Ankle Injury Compensation Claims

If you’ve suffered a broken or injured ankle at work, there are up to three different types of compensation you may be eligible for — and in many cases, you could claim all of them.

Basic workers compensation entitlements

If you’ve injured your ankle at work, you’re automatically eligible to lodge a workers compensation claim. This usually covers the following standard entitlements:

• Weekly payments (often up to 95% of your pre-injury income).
• Medical expenses.
• Rehabilitation and other support services.
• Travel costs related to your treatment and recovery.

Permanent impairment lump sums

In addition to your weekly workers comp payments, you might also qualify for a lump sum if your ankle injury has led to permanent impairment.

To be eligible, you’ll need a Whole Person Impairment (WPI) assessment, which measures how much your injury impacts your daily life and overall function. In some states, you’ll need to meet a minimum WPI to qualify. For example, in NSW, you’ll need at least 11% WPI to access a lump sum.

For more details, check out our full guide on permanent impairment claims under workers compensation.

Common law damages

If your employer’s negligence caused your ankle injury, you may be eligible to file a common law damages claim.

Unlike standard workers compensation, a successful common law claim can lead to a substantial lump sum — potentially hundreds of thousands, or even millions in severe cases.

In addition to your regular workers comp entitlements, your compensation may also cover:

• Future lost earnings and superannuation.
• Ongoing medical and rehab costs.
• Pain and suffering (depending on your state).

If you’ve injured or broken your ankle in a car accident, your compensation will depend on factors like your state’s laws and whether you were at fault.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to:

• Lost income: covering both past and future earnings (if the crash wasn’t your fault).
• Pain and suffering: for the emotional impact of your injury.
• Care and support: including help from family, friends, or paid carers, including if you can’t care for someone who relies on you.
• Out-of-pocket costs: like medical expenses, transport to appointments, and home or vehicle modifications.

For a better idea of what you can claim, check out our guide to motor accident claims or get in touch with one of our ankle injury lawyers.

If you’ve injured your ankle in a slip or fall on public, private, or rental property, you may be able to claim public liability compensation. To succeed, you’ll need to prove the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence — like a store not cleaning up a spill or a landlord failing to fix a hazard.

Your compensation will depend on your unique situation, but it can include:

• Lost income and super: covering wages you’ve missed and your potential future earnings.
• Care and assistance: from family, friends, or professionals, including help you can’t care for someone who depends on you.
• Pain and suffering: recognising the emotional toll of the injury.
• Out-of-pocket costs: like medical bills, rehab, and any home or car modifications you need.

Curious about how much your claim might be worth? Check out our public liability compensation guide or speak with an ankle injury lawyer for free advice.

Before starting your ankle injury claim, it’s important to speak with a lawyer who specialises in this area. In your free consultation, we’ll guide you through the process step-by-step and explain your rights in plain language — so you know exactly where you stand.

We’ll also review all possible avenues for compensation, helping you maximise your payout for a broken ankle or any other type of ankle injury.

Winning an ankle injury compensation claim often comes down to strong expert evidence — especially if you need to prove someone else was at fault. You’ll need to show both how the injury has affected your life and that another party’s negligence caused it.

That’s why our experienced ankle injury lawyers team up with leading medical and liability experts to build a solid case. We cover all expert fees upfront, and thanks to our No Win, No Fee policy, you won’t pay a cent unless your claim succeeds.

Once your case is ready, your ankle injury lawyer will handle the entire claims process from start to finish:

• Workers compensation or motor accident claims: we’ll submit everything directly to the insurer, complete with supporting evidence.
• Public liability claims: we’ll prepare and file the court documents needed to begin legal proceedings.
• TPD claims: we’ll lodge your claim with your super fund or TPD insurer, ensuring every detail is in order.

Whatever type of claim you’re making, we’ll manage the paperwork, deadlines, and negotiations — so you can focus on recovery while we fight for your full compensation.

