Many of us have suffered an ankle injury just from doing daily activities like exercising, making repairs, or tripping over things in the house. But ankle injuries can also happen from accidents that are caused by someone else. If that’s the case, you have the right to recover compensation from the responsible parties. Doing so can be complicated, since you will need to prove who is liable (responsible) for your accident and calculate the true value of your losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma. Additionally, you will need to file a claim within the statute of limitations, which can vary depending on who you’re suing. If you miss the filing deadline, you may forfeit your right to a settlement, or receive an amount that’s inadequate for your recovery.
That’s why it’s important to seek legal counsel as soon as you can after an accident. If you have injured your ankle due to someone else’s negligence, please contact our office right away. Our lawyers look forward to advising you of your rights and taking the necessary legal actions to bring you monetary compensation.
Possible Ankle Injuries
There are many circumstances that can lead to an ankle injury, including car accidents, slip and falls, and trip and falls. Here are some of the most common ankle injuries that you can sustain:
- Fractured or broken bones
- Torn ligaments (ankle sprain)
-Grade I: patient is able to walk with mild to moderate pain.
-Grade II: patient can walk but has a noticeable limp.
-Grade III: patient cannot walk at all.
- Torn muscle or tendon (ankle strain)
- Tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon)
- Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following ankle surgery
Luckily, most of these injuries are treatable and should not result in permanent disability. However, the recovery process may involve one or more surgeries, pain medication, physical therapy, and other expensive treatments. Victims need compensation for these damages, which is why we take each and every case seriously, regardless of their monetary value.
Compensation from an Ankle Injury Lawsuit
Your ankle injury claim will include multiple losses, and the amount of compensation you will need to recover from them. Here are the most common types of damages we can request:
- Medical costs: for doctor’s visits, surgery, physical therapy, etc.
- Prescription costs: mainly for pain medication, which the patient may need for life.
- Lost wages: for time missed from work, change in career, or job loss.
- Pain and suffering: for emotional trauma associated with your accident.
Pain and suffering is a difficult loss to calculate, since it’s not based on your financial losses. This category refers to the trauma (now and in the future) that you experience as a result of your accident. Car crashes or being hit by a car, for example, can be incredibly traumatic and result in PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia. These conditions can impair your ability to function in your daily life, and require extensive treatment from a licensed therapist.
To ensure you are fairly compensated for pain and suffering, as well as your other losses, call the Los Angeles lawyers of Normandie.
What is My Ankle Injury Case Worth?
There is no average amount that an ankle injury will settle for, since each accident has its own set of circumstances. However, we know from experience that claims with minor injuries are generally valued at around $15,000 to $50,000. But serious injuries with long-term complications can settle for 6 to 7-figures. Here are some examples that illustrate the types of compensation you can receive from an ankle injury lawsuit:
Miguel, a 52-year-old sous chef, was crossing the road when he was hit by a car that ran the light. The impact pushed him backwards and off the ground, causing him to land hard on his feet. As a result, he fractured his right ankle and tore the ligaments in his left ankle (ankle sprain). Miguel needed surgery for the fracture, along with considerable time off before he could return to work.
Medical costs: $24,000
Prescription costs: $650
Future prescription costs: $3,600
Physical therapy: $3,500
Lost wages: $4,500 per month times 6 months = $27,000
Total approximate value of his case: $58,150.00
Carly, a 22-year-old waitress, was forced to swerve when another car unexpectedly merged into her lane. She hit a concrete barrier and fractured her ankle in several places. Her recovery required multiple surgeries and long-term physical therapy. Complications, including on-going pain and limited range of motion were expected in the future, meaning she could no longer work as a waitress.
Medical costs: $280,000
Future medical costs: $65,000
Physical Therapy: $50,000
Loss of income: $33,000 per year times 40 years = $1,320,000
Pain and suffering: $150,000
Total approximate value of her case: $1,865,000.00
These examples show the wide range in compensation values based on the type of injuries and the trauma associated with the accident. Loss of income is a big factor as well, especially if the victim is permanently disabled or loses the ability to perform their job duties.
