By Megan Webster. Last Updated 25th January 2023. Did you suffer a severe foot injury at work, in public, or as the result of a road traffic accident that was not your fault? Perhaps you’ve lost the use of a toe and are looking into toe amputation settlement amounts. If so, you could be owed compensation for your injuries. Our panel of personal injury lawyers could help you with your compensation claim, wherever the accident happened.
Great toe amputation compensation
Loss of toes and crushed foot injuries resulting from a third party’s negligence can potentially draw substantial compensation amounts. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to launch a successful claim.
When you consult a skilled No Win No Fee lawyer, they could value your claim more accurately than the many online personal injury claims calculators out there. Each claim is different, so to accurately reflect the subtle details of your case, speak to us today.
This guide includes a case study, intended purely as an example of someone who was awarded £200,000 for the loss of a big toe due to an accident at work that wasn’t his fault. It shows you step by step how the process could work for you.
If you feel your accident could have been prevented and want to seek compensation, contact us today to discuss possible toe amputation settlement amounts. We include relevant links in this article to help you make an informed decision. If at any point you have a question, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 0800 408 7825 or contact us through our site.
Select A Section
- A Claims Guide To Calculate Toe Amputation Settlement Amounts
- What Is An Amputation?
- Financial Issues From Great Toe Amputations
- Common Amputation Accidents
- Compensation Estimates For Amputation Injuries
- Case Study: £200,000 Compensation For Great Toe Amputations
- More Examples Of Toe Amputation Settlement Amounts
- You Could Benefit From No Win No Fee
- Find Top Personal Injury Lawyers Near You
- Talk Today
- Further Guidance
A Claims Guide To Calculate Toe Amputation Settlement Amounts
In this guide, we offer our readers the opportunity to access no-obligation, free legal advice about a severe toe injury caused by negligence in different places, including at work. If you lost a big toe or required a toe amputation after an accident in a public place, this article will lay out options available to you.
Perhaps your injury was sustained in a road traffic accident (RTA) that wasn’t your fault, and you need clarification as to how you might make a claim. Whether you injured your toe in a road, work or public accident, if a negligent third party caused it, toe amputation settlement amounts are possible.
We discuss how a claim is appropriately valued by a personal injury lawyer. We also give you ideas of what could strengthen your case, such as a medical assessment and bills or receipts to prove your out-of-pocket expenses. Finally, we show you where and how to find the best No Win No Fee lawyer to handle your case.
What Is An Amputation?
The surgical removal of a toe is usually the result of the toe being so badly crushed or mutilated that it becomes necessary to remove it altogether and prevent infection. Diabetes and infection from a cut can also lead to toe amputation in severe cases. It’s a serious procedure and has long-lasting implications. The NHS website explains more about amputations.
When considering making a case for an accident which resulted in a toe amputation, it’s essential to ask yourself three questions:
- Did someone have a duty of care to protect your health and safety in public, at work or on the roads?
- If so, did they breach that legal responsibility?
- Did you suffer your injury as a result?
Helpful Legislation
There are specific laws that set out employers’, private operators’, and local authorities’ responsibilities to ensure a hazard and risk-free environment, as far as is practical. They are as follows:
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 outlines how employers have strict duties to create a work environment that is as safe as reasonably possible. If you’re unsure how or whether to report your accident at work, you can refer to this government website and follow their advice.
- Local authorities or private companies that operate public spaces also have a duty to protect you from accidents under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This includes parks and outside places, beaches, and common ground.
- The Highway Code obliges everyone on the roads, whatever their age or level of experience to show a duty of care to all other road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. The Code asks that drivers anticipate that other road users may not show the requisite standard of care and diligence whilst driving.
It’s worth speaking to our friendly team today to discuss possible toe amputation settlement amounts for an accident severe enough to warrant an amputation. You may be due a substantial payout.
Financial Issues From Great Toe Amputations
Whilst a full recovery can be expected from a big toe amputation, there could be a period when you are unable to work or function normally. The procedure could involve a boot-cast and crutches or, in some cases, a period of confinement to a wheelchair. These circumstances can leave you unable to work and may negatively impact your finances.
A No Win No Fee lawyer could seek two heads of compensation for toe amputation settlement amounts. The first, general damages, are an amount awarded to cover the physical and psychological pain you’ve suffered. The other head is called special damages, which compensate you for injury-related expenses and financial loss. For example:
- Loss of earnings from your job.
- Travel costs to hospital and doctor appointments.
- Medical expenses, crutches, boot-casts and wheelchairs.
