Amputation Injury Lawyers in New York City

Surgeons working in an operating room

Life is forever changed when a limb is lost to trauma, infection, disease, or accident. Amputees can expect a lifetime of medical services such as fitting, fabricating, and servicing the prosthesis. These services also include physical and occupational therapy, and rehabilitation to maintain range of motion. Not everyone can return to work. The emotional toll of disability is hefty, but there are also financial considerations. To ensure the best outcome, contact an amputation lawyer at Douglas & London in New York City.

Do You Need an Amputation Injury Lawyer in NYC?

The prognosis is favorable for modern amputation surgery. Most patients can expect to lead productive and independent lives. Speaking with a New York City personal injury attorney can be the first step toward a new normal. However, the impact of limb loss on a person’s mental state and lifestyle cannot be overstated.

You’ll need to get used to a new prosthesis, which can require months, if not years, of determined effort and patience. You’ll need to relearn how to perform basic daily tasks and accept that there may be some hobbies you’ll never enjoy again. You may need to undergo occupational retraining. Coping with the stigmas and stereotypes of having a physical handicap can bring up a host of negative emotions from anxiety and grief to inadequacy and depression.

To make the most of your life going forward, you’ll need to invest in the latest prosthetic limb technology, mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers. You might also need to modify your home with a wheelchair ramp or shower stall or grab bars to make it easier to get around. Moreover, it may be necessary to see a therapist to support you during the time of transition.

A personal injury lawyer can help you figure out how you’ll pay for all of this by negotiating with insurers, uncovering evidence to bolster your side of the story, finding you the best local physicians, therapists, and experts, while making a case for maximum compensation. It costs nothing to speak with a renowned amputation injury lawyerat Douglas & London. You only owe a legal fee if and when we recover money on your behalf.

Types of Amputation Accident

To file an amputation lawsuit, you must have grounds for liability. Another party must have been, in some way, negligent, reckless, or malicious in causing you harm. Most of the catastrophic injury cases we handle involve the following types of amputation accident:

Trauma may cause arms or legs to be severely crushed or damaged. In a medical setting, amputations can result from a misdiagnosis, surgical error, failure to diagnose, or a breach of standard care that leads to uncontrolled infection. Whatever the case may be, you deserve to know what happened to cause your amputation and receive compensation when another party is responsible.

Factors Affecting Amputation Injury Claims

Amputation injury claimsare valued based on:

  • Past, current, and future medical bills (typically representing a small fraction of a total settlement).
  • Salary history (including vacation and sick time) and the loss of past, present, and future income.
  • Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, grief, and anxiety.

In rare cases where a defendant’s actions are unusually egregious, the judge will allow punitive damages as a punishment for negligence, excessive recklessness, or intentional malice.

How Much is an Amputated Arm Worth?

Fortunately, New York values amputation cases higher than many other states. However, the amount people are offered by insurers or workmans’ comp is not always fair. For instance, New York pays an average of $82,421 or more for an amputated arm, but a $252,299 settlement is far below the $509,272 in estimated lifetime costs.

This estimation from Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy includes the cost of initial hospitalization, surgeon follow-ups, inpatient rehab, outpatient physician care, occupational and physical therapy, and the cost of prostheses. Related medical issues are not included in this figure.

How Much is an Amputated Leg Worth?

Similarly, New York pays $79,671 more for amputated legs than the average U.S. state for a total of $232,891. A skilled attorney can often fetch a much higher settlement or jury award by working with forensic economists, medical professionals, vocational trainers, and other experts.

It is important to remember that insurance companies are just businesses looking to maximize profits and minimize losses, so your best interest is not the same as their best interest. A personal injury attorney whose only pay is a percentage of the total settlement has every incentive to secure the greatest possible settlement on your behalf.

Recovering from Amputation Injury

Once immediate medical attention has been sought, your next call should be to a personal injury attorney to learn more about filing a legal claim for damages. You will need a lawyer’s help establishing:

  • The defendant(s) had a duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid putting you at risk.
  • The defendant(s) breached this duty through an action or omission.
  • This action or omission directly caused you to require amputation.
  • You suffered a financial and emotional loss due to the amputation.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Litigation is a complex process, but you don’t have to go it alone. We’ll take care of all the research, upfront expenses, deadlines, and paperwork, while you recover. We can help you find the best-specialized care in the area to help you achieve maximum medical improvement. Contact us today at Douglas & London for a free consultation with an amputation injury lawyer.