Sports injury compensation claims
If you’ve been involved in a sporting accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries.
Speak to our specialist no win no fee solicitors today.
The most important things to remember when making a sports injury claim
- You can claim compensation if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident while playing sports or exercising and someone else was to blame
- You can make a claim for compensation for a sports injury if someone else’s negligence caused your injury
- The amount of compensation you may be able to claim will depend on the severity of your injuries, the pain and suffering caused, and the impact the injuries will have on your life
- In most cases, you have up to three years from the date of the accident to start your compensation claim
- Your sports injury claim will be made against the insurance company of the organisation responsible for your accident, as it is a legal requirement for organisations to have specific liability insurance to cover situations when someone under their duty of care may be injured
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- Over 1,000 years of combined legal expertise
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* Where applicable
What types of sports injuries can I claim compensation for?
Our expert personal injury claim solicitors have over two decades of experience helping people who’ve suffered sports injuries through no fault of their own. Some of the most common sporting injury claims we have successfully claimed compensation for include:
- Sports injuries caused by negligence or inadequate observation, advice or instruction by a personal trainer, gym instructor, exercise class teacher, physiotherapist, referee, or umpire
- Sports injuries caused by deliberate dangerous conduct or reckless collisions or tackles by others in sporting events such as football or rugby
- Sports injuries caused by unsafe, poorly maintained, or faulty equipment
- Sports injuries caused by assault from another player or spectator
- Sports injuries caused by poorly maintained venues with unsuitable lighting or hazardous surfaces on and around the pitches, courts, and courses leading to slips, trips or falls or an increased chance of a dangerous collision while playing team sports
- Sports injuries caused by the failure of an official or referee to take control of a game to prevent an accident
- Sports injuries caused by playing in adverse weather conditions
If your sporting injury is the result of someone else’s negligence or dangerous behaviour, speak to our specialist personal injury solicitors today to find out your legal rights to claiming compensation.
How long do I have to make a sports injury compensation claim?
In most cases, the time limit to make a sports injury claim is three years. You will have up to three years from the date of the accident that caused your injuries or three years from the date a medical professional diagnosed your injuries.
The three-year time limit to claim compensation is known as the statute of limitations and applies to all personal injury claims.
However, there are some notable exceptions.
The three-year time limit does not apply if you claim for someone with limited mental capacity or if the injuries prevented them from claiming within three years. It will only begin if they regain mental capacity.
You have two years to claim if your sports injury resulted from an assault.
If claiming for a child, you can make a claim anytime until their 21st birthday.
What our clients say
How much compensation can I claim for a sports injury?
The amount of compensation you may be able to claim for a sports injury will depend on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, the impact the injuries may have on your life, and any costs incurred related to the injury will be considered.
How is compensation calculated when claiming for a sports injury?
Compensation amounts for sporting injuries are calculated by combining the compensation you may be legally entitled to for both general and special damages. General damages amounts relate to the severity of your injuries, while special damages relate to the effects the injuries may have on your life.
The Judicial College Guidelines from the Ministry of Justice provide guidance on the amount of compensation you can claim for general damages. These amounts relate to the part of the body injured, how severe the injury is, and if any ongoing symptoms may develop.
Sports accident and injury compensation claims calculator
Our sports injury claims calculator offers a guide to the amount of compensation you may be able to claim for your general damages. The calculator considers the severity of your injuries and provides an approximate compensation amount.
Alternatively, see our table of sports injury compensation amounts at the bottom of this page or use our personal injury claims calculator to find out how much you may be able to claim.
Find out how much you could claim
Compensation amounts are estimated based on the level of injury below
Claiming compensation for special damages for sports injury claims
In addition to the amount of compensation you may receive for your injuries, you can also claim Special damages to cover expenses you may have already incurred or will incur because of your injury.
Such expenses may include, but would not be limited to;
- Any loss of income you may have suffered
- Any medical treatment you may require
- Any costs for the care you may have or will need to receive, even if provided by a family member
- Any out-of-pocket expenses you or anyone who has cared for you may have incurred
- Any out-of-pocket expenses you may have incurred because of your injuries
Who do I make a sports injury compensation claim against?
Your sports injury claim will be made against the insurance company of the organisation responsible for your accident, as it is a legal requirement for organisations to have specific liability insurance to cover situations when someone under their duty of care may be injured.
Such organisations may include:
- The venue where your accident happened
- The organisation which staged the sporting event
- The local council
- A league or association you’re registered with
- The club or team you play for
- A private gym
- A school
Sports organisations, clubs, and venues have a duty of care to take all reasonable steps to ensure all individuals who take part in or watch sport a sporting event they are responsible for are protected from harm.
