When a person suffers an amputation injury, it isn’t just a one-time event. After emergency medical treatment, a person will often require rehabilitation, prosthetics, and ongoing medical care. Over time, these costs can become quite significant.
An amputation injury can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical and related expenses. If the injury was caused by another person, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them for your losses. Any settlement for an amputation injury should include money for both prosthetics as well as ongoing medical treatment.
Johnstone & Gabhart represents clients throughout West Virginia who have been hurt in car accidents, truck accidents, dog attacks, slips and falls, and other types of accidents. If you have suffered a serious injury that led to amputation, we will fight to get you the money that you are entitled to under the law. Reach out to our law firm to schedule a free initial consultation with a West Virginia personal injury attorney.
Treating Amputation Injuries in West Virginia
While amputations are often the result of a medical issue, such as diabetes, they are often caused by a traumatic event or an accident. This can include things like motorcycle accidents, bike accidents, or workplace injuries like construction accidents. A body part may be torn off in an accident, or may be damaged so severely that it cannot be saved.
Most commonly, a limb or digit is amputated. This may include an arm, hand, finger, leg, foot, or toe. Other parts of the body may also be amputated if they are hurt in an accident, such as an ear.
Amputation may become necessary if the body part has lost its ability to function due to factors such as loss of nerve function and blood flow. Surgery to remove the damaged body part can help to preserve the health of the rest of the body. By removing the affected body part, doctors can prevent tissue death, infections, and other problems from spreading to the rest of the body. Removing the damaged body part also gives a person the opportunity to replace it with a more functional prosthetic.
During an amputation surgery, a surgeon will remove all diseased and damaged tissues, working to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. If necessary, they will repair nerves or blood vessels through microsurgery. Surgeons may also need to smooth the end of the bone. The incision is closed by sewing soft tissue (such as skin) over the stump.
The recovery time frame for an amputation depends on the type of amputation. Typically, a person will spend a few days to a few weeks in the hospital. They will work on rehabilitation, including physical and occupational therapy. They will also participate in psychotherapy to help them adjust to their feelings after the loss of a body part.
Once a person has recovered from the surgery, they will go through prosthesis fitting and training. In some cases, the amputation surgery will include some extra work for a particular type of prosthesis. For example, osseointegration involves implanting a metal anchor into the bone where the prosthesis can attach. It can take several months to be trained on using your prosthesis.
The initial medical costs for an amputation injury can be extensive. They may include:
- An ambulance or helicopter for transport to a hospital
- Treatment in an emergency room
- Diagnostic imaging
- Surgical amputation
- Infection prevention and wound management
- Hospitalization
- Pain management and medication
These initial costs can be substantial. However, they are just the first stage of a much longer journey to recovery. Our West Virginia amputation injury lawyers will work with you to get the money that you need to move forward with your life after a serious injury.
The True Costs of Prosthetics and Ongoing Medical Care
Amputees typically require long-term medical care after an injury. They may see professionals such as orthopedic surgeons, primary care physicians, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, and pain management providers. These medical providers will monitor healing, manage complications, and address overall health changes related to limb loss.
Even years after an amputation, medical treatment remains critical for issues such as:
- Wound care and skin health: The amputated limb or body part may have skin breakdowns or ulcers, infection, sensitivity or scarring, and swelling or fluid retention.
- Pain Management: Amputees often experience residual limb pain, neuropathic (nerve) pain, and phantom limb pain. These symptoms are managed through medication, injections, physical therapy, and psychotherapy.
A person with an amputation injury may also require ongoing physical and occupational therapy. These types of therapies can help an amputee improve strength, balance, and coordination, adapt daily activities, and prevent overuse injuries in other joints. Gait and mobility training can also help with issues like back pain, hip and knee injuries, and increased fall risk that often accompany an amputation.
If a person chooses to get a prosthetic device, there are additional costs and medical expenses associated with it. Specialists will perform assessments before creating a custom prosthesis, often with multiple fitting appointments.
The price for a prosthetic device depends on the level of amputation, the technology in the device, a person’s activity needs and lifestyle, and customization requirements. Based on these factors, a prosthesis could cost anywhere from several thousand dollars for a basic device to tens of thousands of dollars (or more) for an advanced prosthetic with microprocessor-controlled components.
Prosthetics also have to be replaced over time. Over a lifetime, an amputee may need a new socket every 1 to 2 years, replacement feet, knees, or arms every 2 to 5 years, and updated technology as their needs change. They may also need maintenance, such as alignment adjustments, socket relining, and suspension system replacements. An amputee may also need other items, such as specialized footwear or pressure-relief cushions.
All of these costs, from ongoing medical care to prosthetic devices and supplies, can add up over time. These expenses are in addition to other costs, such as modifying your home to make it more accessible or dealing with other joint issues caused by the amputation. Any personal injury settlement should take all of these expenses into account so that you get full compensation for your injuries.
How Future Medical and Equipment Costs for an Amputation Injury Are Calculated
Calculating the lifetime cost of an amputation injury can be incredibly complex. In addition to the medical expenses that have already been billed, your lawyer must also consider future medical treatment.
Critical areas of future medical costs include prosthetic device maintenance and replacement, specialized prosthetics for things like running or swimming, and ongoing medical care. In addition, you may require psychological treatment for years into the future to deal with the reality of life after amputation and all that can accompany it (such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety).
Personal injury attorneys typically work with an expert to prepare a special report known as a life care plan. This plan quantifies the current and continuing costs of care for an injured person. This report covers the different types of medical costs that will likely be required based on the severity of a person’s injury. It also calculates a person’s life expectancy to determine how many years the individual will likely need this level of care.
A life care planner is typically a person with a medical background, particularly in a field that is relevant to a person’s injury. They will interview the amputee and gather information about their lifestyle prior to the injury. The planner will then research the medical care that the person will likely need and estimate the costs associated with that care. The report will also take factors such as inflation into account.
A life care plan is one part of the equation when it comes to figuring out damages in a personal injury lawsuit related to an amputation. Your attorney will also analyze your lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses to come up with a claim for compensation. Our law firm is adept at putting together well-supported claims for damages to help our clients get the money that they deserve for their injuries.
Hurt in an Accident? Give Our Law Offices a Call.
An amputation injury can change your life forever. Any settlement for an injury of this magnitude has to include money both for your immediate medical care as well as the care that you will need for the rest of your life. It should also include enough money to pay for your prosthetics over time.
At Johnstone & Gabhart, we are fierce advocates for clients who have suffered severe injuries, including amputations, in all types of accidents. We fight hard to get our clients maximum compensation for their injuries. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation with a West Virginia amputation injury attorney, give us a call at 866-808-2016 or fill out our online contact form.
