Cleveland Amputation Attorney

Amputation Injuries in Ohio

The loss of a limb, whether due to a catastrophic accident or medical necessity, is traumatic. Amputees face numerous physical, emotional, and financial challenges, from dealing with mobility issues and trauma to affording proper medical care and prosthetics. If you or someone you love suffered an amputation injury due to another person or party’s negligent or wrongful actions, you may not have to deal with these challenges on your own.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, we have been representing catastrophically injured victims in Cleveland and throughout Ohio since 1946. We understand what you have been through, and we know how to help you fight for the fair compensation you need to face the hardships that still lay ahead. Our amputation lawyers have successfully recovered over one billion dollars for their clients—reach out to us today to learn how we can help you, too.

Contact us online or call our office today at (216) 600-0114 to discuss your potential case with a member of our team during a free initial consultation.

What Are the Common Causes of Amputation?

Amputation, or the loss of a limb or extremity, is a serious injury that can result from many different types of accidents, traumatic events, and illnesses. In some cases, amputation is a medical necessity; in others, it occurs due to catastrophic bodily injury.

Some of the most common causes of amputation include:

• Traumatic Accidents: Serious accidents, such as motor vehicle collisions, may result in devastating injuries, including accidental amputation. These accidents can lead to the loss of an arm, toe, hand, foot, finger, or toe.
• Workplace Accidents: On-the-job injuries account for a large portion of accidental amputation, especially in high-risk industries, such as construction. Workers may lose a limb after using a defective tool or piece of equipment or due to a serious crush injury.
• Medical Malpractice: Although it is relatively rare, accidental amputation can occur when a surgeon operates on the wrong patient or performs wrong-site surgery, removing a limb that did not need to be amputated.
• Frostbite: Frostbite, also referred to as “cold burns,” may result in significant and irreversible tissue damage, necessitating amputation. In these cases, amputation is not accidental but, rather, a medical necessity.
• Medical Necessity: Aside from frostbite, there are several other conditions that may necessitate the amputation of a limb or extremity. These include cases of cancerous tumor growth, severe infection, and neuroma (thickening of the nerve tissue).

When another person or party negligently causes you injury, you can hold them accountable by filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit and seeking financial compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Our Cleveland amputation attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and options. We have extensive trial experience that we are ready to put on your side.

Amputation Recovery: What to Expect

In some cases, detached limbs/extremities can be surgically reattached. In other cases, the loss of a limb or extremity is permanent. In either case, the recovery process can be lengthy and challenging. However, with proper medical treatment, you can regain muscle strength, improve motor skills, and learn to navigate your new life with immense success.

While every situation is different, we’ve outlined some things you can expect with amputation below:

• In most cases, surgical amputation requires a hospital stay of about 5 to 14 days. This includes time for the procedure and initial recovery.
• You may receive general anesthesia, meaning you will be completely unconscious, or spinal anesthesia, in which case you will be numb from the waist down.
• With surgical amputation, all damaged tissue will be removed and as much healthy tissue as possible will be preserved.
• Your medical team will dress the wound and periodically change the dressings or teach you how to change them.
• You will be monitored in the hospital and, in most cases, administered pain medications. In some cases, pain medication can be used to aid with “phantom pain.”
• Most amputation wounds heal within four to eight weeks, though it can take longer in some cases. Additionally, you may experience lasting emotional distress, which can be treated with professional counseling.
• Your medical team will likely recommend physical rehabilitation therapy. Physical therapy typically begins slowly with gentle exercises, allowing patients to gradually build motor skills, muscle strength, and coordination.
• If appropriate/available, you may be able to receive an artificial limb/prosthetic. Your medical team will be able to walk you through your options and inform you of the next steps.

Fighting for the Fair Recovery You Deserve

There is no easy way to put it: severed limb injuries are devastating. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP, we believe that the negligent party should be held accountable for the pain and suffering you have endured. We work tirelessly to secure the maximum compensation for our clients, allowing them the financial relief they need to obtain proper medical treatment, rehabilitation therapy, and assistive devices, such as prosthetics. A personal injury settlement or jury verdict can also help you manage day-to-day expenses while you are out of work, including if you are unable to return to work at all.

Our Cleveland amputation injury lawyers are ready to listen to your story and advise you on what comes next. As true trial attorneys, we know how to aggressively negotiate with liable insurance companies, and we are fully prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.

In most cases, you only have 2 years to file your personal injury claim. Don’t wait! Contact Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP today at (216) 600-0114 for a free consultation.