Average Settlement for Foot and Ankle Injuries

If you suffered a serious foot or ankle injury in an accident, this page will help you understand what your case might be worth. We will explore the average payout ranges for ankle and foot injury settlements and jury verdicts, including examples from actual cases. These examples include auto accidents, slip and fall claims, and institutional abuse cases.

Our personal injury lawyers have handled numerous claims involving ankle and foot injuries. These injuries can lead to surgery, loss of mobility, and long-term pain. This page includes:

• National statistics on verdicts and settlements
• Factors that influence case value
• Examples of verdicts and settlements, in reverse chronological order
• Commentary from our firm’s real experience with high-value ankle injury cases

Average Settlement & Verdict Values

In personal injury cases, ankle and foot injury values vary widely depending on injury severity. The data below reflects national verdict and settlement trends, along with our firm’s internal results:

Injury Type	Median Jury Verdict	Average Jury Verdict
Foot Injuries	$92,000	$715,000
Ankle Injuries	$33,000	$86,000

Settlement values are usually lower than verdicts, but more consistent. Our data shows ankle injury settlements typically range between $18,000 and $75,000. The biggest factor? Severity. Minor sprains settle for far less than surgical fracture cases. Permanent disability raises value significantly.

Our experience: In auto accident cases, we rarely see minor ankle injuries. We’ve never settled an ankle injury claim for less than $150,000 when surgery was required. Some cases involving multiple injuries have resolved for over $1 million.

Common Types of Ankle and Foot Injuries

Ankle and foot injuries come in many forms, but a few are more commonly involved in personal injury lawsuits:

• Fractured Ankle: Often involves the tibia, fibula, or talus. Frequently requires surgery and physical therapy.
• Sprained Ankle: Caused by ligament damage. Many heal quickly, but some severe sprains cause long-term instability.
• Dislocated Ankle: Bones forced out of alignment. These often occur with fractures and require surgical repair.
• Torn Ligaments/Tendons: These often lead to instability and chronic pain. If surgery is needed, case value increases.
• CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome): When post-traumatic nerve pain sets in, especially in the ankle or foot, verdicts can soar due to long-term disability and pain.

What Impacts the Value of Ankle and Foot Injury Settlements?

There are several key factors that determine how much a personal injury case involving a foot or ankle injury might settle for or return at trial. Understanding these elements will help you assess the strength and potential value of your case:

• Severity of Injury: A minor ankle sprain will settle for significantly less than a trimalleolar fracture that requires open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery.
• Permanency: If the injury causes permanent limitations, such as a limp, chronic pain, or reduced mobility, the case value increases significantly.
• Need for Surgery: Cases involving hardware (plates, screws) or multiple surgeries will generally command higher payouts.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: Ankle injuries often affect workers in active jobs. Plaintiffs unable to return to work, or who need to change professions, are entitled to claim economic losses.
• Doctor Testimony: When a treating surgeon or podiatrist testifies to the impact of the injury, it carries more weight than hired expert witnesses. This can double or triple jury awards.
• Comparative Fault: If the plaintiff shares any blame for the injury—like ignoring a posted warning sign or being intoxicated—that will reduce damages or even bar recovery.
• Jurisdiction: Some counties (e.g., Baltimore City, Cook County, or parts of California) are known for large verdicts. Others (rural or conservative venues) return lower values.

Our firm’s experience shows that ankle and foot injuries often reach their highest value when tied to high medical costs, visible long-term damage, or work loss. Below, we list verdicts and settlements from real cases to show how these factors play out.

Recent Ankle and Foot Injury Verdicts and Settlements (Reverse Chronological Order)

Here are examples of verdicts and settlements from around the country involving foot and ankle injuries. These are listed in reverse chronological order to highlight trends and shifts in value. Note: Case outcomes vary widely depending on the facts, venue, and injuries.

