Auto Accident-Related Lower Extremity Amputation: Tallying Your Damages

Traumatic injuries are the second leading cause of lower extremity amputations in the United States. Many of these injuries are the result of automobile accidents. A lower extremity amputation is a life-altering, emotional, financially devastating event and if you've lost a limb due to the negligence of another driver, you deserve compensation. How much compensation are you entitled to? Read on to find out.

Medical Expenses

When calculating your medical expenses for a lower extremity amputation, there's more to take into account than you may at first realize. Not only do you have the initial cost of the emergency care you received and the costs of your initial hospital stay, but you also have the cost of future amputation-related medical care, physical therapy expenses, cosmetic surgery to reduce scarring, and expenses related to the design and development of a prosthetic limb. 

Furthermore, prosthetic limbs can be worn out or can begin to fit poorly should your weight fluctuate, so this is an expense you may have to pay for several times throughout your lifetime.

According to the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the lifetime medical expenses associated with lower extremity amputations average $509,275.

Emotional Rehabilitation

It's difficult for anybody who hasn't gone through the experience to understand just how much emotional distress a lower extremity amputation can cause. Victims of amputation-resulting negligence often feel isolated, depressed, angry, and hopeless. Many of them, for the first time in their lives, have to rely on the help of another individual in order to carry out their daily routines.

As a result, counseling services and/or a support group is imperative to recovery. The amount of emotional rehabilitation needed varies by individual, but no matter how much you need, it should be added to your list of expenses that the negligent driver who caused your distress should compensate you for.

Loss Of Work

It may take a full year and a half before your amputation wound has completely healed. After it's healed, it's not uncommon to wait months to be fitted for a prosthetic limb. During this time, you can expect to be out of work.

Some individuals, even after their wound has completely healed, find that they can no longer perform the tasks associated with their previous job. In this situation, it's completely within reason, with the help of a company like Gibbs and Parnell,  to request that the party responsible for your injury pay for you to train for a new vocation.

Hedonic Damages

Many amputees report hedonic damages following the loss of their limb. Hedonic damages refer to an overall decreased enjoyment of life, often involving the victim's inability to carry on an intimate relationship with their spouse.

If you feel like you experience less joy in life or that you have relationships that have suffered as a result of your injury, you should request financial retribution for these hedonic damages from the person responsible for the accident that led to your amputation.

Property Damage

You may find yourself in such turmoil following an amputation-resulting automobile accident that you completely forget about the damages your vehicle has sustained. Usually, accidents that are serious enough to cause traumatic injuries result in both involved vehicles being completely totaled.

While the importance of your health and well-being certainly takes precedence over the state of your car, you'll want to make sure that you recover all damages bestowed upon you by the negligent driver. 

Whether they were driving under the influence, inattentive, sleepy, or just plain careless, if somebody's negligence caused you suffering, make sure you receive full financial compensation for what you're going through. Take notes about how your injury has impacted your life, keep a journal outlining your medical procedures, and contact an automobile accident attorney to ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your automobile accident-related lower extremity amputation.