By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 23rd October 2024. Welcome to our guide on leg amputation claims and leg amputation compensation. This guide aims to answer the question “how much compensation can you get for losing a limb?”
Leg amputation claims usually happen due to a traumatic injury that has occurred and affected the leg concerned. Sometimes, leg amputation can be due to a medical condition. Still, for most leg amputation compensation claims, it is down to an accident, whether on the road or at work or a slip, trip and fall, for military combat or, in some cases, medical negligence.
If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, and lost a leg because of it, then it has undoubtedly had a large impact on your day-to-day life. If the accident and injury were caused by another party’s negligence, then you may be able to claim compensation that can assist you financially after this debilitating and devastating injury. Within this guide, we’ll explain the process of starting a leg amputation claim. We’ll also discuss the process of calculating leg amputation compensation claims and getting support from No Win No Fee solicitors.
If you would like to speak to an advisor and ask questions about this type of personal injury claim, then you can call us on 0800 073 8804. Alternatively, you can reach us online instead via our contact form or our 24/7 live chat service.
Select a Section
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- Can I Make A Leg Amputation Claim?
- Evidence Examples For Leg Amputation Compensation Claims
- Leg Amputation Slip, Trip and Fall Claims
- What Are The Causes Of Leg Amputations
- Amputation Compensation UK Chart
- No Win No Fee Leg Amputation Compensation Claims
- Helpful Links On Making A Leg Amputation Claim
Can I Make A Leg Amputation Claim?
To be valid, leg compensation amputation claims, must meet certain eligibility criteria. Part of this includes proving that a liable third party had a legal obligation to ensure your reasonable safety. This is known as a duty of care. In certain daily situations, we are owed a duty of care. This includes:
- In the workplace – Employers must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees while they’re at work. This is set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA).
- In public places – The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 sets the duty of care. This means that the occupier of that space must ensure your reasonable safety.
- On the roads – Road users are expected to navigate the roads in a manner that prevents injuries to themselves and others. As part of this duty of care, drivers should follow the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the rules of the Highway Code.
In order to be compensated for the loss of a limb through a leg amputation compensation claim, you will need to establish the following:
- Another party breached a duty of care they owed you.
- As a result of this breach, you suffered an injury that meant you had to have your leg amputated.
Limitation Period In Personal Injury Claims
If you intend to start a leg amputation claim, then you’ll need to keep in mind that personal injury cases such as these need to be started within a certain time limit. A time limit of three years from the date of the accident that caused your injuries is set by the Limitation Act 1980.
However, there are some exceptions to this limitation period that can apply. These include the following:
- For injured parties under the age of 18, a pause to the time limit is established until their 18th birthday. Before this day comes, a litigation friend can undertake legal proceedings on their behalf. However, if a claim was not filed for them already and they turn 18, they will have 3 years from the date of their 18th birthday to begin the process.
- When injured parties lack the mental capacity to begin the claiming process themselves, the time limit is suspended indefinitely. A litigation friend can put forward a personal injury claim for them at any point during this suspension. If, however, the injured party later regains their mental capacity, they will have 3 years from the date of recovery to initiate proceedings if they weren’t made on their behalf already.
Contact an advisor from our team to learn more about the eligibility criteria for serious injury claims or to ask other related questions such as how much compensation for losing a leg could be awarded to you.
Evidence Examples For Leg Amputation Compensation Claims
If you’ve endured an amputation of your leg and the incident was caused by the negligence of someone who owed you a duty of care, then you could be owed compensation. However, you need to be able to support your claim with evidence. There are a few ways you could prove that your injury was not your fault. Here are some examples, although it’s important to bear in mind that this list is not exhaustive:
- Witness contact details – If others saw how you were injured, make sure you have a way to reach them to see if they are willing to submit a written statement that may corroborate your story.
- Visual evidence – For example, take photos of the hazards, site of the accident, and any physical injuries. You could also check whether your accident was captured on CCTV.
- Medical records – It’s your right to request your medical records at any time.
For more examples of evidence to support a claim for an amputated leg, get in touch with our advisors today. Remember, the value of claims for amputated legs will vary on a case-by-case basis.
However, by getting in touch with us today, we can give you a bespoke estimate of how much you could receive if you are eligible to make an amputation compensation claim.
Leg Amputation Slip, Trip and Fall Claims
A fall from height because of a slip or trip can lead to massive trauma to the leg. A slip into machinery can have consequences that are equally as bad. But any of these scenarios could allow you to make a leg amputation compensation claim.
If you have had to undergo a leg amputation because of trauma to the leg that has happened because of a slip, trip or fall, then it may be because of someone else’s negligent behaviour. Whether it is loose cables you have tripped and fallen on or a missing guard on machinery you have fallen into, we can help you determine whether you have a valid compensation claim and will work hard to secure the maximum compensation possible for your debilitating injury.
