California Amputation Lawyers

Different Types of Amputations 

When amputation occurs, a body part detaches from the body either completely or partially. Partial amputations occur when some tissue connecting limbs remains intact. In some situations, doctors may be able to reattach a partially severed limb resulting in a temporary loss of function until the limb fully heals. Complete amputations occur when a body part completely detaches from the body. Amputation injuries are categorized by the part of the body affected by the injury.

Upper Extremity Amputations 

An upper extremity amputation involves the fingers, hands, or arms. Common upper extremity amputations include the following: 

• Digit amputation—amputation of the whole or part of a finger or thumb;
• Metacarpal amputation—amputation of the hand where the wrist is still attached to the arm;
• Transradial amputation—amputation of a portion of the arm below the elbow; 
• Transhumeral amputation—amputation above the elbow joint; and
• Shoulder disarticulation—amputation of the entire arm at the shoulder, with the cut going through the shoulder. 

Some types of upper extremity amputations may qualify for prosthetics, and many patients opt to be fitted for one. Obtaining financial support for an expensive prosthetic is one of the ways a California amputation lawyer helps their clients. 

Lower Extremity Amputation 

Lower extremity amputations involve toes, feet, and legs. Examples include:

• Digit amputation—amputation of a toe;
• Partial foot amputation—amputation that results in the removal of a portion of the foot;
• Transtibial amputation—amputation that occurs below the knee but above the foot and preserves the victim’s use of their knee;
• Transfemoral amputation—amputation that occurs above the knee and below the hip, cutting through the thigh bone or femur. 

More severe lower extremity amputations may remove the entire leg through the hip and into the pelvic area. Internal pelvic amputations may also occur in specific situations where doctors save a victim’s leg and instead amputate a portion of the pelvis.

Common Causes of Limb Loss 

People often think that amputations occur only in extreme situations. Sometimes amputations do occur in life-or-death circumstances. However, amputations can also be caused by severe infections that fail to respond to antibiotics or other conditions that cause poor circulation or tissue damage. The most common causes of limb loss include:  

• Car accidents, 
• Bicycle accidents, 
• Pedestrian accidents, 
• Train accidents, 
• Motorcycle crashes,
• Agricultural accidents, 
• Dog bites, 
• Medical malpractice, 
• Sports and recreation accidents, 
• Accidents involving power tools, and
• Lawnmore accidents. 

Regardless of the cause, an amputation is a life-changing event. Most amputees face significant challenges adapting to their injury. Accepting limb loss is a difficult emotional road for most victims and their family members to navigate.  

How Do I Hold Someone Responsible For My Amputation? 

Amputations are catastrophic injuries associated with significant financial and emotional losses. If someone’s negligence caused your amputation, you must establish four things to recover compensation for your losses:

1. Duty. The defendant had a duty to act or not act in a certain way.
2. Breach. The defendant did not uphold their duty. 
3. Causation. The defendant’s breach of this duty caused your injury.
4. Damages. Your injury resulted in losses. 

California amputation lawyers can help support your negligence claim by collecting evidence, determining the cause of your injury, and identifying parties who might be responsible for your losses. Without a California amputation attorney, obtaining the compensation you need and deserve can be time-consuming and complex. 

What Damages Can I Recover? 

California law permits injured victims in personal injury cases to recover compensatory damages in the form of economic and noneconomic damages. 

Economic damages include financial losses related to a victim’s injuries. These damages include the following:

• Medical expenses, 
• Lost wages, 
• Loss of future earnings, and
• Property damage.

California amputation attorneys support claims for economic damages with receipts, bills, invoices, pay stubs, and other tangible evidence.

Noneconomic damages compensate victims for subjective losses related to the psychological and emotional consequences of an injury and include the following:

• Pain and suffering, 
• Emotional distress, 
• Permanent injury, 
• Disability, 
• Disfigurement, 
• Loss of enjoyment of life, and
• Loss of companionship. 

No one can put a value on the permanent loss of your leg or your inability to use all five fingers. However, noneconomic damages can offer victims much-needed support in the days, weeks, months, and even years following an accident by helping them be more fully compensated for their injury. Money may not heal the permanent loss of a limb or mend psychological trauma. However, it can help an injured victim better cope with the aftermath of a life-changing injury.  

Contact Us

At Silva Injury Law, Inc. we treat our clients like family. We are with you every step and are always looking out for your best interests. Our primary focus is obtaining the best possible result for you and your family. We believe our duty to our clients goes beyond achieving significant monetary awards. We strive to be problem solvers as we tirelessly advocate for you.

If you’ve suffered an amputation injury, we understand that you may be under substantial financial stress. That’s why we never charge an injured victim any money upfront to handle their case. We only collect our fees if we help you get a settlement or judgment. We also handle clients with other types of injury cases, including:

• Auto accidents, 
• Trucking accidents,
• Motorbike accidents,
• Bicycle accidents,
• Pedestrian accidents, 
• Livestock accidents,
• Drunk driving accidents,
• Distracted driving accidents,
• Spinal cord injuries,
• Product defects,
• Dog attacks, and
• Sexual assaults.

We fight hard for every case and are never afraid to take a case to trial if necessary. Contact our office today to schedule a free in-person or remote consultation to learn how we can help you.