Losing a limb is a life-altering event. Regardless of what caused it, an amputation can bring a host of challenges that last a lifetime. Victims typically have to adjust to new physical limitations, undergo extensive medical treatments, and shoulder heavy financial burdens.
Fortunately, when another person’s negligence causes such an injury in Ohio, the victim can seek compensation for their losses. If you or a loved one has suffered an amputation in an accident, it’s crucial to know your legal rights and how an amputation injury lawyer can help you secure the money you need to cover medical expenses, rehab costs, and other losses.
Accidents That Can Lead To Amputations In Ohio
Amputations happen for a number of reasons, but in cases that involve personal injury claims, they usually result from an accident caused by negligence.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motorcycle, truck, and car crashes can tragically end with severe traumatic injuries that require amputation to save the victim’s life. High-speed collisions, rollovers, and accidents with commercial trucks can all cause crushing injuries that damage limbs beyond repair.
Workplace And Construction Accidents
Industrial jobs and construction sites often expose workers to heavy machinery, power tools, and dangerous conditions. In a split second, a piece of equipment can malfunction or a person’s attention can stray, and that’s all it can take to lose a hand, arm, foot, or leg.
Ohio has strict workplace safety laws, but accidents still happen. Employer negligence, poor training, and faulty equipment can contribute to situations that leave workers dealing with the aftermath of a serious injury.
Medical Malpractice
In some cases, mistakes from medical providers can lead to amputations. Surgical errors and complications from a medical procedure can lead to unnecessary limb loss, as can misdiagnosing or failing to treat infections.
Defective Products
Unsafe consumer products, malfunctioning machinery, and poorly designed medical devices often cause sudden, severe injuries. If an item defect leads to an amputation, victims can file a lawsuit against the distributor, manufacturer, or retailer that sold the product.
Bicycle And Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians and cyclists can be particularly vulnerable to getting hurt when they’re involved in a crash with a motor vehicle. Without the protection provided by a car or truck, they can suffer from mangled limbs that sometimes require surgical amputation.
Explosions And Burns
Blast injuries and severe burns can damage limbs so extensively that doctors have no choice but to amputate. Explosions at work, fires, and electrical accidents commonly cause accidents that result in these catastrophic injuries.
Physical, Emotional, And Financial Impact Of An Amputation
The loss of a limb can affect every aspect of a person’s life. Beyond the immediate physical pain and medical treatments, amputees may face long-term challenges that impact their ability to return to work, maintain their independence, and take part in the activities and hobbies that they used to enjoy.
In the immediate aftermath, victims generally have to go through multiple surgeries and hospital stays. They may also need extensive rehab and physical therapy to help them adjust to their new physical limitations. Prosthetic limbs can help, but they don’t eliminate the chances of complications like infection and secondary health problems.
Emotionally, amputees can face a number of hurdles. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are common, as are struggles with body image and self-esteem. Many also isolate themselves socially and have trouble returning to work.
High costs for their medical treatments can leave victims financially overwhelmed. Even with insurance, far too many amputees are left with hospital bills they can’t cover. Factor in the loss of income from being unable to work and the need for assistive devices and home modifications, and the costs add up in a hurry.
Legal Rights Of Amputation Victims In Ohio
In Ohio, when an amputation is caused by someone else’s negligence, victims have the right to file for financial compensation through a personal injury claim. To hold the other person accountable, though, the victim has to be able to prove that the negligence directly caused their injury.
This usually involves collecting evidence through accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony. Amputation injury victims can then pursue various forms of compensation, including:
- Medical costs like hospital bills, prosthetics, surgeries, and rehab
- Time missed from work and reduced future earning capacity
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Costs associated with making modifications to homes and vehicles
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Keep in mind that Ohio law limits the amount of time victims have to file a personal injury lawsuit. In most cases, the statute of limitations is two years from the day of the injury. If the claim isn’t filed before that deadline, you can lose the right to seek compensation.
Steps To Take After An Amputation Injury
If you or a loved one has suffered an amputation in an accident caused by negligence, it’s important to take steps to protect your legal rights and improve your chances of collecting compensation.
Your safety and health are the highest priority, so make sure to follow your doctor’s advice in regard to your treatment plan to help avoid complications. Keep all of your medical records, as you can use them as evidence in your legal case when the time comes.
If you can, collect evidence from the scene of the accident or ask someone else to do it for you. Take pictures and videos, gather witness information, and get copies of all police or workplace accident reports.
How An Amputation Injury Lawyer Can Help
Personal injury cases are complicated, and it’s easy to get lost in the legal jargon, especially when you’re trying to heal from a severe injury. Amputation claims can be particularly stressful, so it helps to have a legal advocate in your corner.
A personal injury lawyer with a background in amputation cases can:
- Investigate the accident and determine liability
- Collect medical and expert testimony to support your claim
- Handle negotiations with insurance companies
- Represent you in court if a fair settlement can’t be reached
Your legal counsel will work to make sure your rights are protected and that you’re not pressured into accepting a lowball settlement. With their help, you can focus on your recovery while your lawyer fights for the compensation you need to move forward.
Get The Legal Help You Need To Reclaim Your Life After An Amputation
If you or a loved one has needed an amputation after an accident caused by negligence in Columbus, the experienced team at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life. We understand the challenges amputees can face in the legal system, and we’re committed to getting you the justice you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation, or call us at (614) 587 8423, to let us help you take the first step toward recovery.
