An amputation is a life-altering injury that comes with a great deal of physical pain and emotional trauma. Close to 2 million people in the United States currently live with a limb-loss injury. Whether an accident caused a complete amputation or damaged a limb so severely that the injury necessitated an amputation, when someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or wrongdoing caused the limb loss to occur, you deserve compensation for the life-changing disability and disfigurement that results. At Weber & Rubano, LLC, we understand the life-long impacts of a traumatic amputation and have a strong track record of success in securing compensation for victims of these often disabling injuries. Contact our New Haven law office today so we can evaluate your amputation injury case.
Partial vs Total Amputation
Some limb amputations result from necessary cancer treatments or to prevent the spread of an antibiotic-resistant infection, but when a limb loss occurs due to an accident or injury, medical professionals refer to it as a traumatic amputation. Traumatic amputations include the accidental severing of the following body parts:
Arms
Legs
Hands
Feet
Fingers
Toes
Traumatic amputations may be complete or partial, with outcomes depending on the circumstances of the accident. Some complete amputations may allow surgeons to reattach a limb if emergency services act promptly to preserve the amputated body part, but in some cases, the damage to the nerves, tendons, and ligaments may be too severe to allow reattachment.
In partial amputations, some degree of attachment remains, typically through soft tissue like muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Some partially amputated limbs may be reattached, while others may have sustained too much damage for a successful reattachment procedure.
How Do Traumatic Amputations Injuries Occur?
Losing a limb is one of the most traumatic types of injuries, with long-term consequences on lifestyle, the ability to work, and emotional well-being. It’s also an expensive injury, requiring physical therapy and prosthetics. Traumatic amputations most often occur in the following ways:
Workplace injuries through power tools and sharp equipment
Farm injuries
Lawnmower injuries (A common cause of limb amputation in children)
Wars
Natural disasters
Fireworks, explosives, and firearm accidents
Car door accidents
Nearly 25% of all amputations occur as a result of traumatic accidents. While not all accidents are avoidable, when an injury victim loses a limb due to the action or negligence of an at-fault party, that party must pay for damages, typically through their insurance policy.
Proving Liability for a Traumatic Amputation
When a person or business entity is responsible for a limb-loss accident, it causes ongoing damages to the injury victim, with painful medical procedures, physical therapy, and the need to learn new ways of accomplishing basic routines and remaining mobile or active. If the accident could have been prevented had someone else taken reasonable actions, that person is liable for the damages. A skilled New Haven amputation lawyer can prove the following legal points of liability in cases of car accidents, workplace accidents, and many other accidents caused by someone else’s fault:
That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to keep you and others safe by taking reasonable action to prevent an injury, such as a driver’s duty to follow traffic laws, or a tool manufacturer’s duty to produce a safe product
That the party at fault breached this duty of care by an act of negligence or recklessness
That the negligent or reckless action directly caused your traumatic amputation injury
That the injury has caused you to suffer real damages, both physically and financially
Once your New Haven amputation attorney proves liability on the part of the person at fault, they can draft a compelling demand letter to the appropriate insurance company for your compensation.
How a New Haven Amputation Lawyer Can Help
A personal injury attorney with a successful track record in amputation injury cases understands how to investigate an accident to determine liability. Your attorney will:
Review police reports, accident reports, and injury reports
Interview eyewitnesses
Review any photos or videos
Gather medical evidence documenting the extent of the injury and your prognosis
Review testimony of accident reconstruction experts and medical experts
Draft a compelling demand letter to the appropriate insurance agency
Negotiate strongly on your behalf to seek the maximum compensation for your economic and non-economic damages
Prepare to litigate the matter in court if the insurance company does not offer an ample settlement
Our legal team offers a free consultation and takes no fees unless we succeed in securing your compensation.
What Damages Can I Recover in a New Haven Amputation Injury Claim?
All serious injuries are costly, but an amputation is a particularly expensive and traumatic injury, with ripple effects throughout every aspect of the victim’s life. If you’ve suffered an amputation due to someone else’s fault, a successful personal injury claim or court award can recover the following damages:
Medical expenses
Future medical expenses for surgeries, therapies, prosthetics, special equipment, and home health care if needed
Lost wages
Diminished earning capacity if you are unable to return to work in a previous position
Pain and suffering
Loss of life quality, loss of pleasure in life, and/or loss of consortium (the ability to enjoy a full physical relationship with a spouse or partner, and/or loss of ability to support and nurture children in a previous capacity)
Disfigurement
While financial compensation for non-economic losses like pain, suffering, and disfigurement are intangible and less easily assigned a monetary amount, these types of damages are often the most serious and lasting repercussions from this type of injury. Non-economic damages deserve compensation in the only way the courts offer redress—through a monetary award.
The law firm of Weber & Rubano, LLC, has a 70-year history of helping injury victims in the New Haven area and surrounding communities to recover financial compensation for accidents, including traumatic amputation injuries. We will build a robust case showing liability on the part of the person or entity at fault and calculate your damages to maximize your economic recovery while you focus on your physical recovery. Call our New Haven office today for a free case consultation so we can begin a strong strategy on your behalf.