If you or someone you love recently needed an amputation because of a liable party’s negligence, you may be looking for an amputation injury lawyer to represent your case. Or you may be too occupied by your recovery process to either think critically about hiring a lawyer or to go through the process of finding one you can trust.
At Mithoff Law, our Houston amputation lawyers recognize the amount of stress you and your family are under, and that the last thing you may want to think about is negotiating a settlement or going to trial.
However, the costs and consequences of losing a limb extend far beyond the original incident. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may experience limited or reduced mobility, which can have an impact on everything from your career to your social life.
Learn more about why retaining an amputation injury lawyer can be an important step for protecting your future.
Common types of amputation injuries
Before we discuss why it’s important to find a quality amputation injury lawyer, it’s important to review the common types of amputation injuries seen in personal injury cases. As mentioned previously, amputation injury lawyers see many types of amputation injuries during the course of their work.
Common types of amputation injuries include:
- Ankle disarticulation (removal of the foot at the ankle joint)
- Below-the-knee amputation
- Through-the knee amputation
- Hip disarticulation (limb removal at the hip joint)
- Below-the-elbow amputation
- Above-the-elbow amputation
- Elbow disarticulation (limb removal at the elbow joint)
- Shoulder disarticulation (limb removal at the shoulder joint)
- Metacarpal amputation (removal of all, some, or parts of fingers)
The type of amputation one undergoes depends on the extent of the injuries as well as what caused the amputation. (For more information on top amputation causes, check out our article: “Causes of Amputation.”)
Note that a traumatic amputation is a particular kind of amputation that occurs at the scene of an accident instead of within a medical facility. For example, if your arm is caught within your car after a car accident but, for safety reasons, you need to distance yourself from the vehicle ASAP, you may need to undergo a traumatic amputation.
Traumatic amputations can also occur when a limb has been completely severed at the scene of an accident.
The lifelong impact of an amputation
The term amputation can apply to a wide array of injuries, from the loss of a fingertip to the loss of an entire limb. But no matter what type of amputation you may have suffered, the recovery process can be arduous and lengthy, and victims will likely face complications that can last a lifetime.
Common amputation complications:
- Infection
- Loss of mobility
- Phantom limb pain
- Skin breakdown
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Mental pain, including depression, feelings of alienation, and issues with body image
In turn, these issues can lead to issues at work and in your social life. If your job required a certain level of mobility and dexterity, you may not be able to continue with your previous line of work. Meanwhile, hobbies that require particular skills may no longer be available to you.
Additionally, amputations often involve tens of thousands of dollars of costs, including medical bills, physical therapy, counseling, the need for adjustments to be made around the house, and prosthetics. If one has lost their job (or has become less efficient at work) due to their injuries, these costs add up even more quickly.
The importance of an amputation injury lawyer
A quality amputation injury lawyer can help clients file suit against the parties whose negligence created the circumstances under which you were injured. In particular, amputation injury attorneys can help with the following aspects of your case:
Investigation: Finding the root case of an accident is rarely simple. Experienced amputation injury lawyers can help you gather and save evidence, gather witness statements, and retain experts who can analyze all of the factors involved in the accident.
Litigation: Personal injury cases can involve complex and lengthy litigation that requires both legal experience and experience in the particular type of negligence that caused the amputation (car accidents, medical malpractice, dangerous oil rig jobs, etc.).
Negotiation: Hoping to move on with their lives, many clients may wish to accept the first settlement amount offered to them. Doing so is rarely the right move. An amputation injury lawyer can help their clients negotiate with insurance companies and other parties so that their best interests are better served. After all, the full effects of an injury like amputation can take time to reveal themselves, and an initial offer may not reflect the true extent of your needs.
Trial: Sometimes, for justice to truly be served, the best course of action is to take the case to trial. When that happens, you will want an amputation injury lawyer who is comfortable both in and out of the courtroom.
Who can be held responsible under the law for an amputation?
Again, who can be held responsible for an amputation will depend highly on the particulars of your case. If you were injured at work because a supervisor failed to properly train an employee, for example, the supervisor’s company may be held liable for your accident.
However, if the same injury at your workplace occurred because of a manufacturing defect in the equipment you were using, the manufacturer may be held liable instead of the employer.
Once retained, a skilled catastrophic injury lawyer with experience handling amputation cases can help clients identify all of the responsible parties in their case.
What is the statute of limitations in Texas for amputation injuries?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for amputation injuries is generally two years from the date of the original accident, including accidents involving medical malpractice. This time limit may be shorter (6 months or less) if the negligent party is a government organization.
Since there can be exceptions to these general rules, always check with your amputation injury attorney regarding the statute of limitations for your particular case.
Mithoff Law: Skilled amputation injury lawyers in Houston
Mithoff Law has decades of experience working with clients who have suffered amputation injuries due to negligence. We have earned a reputation for excellent and thorough representation, and we are proud that our work has allowed our clients to begin rebuilding their lives.
Led by Richard Mithoff, one of the top lawyers in the nation, our clients can rest assured that Mithoff Law will work hard to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. To request a free consultation, call us at 713-654-1122.
For additional resources regarding financial assistance for amputee victims, we encourage you to visit the Amputee Coalition’s website.
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