Chicago Amputation Injury Lawyer

Losing a limb is a life-altering experience. Finding the right lawyer if you have suffered an amputation injury is essential to getting the help and compensation you deserve.

Many people lose their limbs due to an event such as a motor vehicle accident or another life-threatening injury. You may wonder about your legal rights if you have lost a limb due to an accident or injury.

The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, can guide you through the legal process and help you seek the necessary damages to rebuild your life. With our Cook County amputation lawyers, you can focus on recovering from your injury and moving forward.

Contact our law firm toll-free at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation with a Chicago amputation injury lawyer and learn more about how we can help you resolve your medical malpractice or personal injury case.

Amputation Injury Caused by a Car Accident, Illness, or Malpractice

An amputation is a severe, life-changing event. It can happen instantly as a result of an accident or illness. According to the Amputee Coalition, nearly 2 million individuals live with limb loss in the United States.

A catastrophic injury such as amputation can have a profound and life-changing effect on the victim and family.

Lower limb amputations involve victims of car accidents and medical malpractice in about two-thirds of all major limb injuries.

What Is a Traumatic Amputation?

An amputation is the surgical removal of a body part. It may be done to treat an injury or disease. A loss of a limb can also be a traumatic event that can cause physical pain and mental anguish.

A traumatic injury such as blunt or penetrating trauma can result in the loss of a limb or extremity. In addition, the blood flow to the affected limb is reduced or even interrupted.

Partial or complete limb removal can result from a motor vehicle accident, surgery, or an illness. Body parts that require amputation leave injured victims with a permanent disability that changes the patient’s life.

Traumatic Amputation Injuries

Traumatic amputations can occur when an outside force severs or cuts off a body part. The blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and bones in your arm or leg can be injured during an amputation. These types of injuries can be severe and often result in death.

Approximately 1,800 traumatic amputations occur yearly in the United States due to traumatic injuries such as traffic accidents.

Many injuries in Chicago, IL, occur due to motor vehicle collisions, workplace accidents, or military interactions.

The impact of traumatic amputations of limbs on individuals, families, and society has been historically significant.

Surgical Amputation

Surgical amputation is the complete removal of a limb by surgery. It is usually an elective procedure to improve patients’ quality of life.

The most common reasons for surgical amputation are peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, cancer, and trauma.

Lower extremity amputation is surgery to remove part or all of a person’s foot, ankle, lower leg, or thigh. Upper limb amputations involve the shoulder, arms, elbows, hands, wrists, or fingers.

Amputation Statistics

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there were 2,842 amputations in the United States in 2017.

Most of these amputations (1,927) were of the lower extremity. The most common type was a traumatic loss of a limb, accounting for 83% of all amputations.

The second most common type of amputation was elective surgery, accounting for 14% of all procedures.

The most common causes of amputation are trauma (such as a car accident), cancer, and infection. Diabetes is a common cause of the loss of a limb or body part, accounting for about 60% of lower extremity amputations in America.

Statistics from Bone and Joint Surgery reveal an estimated 2 million limb amputations globally yearly, with approximately 185,000 in the US.

Causes of Amputation Injuries

There are several different causes of amputation injuries, including:

• Traumatic amputation injury occurs due to an accident or trauma to the limb.
• Surgical amputations are performed when no other option exists to save the limb.
• Amputations can be due to diabetes or other chronic health complications.
• Frostbite or other cold-related injuries may lead to amputations.
• Land mines or other explosives can cause amputations.
• Medical malpractice can result in an amputation. When a medical professional makes a mistake, it can have devastating consequences for the patient.
• Vascular disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD), is a common circulatory problem that can lead to amputation.

Types of Lower and Upper Limb Amputations

There are four major surgical body part amputations: trans-radial, transfemoral, transtibial, and hip disarticulation.

• Trans-radial amputations are those that occur below the elbow
• A transfemoral amputation happens below the knee
• A transtibial amputation occurs below the ankle
• A hip disarticulation or lower limb amputation involves amputation of the entire leg at the hip joint

A partial amputation might involve a finger, toe, arm, lower leg, or soft tissue. In addition, upper limb amputations occur above the elbow or knee.

Getting Medical Care Following an Amputation

The Average Medical Costs of Upper and Lower Limb Amputations

On average, the medical expenses of a body part amputation are high. The medical expenses of surgical amputations in 2020 were estimated at $829,000. The costs vary by procedure:

• Upper extremity amputations involve entirely or partially removing the fingers, wrists, hands, forearms, elbows, upper arms, and shoulders.
• A complete amputation occurs when specific body parts are severed. Typically, the amputation occurs due to someone’s negligence, like in vehicle accidents.

Future Medical Care Costs for an Amputation Injury

The future medical expenses for an amputation can be high. A patient with an amputated limb might be fitted with a prosthetic limb that can cost a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands.

Lower limb amputations involve a painful and life-altering medical procedure. If you or a loved one has undergone a lower limb amputation, it is crucial to understand your legal rights and options. The amputation attorneys at our firm can help you fight to recover the compensation you deserve.

