How Much Compensation For The Loss Of An Arm?

By Lewis Hendrix. Last Updated 13th January 2023. Welcome to this guide to loss of limb compensation claims, and how much compensation for the loss of an arm could be achievable in personal injury claims for an amputated limb. We offer an alternative to a loss of an arm injury claims calculator for 2022 claims. Plus, we discuss how someone who lost an arm due to someone’s negligence could get help from an amputation solicitor, who could fight for amputation compensation for them. We explain what help you could get with an amputation compensation claim. If you’re faced with losing an arm or lost a limb due to someone else’s breach of their duty of care to you, our amputation solicitors could help you secure compensation. To find out more about making an amputation claim, read on.

Whether you’ve suffered medical negligence relating to a fractured arm that has resulted in necessary amputation or you’ve had an arm amputated traumatically, this guide helps you find out more about amputation claims.

Can I claim compensation for losing an arm?

A girl who has lost her arm sitting on a bed with a new prosthetic arm

Most of us take the use of our limbs for granted. We use them in everyday life without ever thinking about them. However, suffering the loss of an arm or other limb soon proves how dependent we are on them. If you’re involved in an accident, caused by somebody else’s negligence which results in your arm being amputated, you could be eligible for compensation.

In this guide, we’re going to look at when the loss of an arm compensation claim could be made, when somebody else might be responsible and how much compensation you could be entitled to.

Loss Of Limb Compensation Claims – Get Some Help

Our advisors are specially trained to offer free legal advice about claiming. They can also assess your claim for free and with no obligation. If they believe your case is suitable for a compensation claim, they could introduce you to a specialist no win no fee solicitor to handle your claim. If you’d like to begin a claim right away, please call our advisors on 0800 073 8801.

Alternatively, to find out more about the loss of limb compensation claims, please continue reading.

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Amputation Claim – What Makes A Claim Valid?

After losing a limb, you might wonder if you’re eligible to make an amputation claim. As with any type of personal injury claim, it is important to prove the following:

  • A legal duty of care was owed to you by the defendant
  • The defendant breached that duty
  • You suffered harm as a result of the breach

Whether you lost a limb due to a car accident, or your arm was severely injured during an accident at work, you are likely owed a duty of care in these situations. For example:

  • All road users must follow the Highway Code and, under the Road Traffic Act 1988, motorists must use the roads with due care, attention, and consideration towards others.
  • Your employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that the workplace is safe and prevent you from being injured. This duty of care is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
  • As per the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, occupiers of a public place have a duty of care to ensure that their premises are safe for any lawful visitor.

In addition to proving that you were owed a duty of care, it’s necessary to show, with the help of evidence, that the defendant breached that duty. This could come in the form of:

  • CCTV or dashcam footage
  • Photographs showing the scene of the accident or its cause
  • Any accident reports that may have been completed
  • The details of anyone who witnessed the accident

Before we continue with our guide, you might be interested in speaking to an advisor. They can verify if your amputation claim has a good chance of succeeding completely free of charge.

What Is The Loss Of An Arm?

When we talk about the loss of an arm, we’re usually talking about the traumatic loss of an arm caused during an accident. Over the coming sections of this guide we’ll look at accidents which can lead to the loss of an arm such as a road traffic accident, an accident at work, medical negligence and injuries caused during service to the armed forces.

The extent of the impact of an arm amputation will depend on which arm it affects. A left arm amputation or right arm amputation will affect people differently depending on which is their dominant arm.

Amputated Limb – What Types Of Loss Of Limb Are There?

Firstly, we should explain that there are different types of amputation.

Surgically necessary amputation

In some cases, it may be medically necessary to amputate a limb, such in the case of an infection that has developed. 

Traumatic amputation

An amputation compensation claim could result from a traumatically amputated limb. This is where the limb is severed at the time of the accident. 

Amputated limb – Could I Claim?

In order to seek compensation, you must be able to prove that you were owed a duty of care, this duty of care was breached and you experienced harm. This could be physical harm such as a fractured arm or amputated limb.

