Losing a body part is one of the worst catastrophic injuries you can ever face. Losing an arm or a leg, for example, will have a costly effect on your life. That is why accident claims that involve amputations involve high damages. Below are some of the things that increase the value of amputation injury claims.
The Need for Prosthetics
Amputees often need prosthetics. The prosthetics replace the lost limbs and allow the amputees to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives. Prosthetics aren’t cheap. According to CostHelper, a leg prosthetic can cost more than $70,000, depending on its type. The actual cost depends on:
- The type of prosthetics — for example, manually controlled prosthetics are relatively cheaper than electronically controlled prosthetics
- The type of amputation — for example, entire leg prosthetics typically cost more than lower leg prosthetics
- The capability of the prosthetic — for example, prosthetics that allow you to climb stairs and run are costlier than those that only allow you to walk on flat surfaces
Also, you are unlikely to use one prosthetic for the rest of your life. Most people need replacements every few years. The defendant should pay for these future costs too.
The Injury’s Permanence
The permanence of an amputation means some of its effects on your life will be lifelong. The damages associated with these effects can be huge. Below are examples of these damages.
Pain and Suffering
An amputation involves both physical and emotional pain. In many cases, the emotional pain remains even after the physical wound has healed.
Diminished Quality of Life
Few amputees get to enjoy a quality of life comparable to their pre-amputation days. For example, a basketball player might struggle to enjoy the game after losing an arm. You might also struggle with personal care, such as bathing, after losing a limb.
Lost Future Income
Accident victims who recover from their injuries can resume their work and continue to earn their livelihood. The resumption is often difficult for amputees. An amputation can even end your career, depending on your job. In such a case, the loss of future income would be huge.
The Need for Rehabilitation
Many amputees require lengthy and expensive rehabilitation. Here are some forms of rehabilitation you might need after amputation.
Physical Rehabilitation
Physical rehabilitation is necessary to help you get accustomed to and use your prosthetic. Even those who don’t get prosthetics need physical therapy. For example, physical therapy may accelerate your recovery and improve your poise and balance.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation may help you get back to your former job or learn a new skill. For example, a driver may need to learn how to drive with a prosthetic after a leg amputation.
Psychological Therapy
Losing a body part can have devastating consequences on your mental wellbeing. The loss can leave you stressed, anxious, or even depressed. You might need psychological therapy to deal with these emotions.
The Need for Home Modifications
Lastly, you may also need to modify your home after your amputation. For example, you might need to:
- Modify your entrances and exits with suitable ramps and railings
- Modify your bathroom, for example, to get a bath bench and grip bars
- Modify your kitchen, for example, to lower your cabinets and shelves
These modifications can be expensive. The necessary modifications will depend on your home and type of amputations.
Consider an experienced lawyer to help you recover your amputation injury damages. The lawyers at The Jaklitsch Law Group have been practicing personal injury law for over 85 combined years. Contact us for consultation on your amputation or any other injury claim. We will fight for you so that you can get the compensation you deserve for your injury.
