Our experienced Greenville car accident lawyer at Bobby Jones Law explains how to file an amputation injury claim and maximize your compensation.

Understanding Car Accident Amputations

Traumatic amputation occurs when a sudden injury severs a body limb. A study in Healthcare found that car accidents are the leading cause of traumatic amputations (58% of all traumatic amputations). Amputation occurs when trauma severs soft tissue and bone.

Car accident amputations:

May be complete or partial
Can be a direct result of trauma or may be medically necessary because of trauma
Occur because the limb is severed or crushed
Are a medical emergency because of bleeding risk and the potential to reattach the limb
May occur with other physical injuries that are also life-threatening
· Maintaining an airway, controlling bleeding, and preventing shock are all important.

If someone has suffered a severed or crushed limb, call 911.

Source: MedlinePlus, Traumatic amputation.

What Types of Car Accident Amputations Qualify for a Personal Injury Claim in SC?

Here are some types of car accident amputations that may be the basis for compensation:

Toe
Foot
Leg above the knee
Leg below the knee
Arm above the elbow
Arm below the elbow
Hand, wrist
Finger

A car accident amputation may result from being cut by a sharp or penetrating object. Blunt trauma may crush a limb. Additionally, it may be necessary to remove a limb to prevent medical complications.

Traumatic Amputation vs. Surgical Amputation: How Each Affects Your Injury Claim

Here’s what to know about amputation injury claims in Greenville, SC:

Compensation. An amputation injury is a serious car accident injury and is worthy of appropriate compensation.
Documentation. Amputation injury claims require significant medical documentation. You must prove your right to compensation.
Claim value. To make your claim successful, you must thoroughly investigate future medical needs and pain and suffering compensation. It can be tricky to value an amputation injury claim. Claims are often undervalued.
Jurisdiction. Most Greenville, SC amputation injury claims will be filed in the Greenville, SC Circuit Court.

You may have a lawyer represent you for your amputation injury claim.

What Is the Full Lifetime Cost of a Car Accident Amputation in South Carolina?

The Amputee Coalition reports that people who have lost a limb have $148,075 higher lifetime medical costs than people who have not lost a limb.

Of course, the true cost of limb amputation isn’t measured by healthcare expenses alone. There are many ways that a car accident amputation can financially impact someone long-term:

Medical care. Including long-term care needs, such as therapy and prosthetics.
Rehabilitation. Physical and occupational therapy.
Health risks. Amputation may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and may lower life expectancy.
Lower income. Loss of immediate income and long-term career path.
Independence modification. Vehicle and home modifications.
Personal help. Increased need for personal help.

In addition to financial losses, amputation is physically, emotionally, and psychologically painful.

Disfigurement, Phantom Limb Pain, and Psychological Damages in SC Amputation Cases

In addition to economic losses, a car accident amputation claim should include non-economic losses. Examples of non-economic losses include:

Pain. The physical pain that a person experiences after losing a limb.
Phantom limb pain. Feeling sensations and pain where the limb no longer exists.
Emotional anguish. The grief and sorrow associated with what has happened.
Psychological damage. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental trauma.
Lifestyle limitations. Limitations to doing things they would have otherwise done.
Inconvenience. Difficulty with simple tasks, such as buttoning a shirt or preparing a meal; inconvenience is a compensable loss.

Because amputation is life-changing, a non-economic award for a car accident claim with amputation is often significant.

How Is Liability Established in a Car Accident Amputation Case in South Carolina?

Liability for a car accident amputation case in South Carolina is based on negligence, recklessness, or intentional injury. It’s a case-by-case determination to apportion liability based on who caused the accident.

Why Insurance Companies Undervalue Amputation Injury Claims And How To Fight Back

Here are three ways that insurance companies minimize amputation payments:

Undervaluing pain and suffering. The amount of pain that an amputee experiences isn’t always proportional to the amount of blood loss or to the size of the limb amputated. The insurance company may downplay your suffering. They hope that you don’t know better and will walk away with less than you deserve.

Ignoring prosthetic expenses. An amputation requires lifetime care. Prosthetic devices need updating. There may be technological advances that should be incorporated into care. Because these are future expenses, it’s up to the person to identify them for their amputation claim.

Discounting lifestyle impact. Amputation changes a person’s life. But these changes can be subtle, and it can be easy to forget this impact when calculating the value of an amputation claim.

You can fight back

You don’t have to accept an offer that’s too low. An experienced attorney can tell you what your claim is worth under South Carolina law. They can represent you to build the evidence. They can negotiate on your behalf. If necessary, they can take your claim to court.

How to File an Amputation Injury Claim After a Car Accident in Greenville, SC

An amputation injury claim after a car accident in Greenville, SC, officially starts with filing a summons and complaint in court. But there are important things to do first. You must report the car accident to the police and get an official accident report. You must seek timely medical attention. You must determine who is liable.

An experienced Greenville catastrophic injury attorney can represent you. Attorney Robert “Bobby” Jones devotes his entire legal practice to helping accident victims. He is an attorney offering full-service representation and contingency fees.

Talk to an attorney

To talk to an attorney about car accident amputation claims, call or message us at Bobby Jones Law now.

Car Accident Amputation in Greenville, SC: How to File an Amputation Injury Claim and Maximize Your Compensation