Amputation occurs when a limb or part of a limb is removed through surgery, illness, or in some cases, trauma. According to research originally published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1.6 million Americans were living with loss of a limb as of 2005. The study predicted that number to more than double by 2050, with 3.6 million Americans suffering from loss of limb. At the time the study was published in 2008, 1 in 190 Americans were living with loss of limb.
While amputation sometimes occurs because it is medically necessary, another major cause of amputations is trauma. Accidental amputations can completely alter a person’s life, affecting everything from their jobs to their relationships to their daily activities. The saddest part is that many accidental amputations are preventable and occur because of negligence on the part of someone else.
If you have suffered from loss of limb due to someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to recover compensation for costs including medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more. If you are the victim of an accidental amputation in Maine, reach out to our team at Mann Law today for a free consultation. Our Maine loss of limb and amputation lawyers will review your case, discuss your legal options, and help you pursue the compensation you need to financially recover in the wake of a catastrophic injury.
Suffered a Catastrophic Limb Amputation?
Losing a limb due to an accident or medical error can change your life in an instant. You may be facing physical limitations, extensive medical bills, and the uncertainty of long-term recovery. You deserve compassionate guidance and strong legal support to hold responsible parties accountable and secure the compensation you need.
Amputation injuries are life‑altering and traumatic: Losing a limb due to someone else’s negligence affects physical ability, emotional health, and daily independence, requiring long-term recovery and support.
Accidental amputations occur in many settings: These injuries can result from car or truck accidents, workplace hazards, electrocution, explosions, or medical errors.
You could be entitled to significant compensation: Victims may recover for medical care, lost income, prosthetics, therapy, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Evidence is crucial to proving negligence: Police reports, witness accounts, medical records, and accident documentation strengthen your case and establish liability.
An experienced Maine catastrophic injury lawyer can guide your case: A skilled attorney investigates the accident, identifies responsible parties, and fights for full compensation.
Common Causes of Amputation Accidents
Traumatic amputation injuries can occur in many different environments, but many of them are the direct result of someone else’s negligence. Some of the most common causes of limb amputation accidents include:
Traffic Accidents
Accidental amputations can occur in all types of traffic-related accidents, including:
In some cases, accidental amputation may occur when a limb is severed, though it can also occur when a limb is crushed as the result of a collision. If limbs are too damaged that they can’t recover, they may need to be surgically removed after an accident.
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Workplace/Construction Site Accidents
Workplace accidents can also cause traumatic amputation injuries. These types of injuries are particularly prevalent in hazardous work zones such as construction sites. Workers whose employers don’t provide them with the proper safety equipment they need to do their jobs safely or who fail to establish a safe work environment can cause their employees to sustain life-altering injuries, including loss of limb.
Dangerous equipment can cause workers to sustain amputation injuries. Falling from scaffolding or ladders or being struck by a heavy object could also cause irreparable damage to a worker’s limbs, leading to surgical amputation. Faulty machinery may cause crushing injuries that result in the need for medical amputation as well. When employers fail to secure the workplace, traumatic amputation accidents can occur.
Medical Malpractice
Some cases of accidental amputation occur due to medical malpractice. If a doctor behaves in a negligent manner and causes their patient to lose a limb, then that may qualify as medical malpractice. Medical malpractice can lead to traumatic amputation injuries in a number of ways, such as:
Amputation of the incorrect limb
Misdiagnosed illnesses or infections that don’t actually require amputation
Failing to notice and tend to post-operative blood clots
Utilizing a non-sterilized medical tool that results in infection or illness
Accidentally leaving a medical device inside a patient’s body that later results in illness or infection
Electrocution Accidents
Some amputation accidents also occur as a result of electrocution. Electrocution can occur in the workplace, such as at construction sites, but can also occur at home, or at the home of a friend or relative. When high voltage passes through a limb, the resulting burns can be so serious that amputating the limb surgically is the only remedy. High voltage electrocution can also cause spontaneous traumatic amputation.
Firearms or Explosives Accidents
Guns, fireworks, and other explosive devices have the potential to cause loss of fingers, hands, and other parts of the upper extremities. These types of accidents may occur because of a faulty product, the negligence of a third party, or inexperience.
Why Amputation Injury Victims in Maine Choose Mann Law
We Fight for the Lifetime Compensation That Limb Loss Demands: Prosthetics, modifications to your home and vehicle, ongoing rehabilitation, and lost earning capacity over decades are all components of the compensation Mann Law pursues.
We Build Comprehensive Cases with Life Care Planners and Vocational Experts: Establishing the full financial impact of an amputation requires expert analysis. Mann Law assembles the specialist team your case needs to achieve a fair outcome.
We Understand the Emotional Dimensions of Catastrophic Limb Loss: Beyond the physical harm, limb loss profoundly affects identity and independence. Mann Law advocates for non-economic damages that reflect the true human cost of your injury.
Free Case Review with Contingency Fee Representation: You pay no attorney fees unless we win. Contact Mann Law for a free, compassionate consultation about your amputation injury case in Maine.
Losing a limb can impact every area of your life. It may reduce your ability to do your job or disqualify you from performing your duties altogether. The physical effects can be excruciating, as amputation may result in pain, phantom limb, and other complications. But the psychological effects can be just as harrowing to deal with. You may experience loss of enjoyment of life, as well as diminished interest in doing the things you used to enjoy. If you have experienced an amputation injury it may take you a long time to fully recover from the emotional and mental toll that losing a limb takes.
