By Danielle Newton. Last Updated 21st December 2022. The following guide provides a £700,000 case study relating to a victim who has had below-knee amputations on both legs. If you suffer the same unfortunate fate and you wish to claim, you could speak with our expert team. And that could open the door for our panel of personal injury lawyers to handle your case, who can also advise you on potential leg amputation payouts.
There are three ways to get in touch with us to discuss potential leg amputation payouts:
- Telephone our team on 0800 408 7825;
- Alternatively, you could put your enquiry in writing by completing our contact form;
- Or use our Live Chat for instant communication with an advisor.
Leg amputation payouts
Choose A Section
- A Guide To Calculating Below-Knee Amputation Of Both Legs Claims
- Amputation Explained
- Financial Losses From Below-Knee Injuries
- Amputation Below The Knee – Evidence To Support Your Claim
- Care Claims For Amputation Cases
- Estimates For Leg Amputation Compensation
- Case Study: £700,000 Leg Amputation Payouts
- Your Compensation Estimate
- No Win No Fee Cases
- Locations Of High Quality Personal Injury Lawyers
- Contact Us
- Further Links
A Guide To Calculating Below-Knee Amputation Of Both Legs Claims
This guide covers the likes of No Win No Fee agreements, reasons for leg amputations and also possible compensation awards for such an injury. But before we discuss amputation payouts, we have to make mention of the personal injury claims time limit.
This rule means that you have 3 years to claim after suffering or first learning of an injury resulting in an amputation. Talk to our specialist team for further guidance about the terms of the personal injury claims time limit.
Amputation Explained
An amputation is the last medical resort if surgery and medication cannot resolve the problem. IAn amputation could have life-changing consequences. Therefore, beyond the recovery time of the operation itself, you would also have to adjust to your new circumstances.
Depending on how active you are and the nature of your job, this could take a long time, if you ever recover at all.
These factors could shape the amputation payout that you could receive. Please chat with our knowledgeable team today to find out more.
Financial Losses From Below-Knee Injuries
Now, if you suffer an amputation below the knee, there’s a chance it could prevent you from ever walking again, with mobility confined to wheelchairs. So, that could result in continuous medical care as well as the likes of a wheelchair or crutches.
Also consider potential renovations to the home to accommodate your new condition, as well as adjusting seats in your car. And then you have the damage to your career prospects and earning ability. After all, you could miss out on future employment due to your amputation.
Each of these is an example of financial losses that could arise due to such injuries. But they also provide the basis for our panel of personal injury lawyers to build your case for an amputation payout. Ask any questions about the financial side of a leg amputation by using our free call line or 24/7 Live Chat.
Amputation Below The Knee – Evidence To Support Your Claim
To claim amputation compensation, you must be able to prove that a breach in the duty of care owed to you caused your below the knee amputation.
Different situations in which you are owed a duty of care could include:
- At work – under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), all employers must take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees while at work.
- In public – under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those in control of a public space must ensure the reasonable safety of those using it.
- On the roads – under the Road Traffic Act 1988, road users owe each other a duty of care to reduce the risk of harm to others. This is reinforced under the Highway Code, which all sets additional rules and regulations for road use.
If you are claiming for a below the knee amputation, you must have supporting evidence. Evidence could include:
- Medical records.
- Witness contact details.
- Footage of the accident that caused your below the knee amputation, or the injuries that made it necessary.
- Scene or injury photographs.
Depending on the situation that resulted in your injuries, you may have different types of evidence, such as an accident log book if the amputation below the knee occurred at work. You may wish to seek legal advice from a No Win No Fee solicitor. They can advise you on what evidence could help your amputation compensation claim.
Free legal advice is available from our advisors by calling the number at the top of the page.
Care Claims For Amputation Cases
Due to the recuperation time for a leg amputation, it’s possible that you would require additional care to handle your daily needs. But this could cost money, whether it be for a nurse, professional home services or the gracious care of relatives.
Fortunately, you could add the value of time and effort from others who looked after you as part of a care claim. This is one aspect of special damages, which we’re coming back to shortly. And it could boost your amputation payout significantly and justifiably, given the severity of your plight.
Call us using the number above to learn more about what could and couldn’t comprise a care claim.
Estimates For Leg Amputation Compensation
Before providing you with an estimation of your amputation payout, we would, as part of the claims process, require you to undergo an independent medical evaluation. The purpose of the assessment is to clarify a connection between the accident and you requiring an amputation. Key questions would be asked, whereby the answers would form the basis for your claim. That allows us to provide you with an accurate compensation estimate, which relates to one aspect of compensation known as general damages.
General damages deal with the physical and psychological impact of the amputation itself, as well as the clear impact on your life.
Another aspect of compensation is called special damages. They handle the remaining costs that come about due to your injuries. They could include medication, loss of earnings, public transport and other rehabilitation requirements. And they may encompass the elements of the care claim, as noted earlier.
To find out what else you could include for general and special damages, use our Live Chat below.
Case Study: £700,000 Leg Amputation Payouts
Mr Robinson, 54, worked as an assistant manager at a retail outlet. One evening, he was unable to drive home because his car was being fixed for mechanical faults. So, he ordered a taxi to return home; however, this journey would have life-changing consequences.
