Losing a limb is, unfortunately, a common occurrence in the United States.
It is estimated that one out of every 200 individuals in the United States has had an amputation of some form. Some are planned medical procedures and some are the result of an accident.
These amputation facts and statistics may help you realize that you are not alone in your loss:
- There are nearly 2 million people living with limb loss in the United States
- Approximately 185,000 amputations occur in the United States each year
- 1,558 military personnel lost a limb as a result of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
- Around 30% of people with limb loss experience depression and/or anxiety
- There are more than 1 million annual limb amputations globally: one every 30 seconds
Arming yourself with facts about your situation can help you gain perspective and realize you can handle this. Our experienced Houston amputation injury lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will work with you to get through this difficult time by holding the responsible parties accountable for their negligence.
Contact our law office in Houston, or call us at (713) 500-5000 to get started today.
Types of Amputation Injuries
A traumatic amputation means you lost a limb as the result of an unexpected accident. It was not planned as some surgical amputations may be. That makes your amputation injury an especially devastating loss that you were not prepared to handle. It is a terrifying experience and will have an impact on every area of your life.
Amputation injuries are often categorized based on the location of limb loss. They are generally broken into upper limb and lower limb injuries.
Upper-limb Amputation
Upper-limb amputations often take the following forms:
- Shoulder disarticulation: Removal of the entire arm at shoulder level
- Forequarter amputation: Removal of an entire arm at the shoulder. However, it also includes the removal of the shoulder itself, as well as part of the shoulder blade and the collarbone
- Trans-humeral amputation (above the elbow): amputations of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow
- Elbow disarticulation: amputation through the elbow joint itself
- Transradial amputation (below the elbow): through the forearm between the elbow and hand
- Wrist disarticulation: amputations through the wrist joint
- Metacarpal amputation: amputation of the hand where the wrist is left intact
- Digit amputation: amputation or partial amputation of one (or more) of the fingers or the thumb
Based on the nature of your injury, loss of upper-limb use could mean not being able to perform basic functions. Cooking, brushing your teeth, showering, dressing, and other daily tasks may now be significantly difficult.
Lower-limb Amputation
Lower-limb amputations often take the following forms:
- Pelvic or transpelvic amputation: a rare form of lower-extremity amputation, involving the removal of up to half of the pelvis and the entire leg on that side
- Hip disarticulation: the entire leg through the hip joint capsule
- Transfemoral amputation (above the knee): occurs between the hip and the knee
- Knee disarticulation: amputations through the knee joint itself
- Transtibial amputation (below the knee): occurs between the knee and the foot
- Ankle disarticulation: through the ankle joint, removing the foot
- Partial foot amputation: part of the foot is removed
- Digit amputation: amputation or partial amputation of one or more toes
Not having full mobility and use of your lower limbs can have a dramatic effect on your quality of life. You and your family should not have to face this burden on your own.
For a legal consultation call (713) 500-5000
Common Causes of Amputation Injuries
Traumatic amputations are typically caused by accidents and may involve the negligence of another. Examples of events that can cause an amputation injury include:
- Car Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Bicycle Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Construction Site Accidents
- Industrial Plant Explosion Accidents
- Workplace Accidents
As leaders in personal injury law, the experienced lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers know how to investigate your accident so we are fully equipped with all information to aggressively fight on your behalf. Contact us for help with your amputation injury case today.
What Compensation is Available If I’ve Suffered an Amputation Injury?
When you suffer an amputation, the resulting costs can be overwhelming. We will do everything we can to ensure you are compensated and do not have to foot the bill alone.
While the amount of compensation will depend on the specifics of your case, we will pursue all possible avenues available.
There are two kinds of monetary awards: economic and non-economic. Economic compensation is to cover the financial costs associated with your amputation injury:
- Present and future medical care
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Forfeited income and future lost wages
- Prosthetic limbs and other disability equipment
- Services hired to care for your home
- Property damage
- Lost job opportunities
- Everyday expenses
Non-economic compensation is for financial costs related to intimate and personal injuries that are not easy to quantify:
- Scarring
- Loss of extremities
- Deformity
- Inability to use one or more senses
- Limited or complete loss of mobility
- Depression or diminished mental state
- Shame or humiliation
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium and companionship
Please note that Texas has adopted modified comparative negligence rules. This means that if you are responsible for more than 50% of the blame, you will be barred from recovering compensation. Our team will work with you to understand the circumstances of your injury and possible apportionment of negligence.
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers we care about your case and treat you like family. Call us for a free consultation with our empathetic team of amputation injury attorneys.
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Statute of Limitations for Texas Amputation Injury Cases
The statute of limitations is the period of time you have to bring a claim against the negligent parties responsible for your injury. The statute of limitations for amputation injury cases in Texas is two years, so call our office and let us set your mind at ease.
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Contact Our Houston Personal Injury Lawyers Now
Were you recently involved in an accident in Houston and, as a result, suffered an amputation? If someone else is responsible, you should be compensated for your devastating loss.
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Brian White is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, something less than 3% of attorneys in Texas can say. Our law firm benefits from more than 45 years of collective litigation experience. We have the experience, depth of knowledge, and resources you need to win compensation for your amputation injury.
Let our experienced Houston personal injury lawyers take on insurance companies and negligent parties on your behalf. We’ll fight to get you all of the money you deserve.
Contact our Houston, TX law office to arrange a free consultation today to learn more.
Call or Text (713) 500-5000 or Complete a Case Evaluation Form