Few of us are ever prepared for the realities of suffering from a catastrophic injury. Whether it’s the loss of a limb, a required amputation, or some other form of significant injury, your entire life can be changed forever. If you are suffering from a catastrophic injury due to the negligent actions of another, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Here at our firm, Harris & Associates, P.C., L.L.O., we are dedicated to helping victims and their families pursue the justice they deserve. Regardless of the specific circumstances that led to your accident, you’ll want an experienced attorney in your corner who is committed to helping you seek the compensation you need and deserve. Our firm is proud to serve clients in Omaha, Nebraska, and the surrounding counties, including Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, and Lancaster County.
Amputation is one of the most common forms of catastrophic injury. There are a number of different circumstances that can require amputation, but some of the most common include:
Problems with blood circulation. These can be the result of atherosclerosis or diabetes.
Devastating injuries from traffic accidents, workplace accidents, and other incidents involving negligent behavior
Cancer
Birth defects
When it comes to injuries, 45% of amputations are the direct result of a traumatic injury. A body part can be cut or torn away. tissue destruction, infection, or disease can make it impossible to save the body part — especially if it endangers the victim’s life. When this is the case, a surgical amputation is often the only option. There can also be trauma that cuts off the circulation for too long, requiring amputation of the limb.
An amputation requires a complete shift in how your body operates. Living the rest of your life without a body part that you have spent years using can have far-reaching effects — not the least of which is the need to learn how to function without the limb. There are also possible complications with the amputation itself. Medically, these include an increased risk of infection and pain.
Other complications include things like phantom limb pain, a pain that is often felt in the area where an arm or leg existed before amputation. Although the limb is gone, the nerve endings at the amputation site continue to send pain signals to the brain that make the brain think the limb is still there.
In addition to the pain, rehabilitation for amputation is an ongoing process that can be extremely strenuous. If you need equipment or choose to get a prosthetic limb, the costs can add up quickly. The rehabilitation process can also take a toll on the patient’s mental health, as well. Many patients have to see a therapist to work through the trauma of the event. Of course, most victims are unable to work during their recovery, which can be an added financial strain as well.
If you are considering pursuing a personal injury claim for your case, it’s important to remember that Nebraska is a comparative negligence state. This means that Nevada will assign a percentage of fault to each party involved in an accident. If you are awarded any damages from your claim, those damages will be reduced by the percentage of fault that you are assigned for the accident.
For personal injury cases, Nebraska follows a contributory negligence rule. This essentially means that in order to successfully recover damages for your injuries, you must prove that any fault you had in the accident is less than the total fault of all of the other drivers that you wish to seek compensation from.
For example, let’s say you were involved in an accident with two other individuals, and the court finds that you were 10% at fault and each of the other individuals is found to be 45% at fault. If you suffered $100,000 in damages, you would only be eligible to collect $90,000 in damages.
There are compensatory damages that you can recover for things such as medical bills and lost wages. These are considered economic damages. You can also recover non-economic damages for things such as pain and suffering and punitive damages.
At the end of the day, suffering an amputation injury is truly a life-altering event. In a situation like that, you need an experienced legal team on your side as you pursue compensation for your injuries. Harris & Associates, P.C., L.L.O. has decades of experience helping injured victims and their families seek the justice they deserve. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury and live in Omaha, Nebraska, or the surrounding areas of Douglas County, Sarpy County, Dodge County, or Lancaster County, contact our firm today to request a free consultation.