Amputation Injury
Have you suffered a traumatic amputation injury after an accident? An amputation injury is life-changing and may prevent you from working and enjoying your hobbies.
If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, or occurred on the job, you may be entitled to compensation.
McGuire Law Firm represents accident victims in seeking full compensation for catastrophic injuries like amputation.
Contact our law office at (405) 513-5658 to schedule a free consultation with an Oklahoma City amputation injury lawyer who can help you.
How McGuire Law Firm Can Help with Your Amputation Injury Case
An amputation injury will forever change your life. You must undergo invasive medical care, painful recovery, and potential complications while unable to work. While facing an uncertain future and relearning how to do everything, the last thing you should be worried about is fighting an insurance company.
Sadly, many accident victims find themselves doing just that. The insurance company will use their lawyers and claims adjusters to fight your claim at every step.
Even when the policyholder is clearly at fault, they may try to minimize the extent of your damages or blame you. McGuire Law Firm is here to fight for you.
Our Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers are committed to helping injury victims recover as fully as possible. You will work directly with founding attorney Kent R. McGuire who has 30 years of legal experience including 13 years spent representing insurance companies.
When you choose McGuire Law Firm, you can count on us to:
- Listen to your story, answer your questions, and guide you through the legal process
- Handle all communications with the insurance company and defendant’s lawyer
- Offer experienced legal advice at every step
- Handle all administrative details of your case
- Investigate the events that led to your injury
- Review your case details to assess your total damages
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a settlement
- Represent you in court and present your case before a jury if needed
Our small law firm delivers big results. Contact our law office today to schedule a free case review with an Oklahoma City amputation injury lawyer you can count on.
Oklahoma Amputation Statistics
Amputation injuries are more common than many people believe. About 185,000 amputations are performed in the U.S. every year. There are currently over 2 million Americans who are living with the loss of a limb.
While nearly 54% of amputations in the 1980s and 90s were caused by vascular disease, including peripheral artery disease and diabetes, 45% were the result of traumatic amputation. Now, about 82% of amputations are the result of vascular disease.
Of the amputations caused by trauma, about 70% involve the upper limbs. 75% of upper body amputations are the result of trauma. Vascular disease, by comparison, usually affects the feet and legs. The most common traumatic amputations are the fingers followed by the arm.
Of the 185,000 annual amputations performed each year, 30,000 are traumatic amputations. Nearly one-quarter of Americans dealing with the loss of a limb suffered some type of traumatic amputation injury.
The Life-Changing Consequences of an Amputation Injury
Amputation is considered a catastrophic injury because it leaves permanent and lasting effects. After an amputation, you may struggle with chronic pain and being forced to relearn how to do basic tasks. It may be difficult or even impossible to work and even enjoy the hobbies you love. The recovery process is also long, painful, and difficult.
An amputation isn’t the end of the trauma and consequences you may experience from your injury.
Many amputation victims are at risk of:
- Lost mobility and dexterity
- Increased risk of infection
- Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Painful muscle contractions
- Chronic fatigue
- Mental anguish
- Social isolation
- Difficulty or inability to work
A common side effect of an amputation is a complication known as phantom limb syndrome. This disorder creates feelings of sensation in the lost limb as if it were still attached. It is a result of the brain receiving signals from nerves that once felt the lost limb.
Phantom limb syndrome can be extremely painful and long-lasting. It’s estimated that at least 80% of amputation patients experience some amount of phantom sensations.
According to one study, the average amputation victim faces a total lifetime cost of $509,275. However, most of these costs are long-term and occur after the first two years of suffering the injury. This is why it is important to carefully assess the damages you have suffered and negotiate a fair settlement offer. Your Oklahoma City amputation injury attorney will help you fight for a fair offer rather than accepting the initial offer you receive.
Common Causes of Amputation Injuries in Oklahoma City
An amputation injury can have many causes. Sometimes these injuries occur on the job, or they may occur in an accident such as a traffic accident. They can even be the result of a surgical error or medical malpractice. The following are the most common causes of amputation injuries our Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers see:
- Traffic accidents such as car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents are one of the top causes of traumatic amputation. Some accidents are serious enough that a limb is amputated in the crash, but accidents usually cause damage that is so severe that reconstruction cannot be performed. In these cases, surgical amputation is required.
- Workplace accidents are also a leading cause of amputation, particularly in factories, construction sites, and other dangerous workplaces. According to OSHA, most amputations occur when workers are using unguarded machinery, power tools, or mechanical equipment. Workplace amputations may be caused by any mechanical movement that involves reciprocating, cutting, punching, shearing, bending, or rotating.
- Agricultural accidents such as lawnmower accidents
- Accidents that involve explosives, fireworks, or firearms
- Electrocution accidents may lead to amputation due to damage to a limb
- Medical malpractice caused by a surgical mistake, failure to treat, or failure to diagnose which allows a health condition like vascular disease to worsen
If you have suffered an amputation injury and you believe someone else’s negligence was to blame, contact McGuire Law Firm to schedule a free consultation with an amputation injury lawyer in Oklahoma City who can help.
Damages Available in an Oklahoma City Amputation Injury Case
Amputation injuries are among the most serious and traumatic injuries. Along with immediate medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, you will certainly face long-term costs associated with your injury.
The damages you suffer are divided into two broad categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include all the verifiable damages with a clear economic cost. This includes:
- Hospital bills
- Surgery
- Prescription medications
- Prosthetics and medical devices
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Home modifications
- Lost wages
- Disability or reduced earning capacity
An amputation injury also results in non-economic damages. These are damages that have no clear financial value but may have a higher value than your economic costs.
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish like PTSD and depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Insurance companies often put up the most fight against non-economic damages. This is particularly true with catastrophic injuries like amputation which result in high-value claims. At McGuire Law Firm, we will not rest in our pursuit of the full compensation you are entitled to.
Statute of Limitations to File an Amputation Injury Lawsuit in Oklahoma City
After your accident, you have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation from the at-fault party. The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Oklahoma is two years. If you miss this deadline, you will lose your legal right to recover compensation.
If your accident occurred on the job, you must report your injury to your employer within 30 days to recover workers’ compensation benefits. However, you have up to two years to file the actual claim for workers’ comp.
Do not make the mistake of assuming you can delay pursuing your claim. Two years may be a long time, but delays make it difficult to investigate your accident, gather evidence that proves liability, and even demonstrate the extent of your injuries. Contact McGuire Law Firm as soon as possible to consult with a compassionate Oklahoma City amputation personal injury lawyer to protect your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Oklahoma City Amputation Injury Lawyer
You should not be forced to accept the financial burden of your injury when another person’s negligence was to blame. While the insurance company will not be on your side, the caring Oklahoma City amputation injury lawyers at McGuire Law Firm are here to fight for you.
Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer who can help you. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing out of pocket and no attorney’s fees unless we recover for you.
