Amputation compensation claims

Who can make an amputation claim?

Usually, the person who has suffered the amputation makes the claim, but there are circumstances where you can bring a claim on behalf of someone else:

• If you are the parent or legal guardian of a person under the age of 18, you can act as a litigation friend to bring a claim on their behalf,
• You can also act as a litigation friend to bring a claim on behalf of someone who does not have the mental capacity as defined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005,
• Unfortunately, some injuries are fatal. When this occurs, the Executor or Administrator of the deceased’s Estate can bring a claim on behalf of the deceased and any dependents. There are a variety of reasons why you might need an amputation, including serious injury, infection or severe trauma.

If you’re not sure if you’re eligible to claim compensation on behalf of yourself or someone else, call 03700 868687 or message us and we’ll advise you of the options available to you.

What are the common causes of amputation?

There are a variety of reasons why you might need an amputation – including serious injury, infection or severe trauma. Some of the most common causes of amputation are:

Amputation as a result of traumatic injury

Amputation injuries in the workplace

Amputation injuries at work often occur in dangerous workplaces where heavy machinery is used. However, accidents can happen in any workplace where employees or colleagues have been negligent.

Many victims of amputation accidents in the workplace are reluctant to take legal action against their employer for fear of jeopardising their employment if they recover sufficiently to return to work. This should not deter you. The law protects employees who take justified legal action if their employer’s negligence was responsible for their injuries.

Amputation injuries in public spaces

Sadly, we have seen in recent years several high-profile amputation injuries in public places, from theme parks to terrorist attacks. Successful amputation compensation claims require negligence to be found on behalf of an individual or organisation.

Amputation injuries following a road traffic accident

Road traffic accidents can cause serious injuries to anyone involved and partial or complete amputations are not uncommon following a crush injury. Following an RTA, an amputation claim can be brought against whoever is deemed responsible for the collision.

Amputation as a result of medical negligence

Amputations can occur as a result of medical negligence, whether through misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis and/or treatment, or surgical errors. If a medical professional fails to diagnose an illness correctly or causes a delay in diagnosis, conditions that could have been treated earlier may worsen.  This can lead to complications that require amputation.

All medical professionals have a duty of care, and if their actions fall below the required standards, you may be entitled to compensation.

Learn more about amputation negligence claims.

How can an amputation affect you?

An amputation can be one of the hardest injuries to come to terms with, both mentally and physically. At some point, most amputees will experience some unwanted symptoms, such as:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): If you've undergone a traumatic amputation, psychological/emotional turmoil including anxiety, depression, anger and even developing a negative self-image can arise.
• Pain: Phantom limb pain and sharp or stabbing pain in the absent limb are common occurrences.
• Mobile and dexterity impairments: Having a limb amputated will lead to a reduction in a person's mobility and can include a loss of balance and independence.
• Infection: Problems can occur around the site of the amputation, which can lead to infection to the tissue and bone.

An amputation is also likely to impact the following areas of your life:

• Accommodation: you may find that your home is no longer suitable because of stairs, width of doors, height of cupboards, the way the bathroom is set up, or because of difficulties accessing the outside. In some cases, your house can be adapted to make it more accessible for you to use, but sometimes properties cannot be appropriately adapted so a more suitable home needs to be found or built,
• The ability to work: depending upon the extent of the amputation and what part of the body is affected, you may not be able to continue with the same job you had before the amputation. Your job prospects may be very different.
• Socialising: after a life-altering experience like amputation, you may not want to socialise in the way you used to, or at all, either because your self-confidence is low or you may be suffering from some form of PTSD, as noted above.
• Sport and exercise: you may not be able to engage in the same sport and exercise you used to enjoy before the amputation, but there are many forms of exercise and sports open to amputees that you can consider.

It is still possible to enjoy a high quality of life after an amputation, but there will be an important period of adjustment. Securing early intervention and rehabilitation is key to managing the medical and social consequences of undergoing an amputation, and that's where we come in. Shoosmiths partner with world-leading specialists in prosthetics, care, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and accommodation. This places us in a good position to help you during this period of adjustment by ensuring you are aware of the latest medical and technological advances so that you can make choices to improve all aspects of your new life. We will also put you in touch with the right people at the right time so that you can build a support network tailored to your exact needs.

We can also provide guidance when it comes to deciding whether to engage the services of a Case Manager to help with providing care and explaining what you need in the way of aids and equipment and your entitlement to state benefits.

How to make an amputation claim with Shoosmiths

The first step in making an amputation claim with Shoosmiths Serious Injury is simple - just get in touch with our expert team of serious injury lawyers by calling 03700 868687 or sending us a message. We offer a free, no-obligation chat to understand your situation, the impact of your injury, and how we can best support you. This conversation can take place over the phone, at our office, in your home, or wherever is most convenient for you. Our priority is always your wellbeing, and while we work to secure the compensation you deserve, we will also be honest if we believe your case may not be successful.

If you proceed with your claim, our immediate priority will be your health. If needed we can arrange early treatment, obtaining interim payments from the other side to fund any private medical care to ensure your needs are met as quickly as possible.

While every case is unique, the claims process typically follows these steps:

1. Your case will be assigned to one of our serious injury experts, who will be your point of contact throughout.
2. We will discuss your funding options, including the possibility of a "no win, no fee" arrangement.
3. Our team will collect evidence to support your claim, including medical records and expert assessments. You may need to undergo independent medical tests to help determine the full impact of your injury.
4. The responsible individual or organisation will be notified of the claim and asked to accept or deny liability.
5. If liability is accepted, we will request interim compensation to help cover treatment costs and financial burdens.
6. We will calculate the full compensation amount based on your needs, including long-term care and support.
7. If liability is denied, we will initiate court proceedings. While most claims are settled out of court, this step ensures a deadline for resolution is in place.

At Shoosmiths, our specialist lawyers are dedicated to supporting you and your family every step of the way. Contact us today to start your claim.

Why should you make an amputation claim with Shoosmiths?

Losing a limb is life-changing, and amputation compensation can help you rebuild your life by funding home adaptations, physiotherapy, counselling, lost earnings, and specialist equipment not covered by the NHS. At Shoosmiths, we focus on securing immediate therapy and rehabilitation while ensuring your financial stability now and in the future.

Not only are we with you at each stage of the claims process, but we’ll also stay by your side for years to come – even once your claim is settled and compensation awarded.

You can trust that we have the right expertise – we have specialist accreditations, and we comply with best practice and standards:

• We're accredited by the Law Society Personal Injury Panel; Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL); Headway; and Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA)
• Our team is recognised with top tier ranking by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners UK for their specialist knowledge, expertise and understanding of serious injury claims.
• We’re signed up to the APIL/FOIL Guide to the Conduct of Cases Involving Serious Injury

Darren’s amputation story

The loss of a limb presents not only practical challenges but also psychological effects that can be equally devastating. The future may seem uncertain for many recent amputees. We aim to ease these fears by helping you secure the amputation compensation you need to move forward.

That’s exactly what we did for Darren Pugh following a serious road traffic accident. Watch Darren's story to see how our expert solicitors helped him.

What our clients say