By Lewis Houston. Last Updated 9th December 2022. Accidents can happen anywhere, at any time, to anyone, and could result in many different injuries or illnesses. If you’ve suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon due to an accident you can prove was not your fault, you may be searching for information regarding an Achilles tendon rupture claim. Public Interest Lawyers are here to help.
Achilles tendon rupture claim
During this article, we shall use an example case study to show the claim process from beginning to end. We will explain how following the advice of a good No Win No Fee lawyer could help you recuperate all financial expenses your injuries may have caused you.
We’ll show you how to correctly establish who had the duty of care to you. How this duty could be breached. And finally, injuries that may result as a consequence. Compensation cases may seem daunting but if you decide to use the services of a personal injury solicitor the stress can be taken out of the claiming process.
Throughout this article, we provide links to statistics and government websites to give you as much information as we can. If at any point you have a question or would like further information, please don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 408 7825 or drop us a line here.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Calculating Compensation For Achilles Tendon Rupture Claim
- What Is An Achilles Tendon Rupture?
- Financial Losses Could Cause Issues
- Common Achilles Tendon Rupture Accidents
- More Information About Care Claims
- Achilles Tendon Settlements In 2022
- Case Study: £28,000 Ruptured Achilles Tendon Compensation
- Get A Free Payout Estimate
- No Win No Fee Solicitors For An Achilles Tendon Rupture Claim
- Top Quality Personal Injury Lawyers Could Help
- Speak With A Specialist
- More Advice
A Guide To Calculating Compensation For Achilles Tendon Rupture Claim
When beginning an Achilles tendon rupture claim, or any personal injury claim for that matter, it’s useful to reflect on where your accident took place. There are three main areas to consider:
- Accidents that happen on the roads (RTA’s).
- Accidents that happen in the workplace.
- Negligence that caused an injury in public places.
Our case study describes Mr Grey, who damaged his Achilles tendon in an accident on the roads due to another motorist’s negligent driving. This case is merely an example. But it illustrates the many facets of a personal injury claim that are useful to know, such as:
- How to report or record your accident correctly.
- How to establish who had the duty of care in that environment.
- Was that duty of care breached?
- Did that result in your injuries?
- How can a medical assessment strengthen your case?
- What are the benefits of using a No Win No Fee lawyer?
At the end of this article, we will show you how to identify the best suited personal injury lawyers to handle your case. Please feel free to speak to our team today to discuss your options.
What Is An Achilles Tendon Rupture?
The Achilles tendon is a thick stretch of fibrous muscle that connects your heel to the back of your calf. It’s integral for normal movement, and if it tears or ruptures, it can be very debilitating.
An Achilles tendon injury can require surgery in severe cases. Full recovery can take months to heal. 12-16 Weeks before you can return to work if you have a physical job. If you have suffered this injury and you’re considering seeking compensation, it is essential to ask yourself these three questions:
- Firstly, who had the duty of care?
- Secondly, was that duty breached?
- Thirdly, did that result in my injuries?
Therefore, if the answer is yes, you may have substantial grounds to initiate an Achilles tendon rupture claim. The law is very clear about who has a responsibility. To ensure our safety at work or in a public place and on the roads, there are specific rules that should be adhered to.
Duties of Care
The Health And Safety At Work, etc Act 1974 outlines employers’ duty to provide as safe and fit for purpose working environment as possible. If your injury resulted from inadequate equipment, shoddy procedures, or any neglect that created a hazard in the workplace, reading this Act could be useful for your claim.
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 requires the same duty of care from private operators and the local authorities. Anywhere that is open and accessible to the public is covered by this law with the same purpose; to protect your safety as much as is reasonably possible when out and about.
The Highway Code asks that all road users show each other a duty of care. This applies irrespective of age or experience and even expects road users to anticipate that other drivers may not show the same standard of diligence and care. This code also applies to pedestrians and cyclists.
Financial Losses Could Cause Issues
Hot on the heels of your Achilles tendon accident, you may find sudden financial difficulties. As it’s a painful injury with a substantial recovery period, regular work after an Achilles tendon rupture may not be an option for you. If your injury impacts your ability to function as you used to, you may find that money worries can soon build up. This is where a good No Win No Fee personal injury lawyer really can help.
