Kentucky Amputation Injury Lawyers

 If You Suffered a Loss of a Limb in a Kentucky, Call Our Amputation Injury Lawyers for Help

Amputation injuries are among the most devastating and life-altering outcomes a person can experience following a personal injury accident in Kentucky. According to the Amputee Coalition, approximately 2.3 million people in the United States are currently living with limb loss, and that number continues to grow each year. Approximately 45% of all amputations are caused by personal injury accidents, including workplace accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking wrecks, medical malpractice, and other preventable incidents. In addition to causing significant physical burdens, our experienced KY amputation injury lawyers knows that the loss of a limb also results in a staggering financial burden for victims and their families. Unfortunately, defense lawyers and insurance carriers often fail to fairly compensation victims who have loss a limb in a Kentucky accident – even where liability is crystal-clear.

Here at Maze Law Offices, our compassionate and experienced amputation injury attorneys can hold defendants responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and conscious pain and suffering after the loss of a limb in Kentucky. We have fought back against some of the largest insurance carriers and defense law firms in the region, and will not let them protect dangerous defendants who have permanently changed your life. To learn more about how we can hold negligent parties accountable while fighting for full and fair compensation for you, call to schedule a free consultation.

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Common Causes of Amputations in Kentucky

Traumatic amputations can occur in virtually any situation where powerful forces, dangerous machinery, or severe trauma are involved. In Kentucky, victims lose limbs in a wide variety of accidents, many of which are caused by the careless or reckless actions of individuals, companies, or property owners who fail to prioritize safety. When another party’s negligence leads to an amputation injury, the victim has the right to pursue a personal injury claim seeking compensation for all damages related to the loss of their limb.

The most common causes of amputation injuries in Kentucky include the following:

• Car accidents – High-speed car collisions can cause crushing injuries, severe lacerations, and traumatic damage that requires surgical amputation. Limbs may become trapped in wreckage or sustain injuries so severe that amputation becomes medically necessary.
• Trucking accidents – Collisions involving commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and 18-wheelers often result in catastrophic injuries due to the massive size and weight of these vehicles. Victims in smaller passenger vehicles frequently suffer crush injuries that lead to limb loss – sometimes even multiple amputations from a single trucking accident.
• Motorcycle accidents – Motorcyclists lack the protective barriers that enclosed vehicles provide, leaving riders extremely vulnerable to severe leg and arm injuries that may necessitate amputation. As a result, motorcycle accidents often result in the loss of a limb, commonly caused by side-swipe accidents, undercarriage accidents, head-on collisions, or pulled under a tractor-trailer.
• Bicycle accidents – Like motorcyclists, bicyclists also have no protections and often suffer significant limb injuries in even low-speed accidents, resulting in catastrophic injuries resulting in the loss of a limb.
• Workplace accidents – Industrial settings, farming areas, and manufacturing facilities expose workers to heavy machinery, power tools, conveyor systems, and other equipment capable of causing traumatic amputations. Kentucky workers in mining, agriculture, and manufacturing face particularly high risks, as do all construction workers.
• Medical malpractice – Surgical errors, misdiagnosis of conditions affecting blood flow, delayed treatment of infections, and improper management of diabetic complications can all lead to preventable amputations. When healthcare providers fail to meet the standard of care, patients may lose limbs that could have been saved had a medical professional not deviated from the acceptable standard of care in Kentucky.
• Nursing home abuse and neglect – Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities may develop severe pressure ulcers, infections, or complications from untreated diabetes that ultimately require amputation. Negligent nursing homes that fail to provide proper care can be held liable for these devastating outcomes, including due to pressure sores, failure to diagnose sepsis, and other types of serious abuse or neglect.
• Defective products – Dangerous machinery, power tools, vehicles, and other products with design or manufacturing defects can cause severe injuries leading to limb loss. Manufacturers may be held strictly liable for injuries caused by their defective products, including on construction sites or in farming accidents.
• Premises liability incidents – Property owners who fail to maintain safe conditions may be liable when visitors suffer amputation injuries. This includes escalator accidents, elevator malfunctions, and unguarded machinery on commercial properties can all cause traumatic limb loss, as well as severe slip and fall or drip and fall accidents.
• Other types of serious personal injury accidents that our amputation injury lawyers can handle for you and your family.

Common Types of Amputations

Recovering compensation for an amputation injury in Kentucky depends on several important factors, namely the victim’s age, professional, and other pedigree information. These factors apply to nearly all types of personal injury cases. However, with an amputation case, there are other important and case-specific factors such as the type of amputation, the extent of the amputation, and the efforts to save the limb (number of procedures) are all considered when determining what a victim may be entitled to under Kentucky law. That’s because rehabilitation, prosthetic options, and long-term quality of life which can impact the future damages and compensation that a victim may be entitled to.

The most common types of amputations resulting from personal injury accidents or medical malpractice, including from surgery, that our skilled amputation injury lawyers could handle for you include the following: 