Once your ankle injury claim is lodged, you’ll need to wait for the insurer’s decision:

• Workers compensation and motor accident claims: the insurer will review your claim and notify you of their decision. If it’s approved, you’ll generally begin receiving weekly payments straight away. If it’s rejected or the payout seems too low, we’ll step in immediately to dispute the decision and push for a fair result.
• TPD claims: super funds or insurers usually respond within a few months. With our experienced team handling your claim, approval is highly likely. Once it’s approved, we’ll guide you through your payout options and ensure you receive your benefit without unnecessary delays.

If your ankle injury claim moves toward court, the first step is usually a mandatory pre-court mediation with the insurer. Your lawyer will handle all the negotiations on your behalf, keeping things as stress-free as possible for you.

Most of our cases settle at this stage thanks to strong preparation and expert evidence. But if the insurer won’t come to the table with a fair offer, we’re ready to take the matter to court and fight for the full compensation you’re entitled to.

We’ve spent over 25 years helping people with ankle injuries get the compensation they deserve. In our experience, some of the most common accidents that can lead to an ankle injury include:

• Slipping on a spill in a supermarket, shopping centre, or restaurant that wasn’t cleaned up in time.
• Tripping over obstacles like boxes, tools, or cables left in walkways at a workplace or commercial property.
• Falling from a height, such as off scaffolding, ladders, or platforms on a construction site.
• Motor vehicle accidents, whether you were a driver, passenger, cyclist, motorbike rider, or pedestrian.
• Sports or recreational injuries caused by unsafe playing surfaces or poorly maintained equipment.
• Injuries in rental properties, such as falling due to broken stairs, loose tiles, or poorly lit entryways.
• Work-related overuse injuries, like stress fractures or tendon damage from repetitive standing, lifting, or walking on hard surfaces.

No matter how your ankle injury happened, it’s worth taking a few minutes to speak with a lawyer and explore your options. The consultation is free — so there’s no cost to find out what you might be entitled to. Too often, people miss out on compensation simply because they assume their injury doesn’t qualify.

There are strict time limits for lodging an ankle injury claim — but the deadline depends on the type of claim and which state you’re in.

If you think you’ve missed the cut-off, don’t panic. Many states allow exceptions, and our experienced ankle injury lawyers know how to apply for extensions when there’s a valid reason. We’ve helped plenty of people file late claims and still secure the compensation they deserve.

Whether you’re outside the time limit or just not sure which deadline applies to your case, get in touch today. In a free consultation, our lawyers will explain the best strategy for quickly securing your ankle injury payout.

Ankle injury workers compensation claims

Let your employer know about your ankle injury as soon as possible — this is a key step in protecting your right to claim. In most states, you’ll then have between 6 to 12 months to lodge a workers compensation claim.

If you’re pursuing a common law claim (where employer negligence is involved), the time limits vary depending on where you live. Some states give you up to three years from the date of the accident, while others start the clock when you first realise your employer’s actions caused your injury.

Car accident compensation claims

In most states, you’ll need to report your motor accident to the relevant insurer as soon as possible. After that, you have a limited window to start court proceedings — usually somewhere between 13 weeks and three years, depending on your state.

For exact timeframes in your area, check out our full guide to motor accident claim deadlines.

Public liability ankle injury claims

The time limit for filing a public liability claim varies depending on your state. In some places, you have three years from the date of the injury, while in others, the timeframe starts when you become aware that someone else’s negligence may have caused your ankle injury.

To see exactly which deadlines apply to your situation, check out our comprehensive guide to public liability time limits.

Compensation for a sprained ankle or ligament damage depends on the severity of your injury and how it impacts your ability to work and carry out daily tasks.

Depending on how your sprain or ligament tear happened, you may be able to claim:

• Workers comp for a sprained ankle: you could be entitled to weekly payments and medical costs if you suffered a sprained ankle or ligament tear because of work. And if your injury happened due to employer negligence, you may be entitled to a substantial common law damages payout.
• Car accident compensation: if you sprained your ankle in a road accident (whether as a driver, passenger, cyclist or motorcyclist) you could get a significant payout.
• Slip and fall compensation: if your sprain happened because you slipped, tripped, or fell in a public or private space, you could be entitled to public liability compensation.