As part of your compensation claim, your lawyer will seek special damages that are essentially a way of repaying your out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the injury. Loss of earnings is an essential part of these damages, as are any missed bonuses, along with, future work opportunities that you forfeited due to the repercussions of your no-fault accident.
Physiotherapy costs, medical equipment, and travel expenses to and from the hospital are also claimable. Special damages intend to return you to the financial position you were in before this accident (and injury) turned your life upside down.
However, it’s essential to keep proof of these costs, and your No Win No Fee lawyer will advise you on how to do this. Without evidence, it can be impossible to force the defendant to pay, and those costs will be borne by you, potentially eating into your savings or pushing you into debt. With proper proof, they can form part of your evidence and be included in your damages, helping your finances heal as well as your injury.
Common Achilles Tendon Rupture Accidents
The government produces yearly statistics. This link provides stats for workplace injuries or this link for roads accidents with particular reference to cyclists’ risks. Any scenario involving the lower leg puts your Achillies at risk due to its integralness to moving the foot. Other accident hot-spots could include:
- Slipping or tripping and landing badly.
- Falling from any height, or on stairs and escalators.
- In a collision on the roads.
- Over-exerting the muscle to prevent injury.
- Poorly lit stairwells or anywhere you could misstep badly.
Unattended wet patches, faulty pavement slabs, careless cables on the floor, the list of dangerous situations is endless if the duty of care is absent.
Therefore, if you encountered an accident that resulted in you tearing or rupturing a tendon and you believe that the accident could have, and should have been avoidable, speak to our knowledgeable team today. We can discuss your case in a free, no-obligation chat to see what your options may be for starting an Achilles tendon rupture claim.
More Information About Care Claims
An unfortunate result of an accident could be finding yourself suddenly needing help with the most basic tasks. Even a minor injury can create a tremendous amount of upheaval as you try to function normally whilst recovering.
A ruptured Achilles tendon is no different. If surgery is required, you may have to wear a foot cast. This website gives detailed advice about the variable pain, problems walking, and physiotherapy needs that often accompany this injury.
Depending on your Achilles tendon injury’s severity, you might also need someone to help with shopping, cleaning, and personal care. However, if you do not have family members who can help, you might need to pay for a professional carer to visit you at home instead. Meaning the bill for this service can be costly.
However, all of these costs and expenses can be included in a successful claim.
Importantly, retain all receipts and bills for out-of-pocket expenses that are a consequence of your injuries. Without this expert guidance, money could be lost, eating into your savings, or pushing you into debt.
Achilles Tendon Settlements In 2022
During the process of claiming an Achilles tendon rupture settlement, a solicitor from our panel could organise for you to undergo an independent medical assessment. The resulting medical report could potentially be used as evidence, such as an x-ray of your ruptured Achilles tendon.
The severity of your injury will affect your payout. For example, if you suffer a complete rupture of your Achilles tendon, you could receive a larger payout than for a simple fracture.
Solicitors can also use figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to work out what you could be owed for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. This head of claim is general damages. The table below uses figures from the JCG, but do not treat these amounts as guaranteed.
| Injury Type | Severity | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Most Serious | In the region of £38,430 |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Serious | £24,990 to £30,090 |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Moderate | £12,590 to £21,070 |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Minor | £7,270 to £12,590 |
You could also be eligible to claim special damages. This is compensation for any financial harm inflicted by your injuries or the accident. For example, you may need time off work after being injured and subsequently suffer a loss of earnings as a result of your employer’s negligence.
Get in touch to be connected with a specialist solicitor from our panel. They could help you value compensation if you have suffered an Achilles tendon injury or been neglected during treatment for an Achilles tendon rupture.
Case Study: £28,000 Ruptured Achilles Tendon Injury
Mr Grey was a keen and experienced cyclist who rode to work every day. He always wore appropriate high-visibility wear, and his bike had all the correct lights.
