Three Decades of Service to Auto Accident Victims in Western Washington
Traumatic injuries of all sorts are certainly not uncommon in motor vehicle accidents. In the worst of cases, doctors may be left with no choice but to amputate all or part of a limb to limit the spread of harmful infections, or save the remainder of a limb. These procedures can have significant, long-term consequences. Mark A. Hammer & Associates, Inc., has helped accident victims deal with their injuries for 30 years. Whatever the nature of your automobile accident injury, we are here to help.
What is an Amputation?
The purpose of amputation is to prevent the spread of infection to tissue from a damaged portion of the body. When human tissue is exposed to severe trauma, like certain fractures, blood vessels can be irreparably damaged. These damaged blood vessels can no longer supply the tissue with the necessary blood flow, causing the tissue to die. Infection will set in shortly afterward. Car accidents are a primary cause of injury leading to the necessity of amputation.
Common Consequences of Amputations
The consequences of amputation can be significant. For one, accompanying medical costs can be staggering, much like in cases of severe spinal cord injuries. Every amputation procedure begins with an operation. The operation is then followed by a period of recovery, which may involve a lengthy hospital stay. Recovery is typically succeeded by rehabilitation, or intense physical therapy for the injury. While every step of this process is necessary to get amputees back into good health, the progression can be expensive.
Another consequence of amputation is its affect on an amputee’s lifestyle. It can substantially limit an amputee’s ability to work and earn a living. For amputee’s who enjoyed an active lifestyle prior to their accident, amputation can also affect their ability to do the things they love to do.
These are just a few examples of consequences associated with amputations, but they illustrate why it is important to speak with an experienced attorney. An attorney can help determine the ways in which amputation has affected a victim’s life, and to what extent. Like many victims of car accident burns, amputees can suffer emotionally from their sudden change in appearance. Based on that conversation, the auto accident attorney can explain the legal options available to the accident victim, and the recommended course of action going forward.