Examples of total loss payment < Back

  • John suffered an injury to his right hand from using circular saw. He suffered an amputation of the index finger which was re attached. The result was so poor it was considered a 'total loss' for impairment assessment purposes. He lost the first joint of his little finger and had sensory changes in his middle finger. The impairment score under the America guides was 19 % which would have entitled him to a payment of $37,802.00. John's 'total loss' of the index finger entitled him to a payment of $48,160, the total loss of the first joint of the little finger entitled him to a payment of $13,750.00 and his residual AMA score for other areas was 5% which entitled him to a payment of $9,650.00. His total impairment payment was $71,560.00.

  • Andrew suffered a very severe arm injury when his arm was dragged into a machine at work. Although Andrew's right arm was not amputated, it had so little function it was accepted as a 'total loss' for the calculation of an impairment payment. Using the AMA Guides only, Andrew's impairment score for the physical injuries (which included damage to the shoulder and the arm with additional allowance for scarring etc.) was 67%. This would have entitled Andrew to a payment of $211,630.00 based on the percentage. However, Andrew was able to elect to receive a payment for ' total loss' of the arm'. This payment was $160,450.00.His residual impairment scores for his physical injury under the AMA and other Guides (after removing the percentage score unrelated to the arm) was 53%. This entitled Andrew to an impairment payment of $155,770.00. The amount of the two payments combined was $304,150.00 which was considerably higher than a payment based solely on the AMA Guides score.

  • Linda became a paraplegic as a result of a work accident. Linda's impairment score under the AMA and other guides was 75% which entitled her to an impairment payment of $316,220.00. Linda was able to claim an alternative payment or a 'total loss' which was described as paraplegia. The amount payable for this ' total loss' was $229,250.00. As the impairment payment under the AMA and other guides was higher than the total loss payment, Linda elected to receive the payment.



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