Our next section will give you more insight into leg amputation claims made after an injury in the military; please read on if this is of interest to you.
What Are The Causes Of Leg Amputations?
Whilst most leg amputations are via road and machinery accidents, other instances could cause you to lose your leg. Here, we’ve listed some potential causes of leg amputation (excluding medical conditions where no one is at fault):
- Construction site injuries
- Road traffic accidents
- Warehouse accidents
- Factory accidents
- Combat injuries
- Medical Negligence
- Fire or fireworks accidents
Whatever the reason, if another party’s negligence led to your injury, you could have a valid claim for leg amputation compensation. Contact us to find out more. And if you’re wondering what awards leg amputation claims can attract, please read our next section.
Amputation Compensation UK Chart
Following a successful leg amputation claim, your settlement could include general and special damages. The former compensates you for your pain and suffering, as well as how your injury has impacted upon your life and the quality of it.
Using the figures listed in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), we have created the following table. This is to help you establish a clearer picture of how much compensation you could receive in general damages for the amputation of your leg. The JCG is a document that may be used by some who value claims, as it lists compensation brackets for different injuries.
Please only use this table as a guide. The various factors of your claim could affect how much compensation you receive and, therefore, may differ from the amounts listed below. Additionally, the figure in the top row was not taken from the JCG.
| Injury Type | Severity Of Injury | Compensation Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries And Financial Losses | Serious | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Leg - Amputations (i) | Loss of both legs | £293,850 to £344,150 |
| Leg - Amputations (ii) | Below-the-knee amputation of two legs | £245,900 to £329,620 |
| Leg - Amputations (iii) | Above-the-knee amputation of a single leg | £127,930 to £167,760 |
| Leg - Amputations (iv) | Below-the-knee amputation of a single leg | £119,570 to £162,290 |
| Psychological Harm | Severe | £66,920 to £141,240 |
| Psychological Harm | Moderately severe | £23,270 to £66,920 |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Severe | £73,050 to £122,850 |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Moderately severe | £28,250 to £73,050 |
Any financial losses you have suffered due to your injury could be compensated with special damages. Some examples of what special damages could compensate you for include:
- Medical expenses.
- Loss of earnings.
- Care costs.
- Travel costs.
You will need to provide evidence of these losses to be able to claim them back under special damages. Payslips, bank statements, and invoices could all be used as evidence in your claim.
Do not hesitate to contact us about leg amputation compensation claims. If our advisors believe that you may be eligible for compensation, they could connect you with our experienced solicitors.
No Win No Fee Leg Amputation Compensation Claims
When it comes to claiming leg amputation compensation, we believe that if the accident were the fault of someone else, you should not have to pay out of pocket to get the compensation you deserve. With this in mind, we are proud to have a robust No Win No Fee policy that allows you to pursue a claim without having to pay out of your own pocket to do so. We know the financial strain a leg amputation can put on your finances. So, we would not like to think that you would have to stretch this even further to pay legal bills at this difficult time.
We will be happy to talk you through our No Win No Fee policy. So, we can explain exactly how it works and how we can offer this service. That means if your claim is not successful, you don’t pay a penny out of your pocket for legal bills.
So, please call us to talk about No Win No Fee claims with us. And we will tell you honestly what it involves and how it works.
When wondering how much compensation for amputation, it’s far from being a stressful and complicated process. Indeed, you can begin a claim with us at any time, starting with a simple phone call to 0800 073 8804. You can also use our online contact form, or the live chat on this page.
Our professional yet sympathetic team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our service. This covers our solicitors, our No Win No Fee process or any aspect of the claims process. For free advice on any part of leg amputation claims, please call our team. And we will be happy to answer your questions regarding leg amputation compensation claims.
Helpful Links On Making A Leg Amputation Claim
Below, you can view useful information related to making a leg amputation claim:
Amputations advice from the NHS – This page takes you to the NHS guide on amputation. It contains advice on what you go through in terms of recovery and explaining different types of amputation.
Amputation and driving government advice – It is a legal requirement to inform the DVLA of any restrictions to your driving ability. This page leads you to the government’s advice on this subject.
UK service personnel amputation stats – To find out more about how many UK service personnel suffer injuries requiring amputation, this may prove useful.
Help on claiming benefits – This page shows the breakdown of benefits you could claim due to a disability as a result of amputation. There are also any care costs that you may be able to claim.
HGV accident compensation – Our guide to claiming after an accident involving a heavy goods vehicle.
Dangerous machinery at work claims – This page covers injuries due to dangerous machinery in the workplace. Please read our guide for information on how to claim.
CICA compensation guide – Please read our guide to see how you could claim compensation for a criminal injury.
To find out more about leg amputation compensation claims, please get in touch.
