For approximately 185,000 people each year, an amputation will result in the permanent loss of a limb. If you’ve suffered an amputation due to an accident, the Montana amputation injury attorneys of Kovacich Snipes Johnson, P.C. will fight every step of the way to see you get the justice you deserve. For over 30 years, we’ve helped clients in Great Falls and all throughout Montana through some of the worst injuries to get the care they deserve.
When Are Amputations Necessary?
The decision to amputate a limb or member of the body is a serious one not performed by medical personnel unless it is imperative for the patient’s health. In such cases, the removal is permanent, and the patient may experience difficulties relating to the amputation for the rest of his or her life.
Infection
One of the most common reasons to amputate a limb is to prevent infection from affecting the rest of the body. This may often be the case when the patient has sustained a significant injury. Car accidents, accidents at the workplace, and unexpected serious personal injuries may cause damage that medical treatment cannot repair. When infection sets in, the doctors may need to amputate the limb to avoid life-threatening infection from reaching major organs.
Diabetes
The effects of diabetes are another common cause of amputations. Diabetes patients may suffer from poor circulation. As the blood flow decreases to the affected part of the body, the cells cannot get the nutrients they need to survive. As a result, amputation may be necessary to prevent the rot from spreading.
What Are Some Common Causes of Amputations?
Frostbite stops the circulation in a limb and begins the process of rotting the tissue of the affected area. In some cases, a cancerous tumor may be growing in a limb requiring amputation to stop cancer’s growth. Crush injuries, common in industrial and construction settings, are also a common cause of amputation.
What Are The Different Types of Amputations?
Doctors segregate amputations by what part of the body part and how much of the limb they must amputate.
Examples of Types of Amputations Include:
- Partial foot amputations
- Amputation at the ankle
- Amputations below the knee
- Amputations above the knee up to the hip
- Amputation of fingers or parts of the hand
- Removal of the hand below the wrist
- Amputation below the elbow
- Amputation above the elbow up to the shoulder
In any amputation, the effects to the patient can be serious.
What Are the Long-Term Effects on Patients?
Amputation of any part of the foot can lead to difficulties with balance and walking. Removal of parts of the hand or arm can make performing basic chores difficult or impossible in some cases. Basic activities such as driving a car may require specialized equipment to perform what was an otherwise ordinary task.
In some cases, a poorly performed amputation can lead to infection or death.
Who Is Liable for My Pain and Suffering?
In such cases, determining who is liable in an amputation injury can be complex and requires a Montana amputation attorney by your side. Your personal injury lawyer will go over the evidence of the case, especially paying attention to the responsibility of all the parties involved to determine who is liable. Another driver, an employer, a manufacturer of a faulty product, or a negligent property owner may be liable for the serious personal injury that resulted in your amputation.
Understanding Damages in an Amputation Lawsuit
Damages from an amputation can be significant. The accident victim may seek compensation for medical expenses, specialized medical equipment such as prosthetics, the cost of modifications to a car or house, lost wages due to missed time at work, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Call Our Montana Amputation Lawyers For The Help You Require
Over the past 30 years, Kovacich Snipes Johnson, P.C. has built a reputation for taking on the most difficult and complex legal cases in Montana. The amputation attorneys of Kovacich Snipes Johnson, P.C. have also built a reputation for getting their clients the maximum compensation they deserve. Call Kovacich Snipes Johnson, P.C. today for a free strategy session.
