Leg Injury Compensation Claims

Basic workers compensation entitlements

If you injure or break your leg at work, you’re typically entitled to these basic benefits:

• Weekly payments (up to 95% of your regular income).
• Coverage for medical expenses.
• Rehabilitation and support services.
• Travel costs for attending treatment sessions.

Importantly, it doesn’t matter if you’re a casual, part-time or full-time worker — or even who caused the accident. If your leg injury happened at work, you’re covered.

Common law damages

If your leg injury was caused by your employer’s negligence, you might be eligible for a common law damages claim.

These claims often result in much larger payouts than standard workers comp, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands (or even millions for more severe cases).

Along with your regular entitlements, a successful common law claim can also cover:

• Future lost income and superannuation.
• Ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation costs.
• Pain and suffering (available in some states).

If you injure your leg in a car accident, the amount of compensation you receive depends on several factors, including the state you live in and whether you were at fault for the accident.

Depending on your unique circumstances, your compensation may include:

• Lost income: covering both the wages you’ve already missed and future earnings (if someone else was at fault).
• Pain and suffering: recognising the physical pain and emotional impact your leg injury has had on your life.
• Care and support: whether it’s from professional carers or loved ones. This also includes compensation if you can’t care for someone who depends on you.
• Additional costs: like medical bills, travel to appointments, or home and vehicle modifications to support your independence.

For a full breakdown of what you may be entitled to, check out our complete guide to motor accident claims or reach out for free advice from one of our expert leg injury lawyers.

You may be entitled to public liability compensation if you were injured in a public, private or rental space because of someone else’s negligence.

Exactly how much you receive will depend on your specific circumstances, but it can include:

• Lost income and super: both what you’ve already lost and what you’re likely to lose in the future.
• Care and support: for yourself and any dependents who rely on you.
• Pain and suffering: recognising the physical and emotional impact the leg injury has had on your life.
• Out-of-pocket expenses: like medical costs, rehab, or modifications to your home or car to help you adjust.

Want a clearer picture of your potential payout? Take a look at our full guide on public liability compensation or chat with our leg injury claim lawyers today for tailored advice.

On top of your weekly workers compensation benefits, you can claim an extra lump sum payment for permanent impairment.

To qualify for this, you’ll need to undergo a Whole Person Impairment (WPI) assessment. This assessment measures the extent to which losing your leg has impacted your daily life and overall functioning. In some states, there’s a minimum WPI threshold you’ll need to meet to qualify for a lump sum payout, but leg amputations usually meet this easily.

If your amputation has left you permanently unable to work, you could also be entitled to a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claim through your super.

Unlike weekly workers comp or CTP car accident payments, a TPD claim gives you a one-off lump sum to help secure your financial future. The payout amount depends on your super fund and the details of your policy — but in many cases, it can be substantial.

Before starting your leg injury claim, it’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer who specialises in these cases. In a free consultation, we’ll walk you through the claims process and make sure you clearly understand your rights and entitlements.

We’ll also explore your other compensation options, ensuring you secure the maximum payout for your leg injury or loss of leg.

Strong expert evidence is key to winning a leg injury claim, especially when you need to prove someone else was at fault. You’ll have to show not only how the injury has impacted your life, but also clearly establish the other party’s responsibility.

To prove both these aspects, our experienced leg injury lawyers work closely with top medical and liability experts. We also cover all expert costs upfront — and you won’t pay anything unless we win.

Once we’ve built a strong case, your leg injury lawyer will take care of lodging your claim:

• Workers compensation or car accident claims: we’ll submit your claim to the insurer with all the necessary supporting evidence.
• Public liability claims: your lawyer will start court proceedings on your behalf.
• TPD claims: we’ll manage the submission to your super fund or TPD insurer, making sure everything is properly prepared.

No matter the type of claim, we’ll handle the entire process for you — making it as smooth and stress-free as possible.

After your leg injury claim is lodged, the next step is to wait for a decision:

• Workers compensation and car accident claims: the insurer will let you know if your claim is approved. If it is, you’ll usually start receiving weekly payments right away. If it’s denied or the payout is less than expected, your lawyer will jump in to challenge the decision and fight for what you’re owed.
• TPD claims: you’ll typically hear back from the super fund or insurer within a few months. Thanks to our experience, there’s a strong chance your claim will be approved. Once it is, we’ll help you decide how you want your benefit paid out and make sure you receive it quickly.

If your leg injury claim heads to court, you’ll first go through a mandatory pre-court mediation with the insurer. Your lawyer will manage all the negotiations, keeping the process as easy for you as possible.

Thanks to our thorough preparation and experience, most cases settle through mediation. But if the insurer doesn’t offer a fair deal, we’re fully prepared to take your case to court and fight to secure the compensation you deserve.

Leg injuries can happen in a wide variety of situations, from everyday mishaps to high-risk environments. In our experience, these are some of the most common ways people sustain serious leg injuries:

• Vehicle collisions: in car or motorcycle accidents, the legs are often exposed to intense force, especially if they’re pinned, crushed, or trapped in the wreckage. These incidents frequently lead to fractures, ligament tears, and in severe cases, traumatic amputations.
• Slip, trip and fall accidents: whether it’s a fall from a height on a construction site or slipping on a wet floor in a shopping centre, a sudden impact to the legs can cause significant damage. These injuries often involve sprains, broken bones, torn ligaments or muscle strain.
• Workplace hazards: jobs that involve heavy lifting, repetitive movement, or operating machinery put workers at risk of serious leg injuries. A lack of safety procedures or faulty equipment can lead to crushing incidents, deep lacerations, and even amputations.
• Machinery-related accidents: industrial machinery, forklifts, and other heavy equipment can pose a major danger to the legs. Legs may get caught in moving parts or struck by malfunctioning equipment, leading to bone fractures, soft tissue injuries, or worse.
• Severe crush injuries: these often occur when a leg is caught between two solid objects or compressed under heavy weight. The damage can extend beyond bones to affect muscles, nerves, and blood vessels — and in extreme cases, may require surgical amputation.