Losing a limb can be one of the most traumatic experiences you will ever encounter. If you lost a limb due to someone else’s negligence, you should absolutely hold them responsible for their negligence.
Who Can be Held Liable for an Amputation Injury?
Losing a limb can be a truly overwhelming experience. As medical bills pile up and you lose income due to being unable to work, you may wonder how you are going to stay financially afloat while you recover. The good news is that you could be entitled to collect compensation if you lost a limb due to someone else’s negligence.
Proving negligence can be challenging, which is why it is crucial to bring an experienced Maine loss of limb attorney on board who has the knowledge and resources to build a strong case on your behalf. The skilled team at Mann Law has more than 24 years of experience fighting for our injured clients. When you work with us, we will:
Launch a comprehensive investigation into the accident
Collect evidence including witness statements, police reports, photo and video footage from the scene, and more
Identify the at fault party or parties
Determine the value of your financial losses
Attempt to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer
File a lawsuit and seek compensation in court, if necessary
How is Compensation Determined for Amputation Accidents?
Every accidental amputation injury is unique, which means the amount of compensation you are able to receive will vary depending on numerous factors in your case. You could be entitled to recover compensation for:
Present and future medical expenses
Prosthetic limbs and devices
Physical therapy expenses
Psychological therapy costs
Lost earnings and reduced earning ability
Disfigurement
Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
By consulting with an experienced amputation injury attorney in Maine, you may be able to maximize the payout you receive via settlement or litigation. At Mann Law, we will fight aggressively for the full amount you need to financially recover after losing a limb.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What qualifies as a traumatic amputation injury?+
Traumatic amputation occurs when a limb is severed or so damaged in an accident that it cannot be saved, including crush injuries, electrocution, explosions, and severe traffic collisions.
2. Can I recover if the injury was partly due to medical treatment?+
Yes. If a medical professional’s negligence — such as surgical error or misdiagnosis — caused or worsened the amputation, you may pursue a medical malpractice claim.
3. What types of damages can I recover?+
You may recover medical costs, prosthetics, therapy, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
4. How long do I have to file a claim in Maine?+
Maine generally allows six years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, but deadlines can vary in medical malpractice cases. Acting early is critical.
5. Do I need a lawyer for an amputation injury claim?+
While not required, an experienced attorney is essential. Amputation cases involve complex liability, long-term damages, and insurer negotiation. A lawyer helps maximize compensation.
6. What evidence is important?+
Key evidence includes police/accident reports, medical records, photos or videos of the incident and injuries, witness statements, and documentation of lost wages and future care needs.
7. What if the insurance company contacts me?+
Provide basic information, but do not give recorded statements or accept any offer before consulting an attorney, as insurers often minimize payouts.
8. Can I recover for emotional and psychological effects?+
Yes. Compensation may include emotional distress, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish accompanying catastrophic injuries.
9. What compensation is available for a traumatic limb amputation in Maine?+
Maine personal injury law allows amputation victims to recover compensation for emergency medical and surgical care, prosthetics and assistive devices, rehabilitation and physical therapy, modifications to the home and vehicle, lost wages and significantly reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the profound emotional and psychological impact of losing a limb.
10. How is the lifetime cost of prosthetics and care calculated in a Maine amputation case?+
Life care planners work with medical specialists to project the total cost of prosthetic devices over the victim’s expected lifetime, accounting for replacement cycles, maintenance, advances in technology, and associated rehabilitation. Vocational rehabilitation experts also assess the impact of the amputation on the victim’s ability to work in their prior occupation or any occupation.
11. Can I sue for loss of quality of life after a traumatic amputation in Maine?+
Yes. Loss of enjoyment of life is a recognized non-economic damage in Maine personal injury cases. When an amputation prevents you from engaging in activities, hobbies, and relationships that were central to your life before the injury, those losses are compensable as part of a comprehensive damages claim.
12. What if my amputation was caused by a defective product or machine in Maine? +
Product defect amputations may involve a claim against the product manufacturer, distributor, or retailer in addition to or instead of a negligence claim. Maine allows product liability claims based on design defects, manufacturing defects, and failure to warn, which can provide additional avenues for compensation beyond a standard negligence case.
How a Maine Loss of Limbs (Amputation) Attorney Can Help
If you have lost a digit or a limb in a traumatic amputation accident, don’t wait to get in touch with one of our dedicated attorneys. Our Maine loss of limb and amputation lawyers can review your case and help you determine what the best path forward is, with the ultimate goal of helping you seek the compensation you are entitled to. Contact our offices today for a free consultation.
When it was over, she looked at me and she said, “you’re done. You won.” I just felt like a whole weight was lifted off my shoulders. [Chrissy and her staff] were always very helpful in answering my many questions. I would highly recommend Mann Law to anyone that is looking for legal assistance.
Jenn
I’m blown away by the settlement she got me. She took me by the hand and she did an excellent job. She so far exceeded what I thought would happen. Calling her was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Bryan
I don’t think a person could ask for a better lawyer than Christiana Mann. She and her Paralegal Candice work tirelessly for their clients to get the best results. They are Kind, understanding, compassionate, open minded, professional and honest. If you are looking for the best, you found her!
