Amputation Injury Attorneys in Nevada

Common Causes of Amputation Injuries in Las Vegas

Amputations are the partial or full removal of a limb or extremity, such as the hands, arms, feet, or legs. In some cases, amputations are performed as life-saving efforts, like when there is a deadly infection that could spread to other areas of the body. Other times, they result from a catastrophic injury.

Data from the Amputee Coalition shows that approximately 45% of all amputees are the result of trauma, which could include:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Construction accidents
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Defective products

Types of Amputation Injuries and Long-Term Effects

Traumatic amputation injuries can occur when the limb or extremity is forcefully removed during the accident, or from extensive crushing and internal injuries that require surgical removal.

These types of injuries could involve:

• Lower limb amputations: The removal of the toes, feet, or legs below or above the knee.
• Upper limb amputations: The removal of the fingers, hands, forearms, or arms.

The long-term effects of amputation injuries extend beyond the loss of the limb or extremity, and may include:

• Life impacts: Reliance on prosthetics, employment restrictions, home modifications, extensive rehabilitation, and ongoing medical bills.
• Psychological impacts: PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation.
• Physical impacts: Phantom limb pain, reduced mobility, infections, and chronic pain.

What Amputation Injury Victims Should Do After an Accident

After an accident where there is an amputation injury, the victim or witnesses should:

• Call 911: Inform the operator of an amputation and that immediate medical care is needed.
• Follow all of the operator’s instructions: You may be directed to apply firm pressure to the wound, elevate the injured area, or use a tourniquet.
• Preserve the severed body part: It is vital to handle the severed body part with care and give it to the EMTs when they arrive.

The victim can ask witnesses or anyone accompanying them at the time of the accident to:

• Document the accident scene: Take pictures and videos of all damages and personal injuries, including the severed body part.
• Obtain contact details from all witnesses: Get the name and phone number from any witnesses.
• File a police report: While the victim will be taken to the hospital, it is still essential to ensure the police are notified, and a report is filed.

Once the victim is medically stabilized, there are a few things they should do, including:

• Do not speak to the insurance company: Hold off on speaking to the insurance adjuster or giving any formal statements. Anything you say now can be used against you later.
• Do not post about the accident on social media: Insurance companies will attempt to use anything you post against you.
• Contact an amputation injury attorney in Las Vegas: Schedule a free consultation with a qualified loss of limb lawyer to find out your legal advice and options for securing maximum compensation.
• Focus on healing and recovery: Do not miss any doctor’s appointments and recommended follow-up care.

How To Prove Liability in Amputation Injury Cases

It is crucial to be able establish that another party was negligent and responsible for your amputation injury.

Proving liability requires satisfying the following:

• Duty of care: The defendant owed a duty of care to act reasonably.
• Breach of duty: The defendant failed to act reasonably, such as driving under the influence or speeding.
• Causation: The defendant’s behaviors were the direct cause of the amputation injury.
• Actual losses: You experienced actual financial losses that would not have occurred if the defendant had acted reasonably.

You can use evidence and documentation to help support each of these to prove liability, such as:

• Medical records
• Witness statements
• Accident reports
• Police reports
• Pictures and videos

Compensation Available in Las Vegas Amputation Injury Claims

The types of compensation you can seek as part of your amputation injury claim in Las Vegas include economic and non-economic damage. Economic damages are any type of loss related to the accident with an actual dollar amount, including:

• Emergency surgery
• Ambulance transportation costs
• Lost income
• Loss of benefits
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Future surgeries
• Prosthetics
• Medical device costs
• Home health care expenses
• Prescription and over-the-counter medication costs
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Ongoing medical care costs
• Mental health treatment expenses

Non-economic damages are losses without an actual dollar amount, and include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of independence
• PTSD and mental health impacts
• Mental anguish
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium/companionship

A third type of compensation in amputation injury claims is punitive damages. They could be awarded if the defendant’s actions are deemed malicious, intentional, or grossly reckless, such as drunk driving or a disregard for safety. They are meant to punish the defendant and deter others from similar behaviors.

Damage Type	Examples
Economic	Emergency surgery, prosthetics ($50K-$100K+), physical therapy, lost income, home modifications, ongoing medical expenses.
Non-Economic	Phantom limb pain, PTSD, loss of independence, reduced quality of life, loss of enjoyment, mental anguish, pain and suffering.
Punitive	Gross negligence, malicious, recklessness, wilful safety violations, drunk driving.

Statute of Limitations for Las Vegas Amputation Injury Claims

Nevada’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including amputations, is two years from the date of the accident. In medical malpractice cases, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the incident. If the amputation injury was fatal, the surviving family has two years from the time of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party.

Why Choose Adam S. Kutner for Your Las Vegas Amputation Injury Claim?

Being in an amputation accident is a life-altering event. Hiring Adam S. Kutner to represent you provides these benefits:

• Personalized attention.
• Free consultations, including in-home or at the hospital.
• Contingency basis fees — we don’t collect unless we win.
• Accurate valuation of your injury claim.
• Maximum compensation.
• Decades of legal expertise.
• Aggressively advocates for injured victims.
• Caring, compassionate, support beyond legal representation.

Contact our Las Vegas amputation lawyers for sound legal advice now. We handle all aspects of your case, including settlement negotiations, allowing you to focus on healing and recovery.

FAQ About Amputation Injury Claims