If your leg injury at work was caused by your employer’s negligence, you may be eligible to pursue more than just standard workers compensation — you could have grounds for a common law damages claim. These claims often lead to significantly larger payouts, especially for serious or permanent injuries.

Unlike regular workers comp (which typically covers weekly income and medical expenses), a successful common law claim can result in a substantial lump sum — sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands or even millions, depending on the impact of your injury.

Examples of employer negligence that could lead to a leg injury include:

• Failing to implement proper safety procedures or risk assessments.
• Inadequate training for high-risk tasks or machinery.
• Unsafe work environments, such as slippery floors or unstable surfaces.
• Faulty or poorly maintained equipment.
• Lack of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ignoring prior safety complaints or incidents.
• Poor supervision or oversight of dangerous activities.
• Forcing employees to work excessive hours, leading to fatigue-related accidents.

Because these claims are more complex and require strong evidence of fault, it’s essential to speak with an experienced leg injury lawyer early. We’ll listen to your story, gather the necessary medical and liability evidence, and build a compelling case to link your leg injury to your employer’s negligence.

There’s no set amount for broken leg compensation payouts — the amount you receive depends on several key factors, including the type of fracture, the impact on your daily life, and how the injury occurred. Compensation for a broken tibia and fibula, for example, will be much higher than for an incomplete (or ‘greenstick’) fracture.

Compared to soft tissue injuries or ligament damage, fractured leg bones often lead to higher payouts, especially if surgery, hospitalisation, or extended time off work is involved.

As with other types of leg injuries, you may be entitled to the following claims:

• Compensation for a broken leg at work: you can claim a broken leg workers compensation payout if your injury happened at (or because of) work. And if the leg injury was caused by employer negligence, you could get a substantial lump sum through a common law damages claim.
• Compensation for a broken leg in a car accident: if your broken leg happened on the road — whether you were a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian — you could get a substantial payout.
• Broken leg public liability compensation: if you slipped and broke your leg in a public, private or rental space, you could be entitled to public liability compensation.

While less severe leg injuries like sprains or tendon damage still qualify for compensation, clean breaks, compound fractures, or breaks that require surgical intervention will usually result in higher payouts due to their longer recovery times, greater impact on mobility, and potential to cause ongoing issues.

To find out how much broken leg compensation you could receive, speak with a specialist injury lawyer today. In a free consultation, we’ll assess your claim and outline the full range of broken leg claims available to you.

Time limits apply to all leg injury claims — but the limit depends on the kind of claim you’re making and which state you’re in.

Missed the cut-off? Don’t stress just yet. Most states allow for exceptions, and our seasoned leg injury lawyers know exactly how to apply for extensions when needed. We’ve successfully helped many people lodge delayed claims and still receive the compensation they’re entitled to.

If you’re unsure what time limits apply to your situation, reach out today. We’ll talk you through your options at no cost.

Leg injury at work claims

It’s important to notify your employer about your leg injury as soon as possible. Depending on where you live, you generally have 6 to 12 months to file a workers compensation claim.
For common law claims, deadlines also differ by state. In some areas, you have up to three years from the date of the incident, while in others, the clock starts when you realise your employer’s negligence caused the injury.

Car accident compensation claims

In most states, you need to report your accident to the state insurer right away. From there, you must begin court proceedings within a set time frame, which can vary between 13 weeks and three years, depending on where you live.

To find the specific deadlines for your state, take a look at our complete guide to motor accident time limits.

Public liability leg injury claims

The time limit for lodging a public liability claim depends on your state. In some cases, you’ll have three years from the date the injury occurred, while in others, the clock starts ticking from when you first realised that another person’s negligence may have caused your leg injury.

To learn more about which deadlines apply in your state, head to our total guide to public liability time limits.

If you’ve injured your leg while playing an organised sport or taking part in a recreational activity like skiing or jet-skiing, you might still have grounds for a claim.

That said, because these activities carry obvious risks, you’ll need to show that something went wrong — like faulty equipment, poor supervision, or negligence from another player, coach, instructor, or operator.

Before starting your leg injury claim, it’s important to speak with a lawyer who understands this area inside and out. We’ll go over what happened, review any waivers you may have signed, and give you clear advice on whether you’re entitled to compensation.

To give yourself the best shot at a successful leg injury claim, solid evidence is key. The right documents help prove what happened, how serious your injury is, and the impact it’s had on your life.

Your lawyer will guide you through exactly what’s needed (and collect it on your behalf), but here’s a quick overview to get you started:

• Accident evidence: photos, videos, incident reports — anything that shows how the injury happened.
• Witness statements: if someone saw the accident, their version of events can really back you up.
• Medical records: doctor’s reports, scans, rehab notes — these show how bad the injury is and how long recovery might take.
• Lost wages: payslips or a note from your employer can prove how much income you’ve missed.
• Receipts: keep track of anything you’ve paid for related to your leg injury — treatment, travel, meds, support equipment, etc.