Traumatic amputation or limb loss resulting from a tragic accident is a life-altering event that can have profound physical, emotional, and psychological consequences for victims and their families. Victims of car accidents and electrocutions are two common examples of people who have dealt with amputated legs, arms, or fingers. No matter what type of accident caused the loss, the severity of an amputation can have a significant impact on the victim’s future. If the accident resulted from another party’s negligence, a Virginia Beach personal injury attorney can represent the victim in pursuing damages for both the economic and noneconomic challenges the victim may face.
The Challenges Amputation Victims Face
Amputations can be either traumatic or surgical. A traumatic amputation may have to take place after a serious accident, such as a motorcycle crash or an injury while using machinery or tools. A surgical amputation happens once it is discovered that an injured body part cannot be remedied and so must be removed.
There is a possibility that certain amputations may result in many complications, which ultimately may result in death. Cutting a body part off massively affects other parts of the body. An individual’s blood circulation can be impacted, causing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or heart attacks. Uncontrollable, chronic pain is a side effect that many victims endure. Victims can still experience nerve pain long after their limb has been removed, referred to as “phantom pain.”
Adjusting to life after a limb loss can be difficult, and victims are often left with the following challenges:
- Physical challenges: The immediate physical challenges associated with limb loss are significant. Once routine tasks become daunting, individuals may face hurdles in relearning how to perform daily activities.
- Emotional and psychological impact: Limb loss often triggers a range of complex emotions, including grief, anger, and frustration. Individuals may grapple with a sense of loss, mourning the life they had before the accident. Coping with altered self-perception and body image can be an arduous emotional journey, necessitating support from mental health professionals.
- Challenges in daily living: Amputation of a limb can present challenges in various aspects of daily living, from personal care to navigating the physical environment. Simple tasks like dressing, preparing meals, or commuting to work may require adaptation and innovation.
- Adapting to prosthetics: Prosthetic technology has advanced significantly, allowing individuals to regain functionality and mobility. However, adapting to prosthetics involves a learning curve.
- Rehabilitation and therapy: Comprehensive rehabilitation programs are integral to helping individuals cope with limb loss. Physical therapy improves strength, flexibility, and mobility, while occupational therapy addresses daily living skills. Psychological support through counseling or support groups helps individuals navigate the emotional aspects of their journey.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a limb loss or other catastrophic injury as a result of another party’s negligent or reckless actions, the most important question that you want answered is how our law firm stands apart from many other personal injury law firms. It comes down to having experience in having handled previous amputation cases involving the amputation of a finger, a thumb, or a portion of a leg.
Besides the physical trauma, the psychological trauma of losing a body part is something that weighs heavily on an injured victim and will likely affect them for the rest of their lives. It is incumbent upon an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney to locate appropriate expert witnesses who can advocate and articulate for the amputation victim. Many times it requires us to retain a top professional, whether that be a vocational or rehabilitation expert. At times, it might involve obtaining a special evaluation by a psychiatrist, and in some cases involving these types of injuries, an economics professor must evaluate the lost earnings and lost wages. This amount can be tremendous because many types of jobs are just not available to a person who has suffered amputation.
If you want an experienced amputation personal injury lawyer on your side, contact a Virginia Beach personal injury lawyer from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp. Our firm has aggressively advocated for victims and their families for more than three decades and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve, like the $1 million personal injury settlement we obtained for one client whose leg was crushed by a forklift driver. Or for the $750,000 settlement we obtained for a man who lost a thumb due to a faulty jack-type device he was using in an industrial setting.
It is critical to remember that Virginia has placed a statute of limitation on how long victims have to file a claim for damages against those responsible for their injuries, so do not delay. Failure to file before that legal deadline could mean you lose any chance of ever filing your claim or getting financial justice against the party responsible for your or your loved one’s injuries.
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Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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