- Physio and rehabilitation costs.
- Prosthetic fittings.
The list is not exhaustive and a good No Win No Fee lawyer may be able to identify other expenses incurred due to your accident and show you how to win them back. Call our team of advisors if you’d like to discuss what you could claim as special damages.
Common Amputation Accidents
Accidents can, of course, happen anywhere, but there are specific scenarios where a crushed toe requiring amputation is more likely to happen. The following could lead to toe injuries:
- Slipping, tripping and damaging the toe badly in the process.
- Losing or destroying your toe in a road traffic accident.
- A heavy object landing or sliding across your foot.
- Catching your toes on something sharp, an escalator or automatic doors.
The government produces statistics on injuries in the workplace if you’d like to find out more after a workplace accident.
Any poorly lit area, unattended spillages, unclearly marked hazards, or proximity to heavy unattended objects that could crush your toe are potential risks. When considering your case for toe amputation settlement amounts, your personal injury lawyer may ask for as much detail as possible about the circumstances of your accident and injuries. Certain details could have a bearing on your claim.
Compensation Amounts For Amputation Injuries
An independent medical assessment is required to prove that your injuries were sustained due to the accident and not a previous, long-standing condition. Whilst many people may feel discouraged at the prospect of taking a medical assessment, it could be an opportunity to have your injuries confirmed and validated by a professional.
From the report they create after the assessment, you could have a qualified opinion on long-term implications and recovery times. It may be a relief to discuss your health concerns with a realistic view of how compensation may alleviate them.
Damages and Toe Amputation Settlement Amounts
As we mentioned briefly, the two heads of compensation are:
- General damages: These compensate you for physical and mental suffering. Solicitors may refer to the strength of your case, your medical assessment and the regularly-updated Judicial College Guidelines to value general damages. These guidelines set parameters of compensation amounts for a wide array of personal injuries. They estimate that the loss of a big toe or an injury that crushes and destroys the toe (requiring amputation) can be between £12,900 – £29,770.
- Special damages: These take into account the injury’s financial impacts. This can include any loss of earnings from being unable to work, support during your recovery from paid carers, prosthetics and physiotherapy costs, medical equipment hire and travel expenses to and from hospital appointments amongst other things.
It is important to remember that there are three-year time limits for setting out personal injury claims, which runs from the date of the accident, so if you feel your accident resulted from negligence, contact us today. If you would like to discuss making a claim or to proceed with a claim, please don’t hesitate to speak to our team. They can also help you understand toe amputation settlement amounts.
Case Study: £200,000 Compensation For Great Toe Amputations
Mr Jones, a 22-year-old single male, worked at the processing plant to support his real passion in life which was competitive tennis. He had a promising career but was also grateful for the steady work at the plant.
There was mechanical equipment that was considered a high risk to operate at the plant. Still, the safety standards were usually very high until the company began to announce cuts in their operational budgets.
This resulted in an increased workload and some machinery was now in need of a service or replacement. It was whilst operating one of these machines that Mr Jones’ foot got caught. Even though he had the correct footwear on, the malfunctioning machine’s sheer weight crushed his big toe completely and injured two others.
It transpired that management had known the machinery needed to be updated, and the on-site CCTV captured the whole incident. After Mr Jones arrived at the hospital, doctors decided on the safest course of action. To avoid infection and potential gangrene, they would amputate the toe completely. A subsequent medical assessment confirmed that Mr Jones’ injuries resulted from the accident, and he made a personal injury claim.
His Toe Amputation Settlement Amounts
After a brief negotiation, Mr Jones’ employer admitted liability. They settled the case in his favour. Toe amputation settlements can vary, but he collected just over £200,000 compensation through general and special damages. He was able to restore his finances and move forward with his life.
This is merely an example of the sort of cases that our panel of experts handle, but it illustrates what a good No Win No Fee lawyer can do. Call us today to discuss your options.
