Like many other areas of modern medicine, advances in prosthetics technology have exploded in recent years. Artificial limbs, including fingers, hands, feet, legs, and arms, have become more intuitive and nuanced in their capabilities for movement. In addition, innovations in surgical procedures and enhanced understanding of rehabilitation for amputees, whether the loss was caused by accident or due to a medical condition, offer increasing optimism for the return to previous levels of function.
However, this isn’t the whole story. The strides in prosthetic technology do not mean that personal injury claims for victims of accidents that have led to the loss of a leg are not valid or that they result in less compensation.
Our firm has represented accidental amputee victims who have suffered catastrophic injuries, like loss of a leg, for over thirty years. If you have questions about your injury and the possibility of filing a personal injury claim, call us at (916) 438-1819 to schedule a free consultation. Your questions will be answered, and you will understand your options when you leave.
Learn more about our Sacramento Catastrophic Injury Attorney Services.
What the Data Shows About Trauma and Loss of Limb
Data published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate that by 2050, over 3.6 million people will be living with the loss of a limb in the United States. The second leading cause of limb loss is trauma, with amputation due to disease as the leading cause.
Two Important Factors About Loss of Leg Personal Injury Claims
- Compensation for Loss of a Leg Is Not Lessened by Medical Advancements
As in other types of personal injury claims, compensation for limb loss may include both economic and non-economic damages. It is important to understand that medical advances in prosthetic technology don’t necessarily mean a personal injury claim for the loss of a leg may result in less damages overall. But they can affect how damages are calculated.
Advanced prosthetics, which improve and assist functionality better than ever before, are nonetheless very expensive.
The average cost of a prosthetic leg varies widely depending on its type and features:
- Below-the-knee prosthetics range from $3,000 to $24,000.
- Above-the-knee prosthetics, including a knee joint, range from $5,000 to $70,000 or more. Factors that increase or decrease cost include whether the prosthesis is mechanical or computerized and equipped with advanced features like microprocessor control.
At the end of the day, the tremendous impact of losing a leg on one’s mental health, regardless of advanced technology, is profound. In other words, the disruption to a person’s quality of life and the emotional toll that the loss of a leg causes are not eliminated by a prosthetic device.
- The Components Personal Injury Settlements for Loss of Leg Claims
Better and more technologically advanced prosthetics and rehabilitation do improve outcomes for victims of accidents resulting in the loss of a leg; they don’t, however, reduce the overall potential for compensation. This is where the decision to hire an experienced attorney with a history of successful outcomes for accidental amputees is crucial.
Our attorneys explain precisely how the process works and the key components involved in a personal injury claim at your free consultation. These components include:
- Types of compensation available to accident leg amputee victims (economic and non-economic damages).
- Factors influencing settlement amounts: severity (below or above the knee), age and occupation of the victim, degree of fault or negligence that the responsible party holds, and impact of the injury on the victim’s daily life and future.
- Long-term costs associated with the injury.
- California state laws, such as comparative negligence, allow victims to recover damages even if they are partially at fault for the accident.
- Skilled and experienced legal representation.
A skilled attorney with experience representing accident amputee victims in personal injury claims will increase the chances of receiving the long-term financial support needed to cover the significant costs that come with an artificial limb and the ongoing care needed to treat the emotional impact on their lives.
Skilled, Experienced Attorneys Who Understand Compensation for Loss of a Leg
If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident that resulted in the loss of a leg, don’t wait to make the call and get your questions answered. There is no risk or obligation to move forward with a claim, and the appointment is free. Call (916) 438-1819 today and schedule a free consultation.