4 Types of Accidents That Can Cause Amputations

Amputations are catastrophic injuries that significantly alter a person's life trajectory. They typically lead to a lifetime of adjustment and adaptation. If you or someone you care about has suffered an amputation injury, it may have occurred in one of the following contexts.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents involve immense forces that act upon the bodies of those involved. These forces can easily cause amputation injuries, as can the sharp edges of mangled equipment.

Amputation may also occur after a car accident if a victim is burned so severely by heat or road friction that the only remaining option is to amputate the affected body part.

Workplace Incidents

Certain workplaces have characteristics that make workers at risk for amputation injuries. Most notable are construction and industrial worksites, where cutting tools like saws are frequently used.

Amputation injuries may also occur on worksites where large equipment, products, or tools are used regularly. These implements pose a crushing danger that can lead to an amputation injury. Of particular danger are industrial presses that must be operated with great care to prevent an amputation injury.

Medical Malpractice: Surgical Errors, Misdiagnoses, or Failure to Diagnose

Medical malpractice is a form of negligence committed by medical providers. Malpractice is not a simple mistake; it is an error that no reasonable healthcare professional would commit.

Types of medical malpractice that could lead to an amputation injury include:

• Surgical errors
• Missed diagnoses
• Misdiagnoses

Medical malpractice can lead to amputation injuries through the substandard treatment of injuries or conditions. For example, burn injury victims need some of the most complex medical care. If anything goes wrong during their treatment, the result could be an infection that ultimately leads to the amputation of a limb, hand, or foot.

Traumatic Events: Explosions, Falls, and Other Catastrophes

The risk of experiencing a traumatic event is ever-present in society. In the home, the potential to experience a fall or a severe burn is high, as is the potential for experiencing a powerful explosion.

Out in the community, the risks of experiencing a traumatic amputation continue to be high due to the prevalence of explosive fuels, gases, and other dangerous products. In many contexts, all it takes is a moment of negligence for a catastrophic accident to occur.

Long-Term Implications of Catastrophic Personal Injury

As with other catastrophic injuries, the long-term implications of amputations are serious. Without the use of an arm, leg, hand, or foot, a victim is suddenly thrust into a new and compromised life that requires a period of adjustment.

Prosthetics and other devices can help make their lives easier. New advancements make it possible for amputees to engage in more activities than ever before. However, learning to live with an amputation injury is not an easy task. The emotional and psychological impact of losing a body part follows many victims for the rest of their lives.

Additionally, the financial aspect of life for amputees is typically quite difficult. Many victims are no longer able to work in the same career they had before their injury. Some people find it impossible to find any employment after an amputation, depending on their location and prior skill set. Without money coming in, they struggle to make ends meet.

Fortunately, the victims in these cases can seek damages for their amputation injuries if their injuries come about through the negligence or willful acts of someone else.

Do I Need to Hire an Amputation Injury Lawyer for an Amputation Injury?

If you are in need of compensation for an amputation injury, you can contact an experienced personal injury lawyer for knowledgeable representation. Hiring a lawyer puts you in a stronger position to seek a compensation settlement or verdict that is in line with the extent of your injuries.

Amputation victims without lawyers must face professional insurance adjusters whose job is to fight to pay less or nothing at all.

What Damages Are Available for an Amputation Injury?

Victims of amputation injuries have a range of damages that they can seek to address their losses. These damages are divided into two main types: economic and non-economic. Economic damages typically include compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Expenses related to the injury and treatment

These costs and expenses can be verified with account balances, receipts, and bills.

In contrast, non-economic damages compensate victims for a different type of loss. They are not intrinsically financial. Instead, attorneys use established formulas to assign estimated monetary values to these losses. Non-economic damages may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Loss of society

In rare cases, a third type of compensation may be appropriate. Known as punitive or exemplary damages, they are a type of penalty intended to punish very bad behavior and deter its future occurrence. To qualify for punitive damages, a case must involve malicious or aggravated behavior or fraud.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Amputation Injuries in Ohio?

The statute of limitations for amputation injuries in Ohio is two years. After two years, amputation injury claims will be dismissed unless they qualify for an exception to the statute of limitations.

Exceptions are made when the victim is a minor or not of sound mind. Additionally, if the defendant flees the jurisdiction or conceals themselves, the statute of limitations may be paused until the defendant is found.

A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

An amputation injury will make life more challenging than before. With the compensation you may be entitled to, you can adapt to your new life and care for your needs. Contact The Moore Law Firm to learn how we can potentially recover the funds you deserve after an amputation injury.