With the right specialist legal and clinical support you can resume an active and fulfilling lifestyle after injury.
Compensation for losing an arm is intended to reflect the full impact of the amputation on your life, both now and in the future. This includes not only the injury itself, but the long-term cost of prosthetics, rehabilitation, accommodation, equipment, care and any loss of earnings or earning capacity.
An important point about compensation figures
You may see figures online suggesting that compensation for losing an arm is limited to a few hundred thousand pounds. These figures usually come from Judicial College Guidelines, which relate only to compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.
In reality, arm amputation claims are often worth significantly more than these figures once the cost of prosthetics, care, accommodation and loss of earnings are taken into account.
At Thompsons Solicitors, many of our arm amputation cases settle for more than £1 million, reflecting the true, lifelong impact of limb loss.
How much compensation can you receive for losing an arm?
There is no single amount of compensation for losing an arm. Every claim is assessed individually, based on how the amputation affects you and what support you will need for the rest of your life.
Compensation is generally made up of two main elements:
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Compensation for the injury itself
This reflects the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the amputation. Judicial guidance provides indicative ranges based on factors such as:
- Whether the amputation is above or below the elbow
- Whether one or both arms are affected
- The impact on function, independence and daily activities
These figures provide a starting point, but they do not reflect the full value of most arm amputation claims.
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Compensation for financial losses and future needs
In serious amputation cases, this often forms the largest part of the claim.
What does arm amputation compensation cover?
Every arm amputation claim is different, but compensation may include -
Prosthetics and rehabilitation
The cost of prosthetic arms over a lifetime can be substantial. Compensation can include:
- Initial prosthetic limbs and regular replacements
- Specialist or myoelectric prosthetics
- Ongoing maintenance, servicing and adjustments
- Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and specialist rehabilitation
Over a lifetime, prosthetic and rehabilitation costs alone can amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Accommodation and specialist equipment
Many people require changes to their home or specialist equipment following an arm amputation, including:
- Adaptations to existing accommodation
- The cost of moving to more suitable housing
- Assistive technology and specialist equipment
- Vehicle adaptations to enable independent travel
Compensation should ensure you can live as independently and safely as possible.
Loss of earnings and future earning capacity
An arm amputation can significantly affect your working life. Compensation may include:
- Loss of income while you were unable to work
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Loss of career progression or the need to retrain
- Early retirement in some cases
Even in non-manual roles, pain, fatigue, reduced dexterity or psychological impact can affect long-term employment.
Care, support and assistance
Claims may also include the cost of:
- Professional care and support
- Assistance provided by family members
- Help with personal care, domestic tasks or childcare
Our specialist solicitors work with leading experts to ensure these needs are fully assessed over the long term.
Case studies: compensation for losing an arm
Our serious injury and amputation claims team has secured seven-figure settlements for people who have lost an arm as a result of workplace accidents or medical negligence.
Case study – Above-elbow amputation following road traffic collision
Our client Victoria suffered an above elbow amputation when she was in her 50s. She was unable to return to her job, but her rehabilitation helped to continue with her previous hobbies of cycling and hill walking. She received £2.5m
How Thompsons Solicitors can help
Arm amputation claims are complex and require specialist expertise. At Thompsons Solicitors, our dedicated amputation claims specialists have extensive experience in high-value, catastrophic injury claims.
We work closely with:
- Medical consultants
- Prosthetics and rehabilitation specialists
- Occupational therapists
- Employment and financial experts
This allows us to build a detailed claim that reflects the true lifelong impact of losing an arm.
Where liability is admitted, we will seek interim compensation payments wherever possible, helping to fund rehabilitation, prosthetics or accommodation needs while your claim progresses.
Speak to our arm amputation claims specialists
If you or a loved one has lost an arm due to an accident or medical negligence, our specialist team is here to help.
We act only for injured people — never insurers — and are committed to securing compensation that provides independence, dignity and long-term security.
👉 Meet our amputation and serious injury solicitors
📞 Call 0800 0 224 224 for clear, specialist advice