Amputation is a relatively rare injury after a car accident, but it can be devastating and permanently alter a person’s daily experience. After losing a limb, a person can struggle to take care of their daily needs, including cooking, eating, bathing, or getting dressed.
Doctors do not make the decision to amputate a limb lightly. Nevertheless, it is sometimes the best course of action. Our Miami personal injury attorneys can help clients obtain compensation to pay for medical care and provide financial support going forward.
Why Doctors Amputate Limbs
A tiny number of amputations might happen in the accident itself. The force generated by a crash could be so strong as to tear a limb from a victim’s body. However, this is rare.
Instead, doctors and emergency personnel might amputate a limb for the following reasons:
- Crush injuries. Damage to the skeletal muscle can release toxins into the body, which overwhelm the system. Sometimes amputating the affected limb can prevent kidney failure.
- Lacerations. In some accidents, the limb is cut so deeply that nerves and bone become mangled. Trying to repair the limb could be impossible.
- Infection. Some cuts become infected, especially by bacteria that are resistant to common antibiotics. Many patients become infected in the hospital, and an amputation might be necessary to prevent the infection’s spread.
Recovering from an Amputation
Recovery has several components: physical, emotional, and occupational. Recovery can be expensive, requiring lengthy rehabilitation. In some situations, a person might need at-home care for the remainder of their lives.
Amputations often require additional surgery. The stump could become infected in the future, or prosthetics could be ill-fitting and cause chafing. Sometimes, additional surgery re-shapes the stump to make use of a prosthetic easier.
Many amputees need counseling to relearn confidence and deal with depression, anxiety, and other distress. They might require prescription drugs to help with sleeplessness and mood disorders.
Occupational therapy helps amputees learn new ways of performing familiar tasks. For example, an amputee might need to relearn how to get dressed or cook. Occupational therapy aims to increase independence which, depending on the injury, could be permanently compromised.
Contact Us Today
Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein is a leading Miami law firm helping those injured in car accidents. Contact one of our Miami personal injury lawyers today to discuss bringing a claim for compensation. Amputations are expensive injuries, and bringing a claim often proves vital for our clients’ ability to support themselves and their families. Call 305-371-2692 to schedule a free consultation.