Skip to content 
Amputation compensation claims award a financial settlement to those who suffered a traumatic amputation or later required a surgical amputation due to another party’s negligence. An injury that requires an amputation can be extremely traumatic, as can suffering a sudden loss of limb. Adjusting to life after losing a limb is also a difficult process, as many amputees experience phantom limb pain and psychological issues. This pain and the mental suffering can be considered when valuing a loss of limb claim.
Successful amputation compensation claims also help those affected to recover their financial losses and focus on adapting to life with a lost limb. Depending on your situation, you may have paid out of pocket for private medical care, prosthetics and physiotherapy. Many amputees also find that they cannot return to the job they had before the accident or they may not be able to work the hours that they used to. When assessing your serious injury claim, legal professionals will consider the current and future effects that the amputation is likely to have on your lifestyle.
Speak with one of our advisors today to find out whether you could be entitled to amputation compensation. They understand that you have likely been under a lot of stress, so they are happy to give you the information you need. Whether you are hoping to start claiming or would like to learn more before making any legal commitments, they can help. Their advice is offered with no strings attached, though you may be given the option to work with a specialist personal injury solicitor from our panel. Get in touch with Legal Helpline today if you have any interest in the claims process.
Jump To A Section
- What Are Amputation Compensation Claims?
- Can I Claim After An Amputation Or Loss Of Limb?
- Examples Of Loss Of Limb Or Amputation Claims
- What Types Of Amputation Or Limb Loss Can I Claim For?
- What Are The Life Long Impacts Of Having An Amputation?
- How Much Could Be Awarded For Amputation Compensation Claims?
- Can A Loss Of Limb Or Amputation Claim Help With Other Expenses?
- How Can I Bring A Compensation Claim For Amputation Or Limb Loss?
- How Can Legal Helpline Support My Amputation Claim?
- No Win No Fee Loss Of Limb And Amputation Compensation
- More Information
What Are Amputation Compensation Claims?
Amputation compensation claims are essentially a way for those who have experienced an amputation due to another party’s legal failure to get compensation. This can cover not only the physical effects of the amputation, but also the emotional and physical impact.
There are countless situations for which a person may seek amputation compensation, as you can read about later in the guide. Our advisors are also available to discuss any aspects of the case that you feel uncertain of.
Can I Claim After An Amputation Or Loss Of Limb?
Yes, you can make an amputation claim if an organisation did not meet health and safety laws, allowing for an accident that required you to have an amputation. This can be broken down into a list of 3 criteria:
You Were Owed A Duty Of Care
This means that there were certain laws and regulations in place to protect your health and safety. Another party would have some reasonable level of responsibility for implementing them. There are many situations where this can apply, as outlined in the next section. However, in general, steps must be taken to ensure that a person does not suffer a traumatic amputation or an injury that could result in a surgical amputation, such as a crush injury.
There Was A Failure To Meet The Duty
When claiming, you would also be required to show how exactly the defending party failed to meet their legal obligations. This can apply in a variety of ways, such as failing to conduct risk assessments or to provide appropriate training. Amputations, both traumatic and surgical, can arise in situations where these obligations are not met.
You Needed An Amputation As A Result
The actions (or lack of) of the other party must have caused an accident that required you to undergo an amputation. You may also have experienced some form of psychological harm due to the event. You can claim for multiple injuries; however, they must be medically recognised and caused by a failure to meet the relevant safety regulations.
At this stage, you may not be certain whether another party could be held liable for your amputation. Get in touch with our enquiries team today, as they can assess the details of your case and confirm whether you qualify. They could even connect you with one of the solicitors from our panel, who are experts in handling amputation compensation claims.
Examples Of Loss Of Limb Or Amputation Claims
Examples of amputation compensation claims are typically related to incidents in the workplace, on the road and in public spaces. You can read this section for some key examples.
Workplace Amputation Or Loss Of Limb Injuries
By law, all employers must take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the well-being and safety of their employees. This means that the employer has various responsibilities, such as providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and manual handling training.
Therefore, you make an accident at work claim for the following scenario:
- You work on a construction site, but your employer has not provided you with steel-toe-capped boots. A brick falls from the scaffolding above you and lands on your foot. Two of your toes are crushed and have to be amputated.
