In any event, losing a limb is a catastrophic injury that can fundamentally change a person’s life forever. Contact our law office today at (410) 837-2144 to speak with our Baltimore catastrophic lawyers at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your legal options.
Amputation involves the partial or complete loss of a limb. An amputation might be traumatic (meaning that it was not planned nor performed as part of a medical procedure) or surgical.
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Are Amputation Injuries Really That Common?
Surprisingly, yes. About 185,000 amputations happen each year in the United States–and over 2 million Americans are currently living with limb loss. 75% of upper limb amputations are caused by some type of traumatic accident.
The total average lifetime costs to an amputation patient exceed $500,000. Only about $91,000 of those costs are incurred during the first two years after the accident. In short, amputation injuries almost always generate a lifetime of expenses for the accident victim.
If you’ve suffered an amputation and would like to learn more about getting help to cover your expenses, our attorneys at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers are happy to help. Just call today to arrange a free consultation.
Types of Amputation Injuries
Any amputation involves losing a body part. However, there are varying degrees of amputation injuries, including:
- Below-the-knee amputations (trans-tibial amputation)
- Above-the-knee amputations (trans-femoral amputation)
- Below-the-elbow amputations (trans-radial amputation)
- Above-the-elbow amputations (trans-humeral amputation)
- Wrist or ankle disarticulations
- Shoulder disarticulation
- Hip disarticulation
- And more
We’ll fight to make sure you have the financial resources necessary to fund ongoing care for your catastrophic injuries. Prosthetics and physical therapy can be extremely expensive when someone loses a limb. Most amputation injury victims have to replace prostheses every few years.
Phantom Limb Syndrome & Chronic Pain Management
While many amputation victims go on to live full lives, recovering can take time–and money. For many, the pain doesn’t go away once the limb is removed. Accident victims who have lost a limb often continue to experience pain–as many as 80% of amputation victims suffer from phantom limb syndrome at some point in their recovery..
This type of chronic pain can be incredibly difficult to treat. Although the issue may be psychological, the pain is very real. Treatment options can include:
- Nerve stimulation
- Hypnosis
- Acupuncture
- Medications, including opioids and beta-blockers
- Massage of the remaining limb
- Mirror box therapy
- Virtual reality therapy
Treating phantom limb syndrome can present an ongoing issue–and the pain can understandably interfere with your life. Further, many of these more experimental treatments might not be covered by health insurance.
Our attorneys will work closely with you to learn more about your prognosis and how the injury has impacted your life. If someone else’s negligence caused your loss of a limb, give us a call to learn more about how we can protect your rights.
Common Causes of Amputation Injuries in Baltimore
Many amputations are caused by diseases, including diabetes and blood clots. However, a substantial number are caused by catastrophic accidents.
Amputations are often caused by:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Truck accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Defective products
Other amputation injuries are caused by medical malpractice and surgical errors. Our medical malpractice lawyers have a proven track record of getting successful case results in medical malpractice cases.
If you have lost a limb in an accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced attorney. We’ll work to identify the cause of the accident so that we can hold the negligent parties accountable for your losses.
What Are the Time Limits on Filing an Amputation Injury Lawsuit?
It’s always important to carefully evaluate your current and future costs before settling. However, time is limited by the Maryland statute of limitations. Under state law, you only have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
What Compensation is Available If I’ve Experienced an Amputation Injury in Maryland?
In any personal injury case, the value of your claim depends upon the severity of the injury. An amputation is obviously a permanent injury that will continue to impact your life forever. The key to getting fair compensation lies in the details about how your life has changed.
In general, a fair compensation award should account for all of your expenses and losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Future medical costs
- Physical therapy and targeted rehabilitation
- Nursing care, including in-home help
- Modifications to your home and vehicle
- Prosthetic limbs, both now and replacements over time
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Pain management therapies
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- And more
When another party causes your injury, that party should be held accountable to the fullest extent possible. Getting financial help is often an accident victim’s only way to get justice–and the money will go a long way in covering your expenses.
Insurance companies often try to get amputation injury victims to settle quickly. That’s because the faster you settle, the less likely it is that you have a full picture of your future costs. While we know you need money now, choosing to settle quickly can leave you without options in the future.
Our lawyers at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers work with respected specialists and experts to help us see the bigger picture. Our goal is to make sure you’re protected both now and down the road. If you or a loved one has lost a limb and want to learn more, call our law firm for a free consultation today
Contact an Experienced Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Baltimore, MD to Discuss Your Options
The loss of a limb, hand, or foot will change your life forever. Without one of your limbs, even the most basic tasks can become an uphill battle. To add insult to injury, the expense of medical care, intensive physical therapy, and prosthetics can also drain your finances.
If someone else was responsible for the amputation injury in Baltimore, MD, you may be entitled to sue for damages. That way, you can get the money you need to cover your treatment and expenses.
At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, our Baltimore personal injury attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve. We have over 80 years of combined experience helping accident victims across Baltimore get fair compensation.
We’re ready to put that experience to work for you. If you’re ready to learn more contact our Baltimore office, give us a call at (410) 837-2144 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Baltimore amputation injury lawyer.
