West Virginia Amputation Injury Attorneys
An amputation may seem like a nightmare to someone who has never lost an arm, leg, finger, hand or foot. People often talk about personal losses as being similar to “losing an arm or a leg.” If you have, in fact, lost an arm or a leg, you realize that it may not be the end of the world; however, you also understand that you have much to cope with – and pay for – as a result of your loss of limb, including:
- Emergency medical care
- Surgery
- Ongoing medical treatments
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Necessary durable medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or walker
- A prosthesis (artificial limb), which may need to be replaced periodically
The Impact of a loss of limb
You may be left with lingering phantom pain (pain that feels like it is coming from a now-absent limb), neuropathy and difficulty completing daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning and driving. You may require personal assistance from a caregiver, at least until you learn to take care of yourself with new restrictions. Your home may need remodeling, to widen doorways and lower countertops, for example, depending on the nature of your dismemberment. A skillful personal injury attorney can help ensure that all your needs are taken into account as compensation is calculated.
At Bailey, Javins & Carter, L.C., we put our years of experience and vast knowledge of plaintiff representation for clients who have lost limbs in car accidents and workplace accidents. Our Charleston amputation injury lawyers are here to help you pursue maximum available compensation from negligent parties and other sources.
Complications from Amputation Injuries
The aftereffects of amputations can often make the situation considerably more difficult to cope with. One of the most common of these is a phenomenon known as “phantom limb”. This is a condition in which amputees feel pain as if the amputated limb is still attached to the body, and they have difficulty distinguishing between phantom limb pain and pain associated with the stump that remains after the amputation. Phantom limb pain affects up to 80% of those who suffer amputation injuries.
Amputations affect far more than just a person’s physical well-being. They can have a major impact on their emotional and psychological health as well. Imagine the realization that you will never be able to use the limb that you were born with! At best, you will receive a prosthetic limb that will give you back some of your lost functionality, but an artificial limb can never fully replace what you lost in the accident.
Over time, the lost functionality and limited mobility that results from an amputation injury will affect other muscles in your body as well. It is well-known that muscles must continue to be used over the course of your life or they will become weak. And weakened muscles can cause all kinds of other problems in your body, such as deteriorating joints, arthritis, and related conditions.
Adjusting to the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of an amputation injury will be a lifelong process. Amputees must relearn many basic daily tasks, and there will likely be lengthy rehabilitation needed in order to re-establish and maintain as much functionality as possible.
Finally, an amputation injury is almost certain to affect the victim’s finances. At a minimum, they will probably be out of work for a significant length of time following the injury. And depending on the type of work that they do and the specific area(s) of the body that are affected by the injury, there is a possibility that they will not be able to return to their prior occupation; or worse yet, they may not be able to participate in any type of gainful activity at all.
We work on a contingent fee basis. We do not get paid unless you do.
Free Initial Consultation With a West Virginia Attorney
Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation with a personal injury attorney at our law offices in Charleston, Logan or Summersville.