If you successfully make an amputation compensation claim, the nature and severity of the amputated limb could impact your compensation. Please do not hesitate to call us to discuss this further. 

Types Of Accident Which Could Lead To The Loss Of An Arm

Over the coming sections of this guide, we’re going to take a look at different scenarios which could lead to an arm amputation claim. Don’t worry if you don’t see the type of accident you were involved with. So long as the accident was caused by somebody else’s negligence, we could help you claim. The following are just some common examples of the types of accidents which lead to a claim.

Claim For The Loss Of An Arm Due To Medical Negligence

All medical professionals have a duty of care to protect the well being of their patients. This means that they need to follow best practices, explain any potential risks and use the correct equipment during any treatment. Medical negligence claims are possible against the NHS as well as private healthcare providers.

If you’ve been involved in surgery where an avoidable mistake has led to your arm being amputated, then you could be entitled to sue the surgeon or hospital. You could also be able to claim if a misdiagnosis prevented you from receiving treatment earlier that might’ve saved your arm.

Claim For The Loss Of An Arm In A Road Traffic Accident

When a road traffic accident occurs, an arm could be crushed or trapped, and the damage is so severe that the only option is to amputate the arm. It’s also possible to suffer a traumatic amputation of the arm at the scene of the accident.

As all road users owe each other a duty of care to protect each other by driving carefully, you could claim compensation if the car crash was caused by another driver’s negligent act. Claims might be possible where the other driver was driving carelessly, was speeding, was under the influence of drink or drugs or any other form of dangerous driving.

Our solicitors specialise in road traffic accident claims and could help you even if you’re involved in a hit and run accident or the driver has no insurance. Please call for further details on claiming loss of an arm compensation following an RTA.

Claim For The Loss Of An Arm In An Armed Forces Accident

It’s quite obvious that serving on the front line for the armed forces is a dangerous role and accidents and injuries will happen. However, as an employer, the military has a duty of care to ensure the safety of their staff while not completing combat missions. Also, during combat, you should be provided with the correct equipment and have been trained properly on how to use it.

Loss Of Limb Compensation Claims For Service Personnel

If it can be shown that the armed forces were negligent in some way, then you could claim compensation for the loss of an arm. As these can be quite complex cases to prove, we do advise that you have a specialist solicitor working for you. Please discuss how we could help by calling the number at the top of the page.

Claim For The Loss Of An Arm In An Accident At Work

All employers in the UK, whether large or small, have a duty of care to try and keep staff safe while at work. That could mean while working in a factory, warehouse or office as well as working at remote locations.

Should My Employer Pay Me For Loss Of Limb Compensation Claims

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers should perform regular risk assessments to identify any dangers. Then they should take steps to remove the danger. These could include:

  • Ensuring machinery is maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Training staff adequately.
  • Providing safety equipment.
  • Ensuring any faults are repaired in a timely manner.

If an accident at work occurs because one of the above hasn’t happened, you might be entitled to sue your employer. They are not allowed to discipline you for making a claim, so long as its an honest claim, so don’t be afraid to claim the compensation you could be entitled to. If you’d like to know more about loss of an arm compensation claims against your employer, why not call today?

Further Symptoms Which May Be Related To The Loss Of An Arm

In some cases, the pain of an arm amputation will fade over time. For others will last for the rest of their life and ‘ghost pain’ can occur as well. However, as well as the pain, there are other psychological symptoms which could be suffered. These include:

  • Flashbacks of the accident occurring.
  • Depression and anxiety.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

These, as well as other psychological issues could all be included within your claim if they are diagnosed by a doctor and linked to your accident or injuries.

What Steps Should I Take If I Lost A Limb In A Traumatic Accident?

If you’re involved in an accident which causes the loss of an arm, providing evidence to show what happened could make the difference between receiving compensation or not.

