Amputation Injury Attorneys

Amputation Injury Attorneys

Limb loss is a traumatic and surprisingly common occurrence. According to the Amputee Coalition, nearly 2 million Americans live with limb loss. While over 50% of amputations and limb losses are the result of vascular disease, nearly 45% are caused by trauma. If it occurred at a business, at work or as the result of someone else’s negligence, an amputation injury lawyer is central to getting the settlement and payments you need.

How Can an Amputation Injury Lawyer Help You?

Entering a legal battle may be the last thing you want to do during such a life-altering time, but it can mean the difference between struggling and thriving. Here are seven ways amputation injury lawyers benefit their clients.

Wrongful Limb Loss Requires Investigation

If you sustain an injury requiring amputation at work, the reason for it is likely complex. It could be because of faulty equipment, inadequate training, negligence or generally unsafe working conditions. The same can also be said for amputations that happen as the result of car accidents and other incidents unrelated to work.

An amputation injury lawyer investigates every factor that could have possibly caused the traumatic event. When lawyers hold every responsible party accountable, they’re not just getting justice for you — they’re preventing future accidents from occurring.

Amputations Are Medically-complex

When an accident severs a limb or causes an injury that requires surgical limb amputation, complications can be long-lasting and difficult to get through. Over the course of your treatment and therapy, you may experience:

• Infection
• Limited mobility
• Circulatory complications such as deep vein thrombosis and ulcers
• Skin problems
• Phantom limb pain
• Issues with prosthesis

These circumstances can be as expensive as they are physically challenging. A lawyer will help you ensure that any settlement you receive covers the cost of therapy and long-term medical conditions.

Amputations Are Emotionally-Draining

The impact of limb loss extends beyond physical injury. Many times, the psychological effects of an amputation are just as damaging as the physical ones. According to an analysis of 12 studies of amputees and their mental health, researchers found that:

• Psychiatric disorders occurred in up to 84% of amputees
• Up to 56% of amputees suffered from PTSD
• Depression occurred in up to 63% of amputees
• Other common disorders included generalized anxiety and phantom limb syndrome

While wrestling with the psychological damage of traumatic limb loss, everyday life may seem overwhelming. Fighting for agreeable settlement terms likely won’t be your top priority despite being integral for your overall well-being. An amputation injury lawyer will manage the finer points of a lawsuit so you can concentrate on adjusting to a new way of life.

Court Cases Can Take a While

In general, personal injury cases are often prolonged legal affairs. They require multiple court appearances, paperwork and prolonged litigation. Because limb loss is complex and happens because of a variety of unique circumstances, a trained amputation injury lawyer is key. Let’s look at an example.

Imagine you work for a construction company. A business contracts your company to build a new office. During construction, a falling metal beam injures you and your arm must be amputated.

There will be multiple parties involved: the construction company, the business that contracted you, state licensing bureaus and perhaps federal safety councils. Each one may argue its case and try to absolve itself of responsibility.

With an amputation injury lawyer, you may not have to appear at every hearing. Instead, he or she will represent you and let you know when exactly you need to appear in court. Because you’re dealing with the physical and mental ramifications of your injury, this saves you valuable time and anguish.

Corporate Legal Departments Protect the Company

If you suffer limb loss at work, the business’s legal team may offer you an initial settlement. This might include:

• Payments for time lost and lost wages
• Reimbursement for medical costs
• Disability payments

However, a corporate legal department’s main goal is to look out for the company’s best interests. Even if you’ve worked for the company for a long time and have a great reputation, the company’s initial settlement offer may not be as large as you deserve.

By hiring your own amputation injury attorney, you may receive a more comprehensive settlement that includes payments for long-term therapy and other intangible costs such as pain and suffering.

Medical Malpractice is Even More Complex

While limb loss from an accident or work-related injury is complicated enough, wrongful amputations as the result of medical malpractice can be even more confusing and time-consuming. Because hospitals and medical complexes are frequently targeted by lawsuits, their legal teams are often very proficient at deflecting responsibility and preserving reputations.

This can result in low settlements that benefit the doctor or practice but aren’t necessarily in your best interest. Like going to court against a corporate legal team, hiring a personal wrongful amputation lawyer is central to getting care and settlements that benefit you.