Amputation of the wrong limb is a medical mistake that can change your life. It may also be the result of negligence on the part of a third party. If you or a loved has suffered an accidental amputation of the wrong limb that was caused by someone else, you may be entitled to compensation.
According to Michigan’s statute of limitations, a victim has only two years to file his or her injury case. Unfortunately, many Michigan residents never realize that they were entitled to some type of compensation for their injuries, or they wait too long and run out of time to file their claim.
Amputation of the wrong limb can turn into serious, life-threatening problems. Complications from surgery can cause emotional and physical pain for years afterward…sometimes for life. That’s why most legal experts advise that you take action now. The compensation you may receive can be upwards of $1 million or more, depending on your injury.
Types of Accidental Amputation
Accidental amputation can include the wrong fingers, arms, and even legs. Some accidental amputations result in death, especially if caused by faulty machinery or other types of construction site accidents.
Treatment for accidental amputation can be costly. It includes seeking medical attention, fitting prosthetic limbs, and rehabilitating the affected area. Receive a FREE CASE EVALUATION today from some of the most knowledgeable and experienced Michigan attorneys.
If you’ve suffered a body or limb injury, there is a good chance that you are entitled to compensation. Because body and limb injuries often impair victims’ ability to work and even care for themselves, these injuries can receive hefty sums as compensation.
Have you suffered a body and/or limb injury?
These injuries can happen in a number of ways, from auto accidents to sports accidents to job site accidents- any situation in which the body or limbs is being struck, twisted, crushed, or wrenched. The symptoms of these injuries can be easy or very difficult to spot:
Compound fractures or dislocations
Severed limbs or body parts
Cracked bones
Sprains, strains, or torn muscles
Internal muscle or organ damage
What are the results of body and limb injuries?
In nearly all cases, body and limb injuries mean the victim loses some use of their body or limbs, temporarily or permanently. A broken bone can often equal time lost from work and, if the injury is severe enough, a stay in the hospital and a lengthy rehabilitation. A severed limb can result in a loss of work, significant emotional trauma, and months with a physical therapist. Of course, this means massive medical bills and loss of income.
What should you do if you have a body and limb injury?
After first getting primary medical care, contact a legal professional. Many attorneys specialize in obtaining compensation for body and limb injury victims and will give you a free case consultation.
Amputations are surgeries performed by doctors, during which the doctor removes a part or an entire section of the body. Fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet and legs are common amputated body parts. An accidental amputation is when a person loses a body part due to trauma. An amputation of the wrong limb is when a doctor performs a surgery but erroneously amputates the wrong limb. This is a devastating mistake, one that leads to undue pain and suffering by the patient.
Amputation of the wrong limb is not uncommon. Recent cases include an arthroscopic operation on a patient’s wrong knee, the amputation of the wrong leg below the knee, and even performing surgery on the wrong side of a patient’s mouth (which is akin to amputation of the wrong limb).
The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations released steps for surgeons to follow to avoid amputation of the wrong limb. It asked doctors, hospitals and nurses to:
mark the operative site and involve patients in the process. Many surgeons put an “X” on the site to be operated and a “NO” on the site to be avoided.
require oral verification of the correct site by each member of the operating team.
follow a verification checklist that makes sure this is the correct body part, and that the body part indeed is in need of amputation.
directly involve the operating surgeon in the informed consent process.
engage in ongoing monitoring to make sure verification procedures are followed.
Even with these checkpoints in place, mistakes happen. Amputation of the wrong limb can cause serious physical as well as emotional damage. After receiving all the necessary physical treatment available, including physical therapy, victims of amputation of the wrong limb should also seek emotional treatment. Many victims suffer from shock and depression. Personal injury attorneys are available to help you seek compensation, file medical malpractice claims, answer questions, and inform you of your rights after an amputation of the wrong limb occurs.
Accidental amputations occur during accidents such as automobile crashes, machine malfunctions, falls, natural disasters, demolition of buildings, tree cutting, work accidents and recreational accidents.
Body parts can sometimes be reattached after accidental amputations, depending on the severity of the injury, the condition of the amputated part, which part was amputated, and how long it takes to receive medical help. If the amputated part is too severely damaged, it may not be possible to reattach it. Also, if the part is too large or too small (such as the tip of a finger), it may not be possible to reattach it. Finally, if the body part is disconnected for too long after an accidental amputation (length of time depends on the size and severity of the injury), the tissue could be too damaged for reattachment.
If you witness an accidental amputation, the first thing to do is contact emergency services. Next, stabilize the victim:
Try to stop the bleeding
Make the person lie down in a comfortable position
Elevate the body part
After you stabilize the victim of an accidental amputation, make sure to locate and care for the amputated part:
Make sure your hands are clean, and gently rinse the amputated body part
Do not scrub the amputated part
Wrap it in a damp towel and place it inside a bag
Place that bag inside a container of ice
Do not allow the amputated part to come in direct contact with the ice
Make sure the amputated part is given to emergency personnel so that doctors can attempt to reattach it at the hospital
If the body part is not completely severed during an accidental amputation, apply only light pressure to slow the bleeding so that the body part still receives some blood flow. Keep the wound as clean as possible, but do not scrub.
Accidental amputations can cause serious physical as well as emotional damage. After receiving all the necessary physical treatment available, including physical therapy to rehabilitate the amputated part, victims of accidental amputations should also seek emotional treatment. Many victims of accidental amputations suffer from shock and depression. Accident attorneys are available to help you seek compensation, file personal injury claims, answer questions, and inform you of your rights after an accidental amputation occurs.
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