AMPUTATION INJURY
Northwest Louisiana Amputation Injury Attorney
Accidental Amputation Injury Attorneys in Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
Accidental amputation is a traumatic and life-altering event, and unfortunately, one that is more common than you might think. Approximately 185,000 amputations occur each year in the United States. Nearly half of these injuries are the result of traumatic accidents such as motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, and medical negligence.
The loss of a limb, digit, or other extremity has long-lasting effects, and the physical, mental, and emotional toll may feel overwhelming. These struggles are made even more difficult by the financial burden brought on by initial medical costs, recovery bills, and the high price of prosthetic limbs.
Have you recently suffered an amputation injury? If so, you may be entitled to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. An experienced North Louisiana amputation injury attorney at The Law Office of Michael J. Vergis can help guide you through the complicated process of filing a claim and pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries.
Attorney Michael J. Vergis is a dedicated amputation injury attorney serving victims in Shreveport, Bossier City, and the surrounding Northwest Louisiana area and is ready to advocate for your rights and aid you in your journey to recover financial compensation. To schedule your free consultation, call today at (318) 698-3724 or use our secure online form.
What is a Traumatic Amputation?
Traumatic amputation is a type of catastrophic injury that results in the sudden loss of a limb due to an external force. Depending on the unique circumstances of the accident, victims may experience either a complete or partial amputation.
A complete amputation is when the body part is completely removed from the body. No attachment remains after the injury occurs, but surgical reattachment is sometimes possible.
A partial amputation, on the other hand, occurs when some part of the anatomical structure remains intact, connecting the body to the partially amputated limb. In these cases, medical professionals will often make an effort to preserve the intact connection to aid reattachment. If reattachment fails, then surgical amputation may be required.
Common Causes of Accidental Amputations in Louisiana
Accidental amputation can occur due to a variety of reasons. Some common causes include vehicle collisions, construction accidents, and defective products. Our experienced catastrophic injury lawyers in Louisiana go into more detail about these incidents and a few other common causes of amputation injuries below.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of catastrophic injuries in Northwest Louisiana, including traumatic amputations. A serious motor vehicle accident—whether involving a passenger car, motorcycle, commercial truck, or pedestrian—can result in life-altering harm. The force of impact in these crashes can crush limbs or cause severe vascular damage, sometimes leaving medical amputation as the only option. These injuries often occur instantly at the scene or become medically necessary later due to infection, compromised circulation, or soft tissue destruction.
When amputation results from a car crash, it’s critical to identify negligent parties who may be responsible for the traumatic limb loss. This includes reckless drivers, companies that fail to maintain commercial vehicles, or even government entities responsible for dangerous road conditions that may have caused or contributed to the accident.
If you or a loved one has suffered an amputation after a serious car accident, an experienced Shreveport car accident lawyer like Michael J. Vergis can help you pursue a personal injury claim. At The Law Office of Michael J. Vergis, we provide strategic legal support to amputation victims seeking justice and fair financial recovery.
Commercial Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents make up a large percentage of motor vehicle-related amputation injury claims due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles. When an 18-wheeler or other large truck collides with a smaller car, the impact can crush limbs or cause severe trauma that leads to surgical amputation.
Victims of these devastating crashes often face permanent disability, long-term medical care, and major life changes. It’s because of these life-changing consequences that commercial truck accident attorney Mike Vergis fights to hold negligent parties accountable for his clients.
Motorcycle Accidents
For motorcyclists, even at moderate speeds, contact with another vehicle or the roadway can result in crushed limbs, severe lacerations, or traumatic injuries that require surgical amputation. Unlike occupants in enclosed vehicles, motorcyclists face direct impact in nearly every auto accident, increasing the risk of permanent, life-altering injuries. A skilled Louisiana motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm can help injured riders pursue the compensation they need for extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents often lead to some of the most severe injuries, including traumatic amputations. When a pedestrian is struck by a moving vehicle, the force of impact can crush bones, damage soft tissue, or sever limbs, resulting in permanent disability. Victims may face extensive surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term physical limitations that affect every aspect of daily life, which is why it’s important for them to seek the help of a pedestrian accident lawyer like Michael Vergis.
