Last Updated 12th February 2026. Torn cartilage is often characterised by intense pain, swelling, stiffness, and a clicking sensation in the joint. This damage often leads to chronic pain and reduced mobility. If you suffered this kind of injury due to the actions or inactions of a negligent third party, you may be able to seek torn cartilage compensation. Whether you were injured at work, in public, or on the roads, one of our expert solicitors could help you through the torn cartilage compensation claims process.
At Legal Expert, we understand that the prospect of starting a claim can seem daunting at first. Thankfully, our team is here to address any concerns or questions you might have. Following a free assessment to see if you have a valid case, you may be connected with one of our specialist solicitors to start a torn cartilage injury compensation claim. Working on No Win No Fee terms, our solicitors have extensive experience securing personal injury compensation.
What You Need To Know About Torn Cartilage Injury Claims
- Will a torn cartilage heal itself? Cartilage does not have its own blood supply, and so does not have the ability to heal itself.
- What are the first signs of cartilage damage? The first signs may include joint pain that worsens when weight is placed on the cartilage, swelling, stiffness, and joint locking.
- How can a cartilage tear occur in an accident? A cartilage tear can occur due to sudden twists, movements, impacts, or gradual wear and tear from repeated exercises.
- What kind of accidents can lead to a torn cartilage? Falls from height, slips and trips, and direct blows in car collisions are among the most common causes.
- Can I make a personal injury claim for a torn cartilage? Yes, you can pursue compensation with one of our solicitors if the torn cartilage resulted from an injury caused by a negligent third party.
Our advisors are waiting to answer your questions, so please reach out for further guidance and see if you can pursue compensation with one of our excellent personal injury solicitors.
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What Is A Torn Cartilage Injury?
A torn cartilage injury refers to damage to the resilient, flexible connective tissue that protects bones and joints. These tears often result from sudden twisting, acute trauma, or direct impact, such as those sustained in falls and road traffic accidents.
While this injury most commonly affects the knee (meniscal tear), cartilage is also essential for the function of elbows, ankles, shoulders, and other parts of the body. It acts as a shock absorber, providing robust joint cushioning and structural stability. Symptoms of a cartilage tear vary depending on the affected area, but may include:
- Continuous joint pain and tenderness.
- Catching or locking of the joint when moving.
- Problems with bearing weight.
- Chronic stiffness and mobility issues.
- Popping or crunching sensation in the joint.
Unlike ligaments, cartilage lacks a blood supply and does not heal readily on its own. Consequently, physical therapy is frequently required to manage pain, restore range of motion, and rebuild strength in adjacent muscles. In some cases, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to facilitate long-term rehabilitation.
If you would like to share your experience following a torn cartilage injury, our advisors are here to help and explain your options for claiming. They can also address any questions you might have about the torn cartilage compensation claims process.
Can I Make A Torn Cartilage Compensation Claim?
To make a torn cartilage claim, you must have suffered negligence. Essentially, this occurs when you are injured due to a breach of duty of care.
Here are the places where a duty is owed to you, and by whom:
- At work. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers owe their employees a duty of care. This means that employers must take reasonable actions to ensure the safety of their employees when they’re at work.
- On the roads. All road users must act in a safe manner to avoid causing injuries to themselves and others. means that all road users must follow the rules and recommendations that are in The Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988.
- In public spaces. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, anyone in control of a public space (the occupier) has a duty to any members of the public who lawfully visit their space. Occupiers must take practical measures to ensure the public’s reasonable safety on their premises.
As such, negligence forms the basis of the torn cartilage compensation claims eligibility criteria, which are as follows:
- A duty of care was owed to you.
- This duty was breached.
- Due to this breach, you were injured.
So, please have a chat with us today if you meet the above criteria. Our team can assess whether you can claim torn cartilage compensation.
Common Accidents That Lead To Torn Cartilage Claims
Here are some examples of how duty of care could potentially be breached, and how you could experience a torn cartilage as a result:
- At work – your employer asked you to perform a manual handling task, but you have not been given any manual handling training. From this, you use the incorrect lifting technique and tear your cartilage as a result.
- On the roads – a driver is on their mobile phone whilst driving, and fails to realise that the traffic ahead of them has come to a stop at the red traffic lights. This causes the driver to crash into the rear of your car, where you sustain torn cartilage and other injuries from the impact, such as whiplash.
- In public spaces – there is a spillage in a supermarket aisle, but the occupier of that supermarket has not provided any wet floor signs. Due to no wet floor signs being displayed, you slip and fall on the spillage, tearing your cartilage as you fall.
This is only a small selection of examples, so please do not worry if your circumstances have not been discussed above. Please contact us to discuss how your specific accident occurred.
Types Of Torn Cartilage Injuries You Could Claim For
Meniscal and labral tears are among some of the most common types of torn cartilage injuries you could claim for if a negligent third party is at fault for them. You can find further details on these and other cartilage tears below:
- Meniscus tears: Affect the knee and are typically the result of sudden twisting. These tears often lead to persistent stiffness, pain, and limited range of motion.
- Labrum tears: Injuries affecting the ring of cartilage which provides stability to the shoulder and hip, often sustained due to falls. Symptoms can include dull or sharp pain with hip tears and shoulder instability.
- Elbow tears: Cartilage tears in this area can result in persistent swelling and a sensation of the joint giving way. There may also be increased weakness in the arm.
- Wrist tears: Frequently impact the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC), which stabilises the wrist around the pinky finger side. This can cause acute pain with rotation and a clicking sensation.
- Ankle tears: Symptoms commonly include stiffness, locking, and continuous pain deep in the joint. Tenderness and localised swelling may also occur.