If this duty of care is breached through negligence or lack of action, and you have been injured, you may be eligible to start a sports injury compensation claim.
You’ll claim more with us.
We have recovered an additional £21.2m more in compensation for clients who switched to us from their previous firm.
Contact us now to discover the real value of your claim.
Can I make a no win no fee sports accident claim?
Yes. Our sports accident claims are provided on a no win, no fee basis.
No win no fee agreements are also known as Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA). This agreement means that there is only a fee on the condition that your claim is successful. The fee amount will be agreed upon when you enter into the agreement at the start of the claim process.
It means you are safe to pursue a compensation claim knowing that you have no financial risk if it’s unsuccessful.
When a no win no fee agreement is set up, your solicitor will take an insurance policy out on your behalf. The policy covers any costs incurred relating to your claim. These costs could include legal fees, medical reports, court, and other expenses.
The insurance policy, known as after-the-event insurance, fully protects the person claiming if the claim is unsuccessful and from any costs during the compensation claim process, meaning you can make a claim without paying a penny.
How much personal injury compensation can I claim?
What information do I need to start a sports injury compensation claim?
To help support your claim, we will need to build a case to prove that your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence.
When you contact us, You’ll receive free, unlimited legal advice, and we’ll ask you for some information about how your accident happened.
The more information you can provide, the better we can advise you of your rights and how much compensation you may be able to claim.
We may ask some of the following questions;
- Where and when the accident took place
- The injuries you’ve suffered as a result of the accident
- Who may have been at fault for the accident
- Any reports of the incident that were made to the sports official, events organiser, or to the gym involved (where applicable)
- If you have any of the following (if applicable) witness statements, accident reports, photographs, police reports or CCTV of the accident scene
- What medical treatment you’ve received, and when you received it
- If you have medical reports
- What injuries and pain you’ve suffered, and are still suffering
- The amount of time you’ve had to take off work
- The amount of loss of earnings you may have incurred
- Any adaptations you’ve had to make to your daily life, home and routines
How long does a sports injury compensation claim take?
There is no set length of time for a sports injury claim to be processed. On average, sports injury claims can take from a few months to over a year, depending on the circumstances of how the injury occurred, how complex your claim is and how difficult it may be to prove liability.
Can I claim compensation if I’ve been injured as a spectator at a sporting event?
Yes, spectators have the same “duty of care” rights as participants when attending a sporting event. Spectators are entitled to claim for compensation if they have sustained an injury through no fault of their own while watching sports.
Sporting venues are legally required to provide safe facilities for everyone who visits their venue, including spectators. If this duty of care is breached, you may be able to claim for compensation.
Examples of claims for spectators are sporting events may include when injuries have occurred because of:
- Slips, trips or falls in car parks due to potholes, missing kerbstones, loose paving slabs, or inadequate lighting
- Slips on a wet floor because of spillages in clubhouses, toilets or stands that weren’t cleaned up or adequate signage was provided
- Another spectator has assaulted you, and there was a lack of supervision from the venue to protect you
We understand the financial impact of an accident.
In 99% of cases, we recovered more compensation than the insurer’s first offer. We’ll provide financial security with our interim payments wherever possible, meaning you don’t need to rush into an offer that is lower than you’re legally entitled to.
Can I claim compensation as a referee or official if I have been injured at a sporting event?
Yes, you may be able to claim compensation if you’ve been injured while officiating a sporting event and your injuries were caused by someone else.
Most often, these types of claims may be the result of a referee being assaulted by a football player during a match. Speak to our specialist assault solicitors to find out your legal rights.
Can I claim compensation for a sports injury even if I’ve signed a waiver?
You could still make a sports injury claim even if you signed a waiver. Sports waivers are in place to warn you about any potential risks if the organisation does everything possible to keep you safe. However, if the organisation is negligent, for example, if they fail to maintain gym equipment, they would be at fault, and you can still make a claim.
Can I claim compensation for sports injuries from a gym or sports centre?
Yes, you may be able to claim compensation for a sporting injury suffered at your local gym or sports centre if they were someone else’s fault.
Claims for negligence on behalf of the gym could be made in the following circumstances:
- Your injuries were caused because the gym failed to adequately maintain equipment, such as exercise machines, or weight machines
- Your injuries were caused by a personal trainer or gym instructor giving you bad advice
- Your injuries were caused by an exercise class instructor or yoga teacher giving you bad advice
Can I claim compensation for sports injuries suffered from playing in a football match?