Maritime Accidents
Maritime accidents are a significant source of severe injuries in Louisiana, many of which end in traumatic amputations. Whether it’s a recreational boating accident or an incident on offshore work environments such as an oil rig accident, the combination of heavy machinery, unstable surfaces, and high-risk conditions can lead to devastating outcomes.
These environments are known for producing serious personal injury cases, including amputation claims caused by crush injuries, entanglement in equipment, or catastrophic collisions. A qualified boat accident attorney can help injured victims pursue compensation in these unfortunate circumstances.
Workplace Accidents
Workplace accidents are a leading cause of accidental amputations, particularly in industries involving heavy equipment, machinery, or hazardous materials. Our amputation injury lawyers can help determine whether negligence, safety violations, or defective equipment contributed to the incident and work to secure compensation for medical care, lost wages, and long-term disability resulting from these life-altering injuries.
Construction Site Injuries
Construction sites are rife with hazards that can lead to a devastating accident. Due to the presence of heavy machinery, power tools, and elevated work area, an injury sustained from a construction site is often serious, such as an accidental amputation.
A single moment of negligence, from a lack of proper safety equipment to the failure to follow protocols, can result in permanent limb loss or other catastrophic injuries sustained on the job. In some cases, injured workers may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim in addition to receiving workers’ compensation benefits, especially if a third party (i.e., subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, delivery company, etc.) was responsible for the accident. These third-party construction accident injury claims in Louisiana can provide additional compensation beyond what workers’ comp typically covers, including pain and suffering or long-term disability.
Surgical Amputation Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice and surgical errors can sometimes result in an avoidable amputation accident, leaving patients with permanent, life-changing consequences. Mistakes such as delayed treatment, misdiagnosis, or surgical complications can cause infections or tissue death that require emergency amputation. In other cases, a preventable error during surgery may directly damage a limb beyond repair.
It is the duty of Louisiana amputation lawyers to investigate whether substandard care contributed to the injury and pursue compensation for long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and the emotional impact of these amputation injuries.
Defective or Unsafe Consumer Products
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for faulty power tools, industrial machinery, or household appliances can suddenly fail or lack proper safety features, putting their users at risk. When an amputation results from a product defect, responsible parties may include the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer.
Our Shreveport-Bossier personal injury lawyers at The Law Office of Michael J. Vergis can help victims pursue claims against these parties to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and long-term disability.
Long-Term Impacts of a Traumatic Amputation
In addition to the severe pain of losing a limb, the impacts of traumatic amputations are complex and long-lasting. Amputation victims are often overwhelmed not only by physical pain, but also by mental and emotional pain. This is not even to mention the financial burden that comes with the loss of a limb.
These serious injuries can lead to phantom limb pain, mobility issues, and chronic discomfort that disrupt daily activities. Given the traumatic nature of amputation, it is no surprise that many victims also develop PTSD following such an event. These individuals may find themselves struggling with anxiety as they recall the accident or as they attempt to adjust to their new circumstances. The psychological toll can be just as overwhelming as the physical challenges.
Finally, the financial impact of accidental amputation is astounding. The initial medical expenses and the cost of prosthetic limbs create a heavy financial burden. Victims may also need extensive physical therapy or other lifelong medical care. Not only that, but the loss of a limb or digit can make it difficult or (even impossible) to return to work. This loss of earning potential makes the financial impact all the more difficult.
Seeking the services of an amputation attorney can lift some of the burden from your shoulders following such a catastrophic injury. By seeking financial compensation for your injury, you’ll enable yourself to take care of medical bills and other costs while making up for lost wages. As a dedicated Shreveport injury lawyer, Michael J. Vergis and his team fight to hold the responsible parties accountable so you can focus on healing, recovery, and rebuilding your future.
