Have you or a loved one suffered an amputation injury in Las Vegas, NV? Losing a limb is a life-altering event that can affect every part of your life, from your ability to work to your independence. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, a lawyer can help you fight for fair compensation to secure your financial future.
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers has tirelessly fought for amputation victims in the Valley since 1989. We are prepared to stand by your side and hold the responsible parties accountable. Contact our firm today at (702) 222-9999 to schedule a free consultation with a Las Vegas amputation injury lawyer to discuss your case and how we can help you.
Overview of Amputation Injuries
An amputation refers to the loss of a limb or appendage. There are two main types of amputation injuries:
- Surgical amputation is the intentional removal of all or a portion of a limb due to infection, disease, or damage
- Traumatic amputation happens when an extremity is severed or suffers irreparable damage from a sudden injury or accident
There are 185,000 amputation surgeries performed in the U.S. every year. About 45% of amputations are traumatic, whether an appendage is torn off or severed in an accident or so badly damaged that it must be surgically removed.
Nearly two million Americans are living with the loss of a limb. These catastrophic injuries often result in disability, nerve damage, residual limb pain, and phantom limb pain.
Types of Traumatic Amputations
Limb loss is usually classified as upper extremity or lower extremity. It may also be described by the level of amputation, or the amount of the limb that remains.
Upper extremity amputation levels are:
- Finger or part of the hand (transcarpal)
- At the wrist (wrist disarticulation)
- Below the elbow (transradial)
- Above the elbow (transhumeral)
- At the shoulder (shoulder disarticulation)
- Above the shoulder (forequarter)
Almost three-quarters of upper-body amputations are below the elbow.
Lower extremity amputation levels are:
- Toe or part of the foot (transmetatarsal)
- At the ankle (ankle disarticulation)
- Below the knee (transtibial)
- At the knee (knee disarticulation)
- Above the knee (transfemoral)
- At the hip (hip disarticulation)
70% of limb loss affects the lower limbs.
What Causes Most Amputation Injuries in Las Vegas, Nevada?
Diabetes and peripheral vascular disease are responsible for more than half of amputations in the U.S., particularly lower leg amputations. Trauma is responsible for about 45% of amputations.
Common types of accidents that cause loss of limb in Las Vegas include:
- Car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and other motor vehicle collisions
- Accidents involving machinery and power tools, often due to a lack of machine guards. 58% of work-related amputation injuries involve machinery, and 7% involve tools.
- Workplace accidents, particularly in construction
- Fireworks and explosives, including combat-related injuries. An estimated 4% of fireworks injuries are traumatic amputations with 2,500 fireworks-related ER visits in the U.S. on the Fourth of July every year.
- Serious burns that cause extensive damage
- Crush injuries that damage tissue beyond repair
- Electrical shock injuries that cause tissue death and extensive damage
Amputations may also be necessary due to complications of an injury such as poor healing or secondary infection. They may even be necessary when medical malpractice causes serious complications or a defective product causes severe injury.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Traumatic Amputation in Nevada?
If someone else caused your injury, you may seek compensation for your economic losses and non-economic damages. These damages may include:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical costs related to your accident
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Physical and psychological pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
In limited cases that go to trial, a jury may award punitive damages.
If your injury was work-related, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation, but you may have a third-party case to pursue additional damages.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for an Amputation Injury Lawsuit In Nevada?
In most cases, Nevada law gives you two years from the date you were injured to file a personal injury lawsuit. This statute of limitations may be paused or tolled in limited cases. The time limit may not start until the cause of your injury is discovered, if it wasn’t immediately apparent.
You may have more or less time to pursue compensation depending on the circumstances. This is why it’s crucial to consult with an amputation injury lawyer as soon as possible. If you miss the deadline for your case, you will lose your right to recover any compensation.
Contact Our Las Vegas Amputation Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you have suffered a life-changing loss of limb in Las Vegas, NV, and believe it was someone else’s fault, you deserve justice and compensation to move forward. De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers is here to help. We will put our century of combined experience to work for you.
Schedule a free consultation with a Las Vegas amputation injury lawyer today to discuss how we can help and explore your legal options.