Why the Medical Costs for Treating an Amputee are High

The costs of ongoing medical care are high due to the extensive nature of the surgery. The rehabilitation process is long and challenging, hurting patients and their families emotionally and financially.

Several prosthetic options are available, but they can be expensive and must be frequently replaced. Wheelchairs and other assistive devices may be required to assist the victim.

In addition, patients may experience phantom limb pain, which can be debilitating. It is when the body parts have been removed but still feel attached. There is a risk of infection at the site of the amputation.

Physical therapy and follow-up care appointments will be needed to adjust to the permanent disability and help with pain management.

How You Can Proactively Help an Amputation Victim After an Accident

A severed body part in an accident is a medical emergency where it is essential to keep the severed part clean and dry and avoid putting pressure on the wound.

If medical care is unavailable, it may be necessary to wrap the severed part in a sterile cloth and place it in a sealed bag or container. The severed part in an accident should be placed on ice but not directly with the ice to ensure the best chance of reattachment.

Challenges of Amputees After Amputation

Serious complications can arise from amputation injuries, such as blood clots, serious infection, and pain from amputation sites.

The psychological and physical impacts are significant. Serious injuries leading to amputation leave emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic amputation occurs.

Traumatic amputations are life-changing events. An injury victim who has suffered an amputation faces a long and challenging road to recovery, often involving phantom limb pain at amputation sites and serious complications with prosthetic limbs, including leaking small blood vessels into the surrounding tissue.

Adapting to the Future as an Amputee

The loss of a limb or body part can be a life-changing traumatic event. For many people, it means adapting to a new way of living.

Occupational therapy (OT) is often recommended for people with an amputation. OT can help a person learn to adapt to activities of daily living and learn new ways to accomplish daily goals.

Did someone else’s negligence cause you to suffer lower or upper-limb amputations? If so, the law firm of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC may help you pursue just compensation for your losses. Contact us for a free consultation to recover compensation on your personal injury claim.

Filing an Amputation Injury Lawsuit

Here are a few things to remember when considering a lawsuit after an amputation occurred. First, finding an experienced injury lawyer who can help guide you through the process is vital.

Next, you must gather evidence to support your injury claim, including medical treatment records, lost income documents, photographs, and eyewitness testimony of the responsible party’s negligence.

Once you have gathered the necessary evidence, your amputation lawyer will file a complaint on your behalf.

The complaint will allege that the defendant is liable for your injuries and damages, as in medical malpractice cases. The defendant will then have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

You may be entitled to fair compensation if you suffer an amputation due to someone else’s negligence. Contact an Illinois amputation injury attorney for a free consultation.

An amputation injury attorney can help you understand your options and guide you through the legal process. Contact us today for a free case consultation with a skilled attorney.

Types of Damages in Amputation Injuries

Three main types of damages can be available in an amputation injury claim:

• Pain and Suffering Damage is awarded for the physical pain, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and emotional suffering the victim has endured.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life compensates the victim for the inability to enjoy life as they once did.
• Economic Damages are awarded to compensate the victim for their financial losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and any other costs associated with the amputation.

The personal injury claims process can be challenging to understand and navigate if you have suffered an amputation. However, the law firm of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can help. We have years of experience helping injured victims get the compensation they deserve.

Legal Recourse for the Surviving Family Members After the Demise of a Loved One in An Amputation Injury

Have you endured amputation caused by a negligent party? You may be entitled to compensation. The average settlement amount in amputation injuries varies depending on the severity of the injury but is typically in the range of $200,000 to $1 million.

Factors that can affect the amount of your settlement include future lost income, pain and suffering, the cost of prosthetic limbs, physical therapy, and ongoing medical expenses. If you have been the victim of an amputation, contact a Chicago personal injury attorney to discuss your amputation injury case.

Legal Recourse for the Surviving Family Members After the Demise of a Loved One in An Amputation Injury

When a loved one dies due to an amputation, the surviving family members may have legal recourse by holding negligent parties accountable and pursuing maximum compensation from an otherwise preventable amputation.

Such severe injuries are due to several factors, including workplace accidents, automobile accidents, and medical malpractice.

In cases where the loved one’s death was due to medical negligence or recklessness on the part of another party, the family may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

In a wrongful death lawsuit, the family can seek legal recourse for damages from an accident or surgical amputations, including loss of companionship, funeral costs, burial expenses, and lost wages.

Was your loved one injured in an amputation accident? It is vital to seek the guidance of a Chicago personal injury attorney. The attorney can help you determine if you have a valid personal injury claim and can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Hiring Chicago Amputation Injury Lawyers to Resolve Compensation Lawsuits

Have you or a loved one suffered an amputation due to someone else’s negligence? Contact our law firm today toll-free at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation with an experienced Chicago amputation lawyer.

We will review your case and help you determine if filing a lawsuit is the best course of action for you. After your free case evaluation and no-obligation consultation, you can seek compensation for the severe damage left by the liable parties.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, we have many years of experience helping accident victims obtain justice, we are confident we can help you recover the total and fair compensation you deserve.

Each Chicago amputation lawyer operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay our fees until we win your case.

Resources:

• About Amputation | Johns Hopkins Medicine
• Traumatic Amputation Facts | NCBI