Can I Sue for an Amputation Caused by a Car Accident?

Car accident victims who lose a body part after a serious car accident often struggle to cope with the emotional and physical challenges that come with a life-changing injury. The loss of a limb involves a lengthy recovery period and ongoing medical treatment and care, along with physical therapy. If you endured an amputation caused by a Virginia car accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to collect compensation for your medical bills and other damages. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we have witnessed the impacts that amputations and other catastrophic injuries have on car accident victims. Contact our experienced Virginia Beach car accident lawyers to schedule a free evaluation of your potential injury claim. 

How Do Car Accidents Cause Amputations?

Almost any type of car accident can lead to an amputation. A violent collision between two vehicles can cause a limb to get trapped in the wreckage, crushing it, or in some cases, severing it completely. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, a severed limb might be reattached. Unfortunately, in many cases, the physical damage is often too extensive for a reattachment to be successful. Even if the damaged limb is still intact, it could be too damaged to ever be used.  

Those most in danger of losing a limb during an accident or requiring a post-accident amputation are motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Victims of specific kinds of accidents are also exposed to a greater risk of limb loss, such as:

• Underride accidents
• Side-impact accidents
• Head-on collisions
• Vehicle rollovers

Am I Eligible to Collect Damages For My Amputation?

If someone else’s negligence caused your car accident and subsequent amputation, you most likely have a valid case. However, as the injured victim, the task of proving negligence falls to you. Cases involving catastrophic injuries, like amputations, are often stressful and complicated. Having your case handled by a qualified personal injury attorney can be a major boon, especially while you are trying to recover from such a serious injury. Your lawyer can handle all of the paperwork, communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, and will have an intimate knowledge of what evidence will best support your case and how to find it. 

How Much is an Amputation Case Worth?

Every accident occurs under a unique set of circumstances, all of which work together to affect the total value of a case. To accurately determine your case’s value, speak with a knowledgeable Virginia Beach car accident lawyer. It is their job to ensure that your amputation claim is worth as much as possible by reviewing the facts of your case, providing strong supporting evidence of your damages, and helping you pursue a fair settlement or representing you in court. 

The Virginia personal injury attorneys at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp can address any concerns you may have and consider the circumstances of your accident to determine if you have a valid case. If so, you may be entitled to collect multiple forms of financial compensation, such as:

• Current and anticipated medical bills
• The cost of physical therapy and necessary prosthetics
• Surgical aftercare appointments and doctor appointments
• Pain and suffering, including physical pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression
• Lost earnings
• Decreased quality of life
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement

What Amputations Occur Most Frequently in Car Accidents?

The types of amputations most often associated with car accidents, either during the collision or made necessary due to severe injury, include:  

• Partial hand amputations, including part of a hand or one or more fingers
• Partial foot amputations, including part of a foot or one or more toes 
• Above-the-knee amputations 
• Ankle amputations, in which the entire foot is removed
• Below-the-knee amputations
• Shoulder amputations, in which the victim’s entire arm is removed

Can an Amputation Lead to Other Medical Complications?

Sadly, having a limb removed is usually just the start of a victim’s recovery process. Severely injured or crushed limbs must be surgically removed, as with any type of operation, some risks are inherent. Potential health risks and complications commonly associated with amputations are: 

• Secondary infections and hospital-acquired infections  
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Blood clots
• Pneumonia
• Stroke or heart attack
• Mental health issues, such as depression 

Many people who undergo amputations experience a phenomenon known as phantom limb pain. In these cases, despite it having been removed, patients can still feel pain in the missing or “phantom” limb. In fact, in some people, this pain is severe enough to be physically debilitating.  

Talk to a Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyer 

Pursuing full and fair financial compensation from the negligent driver is crucial for receiving the medical treatment you need and improving your post-amputation quality of life. For example, in one recent case, our attorneys secured a $450,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who had to have a leg amputated after he was struck by a careless driver.  

If you would like to schedule a free consultation with the Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, call us at (833) 997-1774 or fill out our easy contact form. Our offices are located in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Norfolk. 

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