Yes, you could claim compensation if you’ve been injured because of dangerous or aggressive behaviour, including assault from another player during a football match. You may also be able to claim if the pitch, equipment or training methods caused your injury.
Can I claim compensation for sports injuries suffered from playing in a rugby match?
Even though some might say the “associated risks” when playing rugby are higher than most sports, if you’ve been injured because of excessively dangerous play, such as high tackles, or assault from another player, you may have a right to claim compensation. You also have a right to claim if negligent playing conditions, poor equipment or training methods caused your injury.
Can I claim compensation for sports injuries suffered from riding a horse?
Horse riding injury claims are often severe and may result in broken bones or other life-changing injuries. You may be able to claim if your trainer failed to follow the correct safety precautions or if you were injured while looking after a horse.
Can I claim compensation for sports injuries suffered from skiing or other snow sports?
Snow sports injury claims are often related to skiing injuries or other risky snow sports such as snowboarding. You may be able to make a claim if the equipment was faulty or if you were allowed to take part in unsafe weather conditions. Ski resorts and other snow sports centres will have trained staff whose job it is to keep you safe. If negligence can be proven, you may have a right to make a claim for compensation.
Unlimited legal support.
That’s right, we provide unlimited legal support for our prospective clients. Not sure if you have a claim, or if you even want to make a claim?
You can speak with us for as long as you like and as many times as you like. We’ll let you know your legal rights, completely free of charge and with no obligation to make a claim.
Compensation claim amounts for sports injuries
| Part of body | Severity of injury | Amount of compensation | Types of injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Minor | £1,880.00 to £10,890.00 | Covers head injury with recovery within a few weeks. Higher compensation if symptoms include headaches. |
| Head | Moderate | £13,430.00 to £112,130.00 | Symptoms ranging from poor concentration, lower and higher risk of epileptic attacks, minor personality changes, depression, more severe intellectual impairment, or injuries/symptoms leading to a vegetative state. |
| Head | Serious | £186,890.00 £240,590.00 | Covers reduced life expectancy, serious physical symptoms, serious changes to personality or intellect, large dependence on others due to paralysis or otherwise. |
| Head | Severe | £240,590.00 to £344,640.00 | Covers minimally conscious state (life expectancy less than 15 years), severe disability, brain damage with little/no response, vegetative states needing full-time nursing. |
| Eye | Severe | £56,080.00to £229,260.00 | Complete blindness on one/both eyes or severe visual impairment on one/both eyes. |
| Face | Minor | £1,460.00 to £7,460.00 | Light or no scarring on the face, but no fractures, loss/damage of one/two front teeth, simple fractures of the jaw or nose, but with a possibility of complete recovery. |
| Face | Serious | £15,320.00 to £26,010.00 | More serious fractures such as a broken jaw or nose, breaking/damage/loss of several teeth. |
| Face | Severe | £26,010.00 to £38,850.00 | Severe injuries resulting in facial disfigurement, several jaw fractures, chronic tooth pain, and scarring. May lead to eating restrictions or higher risk of joint arthritis. Covers negative effects on mental health. |
| Ear/ hearing | Minor | Up to £5,980.00 | Possible Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), slight/occasional tinnitus. |
| Ear/ hearing | Moderate | £12,700.00 to £25,350.00 | Partial hearing loss or mild to severe tinnitus. |
| Ear/ hearing | Serious | £25,350.00 to £38,850.00 | Complete deafness in one ear. Severity varies based on additional symptoms (e.g. dizziness, tinnitus, etc.). |
| Ear/ hearing | Severe | £77,430.00 to £120,040.00 | Complete deafness in both ears. Higher compensation for child injuries also resulting in a loss of speech. |
Sports injury compensation amounts for back, neck, shoulders and upper body injuries
| Part of body | Severity of injury | Amount of compensation | Types of injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neck | Minor | Up to £6,680.00 | Soft tissue injuries or whiplash with recovery within 3 – 24 months. Compensation factors include severity of pain and amount of negative effects on everyday life. |
| Neck | Moderate | £7,410.00 to £47,760.00 | Covers injuries that accelerated a pre-existing condition, disc lesions, cervical spondylosis, serious limitation of movement, permanent and/or recurring pain, all caused by fractures or dislocations. |
