Amputation Injuries

Accidents that Cause Amputations

While amputations can be a result of disease, they can also occur during a serious accident. Whether the amputation occurs at the scene of the accident or hours later in an emergency room, it's vital that anyone suffering from an amputation injury seeks medical assistance immediately due to the fact that amputation surgeries (performed under the care of a surgeon) can be life-saving procedures if they are performed in time.

The National Limb Loss Information Center (NLLIC) reports that there are nearly 2 million people living with limb loss in the United States, and there are approximately 185,000 amputations each year in the U.S. The annual hospital cost of amputations is over $8 billion dollars annually. (NLIIC)

Amputation surgery can save lives; however, it's still a major surgery. Amputation patients are at risks of complications from anesthesia, heavy blood loss, and developing blood clots. Perhaps one of the greatest concerns is the risk of infection, and this risk is present whether or not the patient proceeds with surgery. After surgery, the stump may not heal properly as a result of inadequate blood supply. When this happens it may become infected, thus requiring a second amputation surgery at a higher level.

Historically speaking, people have been performing amputation surgeries for centuries; however, early surgical techniques were limited due to hemorrhaging and the surgeons' inability to stop the blood loss. By the 1840's, surgeons had the tourniquet which was invented in the late 1600's and they also had anesthesia, which made patients far more comfortable as one can imagine. During the American Civil War, surgeons performed over 50,000 amputations, thus saving the lives of thousands of American soldiers.

Pasadena Personal Injury Lawyer

At McGee Lerer Ogrin, we are a husband and wife team with over 35 years of collective experience. Unlike other firms that handle a variety of practice areas, we are 100% devoted to helping those individuals and their family members who have been harmed in preventable accidents. Over our lengthy legal career, we have seen all types of accidents and injuries, including those involving amputations. We have seen first-hand the devastating effects of an amputation and how it can change the course of your life permanently.