Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of catastrophic injury in the United States. People can interview their brains or spinal cords. They can also experience an amputation because of a car crash.
Limb loss or amputation can have devastating consequences for injured people. There are two main ways in which car crashes may cause limb loss, and both of them can lead to devastating medical and financial consequences.
Traumatic amputation
Violent collisions involving high speeds or commercial vehicles could easily cause immediate amputations. The profound force generated during the collision can immediately sever body parts. People who experience traumatic amputations often require immediate trauma care to reduce their overall blood loss and lower the risk of infection. The injury could easily cause nerve damage, even after medical professionals intervene to clean and treat the wound.
Surgical amputation
Medical or surgical amputations are sometimes the best treatment option for major injuries. A crush injury that causes a comminuted fracture, for example, may not respond well to traditional medical interventions. The amount of care needed to salvage a severely injured limb, combined with the risk of complications, can make surgical amputation the best treatment option. In some cases, healthcare professionals determine that a patient’s best prognosis requires the removal of the damaged body part.
Both traumatic and surgical amputations generate major medical expenses. People also frequently experience a reduction in their earning potential after losing a body part. Filing a personal injury lawsuit after a major car crash may be the most effective means of addressing amputation expenses. People with catastrophic injuries may need help seeking economic restitution after a wreck, and that’s okay.