If you have specific questions about the value of your case, speak with the ankle injury lawsuit attorneys of Normandie.
How Long Does it Take to Settle an Ankle Injury Case?
If your injuries are fairly minor with minimal long-term damage, it’s possible to reach an agreement with the insurance company in just a few months. This is done privately between you, your lawyer, and the insurer, and does not involve the filing of a lawsuit. That’s the most ideal situation, but serious claims can take much longer to resolve. Frankly, insurance companies are not eager to pay out 6 to 7 figure amounts, which will force the victim to proceed with a lawsuit. At that point, it can be a long wait before the claimant receives compensation.
Many clients are afraid of going to trial, but chances are, your case will be settled privately through mediation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR). These methods are facilitated by a dispute resolution specialist, and have a case resolution rate of around 95 percent. So that’s the good news, but the bad news is, it could take over a year from your accident date for your case to go to mediation. If you and the insurer still cannot come to an agreement through mediation, you will ask the court for a trial date and prepare to argue your case in front a jury.
This is where an experienced lawyer really counts. Our lawyers have extensive trial experience with car accidents, slip and falls, and other cases involving ankle injuries. Contact the lawyers of Normandie and find out about your rights and legal options.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$500,000
$599,000
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$250,000
Why is My Lawyer Taking So Long to Settle My Case?
If you have a lawyer already, you may be frustrated with how long things are taking. Your lawyer probably told you, more than once, that a settlement is right around the corner. But here you are many months later, with little to no progress in your case. You may be asking yourself, “Has my lawyer forgotten about me? What’s going on?”
To answer your question, we would need to know the details of your case, which we will happy to discuss with you during a free consultation. But we can confirm, based on previous consultations, that some lawyers play a numbers game when it comes to injury cases. They take on as many cases as they can and find themselves overwhelmed. Or, they try to push clients into inadequate settlements so they can move on to the next one. Either way, seeing lawsuits as dollar amounts rather than actual victims is an act of bad faith, and we do not recommend you work with such an attorney.
Another concerning possibility is that your lawyer lacks the experience to fight for your case. This is particularly true in cases with multiple ankle injuries, which can lead to life-long complications for the victim. Whether it’s a lack of skill or confidence, an inexperienced attorney can hurt your chance for receiving fair compensation, which is undoubtedly your biggest worry.
If you’re not happy with the quality of your attorney’s work, please give us a call right away. Our second opinions are free, so there’s no risk to you in scheduling a consultation.
Can I Switch Lawyers?
Yes, California law permit the changing of counsel at any point during your case. But changing attorneys has consequences that you should be aware of before you make the switch. These terms should be explained in the contract with your current law firm, but it’s best to go over them with another lawyer to make sure you understand everything. You will also need to notify the court that you have switched attorneys, but the firm that you’re transferring to can take of that for you.
If you’re thinking about changing to another lawyer, please come in and see us for a second opinion. Our lawyers have been handling ankle injury cases for many years and know the process inside out. They can inform you if anything in your case seems suspicious, or if there are red flags regarding your attorney’s lack of experience. The decision to change lawyers is ultimately yours, but we want you to make an informed decision either way.
The Personal Injury Lawyers of Normandie
Whether you’re just starting the claims process, or you’re in the middle of a lawsuit, expert legal representation is the key to winning compensation for your accident. The lawyers of Normandie will see your case through to the end, including taking your case to trial if necessary. What matters to us is recovering adequate compensation for your losses so that you can move forward with your life.
Best of all, we will do all this for free as a promise under our Zero fee guarantee. You will never pay upfront for any of our services, because as we always say, “We don’t get paid unless you get paid.” And if we lose your case, you walk away without paying us a single penny. Our free services, by the way, includes free second opinions if you’re thinking about switching lawyers. Regardless of where you are in your case, Normandie has the skill and knowledge to recover your losses.
Call our office right away and talk to an ankle injury lawsuit attorney.
