Amputation Negligence Claims
Amputation or loss of limb as the result of medical negligence can be devastating. If you have suffered an amputation injury as the result of a medical condition, our clinical negligence solicitors can help you secure the compensation you need to enable you to move forward.
Our medical negligence solicitors understand the impact amputation can have on your life and that of your loved ones. You may have unanswered questions about how or why the mistake happened, or be concerned about how to fund treatment or rehabilitation. Our specialist lawyers can not only help secure compensation but help you get access to the treatment you need to enable you to move forward.
How do I know if I have an amputation claim?
Amputation can happen non-negligently due to a medical condition, such as diabetes. However, there are often occasions where mistakes are made either through a missed diagnosis or errors during surgery that lead to an amputation. If you have had an amputation as a result of medical negligence, you may be able to claim compensation.
Some of the most common types of amputation caused by negligence include:
- Failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis of vascular disease, including aneurysms and deep vein thrombosis
- Errors made during surgery
- Delayed or missed diagnosis of sepsis or other blood infections
- Failure to diagnose or treat meningitis
- Mismanagement of diabetes-related issues such as foot ulcers
Amputation injuries can include anything from the loss of a finger or toe to an above-knee amputation and even multiple amputations. If you or a loved one have lost a limb as the result of any of the above, or from any other form of medical mistake, you may be eligible to make a medical negligence claim. Call our expert team on 0117 325 2929 or fill out our enquiry form to get started.
Amputation can also happen as a result of an accident. If you have had a loss of limb as the result of an incident that wasn’t your fault, such as a fall at work or a road traffic accident, our personal injury lawyers may be able to advise you on starting a claim.
Case study | £120,000 for failure to diagnose a serious blood clot, resulting in amputation
Can I claim for treatment and rehabilitation costs?
The amputation of a limb is life-changing, both physically and emotionally. It may be that you are unable to work as a result of your injury or you need to fund long-term treatment to help you get back on track.
During the process of your claim, our medical negligence team will aim to get you access to the support and treatment you need. If you have lost earnings or will lose future earnings, we can advise you on that as part of your claim.
If you have suffered a significant amputation, such as a loss of a limb, our solicitors will endeavour to obtain an interim payment as soon as is practicably possible to allow you to have access to treatment, particularly prosthetics and physiotherapy. We understand that one of the most important things following an amputation is access to prosthetics to enable you to continue with your life, whether it’s to enable you to return to work or to continue a favourite hobby.
Is there a time limit for making an amputation negligence claim?
Amputation claims must be issued within three years of the medical mistake taking place or of you knowing of potential negligent treatment.
There are exceptions for adults who lack mental capacity and children, and our medical negligence lawyers will talk through your options and how it works if this applies to you.
Why choose Barcan+Kirby’s amputation claims solicitors?
Our medical negligence lawyers have a wealth of experience acting for clients who have suffered from serious injuries such as amputation and loss of limb.
We are proud to be ranked by Chambers and Partners UK and three members of our medical negligence team are individually ranked. We also hold a top tier (tier 1) ranking from Legal 500.
Our clinical negligence solicitors work with clients across the UK from our offices in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and have expertise in a range of areas including missed and delayed diagnosis and compartment syndrome claims.
We pride ourselves on providing sensitive advice and support to clients during what can be one of the most stressful and difficult times in their life. No matter who you speak to in our team, we will take the time to listen to you and guide you through the claims process.
How do I start an amputation negligence claim?
If you believe that you have suffered from a loss of limb as a result of medical negligence, the best place to start is to contact our specialist team.
Starting your claim
When you first speak to us, we will take the time to listen to your account of what happened and record these details. We will then explain the claims process in detail so that you know what the next steps are. We will also let you know if we think your claim can be taken any further and if so, discuss the various options for funding your amputation claim.
Assessing your negligence claim
To be able to claim compensation for amputation as the result of a medical mistake, we will need to show that the mistake was such that no ordinary clinician with that skill would have made it. We would then need to show that the amputation came from that mistake.
Once we have taken these initial details and have agreed that your case merits further investigation, our lawyers will start to build your negligence claim. This usually involves obtaining your medical records from the hospital, your GP or treatment centre, as well as witness statements.
Notifying the defendant of your claim
The next step is normally to send a letter of claim to the defendant, i.e. the hospital or NHS Trust, and depending on their response, we will discuss settlement options with you. If we believe that court proceedings are needed to progress the case further and to get you the compensation you deserve, we will discuss this with you.
How can I fund my medical negligence claim?
Financial concerns should not prevent you from seeking legal advice and getting the compensation you deserve. There are several options available for funding a medical negligence claim, such as conditional fee agreements (CFAs), legal expenses insurance and private funding.
Our medical negligence lawyers can help you choose the best one for your circumstances. Find out more about funding your amputation negligence claim here.
Get in touch with our amputation claim solicitors
If you’ve had an amputation as the result of medical negligence, our solicitors are here to help.
To discuss your potential loss of limb claim with one of our experts, call us on 0117 325 2929 or complete our online enquiry form.