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HOUSTON AMPUTATION LAWYER

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Houston Amputation Lawyers

houston amputation lawyer

One cannot fathom the magnitude of trauma that comes from losing a limb unless they have actually suffered through it themselves. Not only is the pain unimaginable, but the idea of getting accustomed to life without such an integral part of the body is, too. The traumatic amputation of a leg or an arm can reap negative effects for the rest of one’s life. If you’ve suffered an accidental amputation, contact a Houston amputation lawyer with Reich & Binstock.

Consider the hours of physical therapy required, the accommodations that must be made, the cost of prosthetics, and the loss of earning capacity or work efficiency for victims. Not to mention the time and assistance it will take to readjust to this new lifestyle. Even with a secure insurance policy in place for such an accident, amputating a limb can cost victims tens of thousands of dollars.

With all things considered, accidental amputations can end up leaving victims in a deep financial rut. This is when an amputation lawyer becomes a serious asset. If you find yourself in the position of an accidental amputation due to someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced Houston amputation attorney at Reich & Binstock today. Call our office at 713-622-7271 today or submit an online intake form to schedule your free consultation.

What Is an Amputation Attorney?

Those who have suffered amputation injuries due to someone else’s negligence may be eligible for financial compensation. An amputation injury attorney is one who represents victims of amputation injuries in their personal injury cases.

An amputation injury lawyer will have experience filing amputation injury claims. They will work with victims to investigate their claims, gather evidence to support them, and argue their cases in court if necessary. When filing an amputation injury claim, having skilled legal counsel is essential.

What Are Common Types of Amputations?

There are several different types of amputation injuries. Traumatic amputations, avulsion amputations, and crush amputations are some common examples. The terms used to describe these types highlight either the severity of the amputation or the method by which it occurred.

  • Partial Amputation: When a partial amputation occurs, some of the structures and soft tissue remain attached. It may or may not be possible to reattach the partially severed body part.
  • Complete Amputation: A complete amputation is a complete detachment of the limb from the rest of the body. No soft tissues or other structures remain attached.
  • Sharp Amputation: A sharp amputation occurs when the amputation results in a clean cut. The edges of the injury are clear and well-defined. This can increase the chances of a successful reattachment.
  • Crush Amputation: A crush amputation occurs when heavy objects slam into or land on a limb, crushing it in the process. Generally, limbs amputated by crushing are difficult to reattach.
  • Avulsion Amputation: An avulsion amputation occurs when the limb is overstretched and torn from the rest of the body. As with crush amputations, these limbs are often difficult to attach.

What Are Common Causes of Amputations in Houston?

Our amputation injury attorneys have seen these injuries occur in a number of ways. Some examples of common causes of amputations include car accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, construction accidents, industrial accidents, and oil and gas worker accidents.

According to data from the Amputee Coalition, there are currently over 2 million people living with lost limbs in the United States. Approximately 45% of these injuries occur as a result of trauma, such as that experienced in a car accident or truck accident.

A patient can suffer an amputation from medical malpractice if the doctor does not uphold the appropriate standard of care. Examples of negligent actions that could lead to an amputation injury claim include misdiagnosis, wrong limb amputation, and product defects.

An amputation injury can also occur due to defective products. If heavy equipment, vehicles, power tools, or other equipment malfunctions, this could lead to an amputation injury. Victims should contact our amputation injury lawyers as soon as possible to seek compensation.

It’s no surprise that construction zones are dangerous places to work. However, this does not mean that serious amputation injuries are bound to happen. Many of these accidents are the result of negligence, meaning they could have been prevented. Injured construction workers should contact a construction accident lawyer promptly about their amputation injury case.

How Much Is an Amputation Worth?

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The out-of-pocket cost for amputation medical treatment without health insurance generally ranges somewhere between $20,000 to $60,000. The extremity being amputated, as well as the surgeon’s fee and the specific location, all factor into the total amount.

Facility fees, anesthesia costs, and medical supplies also play a part. However, this estimate does not include aftercare expenses, such as prosthetics and physical therapy, which can add tens of thousands of dollars to the total cost.

For those with health insurance, their provider generally covers most of the cost of an amputation. However, patients may still need to contribute a copay, which can be about ten or twenty percent of the total cost.

Can You Sue for Amputations?

Losing limbs through accidental amputations not only impacts people physically; it also has a dramatic impact on their mental and emotional well-being. These are all things that must be considered when assessing how much an amputee may receive in compensation. Amputations are also a form of incapacitating injury, which means that they will impair victims after they have fully healed.