Because it was late and the taxi was driving in the dark, visibility was low. The taxi driver noted that his headlights hadn’t been working properly, but that it wouldn’t be an issue. Mr Robinson thought little about it until they came towards a traffic light. It was just going on red as the taxi approached, but the driver decided to try and quickly make it through.
This would be a regrettable decision because as the taxi came through, another car came speeding past. In the confusion, the taxi swerved over to the left, which is where the car was heading. A huge crash occurred as the vehicles collided, with the front of the car hitting the left side of the taxi. This is where Mr Robinson had been sitting.
The impact of the crash left Mr Robinson, the taxi driver and the other driver unconscious and seriously injured, resulting in a major emergency scene. Mr Robinson regained consciousness in the hospital, but he had suffered two very badly broken legs with crush injuries. In addition, there had been an oil leakage from the taxi due to the crash, with it spilling towards Mr Robinson. This meant that his already-damaged legs were now prone to a potentially serious infection.
After a full diagnosis, Mr Robinson’s doctor determined that both of his legs would have to be amputated from below the knee. It was the only way to prevent further damage to his body beyond the already-destroyed limbs. Mr Robinson was left distraught, but he realised that there would be no other option. The operation went well, with Mr Robinson returning home after several weeks of recuperation in the hospital.
From there, it was about adjusting to his new life. Mr Robinson now relied on continuous medical care, and he also had to sell his car in order to fund modifications to his home. In addition, the accident meant that his career at the retail outlet was essentially over, given the active nature of that position.
All of this led him to suffer serious post-traumatic stress disorder as he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of what had happened. He also questioned how the taxi driver could be so blase about the initial faults that his vehicle had. They ultimately contributed to an accident that almost claimed three lives, with his own life being severely impacted.
After seeking legal advice, Mr Robinson learned that he could claim against the taxi driver for a breach of duty under the terms of the Highway Code. So, he filed a compensation claim against the taxi driver and his employer. Mr Robinson received £700,000 as an out-of-court settlement. This included £347,950 in general damages and £352,050 in special damages.
| Type Of Special Damages | Includes: | How Much? |
|---|---|---|
| Double Amputation | An amputation below the knee of both legs | £253,480 |
| Severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | A condition of permanent mental trauma brought about by the accident | £94,470 |
| Type Of Special Damages | Includes: | How Much? |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Current & Future Earnings | Costs of lost earnings due to the injury now & in the future | £280,000 |
| Medical Costs | Costs of amputation surgery & resultant medication | £10,000 |
| Renovation Costs | Costs of redesigning parts of the home to accommodate his injuries | £20,000 |
| Nursing Costs | Cost of hiring a professional nurse | £26,000 |
| Professional Home Care | Costs of professional cleaning & gardening | £13,000 |
| Other Costs | Additional expenses caused by the injury | £3,050 |
The case of Mr Robinson is purely an example. It is based on our past experiences of handling and valuing claims and serves to illustrate how accidents can happen and how they are valued.
Your Compensation Estimate
An accurate compensation estimate is a combination of your independent medical assessment and your own personal circumstances. It’s not about using an online personal injury claims calculator which offers template figures.
Instead, it’s all about us learning everything we can about how your amputation affects your life. And it’s about how it would affect your life moving forward, from career plans to your mobility at home.
We’re able to provide this estimate for you as a guide towards the potential amputation payout that you may receive. Call us or use our online form if you require additional details about our compensation estimate process.
No Win No Fee Cases
Many people ask us, what is a No Win No Fee claim? Essentially, with a claim of this nature you will:
- Not have to pay legal fees to your personal injury solicitor before or during a case.
- Also, you won’t have to pay your solicitor’s legal fees in the event that a case fails.
- And you only pay legal costs if your amputation payout claim wins, in which case your personal injury lawyer takes a small amount, capped by law, called a success fee.
These are the primary benefits of working with a No Win No Fee solicitor on your personal injury claim. It all means no financial headaches, less stress and more value as we work towards you receiving compensation.
Find out more about No Win No Fee by speaking with our helpful team at your leisure.
Locations Of High-Quality Personal Injury Lawyers
The online universe means that high-quality personal injury lawyers are right at your fingertips to handle your case. In particular, Public Interest Lawyers offer a nationwide service to cover claims across the country.
That could include your journey towards receiving a strong amputation payout. And our panel of personal injury lawyers brings vast expertise, many successful previous cases and industry-standard credentials to our work. So, instead of browsing Google Maps, get in touch to find the best legal representation for your public accident claim.
Contact Us
We now want to know about your situation. By talking to us today, we can begin to work on ensuring that you receive the amputation payout you deserve.
- Call our expert team on 0800 408 7825 to speak to an advisor by phone.
- Alternatively, you may wish to use our Live Chat in the bottom corner of the screen.
- Or, if you want to explain your circumstances in more depth, you can complete our online form.
Our team is accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to assist you. And remember: there’s no obligation to pursue your claim even after you get in touch with us.
Further Links
We appreciate you taking the time to read through our extensive guide on leg amputation payouts. But if you want more information, you can find it by using the links below.
Click here to read all about public liability claims involving parks.
This page discusses the claims process in further detail.
And here we discuss how to claim after being in a road accident.
Meanwhile, the three links below are for the duties of care in the workplace, public places and on the road respectively. They are:
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (for accidents at work)
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 (for accidents in public places)
The Highway Code (for road traffic accidents)
Guide by AR
Edited by II