Having recently broken my 20 year rules on boots, and wearing sneakers lately, I'm gonna stop doing the sneaker thing again.
I've never sustained an ankle or leg fracture while wearing shin high boots, and I can say for certain, I would have in instances the boots "sleeve" prevented localized pressure on leg bones, and especially ankle bones. I've hit the ground hard, and twisted bones in every manner, and even had other riders drive over my lower legs on tracks, my knees have seen multiple visits to the ortho doctor, but my ankles, and shins have survived with little more than bruising, and soreness..
Wear the highest boots that are comfortable, shin high at a minimum...
A pair of comfey shoes at work to change into when you get there is a normal thing... just preserve the bones you have now... the 5 minutes of walking into work, and changing shoes is priceless...
And if you wear substandard foot and leg protection, based on what your "peers" see when you are putting on shoes at work, flip them off, and tell them to go play naked in the freeway.