We Can Help After A Serious Accident Causes A Traumatic Amputation
We all depend on our hands, arms, legs, and feet to help us function, which is why losing a limb can be incredibly difficult. Not only does an accidental limb amputation lead to serious physical impairments, but it can also cause immense financial stresses and emotional trauma for victims of amputations due to pain and suffering, loss of income, loss of enjoyment of life, and other challenges.
Because different types of accidents that lead to amputations have different statutes of limitations (the amount of time allotted to file a lawsuit in court), it is critical to contact a Fairfax amputation attorney for immediate legal counsel before the clock runs out.
Get in touch with us at Shevlin Smith, P.C., by calling 703-634-7350 to schedule a no-cost consultation with our dedicated team today.
Common Causes Of Accidental Limb Amputations
When trauma strikes, a person can lose an arm, hand, finger, leg, foot, or toe in any number of ways.
Some of the most common causes of amputation include:
- Car accidents: Amputations can occur in high-impact collisions or rollovers. When a crash crushes someone’s limb, the person can suffer lifelong disabilities and challenges as a result of losing an appendage.
- Truck accidents: Because commercial trucks are some of the biggest and heaviest trucks on the road, they can do much more damage. As a result, drivers of cars hit by trucks often suffer catastrophic injuries, such as amputations.
- Motorcycle accidents: Since there isn’t much protecting a motorcyclist, hands, feet, arms or legs can be crushed or cut off in a collision. Additionally, when jagged glass shards or debris cause serious damage to tissues and blood vessels, an amputation may be necessary.
- Medical malpractice: When doctors make accidental cuts during surgery or perform wrong-site surgeries, a person could lose their arm or leg due to the negligence of a surgeon.
- Workplace accidents: Traumatic amputations are often the result of an accident on the job. Employees can get their hands crushed in machinery or get pinned between a piece of heavy equipment and another obstacle. Consequently, they may lose an arm, hand, or leg.
- Disease prevention: When there is an infection in the body, an amputation may be necessary to prevent the spread of disease. Infections that lead to amputations often occur in motorcycle accidents, other types of motor vehicle accidents, and as a result of medical malpractice.
No matter what the cause of an amputation is, someone who is forced to live without a limb suffers from permanent disabilities that may create a world of challenges.
How Are Amputations Treated?
Whether someone else was driving negligently and aggressively or a doctor made a critical mistake during surgery, amputees need someone in their corner who can help them get the proper compensation so they can get the best medical treatment available.
Treatment can involve:
- X-ray of the area to determine the extent of the injury
- Complete removal of the disease on the injured limb
- Use of skin from other parts of the body to cover the amputated limb
- Use of a prosthetic device to replace the amputated body part
- Rehabilitation to help an amputee return to independent living
An amputation is a major trauma that requires intensive surgery. While a surgeon will try to save the limb, it is not always possible. Depending on the part of the body that was amputated, a prosthetic device may be used. If this is the case, a specialist will work with the amputee to fit the prosthesis and assist in the rehabilitation process.
Long-Term Effects Of Limb Amputations
Living life without an appendage is life-altering. Whether you have suffered the loss of a limb in a motor vehicle collision, in an accident in the workplace, or as a result of a medical error, amputations are catastrophic injuries – once a limb has been removed, it cannot be undone. As a result, an amputee will face lifelong disabilities, such as physical limitations, disfigurement, and depression.
Contact A Fairfax Amputation Injury Attorney Today
At Shevlin Smith, we understand that adjusting to life with a missing limb or prosthesis will be very difficult. We know you may be unable to return to work and make a living, participate in hobbies and activities you once loved, drive, or even take care of yourself. This is why we want to make sure you are taken care of for the rest of your life. We want to help you recover financially so you can try to live the best life possible after suffering from such a traumatic injury.
Call us at 703-634-7350 for a complimentary consultation or fill out the online form to get in contact with a Fairfax amputation injury lawyer today.