Almost two million people in the United States have lost a limb. While some people loss their arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, or toes because of medical conditions like cancer or diabetes, about 45% of these people have lost a limb due to trauma such as a car accident.
In Kentucky, the amputation rate rose 21.94% from 2008 to 2013. During that time, 29,071 amputations were performed. If you have had a limb or digit amputated because of a car accident injury or during a car accident, then you deserve to know more about your rights. Your time to take action is limited by the Kentucky Statute of Limitations, so we encourage you to read this article and to contact us directly at your earliest convenience to schedule a free consultation.
How Car Crash Injuries Result in Amputations
Amputations from car crashes can occur in a few ways. Specifically, you may suffer the loss of an arm, hand, finger, leg, foot, or toe if a body part is crushed or severed during the crash and doctors cannot reattach the limb or digit. Additionally, you may suffer an amputation later if there is significant nerve damage, a crushed bone, or an infection that cannot be treated effectively without taking the limb or digit.
Limb Loss May Not Be Your Only Amputation Injury
While loss of your limb or digit may be the most immediate and noticeable injury that you suffer, there are other medical injuries that may occur as a result of your amputation. These injuries include:
- Blood loss. You may lose significant blood because of your injury. This can lead to hypovolemic shock—and it may be fatal.
- Infection. An open wound can make an infection more likely. A serious infection can lead to septic shock and it may be fatal.
You have the right to pursue a fair recovery for all of your injuries, not just for the actual amputation, when you pursue a car crash lawsuit in Kentucky.
What Does a Fair Recovery Include?
If your limb or digit has been separated from your body during a car accident or later as a direct result of your car accident injury, then you may be facing significant expenses and limitations. You may be able to recover damages for all of your past, present, and future:
- Medical expenses. This includes things such as hospitalizations, surgeries, physical therapy, other rehabilitation therapies, psychological counseling, prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, doctors’ visits, and medications.
- Lost income. Your financial recovery should include any income that you are unable to earn as a result of your injury. This may include wages, bonuses, benefits, and income from being self-employed.
- Out-of-pocket costs. You may recover for any expenses made necessary by your injury that you did not incur before you were hurt. This could include, for example, household help, care for children or elderly relatives, and transportation costs.
- Pain and suffering. Your physical pain and emotional suffering may be your most significant damages. You may recover for these losses in a car accident lawsuit.
The anticipated lifetime medical costs for a person who loses a limb is more than half a million dollars. That is just medical costs and does not take into account lost income, out-of-pocket expenses, or pain and suffering which could make the lifetime total significantly higher.
Get Help If You’re Hurt
Even though you’ve been badly injured, the insurance company is going to fight hard against your recovery. The company may offer you some kind of compensation, but it is often just a fraction of what you could recover if you worked with an attorney to protect your rights.
Our Louisville car accident legal team which includes experienced attorneys, a staff nurse, and others provides each of our clients with the individual attention that they deserve. We will work hard to complete a thorough investigation and to present a strong case during negotiations and in court to get you the full and fair recovery that you deserve. To learn more, we invite you to contact us at any time via this website or by phone. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we would be pleased to provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation.
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