What Types of Financial Recovery can I Pursue After My Amputation?

Losing an appendage or limb often permanently changes people's lives for the worst. Recovering from a limb amputation can cause mental and emotional anxiety. Limb amputations can also negatively impact a person's ability to work and engage in daily activities. Most amputation victims need time to grieve their losses, in addition to coming to terms with their new reality. If you have suffered an amputation from a traumatic injury, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

It can be difficult to think about pursuing a lawsuit after you have suffered an amputation. Nonetheless, the sooner you speak with a personal injury attorney after your injury, the better. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we offer compassionate legal representation for people who have experienced amputations. We fight hard for your right to compensation for your injuries. Contact our law firm today to schedule your case evaluation as soon as possible.

For most patients who do not have health insurance, the cost of an amputation ranges from $20,000 to $60,000. Those expenses only include the amputation surgery itself. For those with health insurance, they may need to pay 10% to 20% of the total cost of the amputation as a deductible. In addition to paying for the costly first surgery, those who have experienced an amputation will likely also suffer from the following measurable economic damages:

• Ongoing physical therapy
• Transportation to and from appointments
• Time off of work
• The loss of employment opportunities
• Costs associated with in-home adaptations
• The cost of home health care or long-term care facilities
• Multiple reconstructive surgeries over a long period of time
• Prosthetics and the associated appointments

The cost of a prosthesis which can cost over $40,000. Many insurance companies will only pay for low-end prosthetics, if at all. Many victims of amputations must pay for their prosthetic limbs out-of-pocket. Prosthetics also need to be replaced as they are often not permanent.

Accidents that result in an amputation often leave the victim with serious financial burdens. These expenses include hospitalization, medical expenses, and lost wages due to time away from work. When someone else's negligence or recklessness caused the accident that resulted in your personal injury, they might be liable for your injuries.

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, we can help you determine the financial compensation you will need to recover. We can engage in a comprehensive review of your case. We will investigate all of your expenses to determine the full range of damages to which you are entitled.

Many amputations happen due to workplace accidents. If you have suffered a loss of limb or appendage from a work-related injury, you may be entitled to workers' compensation. Most North Carolina employers are required to provide their employees with workers' compensation insurance coverage. That coverage will pay for workplace injuries or illnesses.

Workers' compensation usually only covers an employee's lost wages and medical expenses. There are also limitations as to the amount of workers' compensation payments. While workers' compensation can help you get through recovery in the short-term, filing a personal injury lawsuit may benefit you more overall. When your employer's negligence caused your amputation, you may be able to bring a lawsuit against them for financial compensation.

When someone's negligence caused your amputation, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages. Those victims of personal injuries who have experienced disfigurement are typically entitled to greater damages. In addition to recovering compensation for your medical expenses, and pain and suffering, you can also sue the party responsible for your amputation or disfigurement. The amount of money you receive should be enough for the mental, physical, and emotional scars caused by a traumatic event.

In addition to seeking compensation for the damages caused by the amputation, you can also seek compensation for health complications caused by the amputation. Many victims of amputation need to revisit the hospital within 30 days of the initial amputation for other health reasons stemming from the original amputation.

For example, people with other health problems may suffer additional issues after the amputation. If the victim had diabetes or renal disease, their conditions may worsen due to the amputation. Contact our personal injury lawyers as soon as possible to schedule your initial consultation.