Obviously, you’re unlikely to be able to do too much yourself because of your injuries. However, if you’re with somebody else at the time, they could help you gather important evidence. The steps you should try to take include:

  • Photographing the scene of the accident. Try to capture the cause of the accident and take pictures before anything is removed from the scene where possible.
  • Obtain copies of medical records from the hospital. These can be used as evidence to show the extent of your injuries.
  • Get witness details and statements of what they saw.
  • Report the accident to the police if it’s a road traffic accident. In workplace accidents, ensure the accident is recorded in an accident report book.
  • When possible, photograph your injuries.
  • Write down what happened. It’s very easy to forget details over time so write down what you remember as soon as possible.

If you have gathered evidence to support your loss of arm compensation claim, why not call our team today for a free case review?

Loss Of An Arm Personal Injury Claims Calculator

For a person who has lost a limb, amputation compensation from a successful claim could be useful in helping them to make necessary changes after such an incident.

There are many factors that need to be assessed when calculating compensation for an amputation claim. These include the pain and suffering a claimant has sustained due to the injury. This is compensated under general damages. Plus, the financial impacts of them having lost a limb need to be accounted for. These monetary losses caused by the injury can be compensated under special damages.

Special damages could include loss of income, as well as medical and care costs. Travel expenses could also be included in an award for an amputation claim.

When assessing general damages for an amputation compensation claim, legal professionals could look at a range of factors. No two claims are precisely alike, and therefore your settlement would be specific to your claim.

To get an idea of how much an amputation claim could bring in general damages, legal professionals could look to the Judicial College Guidelines. This is a legal publication that offers guidance on payout amounts for claims in England and Wales.

We’ve taken some figures relating to lost limbs from this publication, as you can see below. However, we should reiterate that these are only guidelines. Your amputation compensation would reflect the unique facts and circumstances of your case.

 

Edit
Injury Severity Compensation Range Additional Notes
Loss of both arms £240,790 to £300,000 This type of injury will cause somebody who has full conciousness to feel completely helpless.
Arm amputated at the shoulder (single arm) Not less than £137,160 The complete removal of a single arm at the shoulder.
Above-elbow amputation (single arm) £109,650 to £130,930 The lower end of this range covers amputations at the elbow. The higher end covers amputation which leaves a shorter stump making the use of a prosthetic limb difficult.
Below-elbow amputation (single arm) £96,160 to £109,650 Covers amputations through the forearm and where severe pain (including phantom pain) occurs.
Arm injury Severe £96,160 to £130,930 Injuries where an amputation doesn’t need to be performed but the result is effectively the same as if it had.
Arm injury Serious £39,170 to £59,860 Where there is a serious fracture in one or both arms which causes a significant and permanent disability.
General psychological injury Severe £54,830 to £115,730 For severe psychological harm that leaves a person unable to cope with life
General psychological injury Moderately severe £19,070 to £54,830 Severe psychological harm but shoes encouraging signs of possible improvement
Anxiety Disorder Severe £59,860 to £100,670 Causing recurring nightmares and trouble sleeping

 

If you would like more personalised guidance as to how much your claim could be worth, please call the team.

What Determines Payouts For Loss Of Limb Compensation Claims

You may notice that the amount of an amputation compensation payout varies depending on the severity of your injury. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist solicitor on your side. Our solicitors use medical records, as well as reports from independent doctors, to try and ensure the severity of your injuries is clear. They do this to try and ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation that your injuries deserve.

Special Damages Which Could Be Claimed For A Traumatic Arm Amputation

In the previous section, we provided examples of ‘general damages’ that a personal injury solicitor can claim for. This is used to cover the pain and suffering your injuries cause. However, that is just one part of the claim. Your solicitor can also include financial losses, known as special damages, within the claim too. Some examples of special damages include:

Loss of Earnings


While you’re recovering, you’re likely to need time off from work. If that means you lose some of your wages, then you could claim them back. Also, in cases where the loss of an arm affects your ability to work altogether or you can’t complete the work as you used to, you could claim for future lost income too.

Care Costs


In some cases, amputation compensation claims can include the cost of a professional carer to help you while recovering. You could also ask for compensation if a loved one or friend has cared for you during this time.

