Diabetes amputation negligence claims

In most cases, you have three years from the date you became aware of the negligence to make a diabetes amputation claim. This is known as the limitation period.

The three-year period does not always apply in the same way. If you’re making a claim on behalf of a child, the three years runs from their 18th birthday. If you’re claiming on behalf of someone who lacks the mental capacity to claim themselves, the time limit may not apply at all.

Regardless of your circumstances, it’s important to seek legal advice as early as possible. The sooner we can assess your case, the easier it’s to gather the evidence needed to support your claim.

We handle diabetes amputation claims on a No Win No Fee basis. This means you pay nothing upfront, and if your case does not succeed, you’ll not face any legal costs.

Only if your claim is successful do you pay for the legal services provided, with the fee agreed in advance. You can explore the viability of your case without any financial commitment.

According to Diabetes.co.uk, the leading causes of diabetic amputation include neuropathy, circulation problems (including delayed diagnosis or treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease), foot ulcers, Charcot foot, and other damage to the foot.

Around 80% of amputations in people with diabetes are brought on by a poorly treated foot ulcer that could have been avoided. Complications surrounding diabetes can result from substandard care – including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or treatment that is not properly carried out.

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of lower limb amputation because the condition can cause nerve damage to the feet and problems with circulation. When foot problems are not properly managed, they can progress to infections, ulcers, and ultimately amputation.

Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that causes nerve damage. Peripheral neuropathy – damage to the peripheral nervous system – is one of the main conditions that can lead to diabetic amputation.

The NHS outlines the main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy as: numbness and tingling in the feet or hands; burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas; loss of balance and coordination; and muscle weakness, especially in the feet. These symptoms can be constant or come and go.

Diabetic neuropathy cannot be reversed, but timely and effective treatment is key to relieving symptoms and preventing further complications, including amputation. Treatment may include medications such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, pregabalin and gabapentin, alongside managing blood sugar levels, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and reducing alcohol and smoking. Where healthcare providers have failed to diagnose or manage neuropathy to the required standard, and this has contributed to an amputation, you may have grounds for a claim.

Possibly. Even if you feel you could have managed your diabetes better, that does not necessarily prevent you from making a claim. What matters is whether your healthcare provider also failed to meet the required standard of care, and whether that failure contributed to your amputation.

In some cases, a claim may still succeed even where there is shared responsibility – though the level of compensation may be affected. The best way to understand your position is to speak to one of our specialists, who will give you an honest assessment of your situation.

Fewer than 0.2% of people with diabetes undergo any form of amputation each year. Studies have shown that 0.8% of people with type 2 diabetes and 1.7% of people with type 1 diabetes experience lower-extremity amputations – with type 1 diabetics facing double the rate of type 2 diabetics.

While these percentages are relatively low, the growing prevalence of diabetes worldwide and the fact that men are twice as likely as women to require an amputation highlight how serious this issue is. Importantly, most amputations can be avoided if warning signs are identified and acted upon promptly.

Building a strong diabetes amputation claim requires a detailed review of your medical records and an independent expert assessment of the care you received. We’ll gather your records and instruct a specialist medical expert to give their opinion on whether the treatment you received fell below the standard expected of a responsible body of medical professionals.

You don’t need to gather this evidence yourself. We’ll handle every part of the process, including working with clinical experts to establish what happened, why it happened, and what impact it has had on your life.

Diabetes negligence claims involve seeking compensation for an amputation caused by medical negligence in the treatment or management of diabetes.

Negligence can occur when healthcare providers fail to:

• Diagnose or treat infections promptly.
• Monitor and manage circulation issues or nerve damage.
• Provide adequate foot care advice or regular check-ups.

If an amputation was preventable with proper care, you may be eligible to make a claim. Compensation can help cover medical expenses, loss of income, and emotional distress. Seeking legal advice from a diabetes amputation lawyer is essential to building a successful claim.