Amputation Claims

Coodes’ specialist Clinical Negligence lawyers help clients throughout the South West and beyond to successfully pursue claims for amputations resulting from clinical negligence. If you or a loved one has suffered an amputation as a result of clinical negligence, we can help you secure the justice and compensation to which you are entitled.

Our approach to amputation claims

We understand that losing a limb is extremely distressing. Learning that the amputation was avoidable, or the result of inadequate or negligent medical care can be devastating. We also recognise that amputations have long-term consequences for your physical and mental wellbeing, mobility, lifestyle and career.

Our specialist Clinical Negligence team combine expert legal knowledge in this field with a sympathetic and human approach. We will break down the jargon and help you to understand how to make a complaint and launch a claim for compensation. Working closely with expert medical professionals, we will help build your case, showing where treatment or care was negligent, and provide guidance at every stage of your claim so that you have the best possible chance of securing compensation.

Of course, financial awards can’t fully compensate you for the pain and loss of function that go with amputations resulting from clinical negligence, but they can help you to make any necessary adjustments to your lifestyle and get your life back on track.

Many of the amputation clinical negligence claims that we advise on are handled on a no win no fee basis, meaning that there is no financial risk to you if your claim is unsuccessful.

Can you make a claim for clinical negligence for your amputation?

If you have suffered an amputation as a result of major accident or a road traffic accident you may be able to make a personal injury claim.

If, however, your amputation was the result of poor medical treatment or malpractice, you may be able to make a clinical negligence claim. We have advised clients on claims for amputations resulting from medical negligence for a variety of reasons including:

• Surgical errors
• Failure or delay to diagnose and treat cancer
• Failure or delay to diagnose and treat diabetes
• Failure or delay to diagnose and treat sepsis or infections such as cellulitis, osteomyelitis, meningitis or encephalitis
• Failure or delay to diagnose and treat vascular disease or similar conditions

If you have suffered an unavoidable amputation as a result of clinical negligence, we can help you claim compensation. Our specialist clinical negligence lawyers, working with expert medical professionals, will work out how it happened and who was responsible, and support you throughout the claim process.

Although Coodes’ medical negligence lawyers are based in Cornwall and Devon, we cover the whole of England and Wales and will come and see you wherever you are. We act for clients anywhere in the world so long as amputation for which you are claiming took place in England and Wales.

How much will your amputation claim cost?

In many cases, we will be able to support you on a no win no fee basis, meaning that if your claim is not successful, you will not have to pay any legal fees.

Whatever your case, we offer a free initial consultation to help you understand the process and the likely funding basis of your claim.

How long do I have to make an amputation clinical negligence claim?

You usually have up to three years from the date of the amputation to start a clinical negligence claim.

If the claim is for your child, you have until their 18th birthday to make a claim on their behalf. After this it becomes the responsibility of the child to make the claim, with the three-year limit starting when they reach the age of 18. If they lack the ‘capacity’ to handle their own affairs, the time limit does not apply. Similarly, if the amputation claim is on behalf of an adult incapable of handling their own affairs, the limitation does not apply.

We recommend that you contact us as soon as possible, so that our clinical negligence lawyers can explain the process of claiming compensation, start your claim and help you access any other support and/or rehabilitation you need.

How much compensation could you receive?

Every amputation case is different and so is its impact on you or your loved one. That’s why it is important to get expert advice from qualified specialist lawyers who really understand the unique nature of each amputation claim and who are experienced in working with medical professionals to truly understand the long-term implications for you or your loved one.

The amount you can claim will depend on a number of factors, including the nature of the amputation, any financial losses you have suffered or will suffer in the future, and any changes to your lifestyle that you have to make. Whatever the case, our specialist clinical negligence lawyers will ensure that you get the compensation and support you are entitled to, including the cost of any prosthetics and other equipment you may need following your avoidable amputation.

Of course, financial awards can’t fully compensate you or your loved one for the distress that accompanies an avoidable amputation or address the long-term consequences. But compensation can help you to make any necessary adjustments to your lifestyle and help you get your life back on track.