The Tragedy of Car Accident-Related Amputations

No one wants a car accident or the injuries that can result. And unfortunately, while many people walk away from car crashes with minor injuries, other car crashes can lead to life-changing injuries that necessitate an amputation. And tragically, car accident-related amputations are the kind of injuries that can permanently alter the course of a person’s life.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel recently reported that the Dolphins’ Kendrick Norton has been upgraded to stable condition after having his left arm amputated following a recent car crash. Norton’s arm had to be amputated after his 2017 Ford F250 rolled over onto its roof after colliding with a concrete barrier in an early morning collision on the Dolphin Expressway westbound ramp. The vehicle overturned after hitting the barrier and came to a final rest on its roof, causing the 22-year-old to sustain a head injury in addition to the injuries to his arm that necessitated the amputation. While Norton’s professional football career is, sadly, over, the good news is that his health has improved to stable condition. However, he has a long road to recovery and his life will never be the same.

How Common Are Car Accident-Related Amputations?

An amputation occurs whenever all or part of a limb or extremity is surgically removed for medical reasons. Here in America, at least 30,000 traumatic amputations occur every year and there are over two million people living with an amputated limb. Motor vehicle accidents are by far the most common cause of medically necessarily traumatic amputations. Around 70 percent of all traumatic amputations involve the upper limbs and the overwhelming majority of accidental amputation victims are male, facts that are unsurprising in lieu of the recent tragedy outlined above.

What Are the Costs of Amputation Injuries?

Catastrophic personal injuries like amputations, unfortunately, impose enormous financial and emotional costs on victims and their families. In addition to the initial costs of medical treatments following the accident and ongoing medications, amputees usually require specialized services such as:

• Prosthetic limbs. While prosthetic limbs can significantly improve an amputee’s quality of life, prostheses are extremely expensive. In addition to the fact that they must be custom-made, prosthetic limbs must be upgraded and replaced on a regular basis so the cost is ongoing.
• Rehabilitation services. After losing one or more limbs, rehabilitation is almost certainly a necessity and will remain one for the foreseeable future. In addition to physical therapy, rehabilitation services also include therapy.
• Home modifications. In some cases, accident victims may need to make modifications to their homes such as modified railings and ramps – many of which are very expensive.

Have You or a Loved One Had to Undergo an Amputation Because of a Car Accident?

If your amputation injury was caused by the negligent actions of other parties, then you may be able to recover compensation that can help aid in your recovery. We sympathize with what you and your family have experienced and we strive to help empower you by helping you hold the responsible parties accountable. As the Miami personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm, we offer the legal experience that you need in pursuing this kind of complex claim and we will do everything in our power to secure the maximum compensation you need and deserve. Contact us for help today to begin.

The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Jacksonville, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Orlando and Daytona Beach areas.

Resource:

sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-dolphins-kendrick-norton-20190705-r37mwrwlljeilizldfualsspwm-story.html

https://www.pendaslaw.com/what-happens-when-a-medical-condition-leads-to-a-car-accident/