Around 185,000 amputations are performed annually by medical professionals in the US, and the rate of mortality within five years of amputation for vascular patients is nearly 50%, and experts say it’s more than likely a patient who loses one leg or arm to diabetes will have to undergo a second amputation within the next few years. Undergoing an amputation or having limbs severed is perhaps one of the most severe and life-altering situations a person can find themselves in after an accident or sustaining bodily trauma.
That’s why the amputation and severed limb lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick are your best choice for Cleveland-area personal injury cases. Together, they have decades of combined experience dealing with severe medical issues that can have long-term physical, psychological, and financial impact. If you or someone you know has experienced traumatic limb removal or amputation as the result of a work accident, truck accident, or other issue, you need stellar legal advice as you navigate the complexities of medical, litigation, and insurance processes in Ohio.
What Constitutes an Amputation?
Amputation is the removal of a limb or body part that has sustained irreversible disease or injury. Blood vessel diseases, particularly related to diabetes, cancerous tumors, and forced-trauma accidents are major catalysts in doctors choosing to amputate a person’s limbs. Other serious infections – such as gangrene or frostbite – and severe birth defects can also prompt medical professionals to amputate. Common amputation areas are located in the lower body, particularly in the legs, feet, and toes, and especially when associated with blood vessel disturbance.
Causes for Limb Loss and Amputation
Almost two million people in the US currently live with limb loss, according to statistics compiled by the nation’s Amputee Coalition, and approximately 1,334,918 Ohioans alone – roughly 13.5% of the state’s adults – have diabetes.
Primary causes for losing limbs are:
- Vascular disease, particularly diabetes
- Trauma
- Cancer
Limb Loss and amputations are irreversible solutions to critical life problems. They not only result in a drastic lifestyle change for patients who undergo them, but also have long-lasting effects on a person’s emotional and psychological psyche.
Cost Associations with Amputations and Limb Loss
The high number of amputations and severed limbs in the US comes with a steep financial burden. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, estimates put the annual monetary cost of amputations at around $8.3 billion each year, and diabetes alone – including and beyond amputations – exceeds annual costs of $245 billion.
Amputations from Trauma/Accidents
Amputations and severed limbs from sustained trauma forces – such as car accidents and motorcycle accidents – often occur in the upper body. Leading causes of trauma-related amputations and loss of limbs include:
According to statistics compiled by the Industrial Safety and Hygiene Review, partial hand amputations – including the loss of one or more fingers – is the most common trauma-related amputation, and the ages primarily affected by traumatic amputations is within the 15-40 range.
Our Cleveland Amputation and Severed Limb Lawyers Can Help You
Amputations and limb loss is a life-altering situation; it can lead to physical, psychological, and financial damage. Our amputation and severed limb lawyers at KNR are able to help guide you through the strenuous legal process so you can focus on recovery. If you or a loved one have experienced an amputation or limb loss and want to know if you qualify for restitution, contact one of our Cleveland attorneys today.
Amputations and severed limbs are not the only issues for which our experienced legal team at Kisling, Nestico & Redick can help you seek compensation. Ohio personal injury and amputation lawyers at KNR have decades of combined experience in winning cases related to a wide variety of injuries, automobile accidents, rideshare accidents, accidental deaths, workers compensation issues and many types of litigation issues. Based in eleven locations around Ohio including Cleveland, we cover extensive legal ground.
If you have any questions regarding amputation or severed limb accidents, call our Cleveland personal injury attorneys at (216) 658-1330 or contact us via our online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Ohio amputation attorney.
