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How Much Can I Claim For An Amputated Arm?

By Emily Jones. Last updated 9th March 2024. In this guide, we cover the process of making an arm amputation compensation claims guide.

If you’ve lost an arm in an accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim for compensation. Such a claim could help you gain vital financial assistance that will help you adapt to your life-altering injury. Within this guide, we’ll talk through eligibility requirements for arm amputation claims and the main steps of the process. We’ll also cover potential compensation payouts.

If you have any questions about claiming for an amputated arm, then you can contact our team of advisors. You can reach them by:

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  1. Who Is Eligible For Loss Of Limb Compensation For An Amputated Arm?
  2. What Types Of Arm Amputations Can You Claim For?
  3. What Types Of Accidents Could Lead To Arm Amputation Claims?
  4. Steps To Take After An Arm Amputation Accident
  5. Amputation Compensation Claims – Time Limits
  6. What Can Be Claimed For Following An Arm Amputation?
  7. How Arm Amputation Compensation Awards
  8. Make A No Win No Fee Arm Amputation Claim

Who Is Eligible For Loss Of Limb Compensation For An Amputated Arm?

If you’ve been injured in an accident that was not your fault, and you sustained harm as a result, such as an arm amputation, you may have grounds to claim. The factors that determine your eligibility to claim include proving:

arm amputation compensation

A guide to arm amputation compensation claims

  1. You were owed a duty of care.
  2. There was a breach of duty of care.
  3. The breach caused you to be injured. This is known as negligence.

Losing a limb could have a negative and life changing impact on your day-to-day life. Apart from the pain and suffering you endure, it may also affect your ability to support yourself financially if you’re left unable to work. You may consider recovering some of your financial and other losses if you’ve determined that your eligible to claim.

If your amputated arm is a direct result of someone else’s negligence, you could be eligible for loss of limb compensation to address the ways in which your injury has affected your life.

Although it is not a requirement by law, using legal assistance could help. Our solicitors have experience in supporting clients through the amputation claims process. You can reach out to our advisors using the number at the top of this page.

What Types Of Arm Amputations Can You Claim For?

Arm amputation compensation claims usually occur due to the occurrence of a traumatic injury that has affected the arm. Sometimes arm amputation can take place because of a medical condition, but on the whole this type of claim is as a result of an accident. This can be due to an accident on the road, at work, as a result of military combat or even due to medical negligence, either misdiagnosis or surgical error.

Arm amputation comes in a variety of forms, it depends on where your arm has been injured or severed or where in the case of extreme damage it might be necessary to perform the amputation in order to save the life of the patient. Limb loss claim compensation amounts will be different for each type of amputation. Below we provide a list of the different types of arm amputations:

  • Shoulder disarticulation – this is an amputation through the shoulder that removes the whole arm.
  • Forequarter amputation – this is similar to a shoulder disarticulation in that the while arm is removed from the shoulder down, however the shoulder itself is also removed, as it a part of the shoulder blade and the collarbone.
  • Trans-humeral amputation – also known as an above the elbow amputation, this is a removal of the upper arm from between the elbow and shoulder. With this type of amputation, the patient retains the use of their shoulder.
  • Elbow disarticulation – an amputation that is performed through the elbow joint.
  • Trans-radial amputation – also known as a below the elbow amputation. The amputation is performed through the forearm, between the hand and elbow. The patient retains use of their elbow.
  • Wrist disarticulation – the amputation is performed through the wrist joint.

Because there are a number of different types of arm amputation, it is little wonder that arm amputation compensation claim amounts can vary.

What Types Of Accidents Could Lead To Arm Amputation Claims?

There are various types of accidents that may lead to you requiring your arm to be amputated.

Some examples of incidents that could lead to you requiring an arm amputation include:

  • Whilst working in a factory, your arm gets stuck in a faulty piece of machinery, leading to you having your arm amputated.
  • If you are not provided with the correct training on handling equipment, such as drills or saws, whilst working on a construction site, this could result in you suffering an amputated arm.
  • A road traffic accident could lead to you needing your arm amputated. For example, if your arm is stuck in a crushed car following a serious collision.

Contact our advisors today to discuss your serious injury claim and receive free advice.

Steps To Take After An Arm Amputation Accident

If you have been involved in an arm amputation incident where you were not the responsible party, then making an arm amputation compensation claim may not be your immediate priority immediately after the accident. However, it is wise to gather all the information that you can as soon as possible, as you may choose to make a claim later on. You should try and collect the following details:

  • Driver and witness details – If you were involved in a car accident that resulted in your arm amputation, whether you were a pedestrian, a passenger or the driver of the other vehicle it is important that details of those who were at the scene, including witnesses are taken. These details should include information about any other vehicles involved; make, model and number plate as well as driver details.
  • Details of the accident – It is important to note down details of the events of the accident whilst they are still fresh in your mind, if you are unable to do this yourself then ask someone else to take notes for you. Sometimes it can be hard to remember details correctly when you have been through a traumatic event so it is better to note them down as soon as possible.
  • Photographic evidence – Photographs of both the scene of the accident and your injuries could be vital in evident in your claim for compensation, if you are unable to do this yourself then ask someone to help you.
  • Receipts and documentation – It is a good idea to keep any receipts and documentation that relates to money you have had to pay out as a result of your injury, whether these are in respect of treatments and medicines you have received or travel cost you have incurred. If as a result of your accident you have been unable to work you may be able to claim for loss of future earnings.

