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Amputations And Disfigurements

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Some of the most catastrophic and life-changing injuries a person can suffer are amputations and disfigurements. Amputations involve the removal of a limb, such as an arm or a leg, or a digit, such as a toe or finger. Disfigurement involves permanent damage to the skin or muscles. It is often caused by a burn.

Amputations are more common than you may think. In the United States, 1.9 million people are suffering from limb loss. In 2014, 11,173 amputations occurred in Florida hospitals. Most were performed on older individuals (45-84 years old).

While most amputations are caused by diabetes and other medical conditions, 45% are caused by some sort of trauma. These include dog bites, chemical burns, fires, road rash, car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and amusement park accidents. 

What Makes Them So Catastrophic?

Amputations and disfigurements are serious injuries. Both are permanent injuries that cause physical and emotional trauma. Disfigurement leads to significant scarring, which can be helped to some degree with skin grafts, but cannot be fully healed. Amputation is a major surgical procedure that can affect a person’s mobility and ability to perform many daily tasks. While prosthetic limbs are often an option, they are still very different from having a real arm or leg.

Another thing to consider is that these injuries are expensive to treat. They require multiple forms of medical treatment, including surgeries, medications, physical therapy, medical equipment, and psychological treatment.

Dealing With Legal Issues

Proving that your amputation or disfigurement case was caused by a negligent third party can be complicated. You’ll need expert witnesses and medical evidence. Depending on how the injury took place, you may also have to deal with various types of law. This may include medical malpractice law, product liability law, and workers’ compensation law.

Another legal issue you’ll need to deal with is the statute of limitations. This refers to the time limit for filing your claim. This varies from state to state. In Florida, for the most part, you will have four years from the date of the injury to file your claim.  However, if your amputation or disfigurement was caused  by medical malpractice, you will have just two years to file a claim. Once the time period is up, you are barred from recovering compensation. Therefore, you should seek legal help right away. Time is of the essence.

Contact Us Today 

Amputations and disfigurements are not reversible. Once they happen, the injury stays forever, although scientific advances can help to some degree.

If your catastrophic injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s time to seek legal help. These injuries are very costly and you’ll need all the compensation you can get. Let the Florida amputation injury lawyers at Meldon Law protect your legal rights and help you understand your options for financial recovery. To schedule a free consultation, call (800) 373-8000 or fill out the online form. We have three offices to serve you: Gainesville, Ocala, and Fort Lauderdale.

Resource:

amputee-coalition.org/resources/florida/

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