After a traumatic amputation, the hospital bills from the first days or weeks can be enormous. But those bills may only represent a fraction of the financial impact an injured person will experience over a lifetime, which may include:
- Periodic replacement of prosthetic devices.
- Additional surgeries that may become necessary.
- Rehabilitation that continues long after the initial injury heals.
- Modifications to their homes or vehicles
- Ongoing living assistance
- Career changes because you can no longer perform the work you once did.
For these reasons, an amputation settlement should not be evaluated simply by adding up the medical bills that have already arrived.
The experienced Oklahoma City catastrophic injury lawyers at Maples Harrison Zeaman PLLC can investigate the full consequences of the injury and work with appropriate professionals to estimate future losses before settlement negotiations begin.
Why Are Future Damages So Important in an Amputation Claim?
An amputation can permanently change how a person works, moves, cares for themselves, manages pain, and participates in everyday life. That makes accurately evaluating the long-term costs of amputation particularly important.
A settlement resolves a personal injury claim. An injured person typically cannot return years later and demand additional compensation because a prosthetic device needs replacement, another surgery becomes necessary, or their earning capacity declines more than expected.
Depending on the person’s age, occupation, health, level of amputation, and resulting limitations, the value of those future needs could substantially exceed the medical expenses incurred immediately after the accident.
Future Prosthetic Devices, Repairs, and Replacements
A prosthetic limb should not be treated as a one-time expense. Prostheses can require maintenance, adjustments, repairs, replacement components, and eventual replacement of the device itself.
A person’s prosthetic needs may change because of activity level, changes to the residual limb, technological developments, aging, or other medical issues. For someone who is expected to need prosthetic care for decades, projected replacement and maintenance expenses can become a significant component of amputation injury compensation.
Rehabilitation and Physical or Occupational Therapy
Rehabilitation may continue long after an amputee leaves the hospital. Physical therapy may help a person develop strength, balance, mobility, and the ability to use a prosthesis. Occupational therapy can focus on adapting to daily activities, returning to work, or finding new ways to accomplish tasks affected by limb loss.
Some people may need additional rounds of therapy after receiving a new prosthesis, undergoing another operation, developing mobility problems, or experiencing changes in their physical condition.
Additional Surgeries and Continuing Medical Treatment
The operation that results in or completes an amputation may not be the injured person’s final procedure. Depending on the circumstances, an amputee may require revision surgery or treatment for complications affecting the residual limb. Continuing medical care may also involve physicians, surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, prosthetists, and other providers.
A settlement reached shortly after an accident can overlook these potential costs if the claim is evaluated before the person’s long-term medical needs become clear.
Wheelchairs and Other Mobility Equipment
Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, shower equipment, transfer devices, and other mobility aids may be necessary either permanently or periodically. Equipment also wears out and may need maintenance or replacement.
A comprehensive damages analysis should consider the equipment the person may reasonably need over their expected lifetime, not simply what was purchased immediately after the accident.
Home and Vehicle Modifications
Depending on the person’s limitations, home modifications might include ramps, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms, handrails, modified kitchens, stair solutions, or other accessibility improvements.
Transportation may also become more complicated. A person may require adaptive driving controls, wheelchair-accessible transportation, or other vehicle modifications.
Medication and Long-Term Pain Management
Pain does not necessarily disappear when surgical wounds heal. Some amputees experience chronic residual limb pain or phantom limb sensations. Treatment can involve medication, specialist appointments, therapy, or other approaches recommended by medical professionals.
An OKC amputation claim should therefore consider reasonably anticipated pain-management expenses as part of future medical damages rather than focusing exclusively on medications prescribed immediately after the accident.
Lost Wages After an Amputation
An injured worker may lose income while undergoing surgery, rehabilitation, prosthetic fitting, and recovery. Those immediate lost wages are generally easier to identify because they involve income the person has already missed. But returning to work does not necessarily mean the financial impact has ended.
Some amputees will require reduced hours, additional time away for treatment, different duties, or a completely different occupation. The claim should examine how the injury actually affects the person’s ability to earn income rather than assuming that a return to some form of employment eliminates future wage losses.
Talk to an Experienced OKC Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Maples Harrison Zeaman PLLC represents people and families who are facing catastrophic injuries, including limb loss. The firm’s approach emphasizes thorough case preparation and standing up for injured people against powerful defendants and insurance companies.
If an amputation was caused by another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct, we can investigate the circumstances, assess current and future damages, and pursue compensation that reflects the broader impact of the injury.
Our personal injury lawyers have been helping people in OKC since 2002, and we’ve won millions for our clients. The firm’s attorneys draw on extensive personal injury and trial experience to advocate for injured individuals and their families.
To find out how we can help, call (405) 705-5050 and schedule a free consultation today.
FAQs About Amputation Settlements in Oklahoma City
Should I base an amputation settlement only on my current medical bills?
No. Current hospital and surgical bills may represent only part of the financial impact of losing a limb. An amputation can create decades of expenses involving prosthetic devices, rehabilitation, additional medical treatment, mobility equipment, medications, and personal assistance. A settlement should consider reasonably anticipated future losses before the claim is resolved.
Can an amputation settlement include the future cost of prosthetic limbs?
Yes. Depending on the circumstances, amputation injury compensation may include the projected cost of prosthetic devices, replacements, adjustments, repairs, and related care. Because a prosthesis may need to be replaced multiple times, the lifetime cost of a prosthetic limb can be an important part of evaluating damages.
What future medical expenses can be included in an amputation claim?
Potential future medical expenses after amputation can include rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, revision surgeries, prosthetic care, medications, pain management, wheelchairs, mobility equipment, and other necessary treatment.
Can I recover compensation if my amputation affects my ability to work?
Yes. An amputation claim may include wages already lost as well as diminished future earning capacity.