As he waited for a set of lights to change, the vehicle in the next lane, the wrong lane, made a sudden decision to take a left, resulting in him colliding with Mr Grey. Although the motorist was not moving at a high speed, the incident startled Mr Grey, who attempted to move out of the way as quickly as possible. This sudden, jolting injury caused Mr Grey to rupture his Achilles tendon. He fell from his bike.
The junction where it happened had CCTV. Which proved that the driver of the car was in the wrong lane to make a left turn. Mr Grey had to have surgery to repair the rupture. Consequently, this meant quite a few months of recovery. Also when he could return to work, he could not cycle. He had to pay for travel costs from his home to Central London. A huge, unexpected expense which compromised his household budgets. Again, this caused him considerable financial distress.
After consulting with a No Win No Fee solicitor, Mr Grey felt he might be able to stop worrying. He had kept all the receipts of his expenses as well as a record of his loss of earnings.
Mr Grey’s case is purely an example, which we have used to illustrate how accidents can happen. It also serves to show you how your compensation could be valued based on our vast experience of handling and valuing claims.
Achilles Tendon Rupture Claim Settlement
Additionally, the CCTV and police report also confirmed the motorist’s liability in causing the accident. The case was settled quickly in his favour for £28,000.
Mr Grey’s compensation would have been calculated like this:
| General damages | Special damages |
|---|---|
| Mr Grey’s Achilles tendon injury was classified as moderate. He was awarded £19,770 |
Travel costs formed a serious expense for Mr. Grey as he relied on his bike for everything – £1500 |
| Physiotherapy costs – £1500 | |
| Carer £750 | |
| Loss of earnings and attendance bonus at work – £4250 | |
| Cleaner and cook £500 |
This is merely a typical example of the sort of cases an expert No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor could handle for you. If you were injured in a no-fault accident on the roads, at work, or in a public place, speak to our team today to see how they might be able to help you.
Get A Free Payout Estimate
When you speak to a personal injury lawyer, you could be accessing decades of experience. There may be details to your case that you think is unimportant or inconsequential but a skilled No Win No Fee lawyer will know how to translate them into potentially greater payouts.
You can use the ‘live support’ option found at the bottom right of our website bottom right to speak to our friendly team right now and see what your options could be.
No Win No Fee Solicitors For An Achilles Tendon Rupture Claim
You may be nervous about using a solicitor. Many people think it is expensive to hire a solicitor for a personal injury claim. However, if you decide to use a solicitor a, one that works to a No Win No Fee agreement may be best.
Previously you may have heard of No Win No Fee or Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA). But what are they exactly? First and foremost, CFA’s offer people the chance to appoint a solicitor with the following benefits:
- No upfront fees to pay your solicitor
- And nothing to pay your solicitor while your case is on-going.
- Also, if your case fails, you have nothing to pay your lawyer.
- However, If your case wins, a small ‘success fee’, which is capped by law, is paid to your solicitors from your compensation payout.
- Lastly, You have expert legal advice and support throughout your case.
Top Quality Personal Injury Lawyers Could Help
You may be wondering where to find high-quality legal advice for your Achilles tendon rupture claim? Internet searches will generate thousands of search results, and whilst this may be an excellent opportunity to read client reviews, it might not help you narrow your search. Some good questions to ask are:
- How much would this company value my settlement amount?
- How long do they take to settle cases?
- Have they handled lots of claims like this before?
- Are they good communicators?
- Finally, do they have a good history of being successful with claims like this?
Get in touch with us today, and we could introduce you to our panel of expert No Win No Fee personal injury solicitors who cover the whole country and would be more than happy to discuss your case with you today. It should be noted, that even if you get in touch you are under no obligation to proceed,
Speak With A Specialist
To conclude, we hope that you have found this guide to launching a compensation claim for your foot injury useful. If you’d like to speak to us about your Achilles tendon rupture claim, you can get in touch as follows:
- Call us on 0800 408 7825
- Drop us a line here.
- Also, you can use our ‘live support’ option, bottom right
More Advice
For more government statistics on accidents, please read here.
Information on cycling accidents here.
More information on Achilles tendon injuries.
For more information about claims against the council, please click here.
Details about reporting an accident in the workplace, please click.
Last but not least, reading on cyclist safety, please refer here.
Article by EA
Publisher LA.