Our team are ready now if you would like a free consultation to assess your case and find out if you could make a torn cartilage injury compensation claim today.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim For Torn Cartilage?
Compensation for a personal injury can vary on a case-by-case basis. This is because the amount that you could potentially receive is based on the unique circumstances of your case, including the severity of the injury and the treatment you receive.
Personal injury compensation can comprise 2 heads: general damages and special damages. General damages is the head of claim that addresses your pain and suffering and how it has affected your life.
The table below shows personal injury compensation guidelines from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that solicitors can refer to when calculating general damages. Please note that these are not guaranteed and are only guidelines, and the top figure is not from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries and special damages | Serious | Up to £500,000+ |
| Knee | Severe (a) (i) | £85,100 to £117,410 |
| Severe (a) (ii) | £63,610 to £85,100 | |
| Severe (a) (iii) | £31,960 to £53,030 | |
| Moderate (b) (i) | £18,110 to £31,960 | |
| Moderate (b) (ii) | Up to £16,770 | |
| Ankle | Very severe (a) | £61,090 to £85,070 |
| Moderate (c) | £16,770 to £32,450 | |
| Shoulder | Severe (a) | £23,430 to £58,610 |
| Moderate (c) | £9,630 to £15,580 |
Torn cartilage injury compensation amounts can also include special damages. This is the head of your claim that addresses the financial impacts of your injuries. For example, if you need to take time off work to recover from the torn cartilage, you may experience a loss of earnings. You could potentially claim these back under the special damages head of your claim.
For more information on what you could claim for following a torn cartilage injury caused by negligence, get in touch with our team today.
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How Do You Prove A Torn Cartilage Claim?
Torn cartilage compensation claims can be supported with evidence. This is a bundle of information that paints a picture of how the third party’s negligent conduct resulted in you sustaining an injury. The more evidence you are able to obtain, the greater the chance you have of reaching a settlement in your favour.
Evidence that may support your claim includes:
- Medical reports that state you suffered from a torn cartilage
- Your prescriptions or medical scans, such as X-rays
- Photographs of your injuries and the accident scene
- Dashcam or CCTV footage of your accident
- For car accidents, insurance details and registration numbers
- The log from the accident report book
- Police reports, if they were called to the scene
- Information about your lost earnings, such as payslips or receipts
- Correspondence with the third party
- The contact details of any witnesses
For a successful torn cartilage claim, it is important to obtain as much evidence as possible to establish third-party liability. If you need assistance with this, our experienced solicitors may provide support.
Once all of the evidence has been collected, our solicitors will review it and may begin to build your claim.
For more examples of the types of evidence that may support a torn cartilage claim, please contact our helpful advisors.
Making A Torn Cartilage Claim With Our Solicitors
When making a torn cartilage claim with one of our dedicated No Win No Fee solicitors at Legal Expert, you will gain access to high-quality legal representation that puts your interests at the heart of the process. Our solicitors firmly believe that, as with the impact of cartilage tears themselves, no two cases are truly alike, and they adapt the service they provide accordingly.
Why Choose Legal Expert For Torn Cartilage Compensation Claims?
You should choose Legal Expert for navigating the torn cartilage compensation claims process because you will receive compassionate, tailored support that helps handle the complexities of your case while you stay focused on healing. For our solicitors, one thing has always been apparent in the cases they have taken on: the right support matters. That guides how they represent clients, and can include assistance with:
- Gathering evidence that can demonstrate the severity of your tear, its cause, and how it affects you.
- Connecting to rehabilitation services, including private orthopaedic specialists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.
- Communicating with all involved parties and filing essential legal paperwork.
- Understanding the claims process through clear explanations of unfamiliar legal language.
- Negotiating a settlement reflective of how your torn cartilage has impacted you.
Can Torn Cartilage Compensation Be Claimed On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, torn cartilage compensation can be claimed on a No Win No Fee basis under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement offered by our expert solicitors. This arrangement enables our clients to pursue their claim with the knowledge that:
- There will be no service fees to pay in advance to their solicitor.
- No service fees are charged for a solicitor’s work at any stage of the claims process.
- Service fees are not payable if the claim for a torn cartilage injury is unsuccessful.
Our solicitors receive a legally limited percentage of the compensation when a claim is successful. It’s called a success fee, and that legal cap ensures our clients always receive the majority of their compensation.
Contact Legal Expert To Make A Claim
If you would like to enquire about claiming for your torn cartilage injury, contact Legal Expert’s team today to discuss your options. You can reach us in several ways:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Check the validity of your claim online by completing the form on our website
- Use the pop-up window in the corner to chat with our advisors
How We Can Help With Torn Cartilage Compensation Claims
If you have suffered from torn cartilage or a meniscus tear in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to make a torn cartilage injury claim for compensation. Whether you wish to claim workers’ compensation for a meniscus tear, knee replacement compensation or any other sort of torn cartilage injury compensation, Legal Expert can help you.
Our expert personal injury lawyers have years of experience in their field and will always push to get you the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. Remember, we offer a free legal consultation for anyone looking to claim compensation for a cartilage tear accident, so call us today to receive yours, and if you have legitimate grounds, get started on your compensation claim.
Useful Links
Some useful links:
- Accident at Work Claims – Find out how much compensation you could be entitled to after suffering an accident at work.
- Public Place Accidents – There are a number of ways you could be injured in a public place.
- NHS Guide to Cartilage Damage – Learn more about damage to tissues such as cartilage with this handy NHS guide.
- Litigation Friends – If you’d rather someone else make your claim for you, that’s possible.
Thank you for reading our guide on torn cartilage compensation claims.