What Is a Complete Traumatic Amputation?
The traumatic loss of a limb is among the most life-altering injuries that anyone can experience. Even with physical and emotional therapy, victims of traumatic limb loss face a multitude of challenges in their personal and professional lives.
While any traumatic amputation is a devastating event, it is made even more difficult when limb loss was the result of someone’s negligent behavior. In an instant, another person’s reckless or careless actions can alter the course of an injury victim’s life.
For over 45 years, the Providence amputation injury lawyers at Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd. have helped injury victims throughout Rhode Island. We have extensive knowledge in both medicine and the law in cases of traumatic amputation. We fight diligently on behalf of our clients to recover the justice and compensation they deserve.
When Is an Amputation Considered Complete?
Complete amputation involves the total detachment of a limb from the rest of the body. In complete amputations, there are no muscles, ligaments, tissues, or other anatomical structures connecting the detached limb to the body.
In contrast, a partial amputation refers to an injury in which an amputated limb remains somewhat connected to the body by an anatomical structure such as a muscle, tendon, etc. Although the body part may not be functional at the time and complete amputation may appear to be imminent, the body part is still connected to the body. In a partial amputation, every effort should be made to preserve this connection.
Can a Completely Severed Limb Be Reattached?
In some cases of complete amputation, a severed-but-preserved limb may be reattached through replantation surgery, a complex microsurgical procedure that reattaches or “replants” severed limbs to the body. Generally, replantation surgery must be performed within hours of the initial traumatic injury. This procedure is most commonly conducted for upper extremities like arms, hands, and fingers. It is less common for lower extremities.
Successful limb reattachment depends on several factors, such as:
- The general health of the injured person
- The amount of time that elapses between the limb’s detachment and medical care
- The condition of the severed limb
- What body part was severed
In a partial amputation, some connection remains. However, this doesn’t necessarily make reattaching the severed limb easier. When partial amputation injuries are severe, surgical amputation may still be required. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may be impossible to reattach the limb.
Why Hire a Traumatic Amputation Injury Lawyer?
A traumatic amputation can impact nearly every aspect of a victim’s life. In addition to pain, disability, and emotional anguish, the financial cost of hospital expenses, rehabilitative services, outpatient doctor visits, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and prosthetic costs can be staggering.
A traumatic amputation injury lawyer understands the hardships you may be facing, both today and in the future. While you focus on healing, an attorney can pursue the justice you deserve by handling every aspect of your personal injury claim, such as:
- Investigating the facts surrounding your injury
- Gathering evidence to support your case
- Determining liability for your injury
- Assessing the value of your current and future damages
- Discussing settlement with the insurance company
- Taking your case to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached
If you’ve lost a limb due to someone’s carelessness or recklessness, your first step toward justice begins with a free consultation with an experienced amputation lawyer. At Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd., we handle amputation injury claims on a contingency basis, which means you won’t owe us any attorneys’ fees unless we achieve a positive outcome in your case.
Contact a Traumatic Amputation Lawyer in Providence Today
After an amputation accident, it is important to have an experienced and dedicated personal injury attorney to stand up for your rights and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.
The lawyers at Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd. are committed to helping traumatic amputation victims recover from their injuries and move forward in their lives. Our firm has a distinguished reputation, having won a number of landmark cases and even changing Rhode Island law. We meticulously investigate and prepare every case to obtain just outcomes for our clients. If you have lost a limb because of someone else’s negligence, we want to hear your story.
View our multi-million-dollar settlements and trial results.
Call our traumatic amputation injury lawyers today at (401) 273-8330 for a free case evaluation. Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd. serves clients throughout Rhode Island, including Providence and other nearby areas. Our attorneys operate on a No Fee Promise. If we don’t settle the case in your favor or win a jury verdict on your behalf, you owe us nothing for our time.