| Neck | Severe | £56,100.00 to £139,210.00 | Serious fractures, severe soft tissue damage, chronic pain conditions, disc damage, partial paraplegia, or significant, permanent disability. |
| Back | Minor | £2,090.00 to £10,670.00 | Includes lighter strains, sprains, disc prolapses, and soft tissue injuries. Recovery between 3 months and 5 years. |
| Back | Moderate | £11,730.00 to £26,050.00 | Includes: spinal fusion, compressed or fractured lumbar spine (possibly resulting in higher risk of osteoarthritis and constant pain), prolapsed discs and other injuries that may require surgery and a continued acceleration/worsening of a pre-existing back condition. |
| Back | Severe | £36,390.00 to £151,070.00 | Typically requires surgery. Injuries include: damaged spinal cord and partial paralysis, psychological issues, loss of bladder and/or bowel function, disc lesions, impaired movement, arthritis, etc. |
| Shoulder | Minor | Up to £6,730.00 | Soft tissue injury resulting in pain. Full recovery between 3 – 24 months. |
| Shoulder | Serious | £10,890.00 to £16,380.00 | Fractured humerus, clavicle or rotator cuff needing surgery. |
| Shoulder | Severe | £16,380.00 to £40,970.00 | Significant disability caused by severe damage to the neck or brachial plexus. |
| Pelvis & hips | Minor | £3,370.00 to £10,750.00 | Complete recovery after minor soft tissue injuries. Little or no disability within 2 years. |
| Pelvis & hips | Moderate | £10,750.00 to £33,430.00 | No serious disability, but covers injuries requiring hip operations, replacement of hips (or the need for either in the future). |
| Pelvis & hips | Severe | £33,430.00 to £111,690.00 | Severe hip/pelvis fractures resulting in bowel damage or spinal fusion, childbirth complications, hip replacement, and/or leading to higher likelihood of future surgery. |
| Scarring (not facial) | Minor | £2,020.00 to £7,380.00 | One noticeable scar or several superficial, unsightly scars on the legs, arms, or hands. |
| Scarring (not facial | Moderate | Up to £7,380.00 | Full recovery within 2 years, up to a partial recovery with symptoms that are not largely debilitating. |
| Scarring (not facial | Severe | £6,680.00 to £19,390.00 | Several noticeable laceration scars or a single disfiguring scar. |
Sports injury compensation amounts for arm, hand, and finger injuries
| Part of body | Severity of injury | Amount of compensation | Types of injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm | Mild | £5,630.00 to £16,380.00 | Fractured forearm. |
| Arm | Moderate | £16,380.00 to £33,430.00 | Serious arm injury leading to long-lasting symptoms. |
| Arm | Serious | £33,430.00 to £111,690.00 | Serious injury resulting in an inability to use the arm(s) to some extent. Does not result in amputation. |
| Arm | Severe | £82,040.00 to £255,930.00 | Results may include the amputation of one/both arms. Compensation amount will depends on amputated area, whether phantom pain is experienced, and on other effects on the quality of life. |
| Elbow | Moderate | Up to £10,750.00 | Includes: tennis elbow, deep cuts, simple fractures, no permanent damage. |
| Elbow | Serious | £13,360.00 to £27,320.00 | Results in restricted movement but does not require surgery or cause disability. |
| Elbow | Severe | £33,430.00 to £46,780.00 | Injury causes severe disability or requires surgery. |
| Wrist | Moderate | Up to £8,740.00 | Uncomplicated Colles fracture or minor undisplaced fractures with recovery between 1 – 2 years. May include use of plasters. |
| Wrist | Serious | £10,750.00 to £20,900.00 | Soft tissue damage or broken wrist causing some permanent disability. |
| Wrist | Severe | £20,900.00to £51,070.00. | Significant permanent disability or complete loss of wrist function. |
| Hand | Minor | Up to £4,050.00 | Covers lacerations and crush injuries, and soft tissue injuries (recovery within 6 months). |
| Hand | Moderate | £4,780.00 to £11,330.00 | Covers penetrating wounds and crush injuries resulting in permanent but non-intrusive symptoms, or soft tissue damage and deeper cuts resulting in impairment of the hand (may require surgery). |
| Hand | Severe | £24,740.00 to £171,920.00 | Covers amputation and rejoining of several fingers, resulting in a clawed, impaired, or unsightly hand, amputation of one/both hands (alternatively, amputation of several fingers rendering the hand almost useless). |
| Finger | Minor | Up to £4,055.00 | Includes: full-healed fractured finger bones (healed within 1 year) with/without minor scarring. |
| Finger | Moderate | £3,370.00 to £5,000.00 | Includes: complete (or almost complete) recovery after broken finger, amputation or loss of a part of the little finger. |
| Finger | Severe | £10,380.00 to £31,350.00 | Includes: complete amputation of one/more fingers, fractures of the index finger. Compensation depends on level of disability and suffering. |