Whilst each case is different, the breakdown of special damages for Mr Jones’ looks as follows:
| General damages | Special damages |
|---|---|
| Due to the very severe nature of Mr Jones’ injuries, he was compensated on the higher end of the scale for his physical suffering. The toe was crushed beyond repair and needing amputation. He was awarded £29,770. |
When Mr Jones’ loss of earnings as a professional tennis player were calculated and a medical assessment predicted he may not be able to play again, his loss of earnings from tournaments were estimated at £160,000. |
| Prosthetic and physiotherapy costs: £5,000 | |
| Carer help during the worst of his recovery: £5,000 | |
| Medications: £1,000 | |
| Travel costs to and from hospital whilst unable to drive: £1,000 |
More Examples Of Toe Amptuation Settlement Amounts
This section includes figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) that address general toe injury payouts that could be received under general damages. the JCG is a publication that includes bracketed figures calculated using past court payouts. Legal professionals can use this to help estimate how much a case is worth in compensation.
| Injury | Notes | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Very Severe Foot Injury | Injuries could include the traumatic amputation of the forefoot where there was a serious risk of needing a full amputation. | £83,960 to £109,650 |
| Severe Foot Injury | Both feet or heels are fractured with mobility being restricted and considerable pain being experienced. | £41,970 to £70,030 |
| Serious Foot Injury | A less severe injury that leads to traumatic arthritis (or a risk of) and will cause continuing pain. | £24,990 to £39,200 |
| Moderate Foot Injury | Injuries such as displaced metatarsal fractures that result in a permanent deformity and long-lasting symptoms. | £13,740 to £24,990 |
| Modest Foot Injury | Puncture wounds, ruptured ligaments, or simple metatarsal fractures that cause pain and aching with a permanent limp. | Up to £13,740 |
| Amputation of All Toes | Compensation will depend on factors such as whether the amputation was traumatic or surgical. | £36,520 to £56,080 |
| Amputation of Great Toe | The big toe has been amputated. | In the region of £31,310 |
| Severe Toe Injury | One or two toes need to be amputated following a severe crush injury. | £13,740 to £21,070 |
| Serious Toe Injury | Multiple fracture to two or more toes or a severe crush injury to the big toe that leads to a permanent disability. | £9,600 to £13,740 |
| Moderate Toe Injury | Lacerations, simple fractures or the exacerbation of a pre-existing condition. | Up to £9,600 |
Losing A Toe – Examples Of Special Damages
Above, we have provided some examples of toe amputation settlement amounts. However, these only apply to general damages. You should also only use the above table as a guide. This is because the various factors of your claim could affect how much compensation you receive. For example, whether you endured a traumatic toe amputation and the recovery rate from your injury.
When making a claim for losing a toe, your settlement may also include special damages. Special damages aim to compensate you for any financial losses you may have suffered due to your injury. Some of the financial losses that you could claim for under special damages include:
- Medical costs – such as prescription costs or paying for therapy due to suffering a mental injury because of your accident.
- Loss of earnings, both past and future, if you needed to take time off work.
- Travel costs – this could be taxis to medical appointments.
You will need to provide evidence of these losses in order to claim them back under special damages. Some of the things that could be used as evidence include bank statements, payslips, and receipts.
Contact our advisors today to see whether you could make a personal injury claim for losing a big toe. Additionally, our advisors can offer you free legal advice regarding your specific claim. If they believe that you may be entitled to compensation, they could connect you with our experienced panel of solicitors who could help you with your claim.
You Could Benefit From A No Win No Fee
Our readers can take advantage of the best No Win No Fee lawyers by merely getting in touch with our team. There are many beneficial reasons for using a No Win No Fee lawyer for your toe amputation injury claim. First and foremost, if your case does not win, you won’t have to pay a penny in solicitor fees.
If your case does succeed, the lawyers only take a small percentage, known as a ‘success fee’. This is capped by law to ensure that most of the payout goes directly to you.
With no fees to pay upfront, nothing to pay while the claim is on-going, and the peace of mind of knowing that a skilled personal injury lawyer is working on your behalf, it is worth calling to discuss your options today.
Find Top Personal Injury Lawyers Near You
It’s no longer essential to find a solicitor that is local to you. Using the internet, it’s possible to search thousands of No Win No Fee lawyers who can work on your case from anywhere. But how do you know which are the best ones to handle your case?
How regularly does that firm win? Would they under settle your claim? Are they good at communicating with their clients? These questions are important. You may, however, end up sifting through thousands of search results to find the best firms. Alternatively, let our team do the work for you.
Talk Today
If you feel ready to make a claim and see what toe amputation settlement amounts could look like for you, or if you would like more information on anything discussed in this article, please feel free to get in touch. You can:
- Call and speak to our friendly, ‘live support’ on the number above, available 24/7.
- Write to us.
- Get in touch by using our ‘live chat’ app, bottom right.
Further Help
We hope that this guide has helped with your decision to make a claim for toe amputation. Below are some further reading links that may be useful.
Further advice about claims against public operators.
Further HSE reading on the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974.
Read more on how to claim for an accident while shopping.
Guide by EA
Edited by RV/LC/II