Common Causes of Amputation
Amputations are severe injuries that typically occur after particularly traumatic incidents. A great deal of force is required to destroy a limb or completely separate it from the body.
The following types of serious catastrophes are among the most common causes of limb loss:
- Traffic accidents – When the human body is subjected to violent forces or slammed into hard surfaces in a collision, body parts can easily become crushed, mangled, torn, or cut off.
- Sporting accidents – Amputations are most likely to affect athletes who engage in high-impact sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, football, and motocross. Blunt-force impacts, lacerations from sharp equipment, and crushing injuries from collisions can all lead to amputations.
- Workplace accidents – Construction workers, transportation workers, mechanics, and other workers with labor-intensive jobs are especially vulnerable to amputation injuries. Amputations can occur in the workplace due to faulty equipment, poor training, or inadequate safety precautions.
- Medical malpractice – In some cases, medical malpractice can result in preventable amputations. If healthcare workers fail to uphold appropriate standards of care, patients can lose limbs or digits due to untreated infections, necrosis, or even intentional amputations performed on the wrong patients or body parts.
- Dangerous products – Amputation injuries can also occur when consumers use defective products, whether poorly designed, tested, assembled, labeled, or sold. Common products that can lead to amputations include defective car parts, medical devices, or drugs.
Estimated Cost of a Traumatic Amputation
A traumatic amputation injury can have life-changing consequences. In addition to the immediate costs associated with an amputation and necessary emergency care, many amputation injuries leave patients with other long-term expenses. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), some of the typical costs of a traumatic amputation are as follows:
- Immediate treatment — The average two-year cost of treating an amputation injury is more than $90,000. This includes the costs for care such as emergency visits, surgery, rehabilitation, prosthetic fittings, and prosthetic adjustments.
- Secondary health conditions — Based on hospital billing records, many of the secondary health conditions commonly associated with amputation are among the most expensive conditions to treat. Both osteoarthritis and back problems, common with amputations, rank within the top six most costly conditions.
- Direct long-term expenses — The estimated lifetime cost of direct expenses associated with amputation injuries ranges from $345,000 to almost $600,000. Total lifetime costs can vary considerably depending on a patient’s age and how frequently any prosthetic devices are replaced.
- Lifetime direct and indirect expenses — The total lifetime cost of direct and indirect healthcare expenses from amputation injuries can “easily exceed” $1 million without accounting for any injury-related income losses or losses in earning potential.
Liability for Amputations and Limb Loss in Georgia
If you suffered a traumatic amputation because of another party’s negligent behavior, you could be owed substantial compensation for the personal and financial losses you incur.
A knowledgeable amputation injury lawyer can gather the following types of evidence to prove liability for your injuries:
- Photos of the location where you were injured
- Pictures of your amputated limb and related injuries
- Video footage of the incident that led to the amputation
- Incident reports from car wrecks or work accidents
- Statements from witnesses who saw the amputation
- Testimony from physicians and other reliable experts
- Medical records and bills from relevant treatments
- Bank records and documentation of financial losses
- Proof of employment and records of lost wages
Compensation Available for Amputations in a Personal Injury Case
Medical expenses and other losses associated with amputation injuries can add up at an alarming pace. But how much compensation may you be owed in your loss of limb claim? The team at Geiger Legal Group, LLC could help you seek the compensation you need to cover the following types of financial and personal losses:
- Emergency and acute medical care
- Inpatient or outpatient hospital visits
- Reconstructive surgeries
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Prosthetic devices, fittings, and maintenance
- Mobility aids and durable medical equipment
- Lost income and loss of earning capacity
- Accessibility modifications to homes or vehicles
- Subjective losses, such as pain and suffering
Talk to Our Experienced Amputation Injury Lawyers in Canton, GA Today
The amputation injury attorneys at the Geiger Legal Group, LLC understand how devastating it can be to lose a limb due to someone else’s negligence. You might be unable to work or enjoy the hobbies you used to, leading to feelings of isolation and post-traumatic stress. You shouldn’t have to suffer because someone else failed to act responsibly. Let us help you pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life and move on from this tragic incident.
We can provide the answers you need and review your case at no charge when you contact us by phone or online. Our team is ready to help.
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