Losing a limb is one of the most devastating accidents that can happen. It can alter every aspect of your life and force you to adjust to a new lifestyle.
Amputation injury victims are entitled to compensation for their losses, including medical expenses, prosthetics, lost wages and more. In addition, you may be able to recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Medical Bills
Amputation injury victims are often facing a lifetime of medical bills and expenses. These can include initial hospitalization costs, doctor’s fees, rehabilitation services, prosthetics, medication and more.
A recent study by the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy found that the average lifetime cost of amputation is $509,272. This includes the patient’s initial hospitalization, follow-up hospitalization, rehabilitative services, prescription and over-the-counter medications, advanced medical technologies, physical therapy and occupational therapy, and the cost of prosthetics.
Victims are also likely to incur lost wages as they deal with the amputation. They may have to miss work or go through long periods of rehab and work re-training. These losses can significantly affect a victim’s quality of life.
Prosthetics
A prosthesis is a device that replaces a missing limb. Typically, prostheses are used to help amputees regain function and mobility after an accident or other injury.
Prosthetic limbs come in different styles and designs. Lower-limb prosthetics replace the legs and feet, and upper-limb prostheses include hands.
During the design process, the prosthetist will use a plaster mold of your residual limb. This will allow the prosthetist to create a custom-designed artificial limb that is right for you.
The limb is then attached to your residual limb through sockets, liners and a suspension system (using harnesses, belts or straps). As your tissue swelling recedes after surgery, these can be adjusted for comfort.
There are many new types of prostheses that are being developed and are helping amputees to recover their mobility. However, future innovations will depend on three powerful forces: the needs of amputees, advances in surgery and engineering, and healthcare funding that is sufficient to support continued innovation.
Lost Wages
If amputation injuries leave victims unable to work, they can recover damages for their lost wages. An attorney can help you calculate the amount of lost wages and present evidence to support your claim.
In addition to calculating the actual lost wages, an attorney may also calculate the victim’s future loss of earning capacity. Depending on their previous occupation, an amputation injury victim may need to transition to a new job, or they may stop working entirely due to the injury.
Amputation injuries can significantly affect a victim’s quality of life, and can result in significant emotional trauma. They can also affect the victim’s ability to enjoy previously enjoyed activities.
Pain & Suffering
The loss of an amputation limb is one of the most devastating and life-altering injuries that can happen to any victim. Victims of amputations are faced with not only physical pain and emotional trauma, but also medical bills, lost wages, and substantial future damages.
There’s no way to bring back a limb after an amputation, but a personal injury lawsuit can help you recover compensation for the damages that resulted from your amputation. It is crucial to seek legal counsel from an experienced amputation attorney as soon as possible after your accident so that you can pursue the full amount of compensation you deserve.
To prove your non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, you’ll need to present evidence such as medical records, prescriptions, and reports from psychologists and other mental health professionals. You’ll also need to show how your injuries have negatively impacted your lifestyle. This includes how you socialize, enjoy hobbies, and complete household chores and other daily activities.