Hartford Amputation & Limb Loss Attorneys
Representing victims of traumatic limb loss in Hartford & Manchester, CT
Amputation injuries, typically caused by serious accidents, are catastrophic physical injuries. Losing all or part of a limb can leave a person unable to work, and/or function the way he or she once did and result in long term disability. When these injuries occur due to the negligence of another, the responsible individuals should be held accountable.
People with limb loss also face other medical issues, like phantom limb pain and rehabilitation and physical therapy. The Hartford personal injury attorneys at Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC address all of these issues and more when you’re harmed by someone else’s negligence or recklessness. We fight for full and maximum compensation when you suffer such a severe injury. Contact us today.
About amputation and limb loss
According to the Amputee Coalition’s National Limb Loss Resource Center, nearly two million people in the United States are living with limb loss, and 185,000 amputations occur each year. Additionally, African‐Americans are up to four times more likely to have an amputation than white Americans. You can find more resources on Connecticut programs and services on limb loss here.
Amputation of any body part, from a finger or toe to an entire limb, can be a life-changing injury. It can affect the victim’s career, limit their ability to drive a vehicle, and necessitate lifelong assistance for daily activities. Limb loss and amputation injuries present special circumstances and considerations. Often, these injuries require prosthetic replacement limbs and other equipment, which must be maintained and periodically replaced over the patient’s lifetime. Multiple prosthetics may be necessary for different uses, like running or other activities. Victims of amputation injuries may also face overwhelming financial issues, including ongoing surgeries, rehabilitation, and other medical procedures.
Causes of traumatic limb loss injuries in Hartford
Traumatic amputation occurs when a limb loss like an arm or a leg occurs suddenly in the course of an accident. In some cases, medical amputations are necessary to remove a limb that’s been irreparably damaged in an accident, like after being crushed in a car accident or severely burned in a fire. In other cases, surgeons may be able to reattach severed body parts, or assist the patient with the use of a prosthetic limb.
Traumatic limb amputations can result from:
- Electrical and chemical burns
- Heavy objects falling and pinning/crushing a limb
- Injuries from fires and explosions
- Motor vehicle accidents, like boat, car or truck crashes, or being hit by a vehicle while bicycling or walking
- Power tools and heavy machinery accidents, at home, work, or on the farm
After a catastrophic injury like limb loss, the insurance company may attempt to assign a dollar figure to your injury – one amount for losing a finger or toe, another amount for a hand, and yet another larger amount for an arm or leg. Our attorneys at Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC understand that your life is not a generic formula, and we work to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve – a number that reflects the true impact of your injury on your life.
The cost of loss of limb and amputation injuries
A study from the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery puts the average lifetime cost of amputation injuries at $509,275. This number may be considerably higher when adjusted for inflation. The study considered the following factors:
- Initial hospitalization
- Subsequent re-hospitalizations
- Inpatient rehabilitation
- Outpatient doctor visits
- Outpatient physical/occupational therapy
- Purchase and maintenance of prosthetics
The study, however, didn’t take into account personal variables such as lost income, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Compensation for your Hartford amputation injury
As with any personal injury case, if you suffered harm or physical trauma due to another’s negligence, you can pursue legal action to seek financial compensation for your losses. Our attorneys can guide you through the process – holding the responsible party or parties accountable and ensuring you’re adequately compensated and financially secure after your accident, fighting for compensation for any and all of the following:
- Medical expenses, current and future
- Long-term care
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost wages and future earning potential
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
Depending on the circumstances of your accident and injury, our attorneys generally file one of the following types of claims for limb loss/amputation injuries:
- Personal injury. If a person loses a limb because of an accident or action caused by another person or party, he or she is likely eligible for compensation through a personal injury action.
- Medical malpractice. Sometimes a surgeon or doctor may be responsible for a wrongful amputation. A misdiagnosis or surgery error can lead to a limb loss that should have been preventable. In cases like these, the hospital or medical professional can be liable.
- Workers’ compensation. An employee who suffers an amputation injury on the job has the right to workers’ compensation benefits, even if the accident was partly his or her fault. Workers’ compensation provides medical and wage benefits.
Our injury attorneys can consult with you about your unique situation and determine the type of legal action that may be right for you.
Reliable Hartford limb loss and amputation injury lawyers
At Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC, our attorneys understand the overwhelming lifetime cost of limb loss injuries. When you suffer a life-altering injury because of someone else’s negligence, we work to ensure you’re awarded the maximum compensation possible – so you can adjust and move on to your new normal without financial stress. Talk to our legal team today. We’re located right off I-384 in Manchester. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys in Hartford or Manchester, please call 860-649-4400 or fill out our contact form.