If you have any questions regarding the types of documentation that could help your arm injury claim then please get in touch with us, we will be happy to discuss which types of documentation you might need to support your claim.

Amputation Compensation Claims – Time Limits

If you have had your arm amputated because of an incident or illness that arose from someone breaching the duty of care owed to you, then you may be eligible to claim compensation. However, there is a time limit in which you must start your claim.

arm amputation claim

How to make an arm amputation claim

As per the Limitation Act 1980, this will be:

  • Within three years of the date of the accident or incident that caused your injury
  • Within three years of the date of which you were made aware of the cause of your injury or illness

This time limit is suspended for people who lack mental capacity. A litigation friend can be appointed to start proceedings on their behalf during the suspended period. The three-year time limit will only begin if they gain or regain the capacity to start a claim.

If a minor suffered an amputated arm due to negligence, they would not be able to represent themselves in legal proceedings, and the time limit would also be frozen. A litigation friend will be needed. If a claim is not begun before they turn 18, their three-year time limit will start on their 18th birthday.

If you have any queries about which time limit may apply to your amputation compensation claim, please reach out to one of our advisers.

What Can Be Claimed For Following An Arm Amputation?

The majority of arm amputation claims often contain the following types of arm amputation compensation:

  • Travel Costs – Whether you incur extra costs for travel to medical appointments for treatment or medical appointments related to your claim, you will incur a number of out of pocket travel expenses that you should be able to claim for.
  • Medical expenses – Losing an arm can be a life altering experiences, medical expenses may include any modifications that need to be made to your home or vehicle as well as other disability aids. It should also include the prescription costs for pain medications, bills for counselling or any physiotherapy you require.
  • Loss of earnings – This cost will not only take into account the loss of any actual earnings but also the loss of any potential future earnings.
  • General Damages – this part of your claim will compensate you for the trauma and suffering caused by the loss of your arm (Special Damages cover financial losses).
  • Care claim – Whilst you are recovering from your amputation there is a good chance that you will have needed help in the home. If this has been the case then the person who has helped care for you should be able to submit a care claim.

If you are uncertain what can be included in your claim for leg amputation compensation then please ask us. We are always here to answer any questions you might have about your claim and the care that you receive.

Arm Amputation Compensation Awards

Arm amputation compensation is awarded on a case to case basis so it is really not possible for us to accurately predict the actual amount of compensation you might receive for an arm amputation following an accident. The injuries received, and the time it takes to recover from them, will vary from person to person. There are injury compensation calculators online that will be able to give you an idea of the rough amount you might be able to receive but these should be used as a guide only.

What we can do however is provide you with some of the average compensation amounts for amputation claims. Below is a table that gives you some illustrations of the most common types of damages that can be claimed as part of your loss of arm compensation claim. If you have any questions regarding any of the information in the table, perhaps you would like some clarification on a particular point then we will be happy to discuss this with you.

 

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Compensation type Typical Award Amount Notes
Multiple Serious Injuries Up to £1,000,000+ This includes compensation for more than one serious injury plus any expenses caused by the serious injuries.
Amputation of both arms £240,790 to £300,000 This type of injury can render a usually fully self-sufficient person to someone that is considerably helpless.
Amputation of one arm at the shoulder Not less than £137,160
Amputation of one arm above the elbow £109,650 to £130,930 The shorter the stump the more problematic the fitting of a prosthesis may be, this will affect the amount awarded.
Amputation of one arm below the elbow £96,160 to £109,650 Severity of phantom limb pain and organic pain dictates the level.
Psychiatric damage £54,830 to £115,730

 

 Severe and grossly disabling trauma.
PTSD £23,150 to £59,860

 

 Moderately severe trauma that requires professional help.
PTSD £8,180 to £23,150 Moderate but no grossly disabling effects
PTSD £3,950 to £8,180 Less severe with virtual full recovery made within 2 years.
Loss of earnings Up to £100,000+ Lost income due to requiring time off work because of the injuries can be compensated for under special damages.

 

Make A No Win No Fee Arm Amputation Claim

If you are eligible to make an arm amputation claim, you may like to have the support of a solicitor during proceedings. One of our solicitors could help. They have lots of experience with serious injury claims. Furthermore, they typically provide their services under a type of No Win No Fee arrangement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). 

When your solicitor works under this type of agreement, they generally don’t ask for any upfront or ongoing payments for their services. Additionally, if you are not awarded compensation for your amputated arm following an unsuccessful claim, they won’t expect you to pay for their work on your case. 

However, if your claim is successful, your solicitor will take a success fee out of your awarded compensation. This amount is a percentage that is capped by the law. 

If you would like to discuss your potential personal injury claim, contact us. They can check your eligibility to claim and if it seems like you have a valid case, you can be connected with one of our solicitors. 

To speak to a team member:

Helpful Links

NHS amputations information

This is the NHS page that discusses amputations; the causes and the procedures. There is lots if useful information.

Amputation and driving advice

This link takes you to the DVLA page on amputations and has links to follow to advise the DVLA that you have had a limb amputated.

Military personnel amputation statistics

The gov.uk sites contains arm amputation statistics amongst service personnel that may be useful to you.

Other Guides That May Help

Thanks for reading our arm amputation compensation claims guide.