Recovering Compensation After Losing a Limb

Losing a limb is often devastating, traumatic, and life-altering. Even though there are surgeries, prosthetics, and devices available to help you learn how to adapt and thrive, the harsh reality is that you will never be able to possess the same level of mobility or use you did before the accident.

In addition, accident victims who lose a limb often watch their financial expenses pile up, which can make recovery even more challenging. If you suffered an amputation due to another party’s negligent actions, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim and recover compensation to help you pay for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

What are the different types of amputations?

There are several different types of amputations that accident victims can suffer, such as:

• Amputation of the arm from the shoulder area
• Above-the-knee amputation
• Amputation below the elbow
• Below-the-knee amputation
• Amputation of the hand at the wrist
• Amputation of the foot at the ankle
• Partial foot amputation
• Partial hand amputation
• Finger amputation
• Toe amputation

Some amputations are clearly more devastating than others. For example, the loss of a finger may have serious consequences, but the injury will not be as life-altering as the loss of both legs. In either case, however, the injury is catastrophic, and the assistance of an experienced attorney is necessary.

Who can be held liable for an amputation in Charlotte?

Amputations usually occur when a limb is severed at the scene of an accident or a doctor decides to remove it due to irreparable damage or injuries. These injuries can happen in a car accident, motorcycle accident, boat accident, truck accident, bicycle accident, pedestrian accident, workplace accident, construction accident, ATV accident, and more. Depending on the type of accident you are involved in, various people might be liable. A few of the potentially liable parties that may be held liable for your amputation include:

• A driver
• An employer
• A coworker
• A mechanic
• A manufacturer
• A boat operator
• A healthcare provider
• A construction equipment or machine operator
• An engineer

A Charlotte personal injury lawyer can look into the facts and details of your accident, conduct an investigation, and identify all parties who may be at fault or share liability for your amputation.

Losing a limb can lead to severe scarring and disfigurement

Not only do amputation victims experience trauma and devastation from losing a limb, but they also experience severe scarring and disfigurement that can affect their lives for the foreseeable future. This usually happens because the skin, tissues, bones, and muscles around the location of where the limb was are significantly damaged. In addition, when the area where the amputation occurred begins recovering, the skin around the bony areas may heal improperly and become very tight, resulting in severe scarring, disfigurement, and lack of mobility.

To make matters worse, some individuals with amputations develop a condition called tissue necrosis. This condition is very obvious, as the skin becomes discolored, develops blisters or ulcers, and has trouble healing. When this happens, surgery is almost always required. After, the individual will most likely have scars and disfigurement permanently.

What types of losses do amputation victims commonly suffer?

If you lose a limb due to the careless or reckless actions of another person, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic and non-economic losses. However, you will need to take the time to sit down and determine the types of losses you have experienced since your amputation. Here are a few examples of losses that amputation victims commonly experience:

• Past and future medical bills
• Physical therapy fees
• Occupational therapy costs
• Surgical expenses
• Prescriptions
• Lost income
• Chronic pain
• Loss of enjoyment of life and activities
• Diminished quality of life
• Home modifications
• Disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Prosthetic and assistive devices

Can you get compensation for mental trauma from an amputation?

One of the most common effects of an amputation is developing mental health conditions. Individuals who experience amputations likely suffer serious trauma from the accident, watching their limb become severely damaged or severed, or waking up from the operating table and learning that the doctor could not save their limb. It can also be extremely difficult for a person with an amputation to learn how to accept their new reality. Therefore, mental health conditions after an amputation can be claimed as a loss, which means that you can potentially receive compensation. The following are some of the mental health-related losses that accident victims with amputations may receive compensation for:

• Mental trauma
• Emotional distress
• Depression
• Embarrassment
• Anxiety
• Counseling or psychology fees
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

If you or a loved one lost a limb due to someone’s negligence in Charlotte, you should consult with a skilled personal injury attorney from Price, Petho & Associates at your earliest opportunity. With our 45 years of experience, we know how to handle amputation claims, and we work tirelessly to help you recover the maximum compensation to move forward with your life. Please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can assist you today. Our team is ready and available to speak with you at our offices in Rutherfordton, Rockingham, and Charlotte.