Los Angeles Amputation Attorneys

Aggressively Seeking Compensation for Amputation Victims

About two-million amputation victims live in the United States, and about 185,000 additional victims will require amputations every year. Some may occur due to illnesses, but a large number of amputations stem from sudden and devastating accidents. Although saving a life may require an amputation, it will also alter that life permanently.

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we handle only the most complex and challenging cases involving personal injury and death. Our lawyers dedicate themselves to protecting the rights of clients who have suffered devastating losses of bodily and life functions. Because of this, we have the experience and track record to help amputation victims obtain the compensation and justice they deserve.

Need to speak with a qualified attorney in Los Angeles? Call (866) 634-4525 today to contact our firm.

What is an Amputation?

An amputation is a surgical procedure in which a part of a person's body, typically a limb or extremity, is removed. This procedure is usually performed as a last resort when a body part is damaged or diseased to the extent that it cannot be adequately treated or salvaged, and it poses a significant risk to the person's overall health and well-being.

Common causes of amputations include:

• Trauma: Accidents, such as car crashes, workplace injuries, or sports injuries, can lead to severe trauma to a limb, making amputation necessary. This may be the result of bone fractures, severe burns, or extensive tissue damage.
• Vascular Disease: Vascular conditions like peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetes can cause reduced blood flow to the limbs, leading to tissue death (gangrene) and the need for amputation.
• Cancer: In cases where cancerous tumors are located in or near a limb, amputation may be performed to prevent the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.
• Infections: Severe infections, often as a result of poor wound care or diabetic foot ulcers, can lead to tissue damage and gangrene, necessitating amputation to prevent the infection from spreading.
• Congenital Conditions: Some individuals are born with limb abnormalities, and amputation may be required to improve their quality of life or allow for the use of prosthetic limbs.
• Neuropathy: Conditions that cause severe nerve damage, such as leprosy, may lead to complications requiring amputation.
• Frostbite: In cases of severe frostbite, where tissue becomes necrotic due to freezing, amputation may be necessary to prevent the spread of the dead tissue and infection.
• Complications from Previous Surgeries: In rare cases, complications arising from previous surgeries, such as vascular surgery, may necessitate amputation.

Common Causes of Traumatic Amputations

When an amputation occurs due to an accident (as opposed to a medical condition or procedure), it is referred to as a “traumatic amputation.” If a body suffers violent trauma—such as a sharp cut or strong tear—doctors can find reattaching or repairing the natural limb or extremity impossible. Traumatic amputations can involve the accidental severing of one or more limbs or other body parts, including the hands and feet.

Accidental amputations do not take place in controlled and sterile hospital environments and, therefore, many complications can occur, such as severe bleeding and infections. This is always an emergency medical event, and the amputation victim will require emergency trauma care as soon as possible.

Amputations commonly result from the following accidents:

• Fires and explosions: Fire and explosion incidents can lead to traumatic amputations due to the force of the explosion, flying debris, or thermal injury. Individuals caught in the blast may experience traumatic amputations, especially if they are near the epicenter of the explosion.
• Falls: Falling from heights or slipping and falling can result in traumatic amputations when body parts become trapped or crushed in the process. Amputations may occur on impact, or when an individual becomes entangled in machinery or objects after the fall.
• Electrical shock: Electrical accidents can cause severe injuries, including traumatic amputations. Electric shocks can cause muscle contractions, leading to entanglement or crushing of limbs in machinery or other objects.
• Car and truck accidents: High-speed collisions involving cars and trucks can lead to traumatic amputations. The sheer force of the impact and the crushing forces can result in the loss of limbs. This can happen both to drivers and passengers.
• Defective vehicles: Vehicles with design or manufacturing defects can malfunction and lead to accidents causing traumatic amputations. This includes brake failures, steering system defects, and other mechanical failures that result in crashes.
• Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycle riders are particularly vulnerable to traumatic amputations during accidents because they lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle. High-speed crashes and impacts with other vehicles can lead to limb loss.
• Industrial machinery and equipment: Accidents in industrial settings are a common cause of traumatic amputations. Workers may get limbs caught in moving machinery or equipment, such as conveyor belts, presses, or drills, resulting in traumatic amputations.
• Defective products: Defective consumer products, like power tools or home appliances, can malfunction and cause traumatic amputations when users are injured during their use. For example, a malfunctioning power tool can lead to a traumatic amputation if it suddenly severs a limb.
• Agricultural accidents: Farming and agricultural activities involve various types of machinery and equipment, making farm workers more susceptible to traumatic amputations, especially when working with tools like combines and power take-off (PTO) equipment.
• Explosions and blasts: Explosions, whether they occur in industrial settings, as a result of accidents, or in combat situations, can cause traumatic amputations due to the force of the blast and flying debris.
• Power tool mishaps: Incorrect or unsafe use of power tools, like chainsaws, drills, or circular saws, can lead to traumatic amputations if the tool comes into contact with a body part.
• Sporting accidents: Sports injuries, especially those involving high-impact activities like football, hockey, and extreme sports, can result in traumatic amputations if the injury is severe.
• Falls from heights: Falls from significant heights, whether at a construction site, while hiking, or during other activities, can result in traumatic amputations if limbs are subjected to severe trauma upon impact.
• Crush injuries: Crush injuries from accidents, such as those involving heavy objects, collapsing structures, or entrapment, can lead to traumatic amputations.
• Acts of violence: Traumatic amputations can also occur as a result of criminal acts involving sharp objects or firearms.
• Lack of safety measures: Failure to use safety equipment, follow safety protocols, or maintain machinery and equipment properly can increase the risk of traumatic amputations in various settings.