Medical Costs


You’ll usually receive free treatment from the NHS for your injuries. However, that doesn’t prevent the costs of prescriptions, over the counter medicines and other treatments from building up. That means you could also be entitled to claim these costs back.

Home Adaptations


Some injuries, such as a full arm amputation of your dominant arm, might mean changes to your home are needed to help you function. Therefore, it might be possible to claim for the cost of this work.

Travelling Costs

It’s likely that if you’ve lost your arm, you might not be able to drive for a while (or ever again in more serious cases). Therefore, the costs of alternative travel arrangements or modifications could be considered in your claim too.

To learn more about what you could include in a loss of arm compensation claim, please connect with our specialists today.

Evidence For Special Damages

It’s really important that you can provide evidence to backup any special damages claim. We recommend that you keep hold of receipts, bank statements and you keep a log of spending linked to your injuries. Importantly, we recommend that you check with your solicitor before committing to an expense. They should be able to confirm whether you’re likely to be compensated. They may also be able to check with the defendant’s insurer for you.

Amputation Solicitors – No Win No Fee Amputation Claims

It’s only natural to worry about how to fund legal representation when making a claim for the loss of a limb. This could be especially the case if your injury has caused you financial loss. However, having a lawyer on your side could give you the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve. 

There are lots of amputation solicitors that could help you with amputation claims by offering their services on a No Win No Fee basis. Our solicitors offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement. This generally means you won’t pay for their services upfront or if your claim fails. 

If your claim succeeds, your solicitor will take a success fee from your compensation. This is capped by law.

How do No Win No Fee Amputation Claims Work?

One of our No Win No Fee amputation solicitors would send you an agreement to sign. This is usually called a Conditional Fee Agreement. It details what success fee the solicitor will take from the payout once it comes through. Once you’ve signed the agreement, the solicitor will begin work. Once compensation comes through, the success fee will be deducted. You’ll benefit from the rest of the payout.

If you would like to talk to us about any aspect of making amputation claims with No Win No Fee amputation solicitors, please call us. We’ll be happy to talk you through the claims process in more detail

How We Could Help You Claim For The Traumatic Loss Of A Limb

Now that you understand when you could claim for the loss of an arm, we hope you’d like to begin your claim with us. Here are some reasons why we think you should:

  • Our claims line is open 24-hours a day, every day of the week.
  • We offer a no obligation assessment of your claim and also free legal advice.
  • Our advisors will work at your pace without pressuring you.
  • If your claim is taken on it will be on a no win no fee basis.
  • Our team of solicitors have up to 30 years personal injury claims experience.
  • Previous clients have provided excellent feedback.
  • Our solicitors always try to ensure that our clients receive the maximum amount of compensation for their injuries.

Start Your Claim For The Loss Of An Arm

We hope that you’re now ready to begin a claim with Accident Claims UK. If so, here are the ways in which you can get in touch:

Whichever method you use to contact us, our advisors will act sensitively and professionally when assessing your claim. There will be no pressure from us and you’re under no obligation to continue. We will provide free legal advice about claiming for the loss of an arm whether you decide to continue or not.

Essential References Relating To Loss Of Limb Compensation Claims

Thanks for reading this guide about claiming for the loss of an arm. Hopefully you now have all of the information you require. To assist you further, we’ve linked to some more resources that we hope you’ll find useful.

The Health And Safety At Work Act 1974 – Information regarding the legislation that could be used if you’ve suffered an arm amputation accident at work.

Armed Forces Claims – A government guide about claiming against the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme if you’ve lost a limb while serving.

Road Traffic Accident Statistics – This government resource provides information about injuries caused by a car accident and other RTAs.

Making An Amputation Claim – A more generic look at amputation compensation claims, not just the loss of an arm.

Accident At Work Claims – If you’ve suffered a traumatic arm amputation due to a workplace accident, then this guide could help you work out if you can sue your employer.

Medical Negligence Claims – This guide will explain whether you could make an arm amputation claim against a medical professional following clinical negligence.

