Catastrophic Injuries: Amputations
Catastrophic injuries refer to injuries that are severe and life-altering and that have a long-term impact on a person’s life. A common type of catastrophic injury sustained in negligence-related accidents is the loss of a limb (amputation). Amputations fall into two categories:
- lower-limb amputations, which involve the loss of a leg, foot, or another extremity in the lower half of your body, and
- upper-limb amputations, which involve the loss of a hand, arm, or extremity in the upper half of your body.
In this article, we will discuss the common causes of amputations as well as complications/damages related to amputations.
What Types of Accidents Can Lead to Amputation?
Amputation occurs when a limb or external extremity is totally or partially removed. You may suffer the loss of a limb due to an accident (i.e.. a natural amputation, which occurs in the course of an accident) or because a doctor has to remove a limb after the accident (i.e. a medical or surgical amputation). Accidents that commonly result in the loss of a limb include but are not limited to:
- Agricultural accidents. If lawnmowers or other equipment and tools are not used safely or are not working efficiently, someone can lose a limb in an accident.
- Burn accidents. If a person suffers third- or fourth-degree burns in an accident, they may have to have a surgical amputation because of the extent of the damage to their skin, muscle, nerves, or bones. While other measures may be taken before amputation is considered, surgical amputation may be the required course of treatment for some.
- Electrocutions. Someone handling or exposed to electrical wires may suffer a natural or surgical amputation of the limb or extremity that comes into contact with the electricity.
- Incidents involving firearms and explosives. As we mentioned, burns injuries can lead to amputation, and explosives can cause severe burns. Explosions and firearms can also lead to a natural amputation. Military members and victims/survivors of violent crimes (i.e. assaults, shootings, bombings, etc.) may lose a limb in such an accident.
- Vehicular accidents. After being involved in a motor vehicle accident, a person may have a natural or medical amputation. For instance, if you are thrown from the vehicle, your limb may become trapped under some debris or a vehicle involved in the accident, and the crushing causes irreparable damage to your bone, veins, and muscles, which leads medical professionals to recommend/conduct a surgical amputation. In another case, a motorcyclist may lose a limb natural in the course of a accident when a sharp object severs their limb.
- Workplace accidents. Construction workers, factory workers, and other employees where a lot of machinery is used can suffer from a natural amputation. They as well as other workers may also need a surgical amputation if they are involved in an accident where their limb or extremity is crushed or compressed for a long period or hit by a falling object.
Damages Sustained Because of Amputation
The loss of a limb can have a profound impact on a person’s life. Not only will you have medical expenses and damages from the accident itself but you will also have the financial and emotional impact of continued treatment, rehabilitation, and the changes in your daily life.
Amputations can also lead to other medical complications, such as deep vein thrombosis, heart issues, inflections, and phantom limb pain. You may also have to undergo multiple surgeries to alleviate pain or issues concerning your lost limb.
If someone’s negligence caused led to the loss of your limb, you pursue compensation for your damages, including:
- Damage to physical property
- Current and future medical expenses (i.e. hospital bills, prescription costs, rehab expenses, etc.)
- Past and future loss of income/wages
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Any economic or noneconomic damages sustained
Get Help from Our Experienced Attorney
At Michael Doyle, Attorney at Law, our attorney can help you pursue legal action if you suffered an amputation injury in a negligence-based accident. With decades of legal experience, our attorney handles a wide variety of workers’ compensation and personal injury cases, including catastrophic injury cases.
Once you retain our services, we can support you and help you make informed decisions throughout the entire legal process. We can also help you establish liability by collecting evidence and reviewing incident/police reports, witness statements, photos, video footage, medical records, etc. as well as:
- Calculate your economic and noneconomic damages
- Minimize your liability and maximize your compensation
- Alleviate your stress by taking the reins
If you or a loved one lost a limb in a negligence-based accident, reach out online or call (505) 219-2176 today.