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£300,000 Compensation for a Below the Knee Amputation
In this case study, we take a look at a man who successfully claimed £300,000 in compensation for a below the knee amputation. In this case, the answer to the question, what does below the knee amputation mean? Is that the victim lost the lower part of their leg following a fall at work.
Below knee amputation
But what is below the knee amputation? And how did it occur in this case? The victim had started a new job, and on his third day, he was involved in an accident that severely fractured two bones in his foot after a speaker had fallen from a height on to the foot.
He was taken to hospital by work colleagues, where he was given surgery to implant surgical fixings to join the bones back together. Note that at this stage, he had not had the amputation and did not require below knee amputation prosthetics. He left the hospital in a wheelchair. It wasn’t until later when the bones failed to heal that the amputation took place.
It was alleged that the employer failed to maintain a safe workplace and that this had exposed the victim to risk, which resulted in the eventual amputation of his leg below the knee. Liability was proven and a compensation pay-out of £300,000 was made.
Circumstances Leading to the Below the Knee Amputation
As can be seen from the information above, this particular case was a little complex. Primarily due to two reasons. Firstly, because the victim was claiming against a new employer and secondly because the initial injury caused by the accident was more minor. It wasn’t until complications set in that below knee amputation post op care was needed and the victim had to go through a period of below knee amputation rehabilitation.
If we were to look at a below knee amputation procedure illustration, we would normally find the initial reason for the amputation was an actual physical injury caused by trauma. In this case, the amputation was the result of complications of an existing medical condition. This made the claim more complex.
Details of The Amputation Injury
The answer to the question, how long does it take to amputate a leg above the knee? in this case was several months, during which time the victim was confined to a wheelchair.
Following the treatment of the broken bones in his foot, the victim suffered complications, with severely restricted blood flow to his lower leg. Due to this, doctors attempted to cure these complications, but some 9 months after the initial accident they were forced to undertake a below knee amputation technique.
Once the surgery was complete, the victim needed an extended period of time in rehabilitation, physiotherapy and below knee amputation exercises.
The Court Case
During the court case, the employer admitted liability. And because the answer to the question how long does leg amputation surgery take including recovery? Was over a year, and in this case, provision was made to ensure that sufficient funds were available to cover short-term needs, and the victim was paid an interim settlement to provide the funds they needed to care for themselves whilst recovering from leg amputation.
Following rehabilitation after lower limb amputation, the victim was only able to return to work on a part-time basis, and this was also made part of the claim, this reduced working capacity.
Compensation Awarded for a Below the Knee Amputation
The victim suffered lower leg amputation meaning that they would have a reduced quality of life in the future. This is one of the complications of amputation when it comes to claiming compensation, the effect upon future life needs to be calculated. Of all types of amputation, loss of a leg is possibly the most severe, as the victim was unable to walk unassisted afterwards.
Therefore, the damages claim had to cover a number of different items, including:
- General damages for the injury itself and the pain and suffering the victim went through.
- Special damages to compensate the victim for loss of quality of life, and to make up for loss of past and future income.
- Reimburse the victim for the care costs they incurred whilst in recovery.
- To pay all legal and medical costs pertaining to the case.
No Win No Fee Solicitors
Accidents at work are one of the most common causes of amputation injuries. Unfortunately, if you are the victim of such a severe accident, it is likely you will lose at least some of your income. This means that taking on the cost of starting a legal claim could be difficult. A way to get around this is to use the services of a No Win No Fee solicitors. No Win No Fee means that you don’t have to pay anything at all for your legal representation until such time as you win a damages claim.
How Legal Expert Can Help
If you have suffered a serious personal injury such as a below the knee amputation caused by an accident at work, then it is probable that you will have a basis to make a compensation claim. If you call us on 0800 073 8804, we can take the details of your case, and if we think we can help, we will take your claim on under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
Useful Links
A guide to compensation amounts for amputations.
Work accident compensation guide
A guide to making a compensation claim for an accident at work.
NHS information and advice about amputations.
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