Losing a limb is a traumatic, emotional experience. It also comes with questions. Who is legally liable for my injuries? How do I get their insurance to pay my medical bills? Will it pay for prosthetics? You don’t have to face these difficult questions alone.
Let us put you in touch with a lawyer for free. We’ll give you a FREE phone consultation to get you the answers you need—and help you take the first crucial steps. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
How is a loss of limb different than other types of accidents?
Unlike many injuries that will heal up over time, a loss of limb is permanent. Losing all or part of a hand, foot, arm or leg can prevent you from walking, doing your job, performing ordinary day to day tasks, and doing the things you used to do for fun. Loss of limb patients may have severe pain or other sensations in the severed limb. Many develop depression, lose their self-esteem or become frustrated in trying to deal with the effects of the injury.
Loss of limb injuries usually also require care over a long period of time. Physical and occupational therapy are needed to train you to function and work without a crucial limb. You may need assistive devices to help you. Prosthetics help many people who have lost limbs, but they wear out and must be replaced every few years. Thus, anyone who has lost a limb must expect ongoing costs long into the future.
Who is “at fault” in a loss of limb case?
In car accident cases, fault is usually decided based on whether a driver was careless, or “negligent.” Drivers have a legal duty to follow the law and be reasonably careful behind the wheel. When a driver violates this duty by following too closely, speeding, texting, or otherwise not following safe driving rules, the driver is negligent and their insurance company must pay for the consequences.
When a loss of limb accident happens on the job, the rules are a little different. Most workplace accidents are covered by the workers compensation system. Your employer’s workers compensation insurance is responsible for paying for all workplace injuries, even if they’re not directly related to your job duties. One of the key features of workers compensation is that it doesn’t matter who is at fault. If your injury happened at work, you should be covered.
What kinds of injuries are covered in loss of limb claims?
Nearly any injury that can result in a loss of use of all or part of an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger or toe is considered a loss of limb claim. This includes:
- An injury that permanently cuts off all or part of a limb
- An injury where a limb can be reattached, but is not fully functional
- An injury resulting in paralysis or loss of sensation in a limb
- An amputation resulting from infection or other complications from an accident
What all of these injuries have in common is that they require immediate emergency attention and may require multiple treatments over time—with permanent effects. This is why these injuries deserve large insurance settlements that take care of you long-term.
How much money can I recover in a loss of limb claim?
The exact amount of money you can receive will depend on the injury, the way it affects your daily life now, and your prospects for the future. Many people who have lost limbs can recover money to pay for:
- Past and future medical costs, including doctors, tests and hospitalization
- Prescriptions
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Prosthetics and assistive devices such as wheelchairs
- Mental health treatment to cope with the psychological effects of your injury
- Lost wages, if you have missed time from work because of your injury
A loss of limb is a serious, life-altering injury, and many victims receive additional large financial awards. These awards include damages for pain and suffering or a long-term disability. Money can’t bring back what you have lost, but it can get you the treatment and rehabilitation you need to move on with your life after a terrible accident.
How can a lawyer help if I already have an offer from the insurance company?
You may think that the insurance company is being helpful by offering you money right away, but nothing could be further from the truth. The insurance company wants to settle your claim quickly and cheaply so it can keep its profits high. If you take the insurance company offer, you will not be able to get anything else—even if your costs turn out to be much higher than you expected.
We’ve talked to many people who regret taking the insurance money because they did not realize how much their injury was really going to cost. Prosthetics alone can run as much as $50,000, and they must be replaced every few years. Pain management, ongoing rehabilitative therapy and the challenges of returning to work only increase the cost of losing a limb. This is why we recommend that you NEVER take insurance money without talking to a lawyer first.
Atlanta car accident law firms understand the games insurance companies play. A lawyer can refer you to medical experts who can get a full picture of your injuries and the treatment you will need—both now and in the future. A good lawyer can use this evidence plus cost estimates to drive a hard bargain with the insurance company, helping you get a financial recovery that will truly take care of you in the years to come.
Talk to an Atlanta Loss of Limbs Accident Lawyer for Free
Our law firm has built its reputation on helping injured people recover the money they deserve. We don’t charge you a dime unless we can win money for you. Let us give you a FREE consultation to help you understand whether you have a claim and decide what to do. There’s no obligation. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
