Loss of Limb and Amputation Attorneys in San Francisco

Until it happens to you or someone close to you, it’s impossible to understand the mental, emotional, and physical challenges of losing a limb. On average, about 508 Americans lose a limb each day. Nearly half of these amputations are caused by a traumatic injury. People living with limb loss on average pay more than $150,000.00 more in lifetime healthcare costs than able-bodied people. Besides medical bills, such victims are likely to experience wage loss and lengthy rehabilitation therapy.

At the Law Office of Scott R. Herndon, our amputation injury lawyer helps people secure fair compensation for loss of limbs and amputations—especially when it is due to someone else’s negligence. We provide respectful, caring counsel for people with traumatic injuries throughout California, from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Central Valley and Southern California.

Common causes of loss of limbs and amputations

Amputation is the surgical removal of all or part of a limb (arm, leg, foot, hand, toe, finger).

A common cause of amputations is a traumatic injury, where limbs may be lost during the injury or removed surgically after the trauma.

In California, vehicular accidents are the leading cause of adult traumatic amputations. These include injuries caused by

• Car and commercial truck accidents
• Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
• Motorcycle and scooter accidents
• Public transportation (such as taxis, ride-shares, trains, or buses)

Amputations are among the most serious and debilitating job injuries a person can suffer. Oil rig, machine operations, and agricultural jobs are among the jobs where there is a high likelihood of limb loss. But nearly any work environment can be unsafe and result in an injury that could lead to amputation.

According to OSHA, amputations often occur when workers operate unguarded or inadequately safeguarded mechanical components such as

• Points of operation where the machine works on materials
• Power transmission apparatus (flywheels, pulleys, chains, couplings, gears, etc.)
• Parts that move during operations (rotating, sawing, cutting, punching, shearing, bending)

Worker’s compensation covers many costs for those injured on the job, but not all costs – and not all employers and work environments have adequate workers’ compensation. Your amputation injury lawyer can help you get what you are entitled to under California workers’ compensation laws and may also find additional resources to get additional monies you deserve and to hold a negligent employer accountable for your injuries.

Guns are involved in injuries that result in 6.1% of traumatic amputations. In addition, amputations often result from medical negligence (malpractice), home power tool and appliance use, natural disasters, military combat, farm tools and machinery, and sports injuries.

According to a recent study, the most common causes of traumatic amputations in children, adults, and seniors, include:

• Children
  • Caught in mechanisms, doors (16.3%)
  • Machinery (15.6%)
  • Motor vehicle collisions (8%)
  • Firearms (6.1%)
• Adults
  • Motor vehicle collisions (43%)
  • Industrial accidents (26%)
  • Motorcycle accidents (21%)
• Seniors
  • Saws table/power saws (45%)
  • Other tools/products, food processors (32%)
  • Caught in mechanism, doors (10%)
  • Lawnmower (10%)
  • Snowblower (3%)

Regardless of the cause, loss of limb and amputation injuries usually require immediate and ongoing medical care. These injuries also incur immediate and lifelong financial impacts.

Amputation and loss of limb come with financial and other costs

Losing a limb can severely impact financial stability. Besides the loss of income, the costs associated with amputation include those:

• Medical care (surgeons, nursing, and other professionals)
• Hospital stays
• Medications
• Rehabilitation After Losing A Limb: Physical and occupational therapy
• Prosthetics (these can cost thousands of dollars and must be replaced periodically)
• Vocational training
• Home modifications (wheelchair ramp, etc.)
• Vehicle modifications

Many of these costs will go on throughout an amputee’s life and not all of them are covered by insurance or Medicaid.

In addition to these financial costs, more than 35% of amputees suffer from severe clinical depression. Sadness, anger, and frustration are very common and victims suffering from limb loss often experience lifelong pain and physical distress from:

• Phantom pain (the feeling of pain in the missing limb)
• Surgical complications
• Skin problems (from artificial limbs)

California law provides for compensation for people who are injured due to the negligence of others. If your traumatic loss of limb or amputation is due to someone else’s wrongdoing or negligence you should contact an experienced amputation injury lawyer to evaluate your claim. The Law Office of Scott R. Herndon understands the long legal road ahead for people who have suffered traumatic loss of limb injuries and can help you navigate them successfully.

You deserve compensation when someone else is at fault

The Law Office of Scott R. Herndon is dedicated to protecting the dignity of our clients and securing the compensation they deserve. Our experienced, dedicated lawyers can help you traverse the long, arduous road back to an active life. We pride ourselves on humanizing the legal process by giving you and your family members the personal attention we would show our own families. We are personally invested in helping you find the space you need to heal and the resources and commitment you need to prevail in litigation.

Our Amputation Injury Lawyer Treat our Bay Area Loss of Limb and Amputation Clients Like They Are Family

Based in Berkeley, California, The Law Office of Scott R. Herndon is a nationally-recognized, specialty law firm. We represent clients throughout California, from the San Francisco Bay Area to Central Valley and Southern California, many of whom have suffered serious personal injuries such as the loss of a limb. Scott R. Herndon’s experience as a philosopher, professor, athlete, and author, makes him different from other personal injury lawyers. He is devoted to paying extraordinary attention to each client. He listens carefully, does his research, and advocates with the mind of a professor, the attention to detail of an artist, and the focused determination of an athlete.

If you or a family member has suffered a traumatic amputation injury, call (415) 360-5477 or contact us online for a free consultation.