Boston Amputation Injury Lawyer

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Accidents that cause traumatic or medical amputation of body parts are usually devastating for victims and can produce a lifetime of disability. There are several different types of accidents that can produce harm. Furthermore, these accidents can be suffered by workers in a variety of different occupations.

Thankfully, if you suffered an amputation injury, you may be entitled to monetary damages for the harm you sustained. However, navigating path to compensation can be complicated. During a free assessment of your case, our legal team can explain the appropriate course of action.

After suffering an amputation injury in Boston, seek guidance from our experienced amputation injury lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan by dialing (617) 925-6407 today.

Boston Attorney for Amputations and Limb Loss at Work

Amputation injuries occur more regularly than people realize, and the results can be catastrophic. In some cases, victims suffer traumatic amputation injuries where their body parts are immediately separated because of their accidents. Meanwhile, others will have their body parts surgically amputated in order to manage other issues like tissue damages and infection.

There are several different types of workplace accidents that can cause amputation injuries. Fortunately, victims of any of the following types of accidents can seek support from our amputation injury attorneys:

Construction Accidents

Construction sites are a common location where amputation injuries can happen. For example, workers on construction sites often sustain such injuries because of falling accidents, crushing accidents, vehicle collisions, and accidents caused by defective products. Victims of such accidents may be entitled to financial compensation.

Heavy Machinery Accidents

Those who work with heavy machinery also regularly suffer amputation injuries. Specifically, those who operate machinery used for metal, woodworking, and special material are at a high risk of suffering such harm. According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who utilized metal, woodworking, or special material machinery were involved in 1,660 amputations in 2018.

Explosive Accidents

Furthermore, accidents involving firearms, fireworks, and explosives are also a common source of amputation injuries. In many instances, these accidents lead to the loss of upper limbs, hands, and fingers. Explosive accidents are often related to operator negligence, third-party negligence, and defective products. After an explosive accident that occurs at work, our legal team can help injured parties identify the source of their injuries and determine the best path to financial compensation

Amputations Caused by Infection

When an infection occurs, it can lead to the death of tissue or tissue necrosis because of poor blood supply to the affected region. Accordingly, when limbs become infected, victims may require surgical amputations to prevent themselves from suffering additional harm.

In some cases, amputations are necessary because affected limbs become too damaged to be salvaged. Meanwhile, others must have their limbs amputated to prevent an infection from spreading to another part of their bodies.

The road to recovery after an amputation injury can be highly painful and complex. Victims often require significant amounts of physical therapy and rehabilitation. If you suffered a workplace accident resulting in an infection that required your limb to be amputated, then you may be entitled to a substantial amount of monetary damages for the harm you endured.

Common Workplace Hazards that Can Cause Amputation

There are many types of workplace hazards that can cause amputation injuries. Specifically, there are various types of machine components and mechanical motions that are especially hazardous.

For instance, the point of operation is the area of a machine where it performs work on material. This mechanical component presents a significant amputation hazard. In addition to the point of operation, power-transmission apparatuses that transmit energy also pose a high risk of causing amputation injuries. Pulleys, flywheels, chains, belts, spindles, cams, couplings, and gears are all examples of power-transmission apparatuses. Finally, all other components that move during machine operation like reciprocating, rotating, and transverse moving parts are also considered hazards that can cause amputation.

In addition to machine components, there are specific types of mechanical motion that are hazardous. Examples of hazardous mechanical motions include devices that rotate, reciprocate, transverse, cut, punch, shear, and bend. Additionally, mechanical motions that involve in-running nip points or “pinch points” also present a high risk of causing amputations.

There are certain safety devices that can be utilized to mitigate the potential risk of amputation posed by the aforementioned components and mechanical motions. For instance, guards can be placed on machinery that provide barriers preventing easy access to hazardous components. Furthermore, there are certain devices that can interrupt the normal cycle of a machine when an operator’s body part touches the point of operation.

Boston Attorney for Amputations After Vehicles Accidents and Other Personal Injury Situations

After some accidents that cause amputation injuries, victims may be able to file lawsuits against at-fault parties. Our legal team can help plaintiffs evaluate the strength of their potential claims.

Vehicle Accidents

Vehicle accidents are one of the most common sources of amputation injuries. Crashes involving cars, motorcycles, busses, large trucks, and bicycles can all lead to such harm. Typically, accidents that occur at high speeds and those involving larger vehicles have a higher propensity to result in amputations.

Victims of vehicles accidents often suffer traumatic amputations. However, victims can also suffer various types of injuries that prompt healthcare professionals to call for surgical amputations. The arms, ears, hands, fingers, feet, toes, and legs are all common body parts regularly affected by vehicle accidents.

If you suffered an amputation injury as the result of a vehicle accident, then you may be able to sue the at-fault motorist for the damages you incurred. In order for your case to succeed, you must prove that your accident happened as the result of the defendant’s negligence.

