Amputation Injury Lawyer

Any accident involving a severe injury is devastating, but amputation injuries, in which a limb or appendage is removed from the body, can be particularly life-altering. Whether the amputation happened due to an auto, truck, or construction accident, you lost a vital part of your body. The road to recovery is tough. 

If the traumatic accident happened because of someone’s negligence the amputation attorneys at Nix Patterson could help with the compensation and financial security you need to move on with life. 

What Causes Amputation Injuries? 

Amputation injuries are most common in situations where the human body can experience significant forces. Common accidents that may cause catastrophic amputation injuries are: 

• Tractor-trailer accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Car accidents
• Bike and pedestrian accidents involving a motor vehicle
• Job-related accidents, especially construction and industrial sites
• Medical mistakes and malpractice
• Explosions and fires

In some particularly violent accidents, there could be a traumatic amputation. This usually means sudden limb loss, such as in a severe car accident or machinery accident at work. It’s sometimes impossible to reattach the limb following a traumatic amputation, but this is rare. 

A traumatic amputation happens during the accident, while a nontraumatic amputation is a medically necessary procedure performed after the accident. A non-traumatic amputation, for example, may be needed after a collision because the limb was damaged and cannot be saved. 

How Is an Amputation Injury Treated? 

It is possible for a limb amputated in an accident to be a clean amputation. However, in many severe accidents, the limb is not entirely removed from the body. Therefore, some of the arm or leg might remain, but cannot be saved. If this happens, surgery will be needed to amputate the damaged limb. 

You will typically be put under general anesthesia to remove the limb. First, the surgeon must remove all damaged tissue and leave whatever healthy tissue there is. Next, blood vessels are tied off or cauterized, and the remaining tissues will be molded so a prosthetic limb can be fitted. 

You may need to be hospitalized for a significant amount of time after an amputation surgery. The recovery process can be long and difficult depending on the limb affected.

All of this medical care for your amputation injury is expensive. One estimate is that out-of-pocket costs for a typical amputation are at least $90,000 for the first 24 months. Some amputations cost more than $500,000 over a lifetime. Plus, a prosthetic limb could cost up to $40,000. When considering all these costs of an amputation injury, it may make sense to seek compensation in a personal injury claim. 

What Is the Psychological Impact of an Amputation Injury? 

Losing a body part can significantly impact a person’s mental health. Many amputee victims report overwhelming sadness, grief, and depression. Coming to terms with this loss is often as challenging as the physical changes and limitations. 

If you have an amputation after a traumatic injury, such as a major car wreck, you may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is normal under the circumstances and not something to be ashamed of. If this is the case, you could be entitled to compensation for your mental anguish from the amputation injury or surgery. 

You May Be Entitled to Compensation for an Amputation Injury 

If you lose a body part due to someone’s wrongdoing or negligence, you can likely file a lawsuit for compensation. Obtaining the compensation you deserve can make a huge difference in your recovery and future. 

Most people who have lost a limb will need expensive medical treatments, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and prosthetic devices. Some damages you may be entitled to for an amputation injury are: 

• Past and future healthcare costs
• Lost wages in the past
• Loss of wages in the future because of disability
• Emotional anguish, trauma, and distress about your lost limb
• Loss of household services provided by the person in the home
• Punitive damages, if the defendant was extraordinarily reckless and disregarded your safety 

An amputation injury is a high-impact case that could involve a high level of compensation. That is why, as an injured party, you should never try to settle the case with the other person’s insurance company. You should not even talk to the at-fault party’s insurance company. At all. Some insurance adjusters will try to reduce the value of claims, including amputation cases. 

An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to negotiate aggressively with insurance companies. They understand how debilitating an amputation injury is and will fight for maximum compensation. 

Getting Compensation for Phantom Limb Syndrome

A significant issue for many people who have lost a limb is Phantom Limb Syndrome. This occurs when you suffer severe pain in the amputated part of your body, even though the limb is gone.

Treating Phantom Limb Syndrome is particularly difficult. Your doctor may recommend several ways to relieve pain, especially alternative solutions such as acupuncture, hypnosis, massage, and biofeedback therapy. 

Dealing with this debilitating situation isn’t something you should have to do alone. Your amputation injury attorney will also fight for compensation for your phantom limb syndrome. 

Contact a Nix Patterson

If you lost or damaged a limb in an accident caused by someone, you need a law firm that understands the complexities of your case. Amputation injuries are mentally and physically painful, and expensive to treat, but an experienced lawyer will make the process easier. 

Let our amputation injury attorneys at Nix Patterson fight for your legal rights with tenacity and dedication. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.