• Above-the-knee amputation (transfemoral) – This amputation removes the leg above the knee joint and presents significant challenges for mobility and prosthetic use. Victims require extensive rehabilitation to learn to walk with a prosthetic limb and often case significant limitations.
• Below-the-knee amputation (transtibial) – While still a devastating injury, below-the-knee amputations generally allow for better prosthetic function because the knee joint is preserved. Victims often achieve greater mobility compared to those with above-knee amputations, but still face significant limitations and hardships.
• Above-the-elbow amputation (transhumeral) – Loss of the arm above the elbow significantly impacts a person’s ability to perform daily tasks, work, and care for themselves. Prosthetic options for upper-limb amputations continue to advance but remain challenging to master, and most individuals suffering this type of amputation will face vocational and economical issues with jobs – often requiring new roles or careers entirely, usually at a steep decrease in pay.
• Below-the-elbow amputation (transradial) – Preserving the elbow joint allows for better prosthetic control and function with a below the elbow amputation. However, victims still face substantial limitations in manual dexterity and strength, and often experience extreme pain and suffering at the time of the accident.
• Hand amputation – Loss of one or both hands profoundly affects virtually every aspect of daily life. Even with advanced prosthetics, victims face lifelong challenges with tasks most people take for granted.
• Finger amputation – While sometimes viewed as less severe than other amputations, finger loss can significantly impact a person’s ability to work, particularly in occupations requiring manual dexterity or if the finger is a point, middle, or thumb. Multiple finger amputations can be especially debilitating.
• Foot amputation – Loss of a foot affects balance, mobility, and the ability to walk normally. Victims require specialized prosthetics and often face ongoing issues with the remaining portion of the leg.
• Toe amputation – Toe amputations, particularly of the big toe, can significantly impact balance and gait. Multiple toe amputations compound these difficulties.
• Hip disarticulation – This rare but extremely serious amputation removes the entire leg at the hip joint. Victims face tremendous challenges with mobility and prosthetic use, and often face a lifetime of phantom pain, emotional harm, and significant limitations or disability.
• Shoulder disarticulation – Removal of the entire arm at the shoulder joint represents one of the most challenging amputations for prosthetic fitting and functional recovery. Victims often have phantom pain syndrome and face a prolonged vocational and occupational therapy period, especially if they lost their dominant hand or arm. Our Kentucky amputation injury lawyers also knows that many victims with this type of amputation will have significant difficulty with their career and have a prolonged period of disability, thus requiring more compensation in a legal case.

Compensation for Amputation Injuries in Kentucky

Kentucky law allows amputation victims to seek compensation for the full range of damages they have suffered and will continue to suffer as a result of their injury. Because amputations are permanent and life-altering, these claims often involve substantial damages that reflect the true cost of living without a limb. Although a lawyer is not required to handle an amputation case, the grave nature of this type of injury means that victims significantly benefit from an experienced personal injury lawyer such as Chandler Maze, Esq.

Generally, there are two types of damages in an amputation injury case in Kentucky. Victims are usually entitled to recover both.

Economic Damages for Amputation Injury Cases 

The first is economic damages in amputation cases include all past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, hospitalizations, prosthetics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medications, and home healthcare. Victims can also recover compensation for lost wages from time missed from work during treatment and recovery. 

Perhaps most significantly, amputation victims are entitled to compensation for lost earning capacity, which accounts for the reduction in their ability to earn income over their remaining working years. Other economic damages may include the cost of home modifications, specialized vehicles, adaptive equipment, and any other expenses directly related to the amputation. 

Unlike other types of personal injury cases, economic damages in amputation cases are often very significant because of the future medical needs, prosthetics, and devices.

Non-Economic Damages for Amputation Injury Cases

The second type is non-economic damages, which compensate victims for the intangible but very real harms caused by their injury. These damages include compensation for physical pain and suffering, both from the initial injury and from ongoing complications such as phantom limb pain. Victims also recover damages for emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma associated with losing a limb. Loss of enjoyment of life damages address the ways in which the amputation prevents victims from participating in activities they previously enjoyed. Disfigurement damages recognize the permanent physical changes to the victim’s body.

In cases involving particularly egregious negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. If you believe that may be appropriate in your case, call the Maze Law Offices for help. Our compassionate amputation injury lawyers will carefully evaluate every potential source of compensation in your case to pursue maximum possible recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions for Loss of Limb Injury Cases in Kentucky

Do I need a lawyer to represent me in an amputation case?

No, technically you do not. But the magnitude of harm and significant financial hurdles that case amputation victims really should be only handled by a personal injury lawyer. Defense lawyers and insurance adjusters will do everything they can to limit your compensation, including by playing unfairly to trick you into admitting facts that could hurt your case. 

How much does an amputation injury lawyer in Kentucky cost?

Nothing upfront and nothing until we recover compensation for you in a settlement, verdict, or another type of award. Unlike some other personal injury law firms, at the Maze Law Offices we only get paid a percentage of what we recover from you – and only after we recover it. That means there’s a no win, no fee guarantee. It also means that consultations are free to learn about your legal rights.

Does my family have a claim against a negligent defendant too in an amputation injury case?

Yes, families of someone who lost a limb in a personal injury accident may be entitled to compensation for loss of consortium, loss of support, and other damages due to the negligence of a defendant. These expenses can be significant, especially if a victim can no longer work in the same career.

Still Unsure What Your Legal Rights May Be After Losing a Limb in Kentucky? Call Our Kentucky Amputation Injury Attorneys

Amputation injury cases are complex matters that require an attorney with the knowledge, resources, and dedication necessary to take on powerful defendants such as insurance companies, trucking corporations, and healthcare institutions. Here at Maze Law Offices, our experienced amputation injury lawyers and Chandler Maze bring the skill and commitment needed to handle these challenging cases and fight for the compensation that amputation victims deserve.

If you or someone you love has suffered an amputation injury due to another party’s negligence in Kentucky, you deserve this type of dedicated advocate who will fight tirelessly for your rights. We offer free case evaluations and consultations to learn more about your rights in Kentucky. However, be aware that time limits apply to personal injury claims in Kentucky, so it is important to act promptly to protect your right to compensation before you are procedurally barred from bringing a claim. Contact our Kentucky Legal Team today by dialing (859) 900-9000 or by sending us a message here through our “contact us” box available here and take the first step toward securing the compensation and justice you deserve.

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