Thousands of victims suffer traumatic amputations every year in the U.S. The most common cause of traumatic amputation injuries is traffic accidents.
Severe motor vehicle accidents, especially ones that involve large trucks and tractor-trailers, sometimes necessitate medical amputations in order to salvage a limb and save a patient’s life. A traumatic loss can affect any limb or extremity, such as the arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and ears.
Enduring a tractor-trailer accident is scary enough on its own. Losing a limb afterward can compound a victim’s trauma, the effects of the crash changing the entire course of their life.
For legal assistance after a big rig accident, talk to our attorneys today to get the answers you need.
Amputation and Truck Accident Stats
Around two million Americans have suffered limb loss. Almost 25% of these amputations were due to traumatic accidents.
According to the National Limb Loss Information Center, upper limb amputations account for about 69% of trauma-related amputations. Men were found to be at a significantly higher risk of losing a limb due to a traumatic event than women.
- Most traumatic amputation victims are between the ages of 15 and 40.
- The most common traumatic amputation is a partial hand amputation with the loss of one or more fingers.
- The second most common traumatic amputation is the loss of an arm.
- 10% of upper body amputations affect the hand and wrist, with most being transradial (amputation occurs below the elbow).
- 22% of patients who had a lower limb amputated were readmitted to the hospital for additional treatment within a month.
Recovering From a Traumatic Amputation
Amputations caused by a traumatic accident remain one of the most emotionally disturbing types of wounds people suffer. In the short term, victims often report symptoms of grief, depression, and PTSD. They may struggle with the decision of whether to salvage their injured body part or remove it.
In addition to dealing with psychological stress due to a traumatic amputation, some victims face health complications such as infections, excessive bleeding, muscle shortening, and pulmonary embolisms (blood clots that travel to the lungs). Complications after surgery, phantom pain, or skin problems from using a prosthetic can also negatively impact a person’s health and mental wellbeing.
Readjusting to life after a traumatic accident can be difficult at first. Each person will respond differently to the loss of a limb.
Recovery is an ongoing process. It is a long, winding road filled with bumps and detours. With proper physical therapy and emotional counseling, most injured victims adapt and lead healthy full lives.
If you are suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, or acute stress disorder, talk to your doctor about psychotherapy options and medication.
Compensation for Truck Accident Amputation Injuries
Total compensation received for a truck accident settlement varies from case to case. A number of factors, such as the amount of damage suffered and the impact the amputation has on daily life activities, must be taken into account.
Depending on the facts of the case, a person injured in a large truck accident may recover compensation for the following:
- Assistive devices (prosthetics, wheelchairs, etc.)
- Bodily injury
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of mobility
- Lost wages
- Mental health counseling
- Pain and suffering
- Past and future medical treatment
- Physical therapy
- Scarring and disfigurement
How an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
The aftermath of a truck accident is traumatic, especially if it causes the loss of a body part or limb. After an amputation due to a wreck, our truck accident law firm can help you pursue the justice and compensation you need.
With a team of truck accident attorneys, we gather evidence from the scene of the accident, interview witnesses, and consult with medical experts to support your case. We thoroughly review all possible parties who could be held liable for your injuries and subsequent damages.
This is familiar territory for us. Our experienced lawyers at Gary Martin Hays & Associates can help calculate your economic and personal losses, so you have a strong case when we begin negotiations with the insurance company.
Contact our Atlanta truck accident law firm if you have suffered an amputation or other serious injury due to a big rig accident. We understand the hardships you are facing and are committed to helping you recover all of the compensation you are entitled to for your injuries.
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