious injuries to the great toe, or crush and multiple fractures to two or more toes. Some permanent disability by way of discomfort, pain or sensitive scarring must be suffered to qualify for this bracket. Instances where there have been a number of unsuccessful operations or persisting stabbing pains, impaired gait or similar will qualify towards the top end of the bracket.
- Severe toe injuries - £7,500 to £10,500
Severe crush injuries that do not require full amputation. Bursting wounds and injuries resulting in severe damage and in any event producing significant ongoing symptoms are also included.
- Amputation of the great toe - in the region of £17,500
Straightforward amputation of the big toe.
- Amputation of all toes - £20,000 to £31,000
The amount of compensation will be determined by whether the amputation was traumatic or surgical, the extent of the loss of the forefoot and the residual effects on mobility.
Making a personal injury compensation claim today
If you have suffered a personal injury in an accident at work, car accident, or any other accident that wasn't your fault then we may be able to help.
We have a wealth of experience at handling a variety of personal injury claims, from foot injuries to head injuries, and we also have an excellent claim success rate.
We work on a no win no fee basis and we guarantee that making a claim through us won't cost you anything, no matter what the outcome of your case, and you will receive every single penny of compensation awarded to you.
To make a claim today fill out an online form or give us a call on 0800 197 32 32.