| Thumb | Minor | Up to £4,055.00 | Short-term, severe pain gone within 3 months. |
| Thumb | Moderate | £3,370.00 to £10,750.00 | Covers fractures with recovery within 6 months, damage to nerves or tendons resulting in partial loss of sensation, and cosmetic thumb deformities. |
| Thumb | Severe | £10,750.00 to £46,780.00 | Partial/complete amputation of the thumb, surgical wire insertions, nerve damage, fractures, inability to grip. |
Sports injury compensation amounts for leg and foot injuries
| Part of body | Severity of injury | Amount of compensation | Types of injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leg | Minor | £7,780.00 to £12,010.00 | Minor injuries with recovery within a few months (e.g. soft-tissue injuries, bruising, cuts, and contusions). Slightly more severe injuries such as simple fractures of the femur, tibia, or fibula. |
| Leg | Moderate | £15,320.00 to £46,780.00 | Minor fractures with partial recovery, serious soft tissue injury, injuries to one leg (e.g. broken bones, crushing injuries), ligament injuries, compound fractures leading to near certainty of arthritis or instability. |
| Leg | Severe | £46,780.00 to £240,590.00 | Severe injuries resulting in extensive degloving, bone grafting, permanently reduced mobility, or amputation of one/both legs (above/below the knee). |
| Knee | Minor | Up to £11,730.00 | Includes soft tissue injuries (recovery within a few months), a twisted knee, lacerations, or bruising resulting in discomfort or pain. |
| Knee | Moderate | £22,340.00 to £37,070.00 | Includes: seriously damaged kneecaps, ligaments, or muscles, dislocation, a torn meniscus, acceleration injuries (over several years), resulting in ongoing discomfort or pain. |
| Knee | Severe | £44,470.00 to £82,080.00 | Covers constant pain, severe disability, or muscle wastage. Higher compensation if need for surgery or injury effects quality of life. |
| Ankle | Minor | Up to £11,730.00 | Smaller fractures, but bone has not been displaced. May include sprains, injured ligaments (likely leads to scarring). Smaller injuries can allow for full recovery within a year, without any scarring. |
| Ankle | Moderate | £11,730.00 to £42,710.00 | Includes ligament tears, fractures, leading to smaller disabilities while standing/moving. Increased risk of osteoarthritis. Operation/cast needed. May lead to inability to work or call for special footwear. |
| Ankle | Severe | £42,710.00 to £59,480.00 | Severe injury resulting in deformities, disabilities, or even amputation of the body part down the line. |
| Achilles | Minor | £6,200.00 to £10,750.00 | Minor instability due to tendon damage around the ankle. Some more severe cases might involve scarring. |
| Achilles | Moderate | £10,750.00 to £17,970.00 | More serious injury and partially ruptured tendon. More severe cases tend to involve disability and/or permanent scarring. |
| Achilles | Severe | £21,320.00to £32,780.00 | Restricted movement of the ankle due to severed muscle tissue. Small likelihood of further improvement of limp and residual scarring. |
| Foot | Minor | Up to £11,730.00 | Includes: minor fractures, lacerations or contusions (with complete recovery within 2 years), ruptured ligaments or other puncture wounds that result in chronic pain or a permanent limp. |
| Foot | Moderate | £11,730.00 to £59,730.00 | Includes: metatarsal fractures resulting in permanent deformity and ongoing symptoms, fractured heels (both), restricted mobility, degloving and heel fusion. |
| Foot | Severe | £71,640.00 to £171,920.00 | Injury needing amputation of one/both feet or traumatic amputation of the forefoot (to prevent need for complete amputation). |
| Toe | Minor | Up to £8,190.00 | One or more broken toes with a varying recovery period. Compensation depends on presence of long-term symptoms and speed of recovery. |
| Toe | Moderate | £8,190.00 to £11,730.00 | Multiple fractures, crush injuries to two/more toes, permanent disability. May have involved unsuccessful past operations. |
| Toe | Severe | £11,730.00 to £47,830.00 | Severe crush injuries leading to less/surgical amputation of one or two toes (not including the big toe), amputation of all toes or the big toe. |
Why choose Express Solicitors for sports injury claims?
At Express Solicitors, we offer decades of experience settling no win, no fee sports injury compensation claims just like yours. No matter how small your injury, if someone else’s negligence caused it, we will do everything we can to claim the amount of compensation you are legally entitled to.
You deserve to feel safe when playing or watching sports. If you’ve been let down, contact Express Solicitors to start your no win, no fee sports injury claim today.
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