Ankle – Injury Claim Worth_.

Based on the following sampling of case law, the range for general damages awarded for suffering from ankle injuries as a result of an accident is between $50,247 – $153,366 [adjusted for 2023 inflation rates]. The general damage award amounts for each individual case below have not been adjusted for inflation. For your convenience, the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator can be accessed here.

As described in our General Damages Guide, these awards are only for general damages which compensate you for your pain and suffering. There are other types of damages that you may be entitled to claim, such as lost income and medical care costs, depending on the circumstances of your case. To assess the total value of your injury claim, try our Injury Claim Calculator or book a free consultation.

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The case law

Leslie v. S & B Apartment Holding Ltd., 2011 NSSC 48

• The plaintiff, a 33-year-old production line worker, suffered injuries when he jumped from a third-storey window in order to escape a fire in his apartment. He suffered serious fractures to both ankles and a fracture to his left fibula. He underwent surgeries to repair each of his fractures, with the insertion of plates, screws and pins. He could not bear weight on his legs for three months. He underwent additional surgery to remove the hardware in his leg. He was no longer able to run or engage in sports that caused impact to his feet. The fracture to his tibia put him at a significantly increased risk of developing post-traumatic arthritis, and it was also possible that the plaintiff would require ankle replacement surgery. He returned to work one year post-accident. He was awarded $75,000 in general damages.

Smith v. Atlantic Shopping Centres Ltd., 2006 NSSC 133

• The 70-year-old plaintiff slipped and fell in a mall parking lot and severely fractured her ankle. She required a closed reduction and fixation. The injury had a significant impact on her life, as she was unable to continue exercising regularly after the fall. She was left with ongoing stiffness and decreased mobility. General damages were assessed at $35,000, however liability was not found.

French v. Hodge, 2005 NSSC 44

• The 35-year-old plaintiff was injured in a motor vehicle accident. He suffered a serious pilon fracture of his ankle and soft tissue injuries to his neck, upper back, and lower back. His ankle required open reduction and internal fixation, with plate and screws inserted. He developed post-traumatic osteoarthritis and would likely require ankle fusion in the future. He received $82,000 in general damages.

Cleghorn v. Dunbar, 2005 NBQB 247

• The plaintiff, a 20-year-old hairdresser, suffered injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident. She was hospitalized for 18 days after suffering a fractured clavicle, a fractured thumb, and an ankle injury. Her thumb and clavicle healed with minimal residual pain. Her main injury was a crushed right ankle, for which she underwent multiple surgeries two years later. She also underwent plastic surgery to graft muscles from the lower abdomen and skin from the hip. She was left with a permanent deficit to her ankle, and there was a high probability that she would require ankle fusion surgery in the future. She had not returned to her hairdressing job since the accident. She was awarded $75,000 in general damages.

Dunnett v. Mills, 2004 NBQB 136

• The plaintiff, a 25-year-old bartender, was injured in a single vehicle motor vehicle accident when the defendant left the road and struck a power pole. The plaintiff was not wearing his seatbelt at the time, and was ejected through the T-roof of the vehicle. After the accident, he complained of pain in his chest, neck, shoulder, and ankle. His main complaint at trial, 15-years post-accident, was in relation to his right ankle. The pain in his ankle continued, and some eight months later, it was determined that he had actually suffered a fractured talus. At the time of the trial, he was suffering from degenerative arthritis in his ankle, and his doctors recommended that he should have ankle fusion surgery. Prior to the accident, he was in good health, and participated in sporting activities including hockey and baseball. He was awarded $60,000 in general damages.

Campbell-MacIsaac v. Deveaux, 2003 NSSC 111

• The plaintiff, a 51-year-old dentist, sustained a serious ankle injury in a motor vehicle accident. She suffered a bad fracture of the right talus with displacement. The fracture required an open reduction and internal fixation. After the surgery, the skin of her foot broke down, and she developed ulcers on her foot. She had to be treated by a plastic surgeon, who performed skin grafting. She underwent a number of surgical operations, including an ankle fusion and a subsequent surgery to correct the fusion. As a result of her injuries, the plaintiff was forced to sell her dental practice and had lost her licence to practice dentistry. The injury had dramatically altered her life and had left her with permanent impairments and restrictions. She was awarded $100,000 in general damages.

Barnes v. Terris, 2002 NSSC 99

• The plaintiff was in a motor vehicle accident and suffered soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries to the anterior part of her upper chest, as well her left knee and her left ankle. Of those physical injuries, the most persistent one was the ankle injury, causing continuing pain at the time of the trial. The plaintiff was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and dysthymia disorder, and she had a pre-existing history of anxiety and depression. She was able to do a full return to work after seven months. She was awarded $40,000 in general damages.

Young v. Sutherland, 2000 NSSC 100

• The 56-year-old plaintiff sustained a number of injuries in a motor vehicle accident, of which the most serious was a broken right ankle. Other injuries included a displaced large toe and broken bones in 3 other toes in his left foot, which were largely resolved without any substantial lasting effect by the time of the trial. He had a very restricted range of motion in his ankle joint as a result of the broken ankle, and was unable to continue his employment as a bill collector. He was awarded $50,000 in general damages.

Parker v. Belzile, 1993 CanLII 9307 (NB QB)

• The 20-year-old plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle accident while driving his motorcycle. He suffered 3 broken ribs, compound fracture of his left ankle, fractured left humerus, and a 9-inch scar on his arm and other minor scars on his head, abdomen and foot. His left arm remained weaker than his right, and his ankle caused him pain daily. He received $26,000 in general damages.