Serious Injury
Amputation Claims
Amputation injuries can have a dramatic and life changing impact not only for the person injured but also for those close to them.
Whatever the level of injury, it is important you receive the very best treatment, rehabilitation and care as quickly as possible.
Every year in the UK, there are approximately 6,000 new patient referrals to NHS prosthetic limb services prior to and following limb and digit amputation or congenital deficiency.
Even if someone is only partly to blame you may still be able to claim, so it is important to get legal advice from an experienced solicitor familiar with this area of law.
We can assist in many types of amputation cases, including both lower and upper limb amputations.
Financial compensation can be provided by way of interim payments so that you may have access to private treatment, prosthetic limbs, aids and equipment, accommodation, rehabilitation and care when you need it.
Compensation can also be used to alleviate some of the immediate financial difficulties which can be caused by an amputation injury.
We will instruct only the most appropriate experts in a range of disciplines. They will not only be able to provide detailed evidence about your injuries but also provide recommendations for your future treatment, rehabilitation and care.
We can also access expert opinion to help with identifying the right prosthesis, arranging for its fitting, dealing with mobility problems and anticipating any complications.
We also employ experts who can advise on any aids and adaptations that you will need to hopefully return to your own home, or possibly to a purpose built or purchased property.
Wider impact of amputations which may form part of a compensation claim
- Cosmetic and plastic surgery may be required where there is scarring of the skin or revision is required to the stump site
- Psychological problems including low mood and depression can often follow following amputation. There can often be other psychological conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) particularly if you or your loved one have been involved in a traumatic amputation. Also many people may have issues with body image and coming to terms with life following an amputation. Help and treatment may be needed to deal with these psychological problems
- There can also be quite painful and distressing neurological symptoms suffered by the person sustaining the amputation. This is called ‘phantom limb pain’ where the person experiences in their mind real pain and irritation even though the limb is no longer there
Because of the wide array of symptoms, it is important to gain access to the very best medical experts who will assess you and provide their recommendations for treatment, rehabilitation and care.
Rehabilitation and support
There are many specialist prosthetics centres in the UK that provide excellent services to those that have sustained amputation injuries. However, access to such units can be largely dependent on your location within the UK. It is therefore important that you seek advice to ensure that if a legal claim can be made that access is provided to these and other services privately.
At Burnetts Solicitors we will also work with the existing specialist amputation injury experts and the NHS to ensure that your ongoing care and treatment is as continuous and straightforward as possible.
It is important at this most difficult of times that you gain access to the right kind of help and advice. Rehabilitation could include input from a number of specialists both during your time in hospital and when you return home including orthopaedic/prosthetic consultants, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Long term support
Depending on the severity of the amputation injury you may require long-term support for either part of or throughout your life.
The local authority may well provide some care and support to you and your family or any carers. However, funding may well be available through your personal injury claim.
The aim of this support is to enable you and your family to live as independently as possible. The level of support will be assessed carefully to try and reflect your long-term needs.
Our aims are to support you through the legal process but also make sure that you or your loved one achieves the best possible outcome following an amputation injury.
Legal issues
If we deal with your compensation claim, we will do so on a completely No-Win No-Fee basis.
Please try not to judge the circumstances of your own case, as your solicitor can best advise whether any compensation is recoverable. We are recognised as leading experts in dealing with cases involving amputations.
We set up our Medical Negligence and Serious Injury (MNSI) Team to bring together the most specialist personal injury lawyers with medical and disability experts to fight for justice for the most seriously injured.
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