Amputation After a Car Accident

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Limb Loss After a Car Accident

Although not the most common type of injury sustained in an accident, some pedestrians or motorists lose limbs after getting involved in an accident. This is so unfortunate because the loss of a limb changes an individual’s life forever. The individual won’t be able to walk properly or work, and even their mental capacity is affected.

Limb Loss Can Occur After an Accident

The United States is home to more than two million people that have lost one or more limbs. Some of these individuals lost their limbs in car accidents. Limb loss can happen during the crash or as a necessary medical treatment.

The leading cause of limb loss is trauma to the limbs due to an accident. At times they are amputated surgically due to loss of blood, infection, or extensive injury. After losing the limb, the individual undergoes surgical procedures to remove any injured tissue, stop blood loss and close the wound properly.

Limb loss comes with associated pain and long-term mental effects.

Let us look at how limb loss occurs in an accident:

Trauma

Also called crush syndrome, this is when intense pressure or force is applied to a limb, normally between two objects. In a car accident, this happens when someone is pinned between two cars, or a car and a stationary object. Crush injuries are usually severe and result in lacerations, broken bones, and severe bleeding.

If the crush injury results in the limb being severely damaged, it has to be amputated to save the rest of the leg. At times, amputation is performed at the scene of the accident to help get the person out of the wreckage.

Infection

If a wound resulting from an accident becomes infected, and the infection doesn’t respond to medication, the doctors have no option but to remove the infected part to save the remaining part of the limb.

Vascular Disease

Proper blood circulation through a limb is crucial for it to function properly. If the flow is compromised, then the limb dies. Extensive physical trauma can damage the limb and interrupt circulation, necessitating amputation.

Recovery after Limb Loss: what Does It Involve?

Losing a limb is not as easy as it sounds. It comes with physical and mental adaptations that are tough. You will need additional surgery to prevent amputation, and costly prosthetics to help you move around.

You also need therapy to help you learn to use your limbs afresh and perform certain activities. Counseling is necessary to help you deal with the anxiety and depression that comes with losing a limb.

With the right equipment, treatment and therapy, many amputees can regain control of their lives after an accident. However, you first have to get compensation for what you are going through to afford the costs of getting your life together.

Recovering Economic Damages after Limb Loss

After losing a limb in an accident, you face various costs that include:

  • Costs for current and future surgical procedures
  • The cost of therapy, both physical and occupational
  • Medications that you will use to treat pain and prevent infection
  • Cost of buying prosthetics and other medical aids
  • Cost for counseling sessions

You might have to undergo several surgical sessions to feel whole again. Every surgical procedure comes with new costs, risks, and more time for recovery. You need to work with a qualified auto accident attorney to help you pursue your claim to get compensated for these damages.

You have a Right to sue for Compensation

If you have lost a limb in an accident, you have a right to file a claim for compensation for your losses, especially if you feel the injuries were due to negligence by another person. Contact an auto accident attorney to help you find a way to ease the burden of the injury to have some peace of mind.