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An amputation is considered a catastrophic injury because the damage experienced results in long-term or permanent impediments in the victim’s quality of life, both personally and professionally. Victims of serious accidents resulting in limb loss due to negligence by another individual or company are entitled to economic damages as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering. If you have experienced an amputation caused by another person’s negligence, you should speak with our knowledgeable Topeka amputation injury lawyers at Joseph, Hollander & Craft.

Common Causes of Topeka Amputation Injuries

The removal of a bodily appendage is called an amputation. This can occur surgically or as the result of a trauma. Amputations are serious and life-changing, and they occur at an unfortunate rate. After an amputation, some victims can use a prosthetic limb to manage their lives, but little can be done to relieve the pain and discomfort of the trauma.

Amputations happen for a range of reasons. Sometimes a violent or traumatic injury directly or indirectly causes the removal of the appendage. This is common in car accidents, railroad accidents, and other situations where the body is subjected to a violent force. Such injuries can be especially dangerous due to the threat of sudden death from blood loss. In some cases, the limb must be removed surgically if it is severely traumatized, crushed, or partially severed. If any of this has happened to you in or around Topeka, you need a Topeka amputation injury attorney to assist in recovering financial compensation for your injury.

Compensation for Amputations

Amputations result in a permanent disability that significantly impacts a victim’s ability to work and perform basic activities of daily life. They must deal with physical pain and emotional trauma, face expensive hospital bills, lost income, and other substantial damages that come with a permanent disability. While money can never make you whole, getting fair compensation can make a big difference in your recovery and quality of life.

There are two types of damages you can recover in an amputation injury lawsuit.

Economic Damages

As you would expect, an amputation will cause a range of economic losses including the significant financial burden of expenses related to the medical treatment. Amputees will also be impacted financially in many other ways throughout their lifetime. An amputation injury claim can also seek compensation for:

• Costs for long-term treatments needed such as physical therapy and pain management
• Expenses related to a prosthetic limb (prosthetics generally have to be replaced every two to five years)
• Any expenditures related to modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate your disability resulting from the amputation
• Lost wages from work missed due to an amputation injury (Many victims will have an extended recovery period, and some cannot return to a previous career at all because of a permanent disability.)
• Lost earning potential for victims who can no longer earn the same income or have to leave the workforce altogether

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more subjective because they don’t have a set price tag. However, they are still an important part of a compensation claim. Non-economic damages can include:

• pain and suffering, including “phantom pain” that many amputation injury victims suffer for an extended time after the injury
• disfigurement
• loss of enjoyment from not being able to engage in activities enjoyed prior to the amputation
• permanent impairment
• emotional anguish from having a permanent disability and a fundamentally different lifestyle

Types of Amputations

An amputation injury is a serious, life-changing event. It can happen instantly as the result of an accident or can be the result of a surgery after a severe injury or illness.

Traumatic Amputation

A traumatic amputation occurs when a blunt or penetrating trauma causes the loss of a limb or extremity. Partial or total limb removal can result from a motor vehicle accident, trucking accident, motorcycle accident, or similar incident. Traumatic amputations can occur when an outside force severs or cuts off a body part. The blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and bones in your extremity or appendage can be injured during an amputation. These types of injuries can be severe and often result in death.

Surgical Amputation

Surgical amputation is the complete removal of a limb by surgery. It is typically an elective procedure to improve patients’ quality of life.

For any type of amputation that occurred as the result of someone else’s fault, the Topeka amputation injury lawyers at JHC can help you recover the compensation you are due.

Contact Our Topeka Amputation Injury Lawyers for A Free Consultation

If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s fault, including an injury involving amputation, do not hesitate to get the legal help you need. Contact JHC’s Topeka personal injury lawyers today.

An initial consultation with JHC’s amputation injury attorneys is free, and we do not charge attorneys’ fees unless and until we win. Call or fill out our online form to speak to our Topeka amputation injury lawyers about representation.

FAQs About Amputation Injuries

I injured my hand at work, and amputation may be necessary. Do I have a claim?

If the injury was the result of defective machinery, you may have a product liability claim. If failure to properly maintain the machine contributed to your injury, you may have a claim against the person or company in charge of maintenance. Contact JHC’s amputation injury attorneys today to discuss the possibility of making a personal injury claim.

What future costs and expenses should be accounted for in my amputation injury claim?

Future medical expenses for an amputation injury can be very steep. An amputee might be fitted with a prosthetic limb that can range in cost from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands. The medical costs are high because of the broad nature of the surgery. Additionally, the rehabilitation process is long and challenging, which can be difficult for victims and their families both emotionally and financially. Physical therapy and follow-up care appointments will be needed to adjust to the permanent disability and help with pain management.

There are many prosthetic options available, but they are expensive and will need to be frequently replaced. Assistive devices such as wheelchairs may be required to assist the victim of someone else’s negligent choices.