Columbus Traumatic Amputation Lawyers
Relentless advocacy for Ohio victims who lose a limb in an accident
Some accidents are horrific. The clash of metal against bone and skin can cause an arm to rip from a joint. The force of a fall from a scaffold can shatter a leg beyond repair. Traumatic amputation injuries in Columbus are life-changing. If the victims are fortunate, they can use a prosthesis so they can work and regain some function of their arm or leg. For most victims, the emotional trauma is as bad or worse than the physical trauma.
At Soroka & Associates, LLC, our personal injury lawyers work with investigators, product safety experts, and others to show why your accident should never have happened. We file claims to hold drivers, property owners, manufacturers, and others accountable for traumatic amputations. Our lawyers also work with your doctors and rehabilitative team to fully understand just how life-changing your injuries are. We demand full compensation for all your economic and non-economic losses.
How can we help?
- What is a traumatic amputation?
- What are the different types of traumatic amputations?
- Why do Columbus traumatic amputation accidents happen?
- What are the initial concerns and complications for amputees?
- What are common treatments for Columbus amputation patients?
- What medical services does a Columbus traumatic amputation patient require?
- What is the value of my Columbus traumatic amputation claim?
- Do you have a traumatic amputation lawyer near me?
What is a traumatic amputation?
Traumatic amputations are the loss of a body part due to an accident or some type of external force, as opposed to diseases such as diabetes and other internal causes. A failure to properly treat frostbite may also cause the need to amputate a body part. Amputations include the loss of part of an arm, hand, finger, leg, foot, or toe. Amputations affect a Columbus accident victim’s ability to work, socialize, and stay independent.
Johns Hopkins Medicine states that about 45% of all amputations are traumatic amputations. Ideally, enough of the limb can be saved so that the victim can use a prosthetic.
What are the types of traumatic amputations?
There are different types of surgical procedures depending on what part of the body requires amputation, the reason the amputation is necessary, and the level of bone and tissue damage. Some amputation surgeries, such as the amputation of a finger, are very precise procedures that require doctors “work with skin, tendons, and nerves to allow fine motor function and optimal use of the hand.”
Johns Hopkins also states that “the removal of an arm or leg can call for major surgery, requiring skill in handling and stabilizing all the different tissues of the body part including skin, blood vessels, muscles, nerves, tendons, and bone.”
Amputations are generally categorized as upper extremity and lower extremity amputations. An upper extremity amputation includes amputation at different points of the arm – hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Some amputations are above or below the joint. Lower extremity amputations include amputation of the foot, ankle, knee, hip, and pelvis. Some victims tragically lose both their left and right body parts.
Amputation surgeries include a standard amputation, which involves the following:
The surgeons remove the limb, anchor muscles to the cut end of the bone, and cover it with skin. If the plan is to provide the patient with an artificial (prosthetic) leg, the terminal limb needs to be sufficiently padded with the patient’s soft tissue so that the prosthetic is comfortable and can bear weight without causing pain, infection, and tissue breakdown.
Other types of amputation include osseointegration (OI) and rotationplasty.
Why do Columbus traumatic amputation accidents happen?
At Soroka & Associates, we represent Columbus and Central Ohio residents who lose a limb due to negligence and accidents, including:
- Vehicle accidents, including car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, ATV and Uber/Lyft accidents
- Mass transit accidents, like bus crashes
- Construction site accidents
- Work zone crashes
- Slips and falls
- Dog bites
- Pool accidents
- Defective products that explode, fail to work, or fail to protect you, such as workplace equipment, auto parts, and electronic products
What are the initial concerns and complications for amputees?
Some of the immediate concerns for amputees are:
- Phantom pain. Many amputees suffer from phantom limb pain. Doctors at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine have pioneered the use of primary targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) for pain prevention, a procedure that “reroutes the nerves cut during amputation into motor nerves in nearby muscle.”
- Preparation of the limb for a prosthesis. For most patients, the treatment process includes surgery, a healing period, and a customized rehabilitation plan. The ability to use a prosthesis depends on the surgery, preparing the stump for a prosthesis, the use of a compression device, fitting for your limb for the prosthesis, learning to use the prosthetic device, maintenance of the prosthesis, and replacement of the prosthesis if the prosthesis wears out or there is better technology.
- Psychological harm. Most patients need psychological help and other types of support, such as joining amputee groups to begin to emotionally adjust to the loss of a limb.
Other complications include infections, severe pain, and the risk of falling.
What medical services does a Columbus traumatic amputation patient require?
Amputation victims are often helped by many of the following healthcare providers:
- A rehabilitation doctor who helps with an overall custom treatment plan.
- An occupational therapist who helps you regain your independence and adapt to your daily life routines.
- A prosthetist who creates a customized prosthesis, if you can use one. There are many factors that determine if a patient can use a prosthesis, including the ability of your leg to adapt, your age, and your mental health. A prosthesis usually includes a pylon, a socket, liners, and a suspension system.
- A physical therapist who develops strength, flexibility, and coordination exercises, and trains you on how to use your prosthesis.
- A psychologist who helps you with your mental health, PTSD, and other emotional difficulties. Some victims suffer from depression or substance abuse. Many Columbus traumatic amputation victims have difficulty developing and keeping social relationships.
What are common treatments for Columbus amputation patients?
Ohio State University states that rehabilitation includes:
- Wound care
- Managing your pain
- Preparing the limb for a prosthesis
- Customizing artificial limbs and other assistive devices
- Working with families so they can support amputees and themselves
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Nutritional counseling
What is the value of my Columbus traumatic amputation claim?
Our Columbus traumatic amputation lawyers are skilled at working with orthopedists, prosthetic professionals, rehabilitation teams, and psychologists. We demand compensation for all your losses, including:
- Medical bills – current and future
- Lost income and benefits - current and future
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring damages
- Loss of function
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage
- Punitive damages, when justified
We document all your economic losses. We work with you, your doctors, and your family to show the severity of your human losses.
Do you have a traumatic amputation lawyer near me?
The Columbus office of Soroka & Associates is located at 503 South Front Street, Suite 205. Please call us if you have any questions about directions. If you cannot travel to us because of your injuries, we will come to you.
Contact our seasoned Columbus traumatic amputation lawyers today
Speak with the attorneys at Soroka & Associates to learn more about how we can help with your claim. You can call our Columbus office at 614-358-6525 or fill out our contact form. Our initial consultation is free of charge. We conduct our work in personal injury matters on a contingent fee basis. This means that we get paid only if there is a monetary award on your behalf. We serve clients in Columbus and throughout Central Ohio, including in Licking County, Delaware County, Fairfield County, and beyond.