Types of Amputations

Not all amputations are the same, and different types can result in different long-term effects. First, doctors classify traumatic amputations as either partial or complete. In the case of a partial traumatic amputation, pieces of muscle or bone may still connect the limb to the body, or only a portion of the extremity may be removed. A complete amputation totally separates the body part from the rest of the body.

The specific names for locations of amputations of the limbs include:

• Trans-tibial amputation – Below-the-knee amputation
• Knee disarticulation – Amputation at the knee joint
• Trans-femoral amputation – Between the knee and the hip joints
• Hip disarticulation – Amputation at the hip joint
• Trans-radial amputation – Below-the-elbow amputation
• Elbow disarticulation – Amputation at the elbow joint
• Trans-humeral amputation – Between the elbow and shoulder joints
• Shoulder disarticulation – Amputation at the shoulder

Our attorneys who handle amputation cases strive to understand each amputation type and its specific effects on a victim’s life. For example, the different locations of amputations may require different types of prosthetics or mobility devices, and may create different limitations and disabilities for victims.

Depending on the type and scope of an amputation and its resulting disability, victims may be entitled to seek compensation under California law. At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we aim to learn as much as possible about our clients’ amputation injuries so that we can best assist them in recovering the full range of compensation the law permits.

Seeking Recovery for Amputation-Related Losses

It is no small task to quantify the lifelong losses an amputation can cause. Life after losing a limb is never the same. Victims must relearn how to perform even the most basic life skills. The medical industry in recent years has developed a better understanding of post-amputation care and management, which can help the overall outcome for amputation victims.

Prosthetic design and technology, for example, have significantly improved. However, appropriate care, assistance, and equipment is costly, and can never completely replace a natural limb or erase the trauma of losing one. Victims can benefit from an attorney who comprehends the pain and long-term challenges of a traumatic amputation and is prepared to fight to protect their rights.

Damages for amputation-related losses may include:

• Emergency trauma care
• Surgical procedures
• Hospitalizations
• Costs of treating other coinciding traumatic injuries
• Critical care management
• Home health assistance
• Early and ongoing rehabilitation
• Initial and replacement prosthetics
• Wheelchairs or other mobility devices
• Therapy for emotional trauma
• Ongoing medical treatments
• Lost income
• Lost future earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Lost enjoyment of life
• Permanent disfigurement
• Home and vehicle modifications

Often, when all of the above losses during the course of a victim’s lifetime are taken into account, damages can reach into the millions of dollars. Each case is different, however. There is never a guarantee of recovery. That is why victims can benefit from lawyers who take diligent care to consult experts, review records, learn about their clients’ lifestyles, and take into consideration any other relevant information to help them accurately calculate fair damages.

Trust Our Firm Above the Rest

When a person loses a limb in an accident and faces a lifetime of enormous expenses – and physical and emotional challenges – an experienced attorney can make a world of difference for their quality of life. At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, our Los Angeles amputation injury lawyers have a track record of investing significant resources into helping our clients achieve the best outcomes.

When we investigate an amputation case, we pay particular attention to understanding the lives and struggles of our clients. The better we know our clients, the better we can fight to help them fully recover from their painful setbacks. This approach not only helps our attorneys to build a solid case strategy: It can help our clients have peace of mind about their futures.

Here’s what sets us apart from other firms:

• We are not shy about seeking seven- or eight-figure awards for permanently injured clients when appropriate.
• We have a network of authoritative experts ready to provide analysis and persuasive opinions in a wide variety of cases, when necessary.
• We are selective about the cases we take, which provides our attorneys with the time and resources they need to prepare the strongest cases for our clients.
• We have in-house, full-time investigators working for our firm who know how to evaluate evidence from even the most complicated and technical accidents.
• We are skilled litigators who do not hesitate to stand up for our clients’ rights in the courtroom when needed, as we have time and time again.

If you’ve sustained life-altering amputation injuries, don’t hesitate to contact our firm at (866) 634-4525 or schedule a free consultation online.