Amputations And Limb Loss In Public Places
Similarly, those in charge of public spaces must take the necessary steps to ensure the reasonable safety of visitors. Under the following circumstances, you could seek amputation compensation as part of a public liability claim:
- One day, when you visit a leisure centre, an automatic door closes on your arm. A fault in the mechanisms of the door means that your arm is trapped and crushed. As a result, you have your arm amputated below the elbow and suffer from severe anxiety. The party in charge of the leisure centre was aware of the faulty door but made no efforts to have the issue fixed.
Road Accident Amputation And Loss Of Limb Claims
All people using the roads legally need to take certain precautions regarding each other’s safety. This applies to drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and any other road users.
The following is an example of a valid car accident claim:
- A drunk driver fails to stop in time and hits you while you are using a zebra crossing. You suffer multiple complex fractures to your legs and require both legs to be amputated.
Loss Of Limb And Amputation Medical Negligence
Medical professionals owe a duty of care to the patients they treat. This means that they need to provide you with a minimum standard of care. Should you suffer harm unnecessarily, you could make a medical negligence claim. This applies if:
- A doctor uses a dirty needle when injecting you, resulting in infection and sepsis. The resulting tissue death means that you need to have both of your arms amputated at the shoulder.
Amputation And Limb Loss After Violent Crime
If your amputation resulted from a violent crime, you could claim compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This body has its own eligibility criteria for making a criminal injury claim. You could seek compensation if:
- A person assaults you on the street, stabbing you in the leg. The leg becomes infected and you have to have it amputated above the knee.
It can be overwhelming to learn about all the different types of amputation compensation claims. Why not speak to our advisors to get information that is relevant to your specific case? They offer straightforward answers to your questions, free of charge.
What Types Of Amputation Or Limb Loss Can I Claim For?
You can claim for any loss of limb, including amputation of the arms, legs, hands, fingers, feet or toes. Learn more about these different types of amputation below.
Arm Amputations
The level of amputation affecting an arm will vary from case-to-case. Some people require amputation below the elbow, while others need the whole arm removing at the shoulder. Certain adaptations and equipment can help a person adjust to living with an arm amputation.
Hand Or Finger Amputation
An injury affecting the hand can require you to have one or several fingers amputated. It may even be necessary to have the whole hand removed. Living without full use of the hands can be extremely difficult and limit a person’s ability to live independently.
Leg Amputations
Having a leg amputation can be traumatic, as a person’s mobility is often severely impacted. Depending on the success of prosthetics and other equipment, such as a wheelchair, leg amputees can often make their way through life independently.
Foot Or Toe Amputation
A foot or toe amputation can lead to similar complications. Mobility and balance is usually affected. Crushing injuries can often lead to the amputation of the extremities when the affected area is non-salvageable.
No matter what type of amputation you have experienced, you could be entitled to compensation. Speak with one of our advisors today to find out more about amputation compensation claims and how compensation could help you to live with your injuries.
What Are The Life Long Impacts Of Having An Amputation?
An amputation can permanently restrict a person’s mobility, cause heart problems and phantom limb pain. The specifics of a person’s experience will depend on the type of amputation a person had. Physical complications can include heart issues, deep vein thrombosis and pneumonia.
Amputees also often experience psychological issues due to the trauma of the incident. It can be extremely challenging to cope with the loss of sensation and function of the affected limb. A person’s body image can also suffer as they grapple with this change in appearance.
Amputation compensation claims can account for the long-term effects of your injuries, so speak to an advisor today to discuss your unique experience.
How Much Could Be Awarded For Amputation Compensation Claims?
How much compensation you could receive for an amputation will depend on the psychological, physical and financial effects of your injury. In successful compensation claims of this nature, general damages will be awarded. This is the part of the compensation that covers your suffering and pain. Of course, amputations can have drastic effects on your lifestyle. Therefore, general damages can also include an assessment of how your leisure activities and relationships have been affected by the amputation.
When assessing how much could be owed in general damages, legal professionals may use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that gives guideline compensation brackets for different types and severities of harm.
Although we have provided some JCG figures in the following table, it is important that you do not view these as a guarantee of your compensation payout. This is because each claimant will have a different experience of their amputation, so these guidelines may not apply to your case. Also note that the figure in the top row is not from the JCG.
