Amputation and Dismemberment
According to Access Prosthetics, there are more than 2 million people living in the U.S. today who have lost a limb due to amputation or dismemberment. Approximately 185,000 surgical amputations are performed annually in the U.S.
An amputation is when a limb is surgically removed. Dismemberment is when a limb is ripped off in a catastrophic accident. This generally requires surgery to repair the wound site. Whether due to amputation or because of dismemberment, the loss of a limb is life changing.
Even those who seem to adjust and go on to live as close to normal lives as possible still have lifelong problems. Nearly one-third of people who have lost a limb suffer from continual depression and anxiety.
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- Get a Free Consultation
- Hire an Attorney
- Get Compensated
Possible Reasons for Amputation
John Hopkins Medicine reports that the main reasons for amputations include:
- Disease. This includes cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, blood clots, osteomyelitis (infection in the bone), or tumors in bones or muscles.
- Injuries. Approximately 75 percent of upper extremity amputations are due to trauma.
Types of accidents that cause dismemberment or need for amputation and are generally the result of someone’s negligence include:
- Vehicle accidents. This includes all types of vehicles, like cars, trucks, boats, and airplanes.
- Pedestrian accidents.
- Malfunctioning machinery. Primarily those used in agriculture or manufacturing.
- Fireworks or other explosive devices.
- Construction site accidents.
- Infections. Possibly due to medical malpractice occurring during a surgical procedure.
- Being caught in a malfunctioning elevator, escalator, or electric door.
- Amusement park ride malfunctioning.
- Dog bites.
Any type of accident can result in the loss of a limb
Damages Unique to the Loss of a Limb
The loss of a limb results in a permanent disability. It impacts a person’s mobility, ability to conduct normal activities of daily living, and the injured person’s self-image. It likely interferes with the ability to participate in recreational activities or hobbies the person formerly enjoyed. It may even require changing careers.
When the loss of a limb is caused by the negligence of another person, a business owner, or a municipality, the injured person deserves to be compensated for their extreme loss. Some examples unique to the loss of a limb include:
- All medical, surgical, and hospital expenses currently incurred as a result of the accident including those services the amputee will need in the future.
- Physical rehabilitation. The length of time required for rehabilitation depends on the level and type of amputation, which limb was amputated, whether there were any resulting medical problems, the overall health of the person, and level of family support.
- Treatment for stump care and wound healing.
- Occupational therapy and retraining to learn how to perform activities of daily living without the limb.
- Fitting for a prosthetic and use of other assistive devices. This includes ones currently needed and those expected to be needed in the future.
- Medications for pain management for pain related to surgical removal of the limb and later “phantom pain” which is when a person feels like there is pain or itching in the missing limb.
- Emotional damage related to the grieving process the person goes through over the loss of the limb.
- Vocational counseling. The person may need complete retraining for a new career or for how to adapt to performing the person’s regular occupation.
- Lost wages. These include currently lost and all expected to be lost due to the injury.
- Lost earning capacity. The permanent disability of a lost limb may interfere with a person earning as much money as they earned before the accident. In some cases, a person is unable to ever work again at any occupation.
- Costs of adapting the home environment for accessibility and mobility.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Mental anguish and emotional stress over the loss of the limb.
