Amputations in Car Accidents

Car accidents can cause a variety of injuries. While many people can recover from the wounds sustained in collisions with treatment, some harm, like the loss of a limb, is insurmountable. People who suffer amputations in car accidents typically have to contend with lifelong physical detriments, as well as emotional trauma and financial damages. Fortunately, they have the right to pursue claims against the parties responsible for causing the collisions, to help them recoup some of their losses. If you lost a limb in a car crash caused by a negligent driver, you should meet with a lawyer to discuss your options. The seasoned Cape Cod car accident attorneys of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are proficient at helping people who suffered catastrophic losses due to the negligence of others seek just results, and if we represent you, we will work tirelessly on your behalf. We have more than fifteen decades of collective experience representing people injured by careless drivers, and our zealous representation has enabled us to recover multiple multi-million dollar damages awards for our clients.

Car crashes are the leading cause of amputations. Generally, accidents that occur at a high rate of speed, like rollover crashes and T-bone and head-on collisions, are more likely to result in traumatic amputations, which is when a limb or digit becomes severed by a sharp object. In some instances, a person’s arm, leg, finger, or toes will become entrapped and crushed between parts of the car’s frame. If the damage is severe, doctors may have to perform a surgical amputation, either to because the tissues are damaged beyond repair or because it is necessary to save the person’s life. People who suffer traumatic or surgical amputations often have a lengthy recovery, as they will have to relearn how to do most things with a prosthetic.

Multiple factors can combine to cause a collision, but the root cause of most crashes is careless driving. The majority of car accident lawsuits, then, allege that the defendant acted negligently. In Massachusetts, to recover damages under a theory of negligence, a plaintiff must show that that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. Generally, the duty owed is the obligation to act with reasonable care under the circumstances, but it may be a duty imposed by a statute in some cases. The plaintiff then has to prove the defendant’s actions constitute a breach of the duty. Finally, the plaintiff has to link the defendant’s breach to the harm ultimately suffered. In other words, it has to be proven that the plaintiff would not have been injured absent the defendant’s actions and that the defendant’s behavior was a substantial factor in bringing about the plaintiff’s harm.

A plaintiff that proves a defendant was at fault for a car accident may recover the cost of any medical treatment needed immediately after the accident, or that will be needed in the future. This includes surgery, physical and occupational therapies, and prosthetic devices. A plaintiff that could not work due to an injury may also be awarded lost wages. Additionally, substantial compensation is often granted for the emotional harm, pain, suffering, and mental distress the plaintiff endured because of the loss of a limb.

Amputations in car accidents are devastating. When they are caused by someone else’s carelessness, it is even more shocking. If you suffered an amputation in a car crash, you might be owed considerable damages from the party that caused your harm, and you should meet with a lawyer as soon as possible. At The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, our attorneys can advise you of your potential claims and help you to pursue the full amount of compensation recoverable under the law. We have a record of successful outcomes, including several settlements and verdicts that exceed one million dollars. We represent people in lawsuits arising out of car accidents on Cape Cod, and we can meet with parties in Hyannis and Plymouth. You can contact us through our form online or at (888) 262-6664 to set up a meeting. Nós Falamos Português.