• $1,377,552 Verdict (Louisiana 2025): Maritime worker fell from a barge and suffered severe heel fractures in both feet. Required surgery. Chronic pain and reduced mobility made it a career-ending injury. Jury awarded over $1.3 million based on medical costs, future wage loss, and suffering.
• $1,300,000 Settlement (New Jersey 2024): Woman injured her ankle on a bank’s premises after a storm. Required surgeries, cortisone injections, nerve blocks, and a spinal cord stimulator. Settled after mediation—$1.1M from bank and $200K from snow contractor.
• $950,000 Settlement (Massachusetts 2024): Florida woman tripped outside a Boston hotel due to a code-deficient revolving door design. Sustained ankle fracture requiring surgery. Defense claimed design was grandfathered, but a safety expert helped secure a favorable result.
• $150,000 Settlement (Michigan 2024): A worker fell on a hazardous surface. Sustained a fractured ankle. Case was dismissed initially due to “open and obvious” doctrine, then reinstated on appeal. Ultimately resolved via mediation.
• $90,000 Settlement (New York 2024): A 9-year-old pedestrian was hit by a car. He suffered a fractured right ankle, foot fracture, and a broken tooth. The ankle injury was the most serious. Resolved for $90,000..
• $20,000 Settlement (Alabama 2024): Low-impact rear-end crash. Plaintiff claimed a sprained ankle and PTSD. No surgery, minimal treatment. Case settled for a relatively low amount.
• $113,057 Verdict (Illinois 2023): A Home Depot shopper was struck in the ankle by a falling load of lumber. Required surgery and missed work. Jury compensated for pain, suffering, and lost wages.
• 100,000 Verdict (Washington 2023): Plaintiff was struck while turning at an intersection. Sustained a serious tendon injury in her right ankle that required surgery. Jury awarded $100K, including $29K in medicals.
• $70,000 Verdict (Pennsylvania 2023): Plaintiff slipped on ice at the defendant’s residence. Claimed ankle injuries. Jury awarded $70K, with over $49K going to future medical expenses.
• $50,000 Verdict (Pennsylvania 2023): Plaintiff slipped and fell at a hair salon. Sustained foot and ankle injuries. No surgery required. Jury awarded $50K.
• $15,000 Settlement (New Jersey 2023): A minor was struck by a motorcycle while crossing the street. Suffered a strained ligament (ankle sprain). Conservative treatment only.
• $30,000 Verdict (Texas 2022): Woman was struck at an intersection. She suffered fractures to her ankle and foot. Underwent two repair surgeries and was recommended for ankle fusion. Despite the seriousness, the jury awarded just $30,000, highlighting the unpredictability of trial outcomes.
• $200,000 Verdict (Alabama 2022): A woman and her daughter were rear-ended. She suffered a concussion and pain in her ankle, neck, and shoulder. While ankle injury was not the most severe, it contributed to the $200K total verdict.
• $1,500,000 Verdict (Washington 2022): A 60-something man was hit while taking out his trash. Sustained fractured tibia, fibula, and ankle. Jury awarded $1.5 million in a UIM claim against State Farm. Future mobility was severely limited.
• $14,894 Verdict (Kentucky 2022): Woman was struck head-on and suffered ankle and rib fractures. She also sustained a fibula tendon tear. Defense claimed minimal impact. Jury returned a modest award.
• $441,090 Verdict (Washington 2022): A man on a bicycle was struck at a crosswalk. Suffered a shoulder tear, ankle injury, and concussion. Required multiple procedures. Defendant claimed the cyclist was at fault, but the jury awarded $ 441 K.
• $8,000,000 Verdict (New York 2021): A woman slipped on an icy sidewalk. She tore multiple ankle ligaments and later developed complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Despite therapy and injections, her condition worsened. She now requires a neurostimulator. This was a life-altering injury—reflected in the massive award.
• $74,119 Verdict (Kentucky 2021): Man was rear-ended while stopped at a red light. He sustained an ankle tear, a tendon fracture, and a meniscus injury. Required surgical repairs. Jury awarded $74K for pain, suffering, and medical bills.

Hiring a Lawyer for a Foot or Ankle Injury Claim

If you’ve suffered a serious ankle or foot injury due to someone else’s negligence—whether in a car crash, fall, or workplace accident—you may be entitled to financial compensation. These injuries often involve high medical costs, time away from work, and long-term disability.

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars in foot and ankle injury settlements and verdicts. We partner with experienced local attorneys in your area to deliver strong representation without increasing your fees. You get two law firms for the price of one. You pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.

Call us today at 800-553-8082 for a free consultation or contact us online.

This page is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is unique. Results vary depending on facts, jurisdiction, medical history, and other legal variables.