Speak to one of our advisors to discuss your situation and confirm what the compensation payout could cover. They offer this case assessment service free of charge, so you have nothing to lose by accessing this.
| Type and Severity of Harm | Compensation Guideline Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple forms of harm with financial losses | Up to £1,000,000+ | Multiple injuries and associated costs (such as medical expenses, travel cost and lost earnings) |
| Loss of both arms | £318,120 to £396,340 | The the injury will reduce the claimant to a considerable state of helplessness and they will have full awareness |
| Loss of both legs | £318,120 to £372,570 | This can apply where both legs have been lost above the knee or one leg has been amputated above the knee whilst the other was lost below the knee |
| Below-knee amputation of both legs | £266,200 to £356,840 | Several factors will be taken into account, such as the severity of phantom pains, age and associated psychological reaction |
| Loss of 1 arm (i) | Not less than £181,200 | Amputation of an arm at the shoulder |
| Above-knee amputation of 1 leg | £138,490 to £181,610 | The success of prosthetics, associated back ache, age of the claimants and other factors will be assessed |
| Amputation of 1 foot | £110,930 to £144,860 | Such an injury would be seen as similar to an amputation below the knee due to the lost ankle joint |
| Amputation of index and middle and/or ring fingers | £81,790 to £119,890 | Any remaining grip will be exceedingly weak and the hand will be of very little use |
| Amputation of 1 great toe | In the region of £41,370 | Amputation of 1 great toe |
Can A Loss Of Limb Or Amputation Claim Help With Other Expenses?
Yes, loss of limb compensation claims can help you to recover the financial expenses caused by the amputation. This comes under another part of the compensation called special damages. Read this section for examples of financial losses that claimants often recover via their amputation compensation. If you would like to claim any of these expenses (or others that may not be listed here), make sure you save documentation that proves how much you spent. You will need to submit wage slips, receipts, and invoices as part of the amputation compensation claims process.
Loss Of Short Or Long Term Income
An amputation will usually require a person to take time off work. This may be a short-term need, but many claimants find it is not possible to work as they did before the injury. Depending on the nature of amputation, you may not be able to work at all or only have the capacity for part-time work.
Your amputation can also affect your future career prospects or you may have to work a new job that doesn’t pay as well. Any impact that your amputation may have on your earnings can be taken into account as part of your compensation claim.
Gratuitous Or Ongoing Care Needs
It is common for an amputee to require daily care. This may be provided by a family member or friend who could lose out on income. If you are paying for professional care, this can be incredibly expensive but necessary. Any costs related to care can be recovered under special damages.
Cost Of Medical Treatments
There are often various medical costs associated with amputations. You may have paid for a private amputation surgery and follow-up care. There can also be various prescription costs to manage pain and inflammation.
Some claimants even undergo further surgical intervention, such as a direct skeletal fixation, to have a prosthetic device fitted directly into the skeleton. Additionally, there are procedures involving muscle grafts that can help to regenerate nerve endings.
Regardless of the medical treatment you can seek, your costs can be covered via a compensation claim.
Specialised Aids, Equipment And Prosthetics
Additionally, you could get compensation for any specialist equipment that you have purchased to help you live with your injuries. Depending on the type of amputation you underwent, you may have bought a mobility scooter, wheelchair, walker, crutches or various other equipment. There are also various prosthetics available, which can be very costly. You should keep copies of your receipts in order to recover any expenses.
Rehabilitation And Therapy Expenses
After amputation surgery, it can be challenging to adjust to life as an amputee. There are various forms of rehabilitation and therapy that can help with this. This can include teaching you ‘transfer techniques’ to get out of bed, creating an exercise plan to regain muscle strength and guidance on using a prosthetic limb. These services can make all the difference to your recovery, so add them to your compensation claim to get the help you need without financial worry.
Adaptations To Home And Car
You may need to make structural adaptations to your home in order to live with the amputation injury. Common examples include stairlifts, wider doorways, wet rooms and lowered countertops.
Adapting your car or purchasing a new vehicle can also make things much easier for you. Hand/foot controls, steering aids, transfer boards and swivel chairs are often helpful. Amputation compensation claims allow claimants to recover such costs.
