Loss Of Limb: What Should You Know About Your Leg Amputation Case?
If you suffered a leg amputation during a severe car accident, you may expect the other driver's insurance company to offer a good settlement for your injuries. But if the insurer doesn't think that your injuries are severe enough to warrant a high settlement, even though you lost a limb, don't accept the offer and contact a personal injury attorney for help. Your injuries may be considered catastrophic in nature. Catastrophic accident injuries like amputations have the potential to cause lifelong pain and suffering. Here's more information about amputations and what you can do to win a fair settlement.
What Are Amputations?
Unlike the surgical amputations performed by doctors, traumatic amputations, such as avulsion amputations, occur without any warning. The injuries can cause massive tissue damage to the bones and muscles associated with the limb, as well as nerve damage and uncontrolled bleeding. The injuries are typically permanent and may require long-term care and treatment to manage. However, the other driver's insurance company may not want to agree to a settlement that reflects the extent of your injury.
The insurer may argue that your amputated leg doesn't affect your ability to work in an office setting or in a place that doesn't require standing or walking. If this doesn't work, the company may have its adjuster tell you that if you don't accept the offer, you may not get another offer later. If you take the lower amount, you may not have the coverage you need for future care, such as physical therapy and pain management treatments.
To avoid the complications above and receive a settlement you deserve, you must secure medical evidence of your injury.
What Can You Do to Prove Your Case?
One of the things can do is hire a personal injury attorney to help you obtain additional medical evidence about your amputation, including documentation for any new health problems you experience because of injury. For example, if you now have permanent nerve damage in the amputated limb, then it's important that you document it. An attorney can also help obtain medical evidence that shows how your amputation will affect you in the future.
For instance, it's possible for you to develop a condition called "phantom pain" in the future. Some amputees experience false sensations of pain and other feelings in their lost limbs after the wounds heal. Phantom pain and sensations can trigger a host of emotional and physical problems that can affect your life, including depression, anger and confusion. These types of problems may require therapy and other services to help you through them.
If you have concerns about your case or would like to learn more about it, contact an office such as Hornthal Riley Ellis & Maland LLP.