Traumatic Amputation Injury Lawyers in Harrisburg, PA
Caring counsel when accidents cause loss of limb in Dauphin County
Some accidents and injuries are just gruesome. When two cars collide at high speeds, the occupants can be thrown around the vehicle or outside of the vehicle. Construction workers and factory workers risk having an arm or leg severed if they are pinned or crushed by a machine. Doctors who fail to treat infections or other conditions properly may cause patients to wrongly lose a body part. Many amputees are unable to use prosthetics. Many amputees can’t return to work. Further, Harrisburg accident victims who lose a limb often require psychological care in addition to their physical care.
At KBG Injury Law, our seasoned Harrisburg lawyers understand the trauma of amputation injuries. We understand that living without a leg, arm, foot, hand, toe, or finger permanently changes your life. If both limbs need to be amputated, the difficulties increase exponentially. Our lawyers have 40 years of experience handling catastrophic injury cases. We understand how an amputation affects every part of your life – not for a week, a month, or a year – but for your entire future. We work to secure all the compensation to which you are entitled.
How can we help?
- What is an amputation injury?
- What happens before, during, and after amputation surgery?
- What types of accidents may require amputation?
- What types of clients do your Harrisburg attorneys represent?
- What types of amputation injury claims do you handle?
- How much is my Harrisburg amputation case worth?
- Is there a Harrisburg amputation injury attorney near me?
What is an amputation injury?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, an amputation is an operation that removes part or all of a limb or extremity. Most amputations are categorized as follows:
- Arm, hand, toe, or finger amputation.
- An above-the-knee amputation. The surgeons remove part of the knee, thigh, shin, foot, and toes
- A below-the-knee amputation. The surgeons remove the lower leg, foot, and toes.
- A foot amputation removes part of the foot.
Amputations are often necessary when accidents apply extreme forces to a limb or body part, or when a patient has an infection or a medical disorder.
What happens before, during, and after amputation surgery?
Accident victims may require a surgical amputation as soon as they are brought into a hospital. In some cases, victims may be able to wait to have the amputation performed. Patients are given anesthesia before the operation. During the surgery, surgeons remove dead or diseased tissue while trying to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. They also remove any crushed bone and smooth any uneven bone, and seal blood vessels to prevent bleeding. Amputation helps prevent any disease from spreading to the rest of your body.
The Cleveland Clinic notes doctors will “shape the muscles so that ’the stump’ (end of the limb) can be fitted with a prosthetic limb if desired.” The surgeons will focus on managing the operation so that you can function as best as possible after the surgery. Stitches or staples may be required, and patients will remain in the hospital so the wound can drain and begin the healing process. Shortly after surgery, patients should begin treatment with a physical therapist. When advisable, Harrisburg limb loss patients may also spend time in a rehabilitation facility.
The ideal result is that a patient can be fitted for a prosthetic limb when the incision is fully healed. The fitting normally takes place about six to eight weeks after the surgery date. Patients learn how to put the prosthetic on and take it off, and how to use the limb so they can walk, eat and perform other functions, as well as how to care for the stump and the prosthetic.
If you’re not eligible for a prosthetic or choose not to use one, physical and occupational therapists will help you learn to move and function without the prosthetic. You may need a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair. There are many electronic assistive devices that can help.
What types of accidents may require amputation?
Common types of Harrisburg accidents that have enough force or trauma to cause limb loss or amputation include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Negligent security accidents
- Dog bites
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products such as machinery, tools, appliances, and drugs
- Workplace accidents such as forklift accidents, equipment accidents, falls from scaffolds and ladders, and many other types of accidents
What types of clients do your Harrisburg attorneys represent?
The victims we represent include drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders. We represent anyone who is injured on the property of others. Our lawyers fight for consumers. We also represent construction workers, manufacturing workers, firefighters, police, healthcare workers.
What types of amputation accident injury claims do you handle?
Our lawyers handle the full range of accident claims. If any part of your body requires amputation due to the fault or responsibility of others, we file the proper claims on your behalf. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, these claims can include:
- Personal injury claims. We work to show a driver, property owner, doctor, or another person or business failed to exercise their duty to protect you. We work with investigators and conduct extensive discovery to show a defendant’s negligence caused your injuries.
- Product liability claims. Car, truck, motorcycle, drug, and many other product manufacturers can be held liable when a defective product causes injuries. We work with product safety experts and question everyone involved to show a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer put their profits ahead of your safety.
- Workers’ compensation. If an employee has a workplace accident that causes loss of limb or body part, we demand that your employer pay your full workers’ compensation benefits.
If someone you love loses their life from an amputation injury, we file a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties.
How much is my Harrisburg amputation case worth?
Our respected Harrisburg amputation lawyers work with your full medical team to verify all the care you will need. This includes obtaining, upgrading, and maintaining necessary prosthetic devices. Our lawyers also work with your surgeons and healthcare professionals to assess your risk of complications, including infections, swelling, and pain, including phantom pain.
We also work with your psychologists to fully understand how your injury is affecting your self-esteem, confidence, social relationships, and emotional well-being.
Amputation victims deserve compensation for every way their life is different than before the accident.
In personal injury cases, we demand compensation for:
- Your medical bills. These include ER care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, learning to use prosthetics and assistive devices, medications, psychological care, and other medical expenses, current and future.
- Lost wages. Many amputees can never work again. Others lose wages during the healing process and while they are learning to adjust to living without their limb. Harrisburg accident victims are entitled to all their lost income and benefits – for as long as they can’t work.
- Physical pain and emotional suffering. Amputation of an arm, leg, or another body part can cause unbearable pain. After surgery, many victims live with chronic pain. Phantom limb pain is very common. Amputees are entitled to compensation for all their physical pain and all the emotional suffering they endure and will endure for the rest of their lives.
- Scarring and disfigurement. We demand additional compensation for having to live with the scars and disfigurement that amputees cope with.
- Loss of consortium. Spouses are entitled to compensation when an amputation affects the marital relationship.
We also seek compensation for any property damage, such as damage to your vehicle. In workers’ compensation cases, employees are entitled to payment for all their medical bills, temporary wage loss, and disability. Amputees may also be entitled to training and education so they can learn a new job or new skills.
Is there a Harrisburg amputation injury attorney near me?
At KBG Injury Law, we meet with Harrisburg clients at our office on the West Shore at 717 Market Street, Lemoyne, PA. We are located near the West Shore Farmers Market and minutes away from downtown. We can also meet with clients at home or in the hospital if needed. We also have four other offices throughout South Central PA.
Speak with a caring Harrisburg amputation lawyer now
We understand how traumatic it is to live without one or both arms, legs, feet, hands, fingers, or toes. We’ll guide you through the personal injury claim process, including working directly with your medical team to fully understand how life-changing your injuries are. At KBG Injury Law, our Harrisburg limb loss attorneys have an impressive record of settling personal injury claims and trying cases before a judge. We’ll work aggressively to obtain all the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free initial consultation, call us at 717-848-3838 or fill out our contact form. We have offices in Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Hanover, and Gettysburg. We represent clients throughout South Central Pennsylvania.