Even though sprained ankle compensation is usually less than that for more serious injuries (like a broken ankle), it’s still worth exploring your options — especially if the injury affects your work or quality of life. In a free consultation, our expert lawyers will listen to your story and explain what compensation you could receive.

If you’ve injured your ankle on a public footpath, you may have a public liability claim. However, these types of claims can be complex, especially when they involve a local council or one of its contractors.

Do I have a claim?

Councils and their contractors (e.g. those working on utilities like NBN, electricity, or water) are legally required to keep public footpaths safe for pedestrians. If your ankle injury was caused by a hazard they failed to address, you might be eligible for compensation.

Examples of hazards that could lead to a claim:

• Uneven paving, potholes, or unexpected dips.
• Debris, fallen signage, or bins obstructing the path.
• Poorly marked or unbarricaded construction zones.
• Loose tiles, cracked cement, or tree roots lifting the pavement.
• Temporary hazards left by utility workers (e.g. exposed cables or tools).

How do I prove my claim?

To successfully claim against a council or contractor, you’ll need to prove three things:

1. They owed you a duty of care (which they generally do in public areas).
2. They breached that duty by failing to maintain a safe environment.
3. That breach directly caused your ankle injury.

These claims can be harder to prove than other ankle injury claims, as councils often have strict legal protections. That’s why it’s crucial to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. We have the skill and experience to investigate the incident, gather the right evidence (such as council maintenance records or witness statements), and handle communication with the council or their insurer on your behalf.

The party that pays for your ankle injury compensation depends on the type of claim you’re making:

• Workers comp: your employer’s insurance will cover your compensation.
• Common law damages: if your employer’s negligence caused the injury, their insurance or the employer themselves may pay.
• Motor accident: if you’re injured in a car accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance will cover your compensation.
• Public liability: if you’re injured due to someone else’s negligence (like in a store or public space), the responsible party’s insurance will pay for your compensation.

Ankle injuries can happen in any workplace, but some jobs have a higher risk. Here are a few examples:

• Warehouse workers: injuries can occur from slips, falls, or falling from heights (e.g., reaching high shelves); impacts with moving objects; or sprains from lifting heavy items.
• Construction workers: those working at heights or on uneven surfaces are at risk, including scaffolders, carpenters, and site workers.
• Agricultural workers: farmers and field workers are often on uneven, muddy ground, increasing the risk of slips, trips, and ankle injuries. Heavy machinery use also puts workers at risk of crush injuries to the ankle.
• Retail and hospitality workers: these workers are at risk of wet or slippery floors, as well as injuries from falls or twisting.
• Healthcare workers: nurses and hospital staff spend long hours on their feet, leading to ankle strains or sprains.
• Manufacturing and factory workers: in fast-paced environments with heavy machinery, there’s a higher chance of ankle injuries from slips, falls, or being struck by equipment or materials.
• Landscapers and gardeners: working outdoors on uneven ground or stepping on tools or debris can lead to ankle injuries from trips or falls.

If you’ve hurt your ankle at work, report the injury to your employer and contact an experienced lawyer immediately.

We’ll immediately get started on securing your weekly workers compensation benefits, helping to cover lost income and medical expenses. Your lawyer will then investigate your other entitlements — such as permanent impairment lump sums, common law damages, or TPD — ensuring you get the maximum compensation for your ankle injury.

To give your ankle injury claim the best chance of success, having strong evidence is essential. The right documents help demonstrate what happened, the severity of your injury, and its impact on your life. Your lawyer will guide you through the process, but here’s a quick overview of the key evidence you’ll need:

• Accident evidence: photos, videos, or incident reports that clearly show how the injury occurred.
• Witness statements: if anyone saw the accident, their testimony can support your version of events.
• Medical records: doctor’s reports, scans, and rehabilitation notes that outline the extent of the injury and expected recovery time.
• Lost wages: payslips or an employer’s note confirming the income you’ve lost due to the injury.
• Receipts: keep records of any expenses related to your injury, including medical treatment, travel, medications, and support equipment.