Amputation and Loss of Limbs

Losing a limb in an accident can devastate your life. Although you might still be able to do some of what you did before, you will live life in a very different manner. Some people find they are no longer able to do many basic things in life, such as get dressed or do things around the home. If you have lost a limb because of another party’s negligence, contact Neale & Fhima today.

Overview of Amputation and Loss of Limb Injuries

More than 30,000 traumatic amputations happen each year. A traumatic amputation or loss of limb occurs when a finger, toe, arm, or leg is removed from the body by an extreme force. The most common reasons for this very serious accident injury are:

• Car accidents (If you’ve been involved in car accidents, consulting with an experienced car accident attorney can be invaluable in navigating the legal complexities.)
• Construction accidents
• Defective product injuries
• Workplace accidents
• Electrocution
• Various machinery accidents.

Of the approximately 2 million Americans who have lost limbs, 45% were injured in a variety of traumatic accidents. Amputations can occur due to a crushing injury or severing injury. When the body part has been cut off, surgeons may be able to reattach it; but in some cases, nerve damage may prevent normal function from being restored. Sometimes the limb will need to be removed months later and replaced with a prosthetic.

More statistics about amputation accidents are:

• 70% of traumatic amputations involve the arms or hands.
• 600 children have a lawnmower-related amputation each year.
• 22% of people with a lower limb amputation must be readmitted to the hospital in 30 days or less.
• Almost 80% of accidental amputees are men.
• 8% of pediatric amputations involve car accidents.
• The most common traumatic amputation or loss of limb is loss of hand and/or fingers, with 61,000 cases per year.

Compensation for Amputation and Loss of Limbs

If you lose a limb due to an accident or the negligence of another party, you could be entitled to some or all of the following:

• Lost earnings
• Medical bills, including rehabilitation and fitting for a prosthesis
• Pain and suffering
• Personal support if you need assistance with daily tasks of living.

The amount of compensation you can receive for losing an arm or leg will depend upon many factors:

• Your job before the accident, and whether losing the limb will affect your earning potential
• Your age
• How much your life has changed since the accident
• The person or entity you are suing
• The state where the lawsuit is filed (some states bar pain and suffering compensation).

It is estimated that over the average lifetime, the healthcare costs for an amputee are more than $600,000, so it is crucial that the victim be represented by a seasoned personal injury lawyer.

Even if someone receives insurance payments to cover some of their expenses related to the loss of a limb, those payments are often inadequate. If the limb loss is due to negligence, other legal avenues should be explored to properly compensate the accident victim.

Catastrophic Injuries in Vehicle Accidents

The loss of a limb is a catastrophic injury, meaning that it is permanent and disabling. In our experience, some of the most serious injuries people suffer stem from the carelessness of a negligent driver. If you or a loved one have been affected, consulting with a catastrophic injury lawyer can be a crucial step. These injuries end up costing people an incredible amount of money, and they are also painful and restrictive.

Personal injury claims offer a remedy to the financial hardship caused by another’s negligence. The more catastrophic the injury, the greater the needs of the person filing the claim. Not all accident claim lawyers are interested in handling these cases, simply because they require a great amount of dedication and resources.

If you have suffered an injury as significant as the loss of a limb, you deserve legal representation that treats your case with the gravity it deserves.

Speak to a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you were injured in an accident that led to amputation and/or loss of limbs, you could be entitled to substantial compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, disability and pain and suffering, both mental and physical.

There are several ways an attorney can help you with an injury case. At Neale & Fhima, we will thoroughly investigate your case to determine who was at fault and how much compensation you deserve. Serious injuries have enormous costs. Our attorneys make sure you get compensation that reflects your needs.

For a complimentary consultation about your serious accident case, please contact the personal injury attorneys of Neale & Fhima today. Our Southern California attorneys are here to help.