Legal Rights and Compensation for Amputation Injury Victims
Knowing your rights is key to any successful personal injury case. First, you should know that Louisiana personal injury law allows victims of another person’s negligence to pursue damages (aka financial compensation) for the harm caused. This means, whether you were injured in an auto accident, through medical malpractice, or another event due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to holding the negligent parties responsible via a personal injury claim.
But, what happens if you are partially responsible for your injury? Through Louisiana’s comparative fault rule, outlined in Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323, victims of amputation are still entitled to compensation even if they are partially responsible for their injury. The degree to which you are found partially responsible will proportionally impact the amount you recover. For example, you may be found at 25% fault for your injury. In such a case, you will receive 25% less in compensation than you would have if you were at no fault.
If you’re considering filing an amputation injury lawsuit, be sure to keep in mind Louisiana’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim. For injuries occurring before July 1, 2024, you must file your amputation injury claim within one year from the injury date. Claims for injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2024, require filing within two years from the injury date.
Having a skilled and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer on your side is essential to successfully navigating the legal system following an amputation accident. As your Shreveport, Louisiana amputation attorneys, Michael J. Vergis and his team are prepared to protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
How a Louisiana Amputation Accident Lawyer Can Help
Successful lawsuits require hard work, dedication, and skill, especially in a complex amputation injury case. As a seasoned personal injury attorney, Michael Vergis works to uncover the full extent of your injuries and identify all responsible parties. He conducts a thorough investigation to prove liability, using medical records, expert opinions, and employment-related evidence to support your claim.
To pursue maximum compensation, he negotiates directly with the insurance company and refuses lowball offers that don’t reflect the true impact of the loss of a limb. With help from Michael Vergis and his team of skilled Northwest Louisiana amputation lawyers, you’ll receive the legal aid needed to seek justice and move forward.
Fighting for Maximum Compensation in Your Amputation Injury Lawsuit
As mentioned above, those who suffer amputation injuries often accrue incredible costs. As a seasoned Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana amputation injury attorney, Michael Vergis helps clients pursue compensation for these costs and more:
- Medical bills – The initial cost of addressing your injury can be extraordinary. Some victims require surgical amputation after suffering extensive injuries, while others may need multiple surgeries following an on-site accidental amputation.
- Lost wages and future income – Compensation can help make up for lost wages when your injury prevents you from working.
- Pain and suffering – Addresses additional costs of physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering.
- Prosthetics and rehabilitation – To provide prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation services such as occupational and physical therapy.
- Home modifications and assistive devices – Any other means by which to improve your quality of life.
Choosing the Best Traumatic Amputation Lawyer in Shreveport-Bossier City
Traumatic amputation undeniably changes your life. However, some of the negative impacts can be mitigated with the help of an experienced amputation injury lawyer.
Healing from your amputation injuries and adjusting to the changes brought on by it will require time and the means to financially support yourself. You can’t speed up time, but you can seek the financial security you need to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally with the help of Shreveport amputation injury lawyer Michael J. Vergis.
Our team of amputation injury lawyers understands that a traumatic injury of this sort is deeply distressing, but also that each individual’s experience will be unique. That is why Michael J. Vergis emphasizes personalized services and trial-ready representation for each of his clients. With his deep knowledge of Louisiana personal injury law and proven track record for fighting for serious injury victims, he’s prepared to secure meaningful results for your injury claim.
Call Michael J. Vergis – Trusted Amputation Injury Attorney in Northwest Louisiana
If you or a loved one has suffered an accidental or traumatic amputation due to someone else’s negligence, don’t wait to seek support from an experienced Louisiana amputation injury lawyer like Michael J. Vergis. He understands the physical, emotional, and financial challenges that come with a lost limb and will work tirelessly to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Rest assured, with our dedicated legal team by your side, your personal injury case will be handled with the care, attention, and determination it takes to reach a meaningful outcome. Call The Law Office of Michael J. Vergis for a free legal consultation and allow our team to help you take the first step to rebuilding your life.
We offer a confidential, no-obligation consultation for our personal injury clients. To schedule your free consultation or to establish an attorney-client relationship, you can reach us at (318) 698-3724 or through our online contact form today.