An amputation is a highly traumatic event that can profoundly affect you physically and psychologically. The cost of essential medical care and equipment can also be burdensome, exacerbating the toll an amputation has on your life. If your amputation is the result of an accident caused by a negligent party, then you may have the right to hire an amputation lawyer in Salt Lake City and recover your losses.
Siegfried & Jensen understands the devastating loss of losing one of your limbs and the ongoing challenges it can present. With over 35 years of experience behind us, our firm can provide compassionate, knowledgeable support as we help you secure compensation to ease your financial losses. A Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer can handle your case so you can focus on your recovery.
Amputations and What Causes Them
What many people may not realize is that there is a difference between a loss of limb and an amputation. The former refers to the sudden severance of a limb from the body due to trauma, while the latter refers to the surgical removal of a limb from the body. The need for an amputation can arise from serious accidents or illnesses that damage the limb, tissues, or nerves beyond repair.
Common reasons why an individual may need to have a limb amputated are severe accidents, such as crushing or being caught in/between accidents. Individuals may also sustain injuries that severely damage tissues, nerves, or blood flow, preventing the use of a limb. When these types of injuries occur, the limb must be removed to prevent damage to the uninjured part.
Types of accidents that may lead to an amputation may include work injuries, vehicle accidents, electrical accidents, animal bites, defective products, medical errors, infections, and more. Fingers, arms, legs, and toes can be amputated if they are affected by a severe injury. An accident and an amputation often have long-term implications, and individuals generally face many challenges on the road ahead.
For a free legal consultation with an amputation lawyer serving Salt Lake City, call (801) 266-0999
Ongoing Challenges After an Amputation in Salt Lake City
Individuals who have undergone an amputation can face challenges and complications during recovery and long after the amputated site has healed. For example, sensory and balance issues are common challenges a person may face as the body adjusts to the loss of a limb, and they have to learn to compensate. Sensory issues can cause considerable pain, and balance issues can increase the risk of falls.
There’s also a significant risk of dangerous infections during the recovery process, making it essential to keep the wound clean, properly cared for, and bandaged. Doctors will also watch for abnormal swelling and inflammation, as well as fluid buildup during recovery, to ensure your limb heals. The amputated area must also heal fully before prosthetics may be used.
The psychological trauma of an amputation can also cause many ongoing mental health challenges for amputees as they adjust to the loss of a body part. Time, support, and therapy can help individuals process and heal from the trauma. Legal challenges can also arise when seeking damages, which answers the question of why you need a lawyer if you’re not at fault for an accident. They can fight for you.
Salt Lake City Amputation Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
How Liability and Claim Types Affect Your Case
If you had an amputation because of another party’s negligence, an amputation attorney in Salt Lake City can help you determine who’s at fault, which may be easier in some cases than others. Siegfried & Jensen gather evidence to show who was involved, what factors caused the accident, and the scope of your injuries. However, the need to establish fault will depend on what type of claim you’re filing.
For example, if your limb was amputated because of a vehicle accident, you will initially file a claim under your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. If the accident was a workplace injury, then you would most likely file a claim under workers’ compensation. For other types of accidents, third-party claims, or when PIP isn’t enough to cover your losses, you may be able to file a lawsuit.
Under PIP insurance and workers’ compensation claims, negligence doesn’t have to be established in a case in order to receive compensation. However, for a lawsuit, you have to show that another party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty through their actions, caused the accident that led to your injuries and amputated limb, and therefore must pay for the damages that they caused.
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A Salt Lake City Amputation Lawyer Helps You Secure the Compensation You Need to Offset Losses
With the initial cost of surgery, follow-up treatments, lifelong costs, and other financial ramifications, the cost of an amputation can be staggering. By filing the appropriate type of claim, you can recover compensation to offset these and other losses. Some damages that can be recovered in a Utah personal injury claim for an amputation can include:
- Surgical costs
- Medical expenses
- Prosthetic costs
- Equipment and home/vehicle accommodations
- Lifetime medical costs
- Lost wages or earning potential
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
An amputation attorney in Salt Lake City can talk with your doctors to determine what kind of expenses you are facing so they can estimate the lifetime care costs of your condition. There are also multiple factors that go into determining the value of your settlement, so be sure to discuss your case with our team so you understand how much you may be able to recover.
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Seek Justice With the Help of Siegfried & Jensen
Siegfried & Jensen are here for you after an amputation resulting from negligence. When someone else’s actions have had such a catastrophic effect on your life, a Salt Lake City amputation attorney can fight for you and help you pursue the justice you deserve.
From start to finish, we are by your side, providing trusted counsel to help you achieve results. Reach out today to schedule a free case evaluation.
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