An amputation injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for the damages associated with the loss of a limb. Losing a limb results in a wide range of financial costs, as well as substantial impacts on one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. If a negligent individual or other party caused the amputation injury, you should not have to face these losses on your own.
The Flood Law Firm has extensive experience representing clients in amputation injury claims. Our amputation attorneys can identify your legal options and aggressively pursue a favorable outcome on your behalf.
Our amputation injury lawyers serve clients throughout Connecticut from offices in Middletown, Waterbury, Danbury, and Bridgeport.
Can I File a Lawsuit for an Amputation Injury?
Generally speaking, you can file a personal injury lawsuit for any injuries sustained due to the negligence of another party. This includes injuries resulting in the amputation of an arm, a hand, a leg, a foot, or any other part of the body.
The right to sue for personal injury after the loss of a limb may be available in cases involving:
- Automobile Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Construction Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Accidents on Dangerous Premises
- Burns Resulting from Fires and Explosions
- And More
If you lost a limb in an accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. An amputation injury lawyer can investigate to determine who is responsible, collect evidence against all liable parties, and pursue compensation on your behalf.
Loss of a limb may also occur due to an accident in the workplace. If this is the case, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits (including coverage of medical expenses and compensation for partial incapacity). These benefits are provided through your employer’s workers’ comp insurance; you do not need to file a lawsuit to obtain them. However, you may have an additional claim against a third party whose negligence caused you to suffer an amputation injury in the course of your employment.
Read More: Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury
Personal Injury Compensation for an Amputation Injury
In preparing a personal injury case, it is crucial to account for all of the losses you have sustained. An amputation injury lawyer can also obtain evidence and consult experts to get an understanding of the damages you will face in the future.
The compensation that may be recovered in a lawsuit for the loss of a limb may include:
Medical Expenses
Amputation injuries require significant medical care. The treatment needed for these injuries is typically extensive—and costly.
You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses such as:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital stays
- Surgical procedures
- Post-operative wound care
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Occupational and vocational therapy
- Psychiatric counseling
- The cost of travel for medical care and therapy
Your claim should include all medical expenses you have incurred to date, as well as any future costs. Doctors and other medical professionals can provide expert opinions on the care you will need going forward and the costs that may be involved.
Prosthetics and Assistive Devices
A prosthetic arm or leg can cost upward of $60,000. Components of the prosthesis need to be replaced regularly, resulting in additional expenses that build up over the course of a lifetime. Depending on their needs, amputees may also need wheelchairs and other devices to assist with mobility and other everyday tasks.
If you lost a limb in an accident caused by someone else, an amputation injury lawyer can account for the expenses related to a prosthesis and other equipment. Prosthetists and other experts can provide testimony on the expected cost of an artificial limb and other supplies over the course of your life.
Loss of Income
The loss of a limb can have a major impact on your ability to work. In addition to all lost wages to date, your attorney can seek recovery of the income and other compensation you will lose in the future.
Pain and Suffering
Amputees may face not only physical impairment but a host of psychological complications. These issues do not have a quantifiable financial cost, but Connecticut law allows for the recovery of pain and suffering damages as a means of making an injured person “whole.”
Damages for pain and suffering encompass a wide range of issues amputees might face, including:
- Physical pain and disability
- Mental and emotional distress
- Shame and embarrassment
- Inconvenience
- Disfigurement
Other Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages refer to the losses associated with a personal injury that have no intrinsic monetary value. Pain and suffering is the most well-known example, but you may be entitled to additional compensation for the other negative effects associated with an amputation.
One example is loss of enjoyment of life. Amputees might lose the ability to engage in the activities they love and experience significant changes in their family and social lives. Damages for loss of enjoyment of life compensate you for these adversities.
Loss of consortium is another form of non-economic damages that may be recovered for an amputation injury. Strictly speaking, loss of consortium refers to the loss of intimacy with a spouse or partner. More broadly, however, loss of consortium damages may be recovered for the loss of companionship, support, and services the injured person enjoyed with his or her family prior to the injury.
Contact an Amputation Injury Lawyer Today
Individuals who suffer the loss of a limb may be entitled to substantial compensation. However, it is of the utmost importance to consult a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
At The Flood Law Firm, we are committed to your well-being and maximizing your recovery. Our lawyers understand the devastating impact of an amputation injury, and we will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve.