Amputations Following Car Accidents May Allow Personal Injury Lawsuits

 Posted on January 11, 2022 in Personal Injury

Car accidents in Cook County are serious matters. While most major car accidents are not fatal, they nearly always result in some kind of injury. And most of those injuries, like cuts, lacerations, and bruises, may be painful, however, they will eventually heal. Some injuries, however, never heal and can change the victim’s life forever. 

One particularly serious type of injury is amputation. The loss of a leg, foot, arm, or hand is a catastrophic injury that can permanently impact a victim’s ability to work, move around, and live a normal life. When an amputation occurs after a car accident in which another driver’s negligence is to blame, an experienced personal injury attorney may be able to help the amputee obtain just compensation for their loss and suffering. 

What Kinds of Vehicle Accidents Can Cause Amputation? 

Limb and digit amputations are only done after it is clear that the physical damage to the victim is so extensive that reconstructive surgery is not an option. Unfortunately, this means the type of car accidents that result in amputation are usually very serious. Truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, rollover crashes, and lost cargo that has fallen into the road can all cause serious car crashes. 

Limbs may be severed or crushed by sharp or compacted metal, and such injuries are often complicated by severe bone fractures and profuse bleeding. Sometimes, when a body part is severed in a car accident, it can be reattached under the right circumstances. Usually, however, an amputation is done after the accident in the hospital when doctors have done their best to recover the limb without success. 

Amputations Require Extensive Medical Treatment

Following an amputation, a victim must often adapt to life with a prosthetic limb so they can begin approximating the natural movement they had before the accident. But prosthetic limbs are not simple matters. In addition to being extremely expensive (costing anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 dollars), prosthetic limbs do not always work well and do not last forever. Victims often suffer serious pain at the attachment site, and it can take many years to adjust to life with a prosthetic. 

Furthermore, a prosthetic limb does not alleviate medical procedures for the remaining tissue and bones. Phantom pain, so-called because an amputee can feel pain in a limb that is no longer present, is difficult to treat and can be debilitating. Damage to the non-amputated parts of the limb can still be severe and difficult to treat.

Call an Experienced Orland Park Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you love has suffered an amputation or dismemberment because of a car accident, you may be able to seek compensation from the responsible party. Recovering medical expenses, lost income, and compensation for your pain and suffering may be possible. Schedule a free consultation with a skilled Cook County car accident injuries attorney with Schwartz Injury Law today by calling us at 708-888-2160. 

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-401