Losing a limb in an accident is a life-altering event. Whether an arm, leg, hand, or foot is partially or fully amputated, daily activities suddenly become exceedingly difficult. Phantom limb pain haunts amputees, and prosthetic devices provide only partial restoration of mobility and function.
At Pasternack Injury Law Group, we have seen hundreds of severed limb cases over our decades of personal injury experience. We know how to build a strong injury claim to recover fair compensation for amputees in San Diego.
If you or a loved one suffered this catastrophic injury due to another party’s negligence, contact us for a free consultation. We will fight to get you the maximum settlement the law allows.
Common Causes of Severed Limb Injuries
Limb amputations do not just happen spontaneously. There is always an underlying cause involving negligence that should be held accountable. Common causes of amputation injuries include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Victims may be drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, or bicyclists injured by various types of car accidents. We thoroughly investigate the accident to identify negligent parties, like distracted drivers, impaired drivers, aggressive drivers, and fatigued truckers. By pinpointing fault, we make sure injury victims receive maximum compensation.
Workplace Accidents
Hazards from assembly line machinery, wood chippers, power saws, conveyor belts, forklifts, heavy equipment, and more can lead to traumatic limb amputations. If employers ignore safety protocols, they must be held fully accountable for workers’ suffering. No employee should risk losing a limb just by showing up to work.
Medical Malpractice
From surgical errors to delayed infection diagnosis, medical mistakes are a prime cause of avoidable amputations. Some examples include orthopedic surgery gone wrong, vascular surgery complications, failure to detect tumor or gangrene, post-op infections not treated promptly, and medication errors leading to tissue damage. Doctors must uphold competent standards of care. We fight to recover damages when they fail patients.
Diagnosing Severed Limb Injuries
When a limb is partially or fully amputated, every second counts. For optimal outcomes, patients need rapid and appropriate emergency response, transport, diagnosis, and surgical treatment when a limb is severed. Any delays can jeopardize the chances of limb salvage and rehabilitation.
At the emergency room, the limb will be evaluated to determine if reattachment is feasible based on the severity of tissue damage and tissues remaining. The goal is to restore blood flow and nerve connections as quickly as possible.
Diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs help assess the full extent of soft tissue, vascular, nerve, tendon, and bone injury. The patient will likely undergo surgery to realign bone, muscle, nerves, vessels, and skin. If possible, the reattachment procedure can take many hours. Post-operatively, the patient will be monitored closely for complications like infection or compartment syndrome, where pressure builds up and restricts blood flow.
Our personal injury lawyers thoroughly investigate the medical response at all stages to ensure patients receive appropriate care following their traumatic amputation.
Compensation for Severed Limbs
Amputation injuries lead to significant financial and emotional suffering that can persist for a lifetime. Damages accounting for past, present, and future impact may include:
Financial Damages
- Emergency treatment costs such as ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, blood transfusions, etc.
- Extended hospital and rehabilitation facility fees for complex surgical procedures, post-op monitoring, occupational and physical therapy
- Multiple complex reattachment or reconstructive surgeries, which may involve orthopedic, vascular, nerve, skin grafting, and plastic surgery specialties
- Expensive medications, including painkillers, antibiotics, anticoagulants, and drugs to treat depression
- Customized prosthetics and assistive mobility devices such as artificial limbs, wheelchairs, canes, crutches, grab bars, stair lifts, and modifications to vehicles and homes
- Extensive physical and occupational therapy to regain strength, balance, and adaptive techniques for daily living without affected limb
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity from missing work during recovery and inability to return to previous profession
Non-Economic Damages
- Severe acute and chronic pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life from an inability to participate in sports, hobbies, and other activities
- Disfigurement and scarring which may require further plastic surgery procedures
- Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions
- Strains on marital, family, and social relationships stemming from trauma and lifestyle changes
Properly documenting every expense, loss, and hardship associated with the amputation is the key to recovering fair compensation. At Pasternack Injury Law Group, our severed limb lawyers devote meticulous effort to building the strongest possible claim for each client.
Seeking Legal Representation
Retaining an experienced personal injury attorney levels the playing field when up against insurance companies looking to minimize payouts. With a dedicated amputation injury lawyer from Pasternack Injury Law Group on your side, you do not have to feel powerless. Our attorneys offer compassionate counsel and practical guidance each step of the way.
We conduct in-depth investigations to build ironclad claims proving negligence caused the amputation. Our negotiation skills force even the most unreasonable insurance adjusters to provide fair compensation. We are fully prepared to take amputation injury cases to court if necessary, leveraging our decades of courtroom experience to maximize financial settlements through litigation.
Most importantly, we understand this is an incredibly traumatic and challenging time. We make ourselves available to answer questions, explain options, and address concerns throughout the recovery process so clients can focus their energy on healing physically and emotionally from their life-altering injury. If you or a loved one suffered an amputation due to another party’s negligence in an accident, we could help get your life back on track. Contact us today for dedicated legal representation.
Contact Pasternack Injury Law Group Today
The physical and emotional devastation resulting from the loss of a limb deserves just compensation. At Pasternack Injury Law Group, our dedicated severed limb attorneys have years of experience assisting amputation victims and their families in San Diego and beyond. As a family-owned law firm, we treat each client like our own kin.
We will be by your side, providing compassionate counsel and fiercely fighting for your right to damages that cover the full extent of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering resulting from the life-altering amputation. Don’t shoulder this burden alone – contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
