Limb Loss Awareness: How Compensation And Rehabilitation Could Help You
Between 5,000 and 6,000 major limb amputations take place every year in the UK, with 57% of upper limb amputations caused by traumatic injury. Carlos Land, Director in JCP Solicitors’ Serious Injury team, explains how compensation can help:
Amputation as a Result of Injury
Whether caused by a road traffic collision, an accident at work, a defective product, an extreme sports accident or an accident in a public space, the life-changing impact of a serious injury leading to amputation cannot be understated.
Amputations generally require a long period of rehabilitation which can impact your physical and mental health, as well as your financial stability due to the time taken out of work. It can have a severe impact on psychological wellbeing, as you come to terms with a new way of life and a challenging road to recovery.
At JCP Solicitors, we consider your individual circumstances to provide specialist, bespoke advice and guidance. We understand the emotional distress caused by amputation, and we remain by your side at every stage of the journey to claiming the compensation and getting access to the rehabilitation you need which will help your physical and emotional recovery.
Types of Compensation
Access to compensation for limb loss following serious injury falls into two main categories:
General Damages are be awarded for the pain, suffering, and impact on quality of life and daily activities caused by the injury.
Special Damages are claimed to cover monetary losses, provide for your medical expenses and on-going recovery, and ensure your quality of life remains as high as possible for the long-term. These are generally much more substantial and reflect your individual circumstances.
This ensures you are fairly compensated for any loss of earnings during recovery and in the future, and your medical expenses including ongoing treatment, private physiotherapy, and psychological support are all covered. Special damages also provide vital financial support to allow you to access high-quality mobility aids, home and transport adaptations, and prosthetic devices.
The choice of prosthetic devices is huge. In addition to a standard prosthesis that is designed for everyday use ensuring comfort, stability and safety, there are several activity-based prostheses designed for physical exertion. For instance, lower limb devices are available for swimming, which contain waterproof components that can be fixed in position to optimise buoyancy in the water; for cycling, specific adaptations can be made to connect the device directly to the pedal for maximum power transfer and control; for trail walking and climbing, specialised terminal devices with high grip surfaces assist with navigation on steep and uneven ground.
How Compensation and Rehabilitation Can Help
A serious injury claim can become a lifeline for those who face the challenge of limb loss.
A specialist Solicitor will guide you through the process, taking a holistic perspective on your recovery to recommend expert physiotherapists and other support services, alongside home adaptations, best-in-class prosthetic devices, and adapted transport as your claim proceeds. Your Solicitor will support you in obtaining the necessary rehabilitation that you require, and in addition, look to secure early interim payments to ensure your financial security.
When To Contact A Specialist Solicitor
You should contact a Solicitor as soon as you can following your accident; they can review your claim and let you know as soon as possible whether you have a case.
If you would like legal advice and guidance on amputation claims following a serious injury, JCP Solicitors can help. Contact Carlos Land by emailing carlos.land@jcpsolicitors.co.uk or call 01792 525421.