The Long-Term Cost of Accidental Amputations

 Posted on October 28, 2023 in Car Accidents

Besides the immediate costs associated with an accidental amputation, an amputee will require ongoing medical care. It is hard to estimate what the cost will be for individual circumstances following an amputation, as each victim’s needs will be different.

While most accidental amputations involve the loss of fingers or toes, there are situations in which a person can lose an entire limb. If you have suffered from an accidental amputation, you need the representation of a Rockford catastrophic injury attorney. 

Causes of Accidental Amputations

More than 2 million Americans are living with limb loss. Unlike a planned amputation surgery (known as elective surgery), a person who suffers an accidental amputation will have to learn to cope with limb loss without being able to prepare mentally or logistically (making accommodations at home).

Accidental amputations most commonly take place in the following situations:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Whether you collide with another car, truck, or motorcycle, motor vehicle accidents are a prime cause of lower extremity injuries and amputations. Rollover accidents can cause a vehicle occupant’s arms or legs to get crushed, requiring surgical intervention. 

Power Tool Accidents

A person who is using a power tool is at risk for lacerations, tendon injuries, fractures, and amputations. In a recent study that examined 594 people who were injured by power tools, 261 cases involved upper extremity and hand injuries.

Electrocutions

If someone comes in contact with a high-voltage current (greater than 1,000 volts), there is a risk of that person losing one or more limbs or body parts. The amputation may happen as a direct result of the accident or could need to be performed surgically if the electric current resulted in significant burns.

Medical Costs of Accidental Amputations

An accident amputation will come with short-term and long-term costs:

Emergency care

An individual who sustains an amputation as the result of a trauma will require immediate medical intervention. An emergency room doctor will make an evaluation, and the victim may require surgery to prevent further complications. 

Prosthetic costs

Even if you have medical insurance, don’t expect insurance to cover the costs of a prosthetic limb and other features. The average lower limb amputee will spend between $500,000 and $1.8 million for a prosthetic leg, basic component parts, and regular fittings with a prosthetist.

Long-Term Treatment

An amputee’s treatment is not finished once the individual is fitted for a prosthetic. Medical care for an amputee is ongoing. A person with a lower or upper limb difference will require physical therapy to re-learn how to complete daily tasks. Lower limb amputees may suffer from lower back pain since their bodies are learning to compensate for the lost limb.

If you have suffered a complete or partial limb loss, a Winnebago County catastrophic injury attorney will be able to assess what damages may be available to you. This will include lost wages, medical bills, and compensation for pain and suffering.

Speak with a Dedicated Rockford, IL, Catastrophic Injury Attorney 

Nobody knows how they will handle the devastation of losing a limb or body part. If you have suffered from an accidental amputation, help is just around the corner from a Winnebago County, IL, injury lawyer. Contact Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law online or call 815-215-7561 to schedule your no-obligation, free consultation.