Amputation Injuries

Amputation injuries change lives forever.

Physical and emotional challenges, occupational and quality-of-life issues, and long-term disabilities are realities for those who have suffered an amputation injury. The good news is medical advances in recent years have made great strides when it comes to restoring the quality of life, independence and abilities of victims.

However, winning access to all of the medical care and rehabilitative services to which you are entitled is critical when it comes to making as complete a recovery as possible. These are expensive and complex claims that should always be handled by an experienced work injury lawyer in New Orleans, Covington or Raceland from the outset of your claim.

An amputation injury may result in the loss of fingers or toes, a hand or foot, or limb or multiple limbs.

• Most victims are male.
• Most are primary wage earners between the ages of 15 and 64,
• Partial hand amputations are the most common, with more than 60,000 being reported each year.
• Loss of a limb is the second most common amputation injury.
• About 2 million people in the U.S. are living with a lost limb.

While significant advancements have been made when it comes to medical care and artificial limbs, the cost of an amputation injury is significant. The National Library of Medicine estimates life-time cost of an amputation injury at more than $500,000. An artificial limb can cost more than $50,000 and many will need to be replaced every 3-5 years.

The most common causes of traumatic amputation are:

• Traffic accidents
• Construction accidents
• Factory and warehouse accidents
• Agricultural accidents, including lawnmowers
• Building and care door accidents
• Electrocution

Amputation Injury Claims

In addition to compensation for all medical expenses, including rehabilitation and home care, a workers’ compensation claim must also account for the cost of artificial limbs, lost wages and disability.

Cost of care and rehabilitation, as well as disability benefits, will depend upon the type of amputation injury. In many cases, quality of initial medical care can significantly impact how much of a limb is removed, which can have a major impact on long-term disability, quality of life and cost of care.

Lower-limb amputations:

• Partial foot amputation
• Ankle disarticulation
• Below-the-knee amputation
• Transfemoral amputation
• Hop disarticulation
• Hemipelvectomy

Upper-limb amputations:

• Partial hand amputation
• Metacarpal amputation
• Wrist articulation
• Transradial amputation
• Elbow disarticulation
• Above the elbow amputation
• Shoulder disarticulation

In addition to workers’ compensation benefits for medical care, home care, lost wages and rehabilitation, workers who suffer an amputation injury on the job and are covered by workers’ compensation, are entitled to disability benefits.

Partial disability

Loss of a finger, thumb or toe: Two-thirds of wages for a period of between 10 and 50 weeks.

Loss of hand: Two-thirds of pay for 150 weeks.

Loss or arm: Two-thirds of wages for 200 weeks.

Loss of foot: Two-thirds of wages for 125 weeks.

Loss of leg: Two-thirds of wages for 175 weeks.

Permanent disability

Loss of a hand and foot or two or more limbs.

While impairment ratings are not required for most Louisiana workers’ compensation claims, these ratings are often relied upon by workers’ compensation insurance companies during the claims-settlement process. It’s also important to note that an impairment rating often will not be provided until an employee is determined to have achieved maximum medical improvement (MMI). Often the impairment rating is provided within a Functional Capacity Evaluation.

These are complex claims and a determination can have a major impact on the resources available to you for the rest of your life. The time to seek the advice of a New Orleans work injury lawsuit is not once you are unhappy with the terms of a settlement offer, although even then we offer free consultations and accept no fees or costs unless we can get you a better offer. Having experienced legal help at the earliest possible stage of your claim is the best thing you can do to protect your rights and the financial well-being of you and your family.

If you have been injured, call day or night for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 985-893-6530.