Cost Of Travel
Whether you are paying for fuel to drive yourself to appointments or hiring taxis, travel expenses can accumulate. An amputation often requires multiple medical appointments, from surgeries and check-ups to physiotherapy visits. Such costs can be recovered via a successful amputation claim.
Miscellaneous Expenses
Each amputation compensation claim is different, so if you have any other expenses associated with your injury, they may be added to your case. For example, some claimants may hire someone to help them with administrative affairs due to being unable to do so themselves.
Can I Access My Amputation Compensation Amount Before My Claim Is Settled?
Yes, in some amputation compensation claims, it is possible for a claimant to access their monetary award before a settlement has been fully completed. This is referred to as an interim payment and is often appropriate in cases where it is very likely that the defendant will be found liable for the amputation injury. Living with an amputation can come with a lot of immediate expenses, so an interim payment can be extremely useful to those who are struggling financially.
If you have any questions about the different costs that amputation compensation can cover, get in touch with our advisors today. You can discuss your own amputation injury and confirm whether a compensation payout could help your financial situation.
How Can I Bring A Compensation Claim For Amputation Or Limb Loss?
Amputation compensation claims require you to provide evidence of the injury and how exactly another party is to blame. Keep reading for more information about the claims process.
Evidence Needed For Amputation Compensation Claims
Your evidence could include a copy of your medical records, photos of the injury and the contact details of eye witnesses. It is also a good idea to keep your own record of how the amputation has affected your lifestyle and any pain that you have experienced. You can find more information on this in our personal injury claim evidence guide.
How Long After Limb Loss Or Amputation Can I Claim Compensation?
In general, you will have 3 years from the date of the accident to make a claim for amputation compensation. This is owed to the Limitation Act 1980. You can read about the exceptions to this in our dedicated time limit guide.
Our advisors are available 24/7, so you can get free advice regarding these aspects of making a claim. Evidence and time limits can seem like complicated parts of the process, so speaking with an experienced advisor can often give you a better understanding.
How Can Legal Helpline Support My Amputation Claim?
A solicitor from our panel could help you by giving you expert legal insight that can only be gained through years of training and experience. They have worked with countless claimants and can anticipate what support you will need. Their expert legal services typically include:
- Identifying what evidence would be appropriate to prove your amputation and the liability of the other party
- Arguing for your compensation to cover the pain you have suffered and the financial losses associated with the amputation
- Ensuring that you have any additional items that can make adjusting to life after an amputation easier and that the costs are included in your settlement
- Connecting you to specialist medical professionals and therapists with first-hand experience of helping people following an amputation
- Managing your application for an interim payment where necessary, which can help cover your daily expenses (such as mortgage or rent payments) as well as rehab or prosthetic costs while you wait for your claim to fully settle
There are various other ways in which a member of our panel can help you, so speak with our advisors today to find out whether you are eligible to work with them. You could find yourself one step closer towards getting compensation with a solicitor you can trust.
No Win No Fee Loss Of Limb And Amputation Compensation
Our panel handle amputation compensation claims on a No Win No Fee basis. You may have heard of the term No Win No Fee before and wondered what exactly this means. Simply put, you would be asked to sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This would give you access to legal representation without having pay for your solicitor’s work:
- Before you start claiming
- As you make progress on your amputation claim
- If you are not compensated
However, should you get compensation, you will be asked to pay a success fee. This is a pre-agreed percentage of the compensation that you owe to your solicitor. There is a legally binding cap in place, ensuring that most of the compensation stays with you.
Contact Legal Helpline To Begin A Claim
You can get in touch with one of our advisors today to find out whether you can make a claim with a solicitor from our panel. With excellent No Win No Fee contracts on offer and legal services that have been developed to make the process easier for you. Enquire today to learn more about amputation compensation claims and discuss your experience.
- Visiting our ‘contact us’ page
- Calling them on 0333 000 0729
- Submitting an online enquiry
More Information
Read some other personal injury claim guides below:
- Learn about paralysis injury claims
- Find out about serious spine injury claims
- Visit our guide on claiming for organ damage
External resources:
- Read the NHS information on amputation
- Visit the government guidance on benefits and financial support for disability
- Visit this webpage on life after amputation
Thank you for reading our guide on amputation compensation claims.