Compensation for an amputation claim should be enough to cover every expense and loss the victim experienced due to their injury.

Economic Damages for Accidental Amputation

The amount should cover the entirety of economic costs, such as:

  • Medical bills and expenses
  • Emergency care, surgery, ongoing treatment
  • Physical therapy
  • Prosthetics
  • Medication
  • Medical supplies and assistive devices
  • Wheelchairs, crutches, etc.
  • Lost income
  • Loss of future earnings and working capacity
  • Assisted care expenses

Non-Economic Damages for Accidental Amputation

In addition, the compensation an amputee receives should also cover all noneconomic costs.

These include but may not be limited to:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Physical impairment
  • Disability or disfigurement

With all of these expenses and losses in mind, a leg amputation case can sometimes exceed over $1,000,000 in compensation. Of course, each case depends on the specific details surrounding the accident and the skill of your Houston personal injury attorney.

Does Losing Your Limb Shorten Your Life?

Several adverse effects come along with the amputation of an extremity.

The adverse effects associated with an accidental amputation include but aren’t limited to:

  • Loss of mobility
  • Phantom limb pain
  • Muscle contractures
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Risk of infection
  • Fatigue or exhaustion
  • Body image issues
  • Mental health issues
  • Fatigue and exhaustion
  • Overexertion of other extremities
  • Social isolation

While the loss of the limb itself might not shorten your lifespan directly, some of the side effects of an amputated limb (especially for a major lower extremity amputation) might negatively impact a person’s life expectancy.

The altered cardiorespiratory function that a person experiences following a major limb loss can also contribute to increased mortality. This is especially so for older and/or inactive patients.

To maintain or improve the life expectancy before limb amputation, patients should do their best to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.

What Can I Claim as an Amputee?

Aside from legal compensation for their catastrophic injury, amputees may also be eligible for certain benefits, like disability benefits. For someone to obtain Social Security disability benefits in a general sense, they must be considered totally and permanently disabled and prove that their disability prevents them from working or living independently.

This means the individual possesses a serious medical disorder that prevents them from performing everyday tasks such as working, bathing, cooking, dressing, or cleaning. The disability or disorder must be expected to last over a year or inevitably end in death for the individual.

Amputations, of course, last much longer than a year. The permanency of the injury is not an issue. It is the severity of the injury that determines whether the person qualifies for these benefits.

According to the Social Security Blue Book, amputees can qualify for disability benefits if they meet any of these criteria:

  • Amputation of both hands
  • One or both lower extremities amputated at or above the ankle with complications that prevent the use of prosthetics
  • One hand and one lower extremity at or above the ankle, with an inability to walk or move effectively
  • Hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation

If you meet any of the above criteria, you may be eligible to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Victims of traumatic amputation injuries may also qualify for benefits under the National Limb Loss Resource Center. The Center offers programs, services, and publications intended to improve patient care, raise awareness and understanding about limb loss, and enhance the patient’s overall quality of life.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Amputation Claims in Texas?

Under personal injury law, amputation injury victims have two years from the date of their injury to file personal injury claims against the negligent parties. Because you only have a limited time to file, it is in your best interest to contact our amputation injury lawyers. We will ensure that you file your claim on time, as well as guide you through every step of the claims process.

Why Do You Need a Houston Amputation Lawyer?

houston amputation attorneys

You’re entitled to compensation as well as medical care and treatment that is required after any catastrophic injury. This is especially true for victims of accidental and traumatic amputations. Unfortunately, insurance companies are often more interested in protecting their profits than compensating amputees with hefty settlements.

In addition, entities and corporations whose negligent actions resulted in a person’s amputation will not hesitate to protect the interests of shareholders at the expense of hard-working employees or people whom their products have injured. This is why it is so important that a person who has experienced a traumatic accident such as this has a legal representative on their side. Your amputation lawyer will fight back against the entities who will no doubt attempt to pay you significantly less than you deserve.

Experienced Houston Amputation Lawyers

The attorneys at Reich & Binstock have the resources and knowledge to help their clients acquire the compensation they deserve for their catastrophic injury in Houston. The recovery of compensation for the traumatic amputation of a leg, arm, foot, or hand certainly cannot eliminate the physical and emotional pain this injury has caused. However, it can assist the victim and their family in their journey to recovery and potentially make navigating this new lifestyle a little bit easier for them.

If you experienced a traumatic accidental amputation, contact the Houston amputation attorneys at Reich & Binstock as soon as possible. Please call us at 713-622-7271 or schedule your free consultation online.

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