Michigan Amputation Injury Lawyer

A Michigan amputation injury lawyer can help if your loss of limb was caused by an accident or medical malpractice. Since 1969, the Buckfire Law Firm has won top injury settlements and verdicts in Michigan for amputees who have lost a limb in an accident or due to medical negligence.

Our experienced personal injury attorneys represent amputees in civil lawsuits. Amputation injuries affect a person’s life in many ways. This includes mobility, employment, and the ability to take care of themselves. It also impacts a person’s day-to-day activities of daily living.

• Amputation Injuries
• Michigan Accidents Causing Limbs to be Amputated
• Amputation Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice
• What are the Damages in Michigan Amputation Injury Lawsuits?

Limb Loss & Amputation Statistics

Approximately 2 million people in the United States have suffered a loss of a limb. The primary causes are vascular disease (54%), trauma (45%) and cancer (less than 2%).

Statistics show that 85% of lower limb amputations are preceded by a foot ulcer. It is estimated that there are 185,000 amputations in the United States each year.

Amputation Injuries

Many amputations are traumatic and occur at the time of an accident. However, others are the result of medical malpractice in the performance of surgery and other procedures. The most common amputations involve an amputated leg, foot, arm, and hand. Feet, toes, and fingers are often amputated due to negligence.

Some amputations are complete, meaning a full separation of the limb at the time of an incident. Other amputations are considered incomplete. This means the body part is crushed and later requires amputation.

Additionally, a degloving injury occurs when the skin, nerves, blood vessels, and muscles are torn from the body tissue and sometimes to the bone. This amputation type can be caused by a motor vehicle accident or a defective piece of machine equipment.

Michigan Accidents Causing Limbs to be Amputated

A person can suffer an amputation injury in a number of ways. It can be through direct trauma or a later time when medical care cannot save the limb.

Common Michigan accidents causing amputations include:

• Motor vehicle accidents resulting in severe trauma to a limb
• Defective consumer products, like chairs, kitchen appliances, and other items
• Exploding devices, like fireworks
• Dangerous toys, playground equipment, and recreational equipment
• Boating, jet ski accidents, and other recreational activities
• Firearms and sports accidents
• Household and industrial tools, like chainsaws, lawnmowers, and other tools with sharp blades
• Farm equipment accidents
• Industrial accidents, like machine presses and similar manufacturing equipment that lack proper safety devices and mechanisms, or those in which the devices were removed by the employer

You can sue the party responsible for your amputation injury. An experienced Michigan amputation attorney will gather all the necessary evidence to prove that someone’s negligence resulted in you losing a limb.  Our lawyers will work hard to win you the highest possible settlement in an amputation injury case.

Amputation Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice

Negligent medical care and monitoring can lead to the amputation of limbs and other body parts.

The most common amputation injuries caused by medical malpractice include:

• Failure to diagnose a blood clot
• Amputation of fingers and toes after heart surgery
• Failure to bring a patient to emergency surgery for the restoration of blood flow
• Not diagnosing and timely treating compartment syndrome
• Failing to treat a patient with an injury to a limb
• Diabetes and pressure ulcers not properly treated
• Medication errors and mistakes
• Wrong site surgery

Doctors, surgeons, and hospitals can be held liable for mistakes that result in an amputation. Many of these injuries are preventable with proper care and treatment. 

What are the Damages in Michigan Amputation Injury Lawsuits?

Lawsuits for amputation injury victims result in very substantial settlements. Compensation is available for two types of recoverable damages for an injury victim. These are economic losses and non-economic losses. Both types of damages are claimed in a Michigan lawsuit.

Economic Losses

Economic losses refer to the financial losses and harm suffered by the injury victim. In amputation cases, this is a substantial portion of total damages.

Amputee patients can require multiple surgeries and lengthy rehabilitation services. Wound care treatment is often required on an ongoing basis.

Many amputee patients require prosthetic limbs and other costly medical devices. These are necessary for the mobility of the patient, as well as other functions. Prosthetic limbs have their own life span and must be replaced on a periodic basis. The future cost of these devices is factored into a settlement.

Many amputee patients suffer career-ending or disabling injuries. This results in a loss of income and the opportunity to work. Settlements include compensation for the loss of both past and future lifetime earnings.

Finally, many patients require modifications of their existing home or even a new home. Vehicle modifications are also needed for many people to maintain their independence and drive.

Our amputation injury lawyers often hire certified life care planners and occupational therapists to determine the needs of the patient. This includes both current and future needs.

We then hire an economist to determine the lifetime cost of these expenses and losses to get the highest possible settlement for our client.

Non-Economic Losses

Non-economic losses are often referred to as pain and suffering damages. In many cases, this type of compensation is greater than the non-economic losses. For cases involving an amputation injury, the plaintiff usually receives a combination of both damages.

Non-economic losses include compensation for physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma, fright and shock, and permanent disfigurement. In addition, settlement payouts include money for a loss of enjoyment of life.

Many amputees can no longer participate in activities enjoyed before the injury. Other times, activities are severely limited. Compensation is awarded for these losses.

Michigan Amputation Injury Case Study

The plaintiff was driving his vehicle on I-94 in Michigan when he was hit by a truck. His vehicle was forced into oncoming traffic and was struck be semi-truck. His car was severed in half.

As a result, the driver suffered a double amputation injury. He lost one leg above the knee and he had a below knee amputation on the other leg. The truck companies disputed liability in the lawsuit. Just before a jury trial, the case settled with a $9 million payment to the Plaintiff.

Contact a Michigan Amputation Injury Attorney

If you or a family member suffered an amputation injury, contact our law office immediately to learn more about your legal rights.

There are strict time limitations for filing personal injury cases in Michigan. If you wait too long, your case may be barred forever.

Call our Michigan amputation injury lawyers now to start on your case. We charge no legal fees whatsoever unless you receive a settlement check. It also costs you nothing to get started.

Michigan Amputee Resources

• University of Michigan Guide for Persons with Limb Loss
• Amputee Coalition (Michigan)
• National Limb Loss Information Center