Serious automobile accidents can result in severe injuries to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. One of the most severe types of injuries that can occur to a North Carolina car accident victim is the amputation of a limb. Losing a limb as a result of a car accident means a permanent loss of use and enjoyment of that limb. When someone loses an arm or a leg, that person’s life is never the same. The victim of an amputation will have to change the way he or she handles daily activities entirely. In many cases, amputees continue to experience pain throughout their lives from nerve damage and phantom limb syndrome. Additionally, many car accident victims who lose a limb have additional, severe injuries from which to recover.
If You Have Endured an Amputation After a Car Accident, You May be Entitled to DamagesIf you have suffered from the loss of a limb resulting from a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver, you might be entitled to compensation. Successful personal injury plaintiffs are entitled to monetary compensation in the form of legal damages. In North Carolina, damages include compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and physical therapy costs. Successful plaintiffs may also receive monetary damages for the pain and suffering that their limb amputation caused them. In some cases, if the at-fault driver acted willfully or wantonly, the victim may be entitled to additional punitive damages.
Hiring an experienced North Carolina attorney to help you file your car accident personal injury claim is essential. North Carolina has a three-year statute of limitation law for personal injury lawsuits. If you have suffered an injury in a car accident, you must file your injury lawsuit within three years of the date of the car accident. If you do not, you will lose the opportunity to sue the defendant. The skilled car accident amputation attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC thoroughly investigate car accidents that cause our clients’ injuries.
Our compassionate attorneys understand how difficult it is to heal from amputation after experiencing the trauma of a severe car accident. Amputees often face a lifetime of expenses, including medical costs, physical therapy, prosthetic limbs, as well as pain management costs. When our clients hire our law firm, they feel a burden lifted from their shoulders. Our experienced attorneys will fight for your right to compensation while you focus on the healing process.
Car Accidents can Result in Crushed LimbsLimb amputations are necessary when medical professionals cannot save the life of their patients without removing a limb. If a limb becomes damaged beyond repair, limbs or fingers become unsalvageable. Some car accidents are so severe that a limb becomes crushed or pinned. For example, if a large truck and a motorcyclist collide, a motorcyclist’s arm or leg may become pinned underneath the truck or the motorcycle.
If the force of a collision is strong and crushes someone's car, their vehicle might fold in and break their limbs. If they remain stuck in the car while emergency personal attempt to get them out, they may lose blood flow to their limb resulting in a necessary amputation. The risk of infection may become too great to justify not removing the affected limb.
Car Accidents can Result in Severed LimbsIn some cases, sharp metal objects can cause deep lacerations in a limb or almost completely sever a limb. When a limb becomes lacerated, bacteria can enter the bloodstream, especially in a car accident. If an infection spreads to the victim's vital organs, it can cause sepsis, and in some cases, death. Even with the best medical treatment and use of antibiotics, in some cases, doctors cannot get the infection under control. In those severe instances, amputation becomes necessary to prevent the spread of infection throughout the body.
Limb Amputation Treatment is Expensive and OngoingIn addition to coping with the traumatic loss of a limb, amputees also face high medical costs, such as:
At Arnold & Smith, PLLC our attorneys are focused on seeking the highest amount of compensation available on behalf of our clients. If you have suffered a limb amputation as a result of a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Monetary compensation drastically helps your family cope with your new normal. Contact our office today to set up your free initial consultation, now with convenient locations in Charlotte, Lake Norman and Monroe.