How an Amputation Lawyer Assesses Long-Term Costs in Catastrophic Injury Cases

Amputations are catastrophic injuries that invariably change the course of a victim’s life. These types of injuries can occur in all manner of contexts, from car accidents to work incidents. In many cases, the victim has the right to pursue compensation, which should always be done with the guidance of an experienced amputation injury lawyer.

Take a closer look at how an amputation lawyer can build an appropriate case that takes into account the long-term costs associated with amputations.

Evaluating Immediate vs. Long-Term Costs in Wyoming

Amputation injuries can cause significant short-term and long-term costs for victims and their families. One of the first steps an amputation attorney takes is to identify and calculate every penny of the short- and long-term losses associated with your injury.

An experienced amputation attorney already knows many of the categories of costs their clients face. When it comes to immediate costs, you may be facing any of the following:

• Medical treatment
• Prescription medication
• Home modifications to accommodate the injury
• Modifications made to vehicles
• Medical equipment, such as crutches
• Gas and other travel expenses

Amputation attorneys can factor in the long-term costs you may encounter as well.

These costs could include:

• Rehospitalizations over the years
• Occupational and physical therapy
• Replacement prosthetics and related equipment
• Home health care and help around the house

You may also be entitled to non-economic damages, which are intangible losses. To truly understand the needs of their amputation clients, attorneys generally consult closely with the appropriate medical experts to ensure all costs are accounted for.

Calculating Medical Expenses and Future Care Needs

Amputation attorneys spend many hours ensuring that they have identified all of the costs their clients may face. Once these costs are identified, attorneys then calculate the specific amounts to be pursued.

This process involves determining precisely how much of each service, treatment, or product may be necessary to deal with their clients’ injuries. For example, a person with two amputated legs may have far different needs and costs than a person who has lost a hand.

In other words, there is no one-size-fits-all calculation for amputation victims. Instead, attorneys must meticulously calculate expenses for each victim’s unique circumstances.

Assessing Loss of Income and Earning Potential

Amputees invariably face issues relating to employment. Many are simply unable to work at all, while others may work but not as they had prior to their accidents. Regardless of the precise circumstances, attorneys representing amputees perform detailed income-loss calculations to determine the amount of present and future income their client may lose out on.

These calculations require a close look at a client’s work history, education, and future economic growth. While insurance companies often seek to limit the amount of lost-wage compensation an amputee receives, the amputee’s attorney can assess the lost income in a manner that truly represents what their clients lost and may continue to lose out on over the years.

Considering Modifications to Homes or Vehicles

Home and vehicle modifications allow accident victims to maintain some level of autonomy instead of relying on caregivers and family members. These modifications can include:

• Home modifications
• Vehicle modifications
• Modifications to personal property

Based on the amputation injury, an injury victim may need substantial modifications to their home and property. The attorney handling the case will work to ensure that the proper and necessary modifications are available when their clients need them.

How an Attorney Builds a Comprehensive Damages Claim

Ultimately, victims need as much compensation as possible to ensure that their needs are met presently and in the future. Lawyers must employ meticulous tactics to truly determine what their clients deserve and to build a strong claim that fully encompasses their losses.

Lawyers accomplish this end by investigating and collecting evidence for every aspect and stage of the claim, from liability to losses. They leave nothing up to chance and allow their experience to guide them through the process.

A large part of their efforts involves consulting with various types of experts in order to recover proper compensation sums for clients. Experts commonly consulted in these cases include:

• General medical experts
• Amputation experts
• Financial experts

Attorneys may also consult with accident reconstruction experts to understand how a specific accident and subsequent injury has occurred. Doing so helps the attorney prove liability, damages, and other important elements of tort claims. 

FAQ

How Long Do I Have to File an Amputation Injury Lawsuit?

In Wyoming, there is a four-year statute of limitations for amputation injuries in most circumstances. However, victims are urged to act quickly and never delay when it comes to compensation for injuries — in some scenarios, a shorter timeline may apply, so it is important to reach out to an attorney right away about your statute of limitations for any possible claims. The longer a victim waits to seek justice through compensation, the more likely they will face problems recovering proper compensation.

How Much Do Amputation Injury Lawyers Charge?

Amputation injury lawyers usually charge a contingency fee, which essentially means you pay nothing unless your attorney wins your case. Contingency-fee pricing also means you pay nothing to your lawyer at the beginning of your case, so no out-of-pocket payments are ever necessary. Instead, your lawyer gets paid from the money they recover for you.

How Long Do Amputation Injury Cases Take to Resolve?

Each amputation injury case is different and follows its own timeline. Victims have some power over how long their case takes by acting quickly after an injury and after receiving initial treatment. Generally, cases with no issues of liability tend to wrap up more quickly than cases where liability is in question or shared among multiple parties.

Regardless of the circumstances, attorneys from The Spence Law Firm always work diligently to get cases resolved and clients paid in as timely a manner as possible.

Effective Representation for You Can Trust

If you have suffered an amputation injury, you deserve skilled, effective representation from attorneys who care. The Spence Law Firm has a proven track record of successfully helping accident victims recover maximum compensation for their losses.

Call us today for a free consultation with a skilled amputation injury attorney to protect your future.