Most car crashes only cause property damage or minor injuries. However, collisions are one of the top causes of catastrophic injuries in the United States. A car crash can cause a brain injury or damage to the spinal cord.
People can also lose body parts because of motor vehicle collisions. Limb loss or amputation is one of the most catastrophic injuries possible. Not only does the injury itself potentially endanger someone’s life, but the loss of a body part inevitably affects their daily life and earning potential.
There are two common ways in which car crashes may lead to limb loss. Both scenarios can lead to extensive financial losses.
Immediate traumatic amputation
Crashes that occur at high speeds or that involve a major difference in the size of the vehicles can cause immediate traumatic amputation. Particularly when someone does not utilize safety restraints or has a body part extended out the window, the risk of amputation is high.
Those who experience traumatic amputation at the scene of a collision are at risk due to high levels of blood loss. They may develop severe infections. Traumatic amputations frequently result in permanent nerve damage that causes lifelong pain symptoms.
Delayed medical amputation
People can suffer a host of injuries during a crash that force medical professionals to make a difficult choice. If the damage to a body part is so severe that medical professionals cannot reverse or treat the damage, they may have to make the difficult decision to surgically remove a body part.
Crush injuries are a leading cause of surgical amputation after car wrecks. Essentially, if the damage to bones and soft tissue is too expensive, the best treatment option may be to remove the affected body part instead of trying to treat the damage caused by the car crash.
While surgical amputations are safer and cleaner than traumatic amputations, they can still result in nerve damage and long-term functional limitations. Those who experience limb loss or other catastrophic injuries may need help securing financial compensation. Insurance coverage may not be adequate to pay for medical care costs and replace lost wages.
Looking into filing a personal injury lawsuit can be an appropriate reaction to a car crash that causes a catastrophic injury. Those who explore every option for financial reimbursement can potentially limit the long-term economic setbacks caused by a collision caused by another’s negligence.