Other Personal Injury Situations

There are several other types of accidents that may give rise to amputation injury lawsuits. For example, someone who suffers a slip and fall from a balcony may suffer a traumatic amputation. Furthermore, a patient who receives negligent care from hospital staff may develop an infection that later requires the patient to undergo a surgical amputation.

In any case, if your amputation injury happened as the result of another party’s negligence, then you may be able to sue them for the damages you incurred. The team at our law firm is prepared to review your potential case for free.

Get Legal Help After a Partial Finger Amputation

A finger amputation is a highly painful and debilitating injury. Those who suffer finger amputations may experience detrimental effects on their abilities to work and enjoy their lives. Thankfully, with assistance from our amputation injury attorneys, victims may be able to recover significant compensation for the harm they sustained.

Seeking monetary damages for a partial finger amputation can be a tiresome and complicated process. The legal strategies and analyses used in your case may vary depending on the source of your injury.

Common Causes of Traumatic Finger Injuries

Workplace accidents are a very common source of traumatic finger injuries. These accidents often happen while workers are interacting with dangerous equipment, machinery, and tools.

Additionally, many people suffer traumatic finger injuries as the result of car accidents. Victims typically suffer these injuries when their fingers are trapped between two hard surfaces. However, damaged tendons can also result from the crushing or hyperextension of limbs.

Dog bites are also a common source of traumatic finger injuries. In certain cases, pet owners can be held responsible for the bite injuries their dogs cause. However, dog bite cases can be complex. Pursuing a claim against a dangerous pet’s owner can be difficult without assistance from our team.

Finally, many traumatic finger injuries occur because of defective products. When a product has been improperly designed, manufacturer, or marketed, its operator can suffer serious harm. If you sustained a partial finger amputation because of a defective product, then you may be able to bring a claim against the product’s designer, seller, or manufacturer.

What’s a Good Settlement After Limb or Finger Amputation

Determining what a good settlement is after a limb or finger amputation can be a complicated process. Every victim’s case is unique and there are a wide range of factors that must be analyzed when determining the amount of compensation to award. Still, there are certain types of monetary damages that you should not miss out on when pursuing an amputation injury lawsuit:

Medical Expenses

First, you can obtain payment for any medical expenses related to your finger amputation. This includes the cost of all past, current, and future care related to your injury. Usually, these damages are easily established using your medical records and bills.

You should be sure to attend all follow up appointments and continue taking any prescribed medication after suffering an amputation injury. If you discontinue treatment, then the defendant in your case may argue that you are no longer hurt.

Lost Income

In most cases, those who suffer finger amputations are forced to spend time away from work during their recoveries. If you were forced to miss work, then you may be entitled to compensation for any lost income you incurred. These damages will likely be calculated using your average weekly wage.

Furthermore, if your amputation injury permanently prevents you from performing work in the future, then you may be entitled to monetary damages for your lost future earning capacity. However, these cases can be complex. Expert witness testimony is often necessary to support a claim for lost income in the future.

Physical Pain

Many finger amputations cause victims to endure great amounts of physical pain. The experience of having your hand crushed or trapped between heavy machinery can be excruciating. Thankfully, plaintiffs in amputation injury lawsuits can also pursue financial compensation for the physical pain they experienced.

Emotional Trauma

In addition to causing physical pain, finger amputations can also lead to significant emotional trauma. For instance, someone who suffers a finger amputation may be restricted from participating in their favorite hobbies after their accident. In that case, the plaintiff may be able to recover substantial payment for the emotional anguish caused by their amputation injury.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Finally, you may be able to recover payment for a range of out-of-pocket expenses stemming from your finger amputation. For example, you may need to pay for help with child care during your recovery. Furthermore, you may need to pay for assistance with transportation to your court proceedings and medical appointments. Such expenses may be included in your claim against the at-fault party.

Damages for out-of-pocket expenses are usually proven using receipts and other financial documents. Therefore, you should keep the receipts for any expenses you incur because of your amputation injury.

How to Establish Fault After an Amputation

In order for your amputation injury lawsuit to prevail, you must be able to prove that your accident occurred as the result of another party’s negligence. There are many different types of evidence that can be used to accomplish this task.

Witness Testimony

First, witness testimony is one of the most effective types of evidence used to prove fault for amputation injuries. For example, if your amputation injury happened as the result of a vehicle accident, then witness testimony may establish that your crash occurred because another driver ran a red light. Further, a witness statement may prove that your construction site accident happened because of a defective product. After suffering an amputation injury, you should attempt to retrieve contact information from witnesses at the scene if you can.

Photos from the Scene

In addition to gathering contact information from witnesses, you should try to take photos at the scene of your accident if possible. Photos from the scene are another valuable form of evidence that can be used to prove fault for an amputation injury. For instance, photos may identify factors that contributed to your harmful slip and fall accident.

Personal Recollections

Finally, your personal recollection of your accident can be helpful when proving fault for your amputation injury. It is difficult to know which details surrounding your accident may become important during a later stage of your case. Accordingly, you should attempt to record a personal recollection of your accident while your memory is fresh.