South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Victims who suffer amputation injuries often face a lifetime of constant struggles and challenges when trying to perform daily activities. Seeking financial compensation to cover the costs and financial losses related to your amputation injuries shouldn’t be one of them. This is why it is critical to speak with a licensed lawyer about your amputation injury claim. Serious injury law can often involve complex details that can be difficult to manage without the help of an experienced legal professional.
The law firm of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers offers free, initial claim evaluations for amputation injury victims throughout the West Palm Beach area (by appointment only). We require no obligations to discuss whether your claim may be eligible for financial compensation.
Our knowledgeable attorneys have been working with serious injury law cases for more than 40 years combined. Our goal is to help injury victims hold negligent parties liable for damages such as medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and property damages.
Below, we explain how you can seek compensation to cover your damages, along with some helpful tips to maximize the value of your amputation injury claim. Taking certain precautions could make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.
What to Do After an Amputation Injury
Amputation injuries can be difficult for victims and their loved ones to overcome. Amputation injury victims are often stuck in a state of shock and may not know how to react when dealing with the mental trauma often associated with an amputation injury.
If you or someone you care for was the victim of an injury that resulted in an amputation, be sure to do the following to preserve the value of your claim:
Report the Incident
Whether you sustained your amputation injury due to a vehicle crash, slip and fall, workplace accident, medical malpractice, or some other accident that was caused by another’s negligence, it is critical to report it to the proper authorities. For instance, a serious car crash should be reported to the police. As such, a slip and fall should be reported to the property owner and a workplace accident should be reported to your supervisor and human resources department.
Obtaining a copy of the accident report is a good way to add credibility to your claim, including when, where, and how your injury occurred. If you are having difficulty obtaining a copy of the accident report, your lawyer may be able to obtain it on your behalf.
Attend All Medical Appointments
Amputation injuries may require you to attend follow-up medical appointments to monitor your overall health and prevent your condition from worsening. If you fail to attend medical appointments recommended by your doctor, the insurance company may deny your claim, saying that your injuries could have improved, had you attended all of your appointments. This includes recommendations for physical therapy, rehabilitative services, and psychological/emotional therapy.
Attending all necessary medical appointments and receiving the required treatments recommended by your doctor could not only help you preserve the value of your claim, but also can help improve your condition.
Document Your Injuries
If you are able to do so, take photos or videos of your injuries immediately after the accident and during the recovery process. This could be used as valuable evidence to help support your amputation injury claim.
Be sure to save copies of all medical bills and diagnostic reports related to your amputation injuries. These documents are the most crucial forms of evidence you will need to seek the full amount of compensation that may be required to cover the costs for your medical care. A good lawyer will ensure that you are seeking enough compensation to cover any past, present, or future healthcare needs, including rehabilitative services and at-home care, if needed.
You should also keep a personal medical journal to document your experiences. This should include:
- Dates and locations of medical appointments you attended
- Any pain and suffering you endured at the time of the accident and during the recovery process
- Any mental or emotional effects related to your amputation injuries
Record Witness Information
If witnesses were present at the time of your accident, we highly recommend obtaining their contact information, if possible. This should include names, addresses, and phone numbers for anyone who may have witnessed the events leading up to the accident.
Having credible witnesses back your claim could carry significant weight when determining fault for an accident in a personal injury claim. If possible, try to get the witnesses to provide a written statement or video recording describing how the accident occurred. If this is not possible, your attorney can contact the witnesses later on your behalf.
Wait for Maximum Medical Improvement
While amputation injuries can dramatically alter a person’s lifestyle, many victims are able to adjust and go on to live productive, independent lives when they receive the care they need. If you or someone you care for was the victim of an amputation injury, waiting for maximum medical improvement is highly recommended so that you can pursue the full amount of compensation you may need to make a healthy recovery. This means you should wait until your doctor declares your injuries are stable and are not expected to improve.
If you choose to accept an early settlement offer from the insurance companies involved, you might not obtain the full amount of funds you may need for the future.
How Could I Recover Funds?
There are various ways you could pursue financial compensation after sustaining an amputation injury. You could be compensated for:
- Medical procedures/surgeries
- Follow-up treatments or appointments
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy/rehabilitative services
- Assistive medical devices (wheelchairs, prosthetics, etc)
- Any home improvements needed to accommodate your impairment
Besides recovering funds to cover your medical expenses, you could seek monetary compensation for lost wages if you missed work or loss of future wages, if you can no longer return to work in the same capacity. This includes any work-related benefits or bonuses you would have gained, had you not been injured.
If you were involved in a car accident and sustained damage to your vehicle, you could be eligible to recover the repair costs or have it replaced, if necessary.
Contact a Lawyer to Learn Your Rights
While you may think you can handle your injury claim on your own, you may not be able to seek the full amount of compensation you may legally deserve without the help of an experienced lawyer on your side. Injury victims who hire legal representation usually win larger settlement amounts when compared to those who choose to represent themselves.
Contact a reputable attorney at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers today to set up a no-cost, initial evaluation of your amputation injury claim. Our compassionate attorneys understand the physical and emotional toll amputation injury victims and their families must endure. Let our team of legal professionals guide you through the legal process, so you can focus on a healthy recovery.
Our firm is committed to helping West Palm Beach injury victims and their families by helping them hold negligent parties accountable for the damages they create. Our knowledgeable lawyers have more than four decades of combined legal experience working with serious injury law.
Simply dial (561) 800-8000 to speak to a licensed attorney or fill out a free online form to start the process.