What is an amputation claim?

Medical professionals have a duty of care, if that duty of care was breached and an amputation occurred as a direct result of that breach, this is medical negligence and you are able to make an amputation claim. An amputation claim is a claim for medical negligence after an amputation that did not need to happen. If your amputation injury could have been avoided with improved medical care and correct diagnosis, you can contact us and find out if you have a claim for compensation. 

Types of amputation claims

Every amputation claim will be different. Typically, amputations are divided into upper and lower limb amputation types. 

Upper limb amputation: this refers to any limb or area on the upper part of your body, ie, your arms, hands or fingers. There are several types of upper limb amputation according to the amputation site. For example, a shoulder disarticulation removes the arm above the shoulder, whereas a partial hand amputation means you would still have use of your wrist. The degree of amputation may be taken into account when calculating your compensation claim.

Lower limb amputation: this is the amputation of your legs, feet or toes and, again, includes different types of amputation depending on where the limbs were amputated. It can be as far up as the hip or be a digit amputation where toes have been removed. The severity of the injury is relevant in determining the impact on your life and that of your loved ones. 

Any amputation can be catastrophic and devastating. Which is why we assess every detail and pursue the maximum amount for your injury. 

Diabetes and amputation

Diabetes accounts for more lower limb amputations in the UK than any other cause. This is mainly due to diabetic foot ulcers and foot infections. Foot ulcers are a common side effect of diabetes and patients should be well-informed about foot care, and have examinations where necessary. Any failure to examine the feet correctly, which leads to amputation could be considered medical negligence. You may also have experienced a diabetes misdiagnosis. Our friendly and understanding solicitors can help you understand if you have a claim and how you can proceed.

How do I know if I can make a claim?

It costs nothing to find out if you have a claim for amputation negligence. Our lawyers were able to secure compensation for an 82 year old patient who had a leg amputated after a delayed diagnosis of gangrene. This is one example and there are many circumstances we come across where an amputation could have been avoided. The most common cases we see include:

• Surgical errors, such as damage to a major artery where blood flow was unable to be restored
• Misdiagnosis of diabetes leading to a loss of circulation and, consequently, the loss of a limb
• Misdiagnosis of cancer where the cancer has spread to other body parts which have had to then be amputated to remove the cancer
• Delayed diagnosis of other conditions and illnesses such as vascular disease and meningitis
• Untreated or mistreated infections such as sepsis
• Incorrect fracture treatment leading to tissue damage
• Poor aftercare after a surgical procedure

This list is not exhaustive and amputation can happen for many reasons. Which is why the best way to find out if you can make a claim is to contact specialist medical negligence lawyers who understand your case and can help with your claim.

What can I expect when making a diabetes claim?

Though no amount of compensation can excuse or change a life-altering event such as the loss of a limb, there are ways that settlements can support you and your family. Successful amputation claims can help you to make each day a little bit easier and you can usually expect to receive compensation to pay for:

• Ongoing treatment, care and rehabilitation
• Advanced prosthetic limbs
• Resources to adapt your home as necessary to prioritise your safety and comfort
• Loss of earnings
• Counselling

Our client was awarded £450,000 after medical negligence led to the amputation of her foot. Although final figures will always vary according to the individual circumstances, it is important to secure compensation for the mental, physical and economic impact suffered.

Why choose Patient Claim Line for your amputation claim?

We have more than 100 solicitors based all over the UK. They are a team of medical lawyers specialising solely in medical negligence and misdiagnosis claims. We understand every aspect of medical negligence and have taken on thousands of cases just like yours.

When processing your legal claim, your solicitor will be on hand throughout the journey. We have strong relationships with professionals across all key touch points; empowering you to rebuild your independence through ongoing rehabilitation support, home adaptations, emotional support and counselling. 

No Win No Fee Amputation Claims

From the very beginning, when you make an initial call, you pay absolutely nothing to us until your case is settled. There are no upfront fees, your initial consultation is completely free with no obligation and, if we are able to proceed with your acse, we do so on a  no win, no fee basis. Tackling the enormous changes to your life after amputation is a difficult and long road. Our no win no fee promise exists to make your compensation claim as stress free and simple as possible so you can start looking to the future.

Amputation claims FAQs