New York Amputation Injury

Losing a limb traumatically can have a dramatic effect on the victim’s life. There are many circumstances that could lead to the loss of a limb, such as a construction accident, car accident, dog bites, and explosions. Furthermore, amputations are also sometimes necessary after a medical professional makes a mistake. When a victim loses a limb in an accident, many aspects of his or her life will be impacted. There will be health challenges. The victim may not be able to work, or must find a different career. Relationships with friends and family may be different. Your finances may fall into disarray. If you suffered a traumatic amputation that was caused by the negligent actions of another person, the experienced New York amputation injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates can provide legal guidance, as you may be entitled to compensation or benefits that will help offset your financial losses.

Causes of amputations

While surgical amputations sometimes become necessary due to illnesses such as cancer, an infection that does not respond to antibiotics, or diabetes, an amputation can happen traumatically as a result of a catastrophic accident.

• Vehicle accidents: Car, truck, and SUV accidents can cause severe trauma to occupants of the vehicles involved and to pedestrians. In some cases the result is that a limb is crushed and the damage is so severe that the limb cannot be saved. In other cases the limb is traumatically ripped from the victim’s body.
• Workplace accidents: Traumatic amputations also occur in workplaces where dangerous equipment is used and safety rules are disregarded. For example, a finger can be accidentally amputated by a meat grinder, drill press or milling equipment. Other parts of the body can be dismembered by construction and farm equipment.
• Burns: If a limb is severely burned in an accident, doctors may not be able to save the limb.
• Medical malpractice: Mistakes by doctors and other healthcare professionals can result in amputations. For example, if a doctor fails to diagnoses and immediately treat and infection, the infection may spread and become so serious that a limb must be amputated. If the amputation could have been avoided had the doctor properly diagnosed and treated the infection, then the victim’s resource would be to file a medical malpractice claim against the physician.

Hypothetical

Joshua was riding his motorcycle in the left lane of a highway when an SUV driving by Bob sideswiped Joshua. Joshua lost control of his motorcycle and slammed into the medium feet first. Joshua had serious injuries, including a broken ankle. The ankle did not heal properly. Over the next 18 months Joshua suffered infections in his ankle and leg, and underwent 2 unsuccessful ankle fusions. Throughout that time Joshua was constantly in a cast and had to use crutches or a cane. Eventually, it was determined that Joshua’s left had to be amputated below the knee. Joshua filed a personal injury lawsuit against Bob.

Consequences of an amputation injury

As experienced attorneys representing amputation injury victims in New York, we understand that victims who suffer avoidable amputations face a variety of losses that are challenging to overcome. Holding the person who caused your accident accountable for these losses is one way to start to overcome them. Through a personal injury claim you can demand compensation to pay your medical expenses, to make up for lost income, and to address your pain and suffering.

• Personal injury lawsuit: New York law allows victims who suffer serious injuries such as amputations to sue to recover compensation from the negligent person who caused the injury. If the amputation was due to medical malpractice the defendant would be the doctor, surgeon, other medical professional or healthcare facility responsible for the medical error that eventually led to the amputation. In the case of another type of accident such as a car accident, the defendant would be the person whose reckless actions caused your injury. Recoverable compensation may include past and estimated future medical bills, lost income, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Workers’ compensation: If your injury occurred in the course of your employment, may be eligible for benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation plan. Benefits include medical care, wage replacement, and vocational counseling.
• Social security disability benefits: If your amputation results in you being unable to work for at least 12 months you may be entitled to Social Security disability benefits.

Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates

If you have been injured in accident that resulted in an amputation it is important that you speak to our experienced legal team. The amputation injury lawyers serving New York at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates has nearly two decades of experience successfully representing clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries in auto accidents, construction accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other types of accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.

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