Other Useful Compensation Guides

Loss of an arm compensation claims – FAQs

In this section, we’ll try to provide answers to some common questions relating to loss of an arm compensation claims.

What can I include in my loss of an arm compensation claim?

As well as claiming for any pain, suffering and loss of amenity, it’s important to consider how your injury will affect your life. Therefore,  compensation claims could include care costs, medical expenses, adaptations to your home and specially adapted vehicles to help you cope.

When can I claim for losing a limb?

To make a personal injury claim following the loss of a limb, you’ll need to show that somebody who owed you a duty of care was negligent and caused your accident. As such, you could claim for an accident at work, road traffic accident, medical negligence or accident in a public place.

What time limits apply to loss of an arm compensation claims?

In most cases, you will have 3-years to start your compensation claim that begins from the date of your accident. However, if you were incapacitated following your accident (you were in a coma for example), then your 3-years would start from the date of knowledge.

If you would like any further advice on beginning a compensation claim, please call for free today.

How much compensation for the loss of an arm could I receive?

If you’re wondering how much compensation for the loss of an arm would be appropriate, we should explain how such claims could be calculated. In most personal injury claims, the level of severity of the injury would be assessed, as well as how it affected you at the time of the accident and afterwards.

Additionally, it may also be considered to what extent the arm loss impacted your quality of life, including the psychological impact.

You could also receive compensation for actual and future projected loss of earnings due to your injuries. Further to this, if you’ve incurred other costs or losses due to your injuries, these could be included within your claim too. 

I want to claim loss of limb compensation – how can you help me?

If you want to claim loss of limb compensation, we would be happy to talk to you to explain in detail how we could help. For most claimants, we would perform a free case assessment to check your eligibility to claim. Further to this, if we believe your claim could have a favourable chance of success, we could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor. They could help you take steps to get the compensation you deserve. 

Can I claim loss of limb compensation for a car accident?

If someone else caused the accident by breaching their duty of care towards you and causing you harm, you could be eligible for compensation.

How common is this seriousness of injury?

There were a large number of serious injuries in road traffic accidents in the year ending June 2021. You can see the statistics from the Department of Transport for this period below.

Graph showing the estimated road casualties in Great Britain

Where can I find a loss of an arm injury claims calculator for 2022 claims?

We have provided an alternative to a loss of an arm injury claims calculator for 2022 claims in the form of our compensation table. The figures in the table come from the 2022 release of the Judicial College Guidelines. These provide bracket compensation amounts for different injuries that are based on past cases. There are, however, only rough guidelines and your actual settlement could  differ. 

As well as the figures in the table, which relate to the pain, suffering and loss of amenity from your injuries compensated under general damages, you could also claim special damages. These could include damages for the financial impact of your injuries. They could include home adaptations, prosthetics, other medical costs, care costs and travel expenses. You’d need to provide evidence of these costs to claim for them.  Documents such as bank statements, bills and payslips could be useful in doing so. 

I lost an arm in an accident where there were no witnesses, could I claim?

If the accident that led to you having lost an arm happened when you were alone, you could be worried that no witnesses means no claim. This would not necessarily be the case. There could be other evidence to support your claim. This could include CCTV footage or even photographs of the scene. If your injuries happened in a road traffic accident, a police report could help. Should you be worried about evidencing your claim for losing an arm, please speak to our team. We could assess your eligibility to claim and offer free legal advice on your claim. 

Medical Resources And Support For Amputees And Those Making Loss Of Limb Compensation Claims

Finally, here are some medical resources and support groups that you may find useful:

NHS Amputation Guide – This guide from the NHS explains why arm amputation surgery needs to take place, how it’s done and arm amputation recovery methods you can use.

Limbless Association – A UK charity offering support to those who have suffered the loss of an arm as well as other limbs.

Thanks for visiting us today and reading about claiming loss of an arm compensation.We hope we’ve explained what you need to know about loss of limb compensation, and how much you could get for the loss of an arm.