Losing a limb is challenging and permanently alters your physical appearance and abilities. Amputations are among the most catastrophic car accident injuries. However, you can fight to recover financial compensation for the lifelong care your injury will require with legal support from a Florida car accident lawyer.
You do not have to fight for financial recovery on your own. The personal injury attorney who represents you will manage your amputation claim after a Florida car accident. They will investigate the cause of the collision, negotiate with the liable party’s insurance company on your behalf, and fight for fair compensation. You may recover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Car Accident-Related Amputations Meet Florida’s Catastrophic Injury Threshold
Per Florida Statutes § 627.736, personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage typically covers up to 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost income after a car accident. To seek additional compensation from a third party, you must have injuries severe enough to meet the catastrophic injury threshold.
Florida Statutes § 766.118 lists certain injuries that qualify for this threshold. You can seek compensation under this statute for complete physical amputation or the effective loss of the use of an arm, hand, foot, or leg.
Commonly Reported Causes of Amputations Due to Car Accidents
Crush injuries in a car accident are a leading cause of amputation since they can cause prolonged damage to your blood vessels. Injuries of this type can also limit circulation, which can cause permanent damage to muscles and tissues, requiring amputation.
Recoverable Short- and Long-Term Medical Expenses for Car Accident Amputees
After a car accident, a personal injury lawyer can help you seek fair compensation for all the costs of treating your amputation injury. Your amputation attorney will create a detailed list of your recoverable medical bills, including:
- On-scene emergency care
- Post-accident hospitalization
- Long-term rehabilitation
- Ongoing doctor’s visits
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Prosthetic limbs
- Assistive medical devices
While uncommon, amputation is a car accident injury that can have a huge financial impact. An auto accident lawyer can help you seek to recover its costs. You may also be able to recover damages for the costs of modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate your new way of life. The costs of in-home medical and domestic support are also generally recoverable.
Additional Economic Damages Car Accident Victims Can Recover
Bills and receipts typically accompany economic damages after a motor vehicle accident, making them easy to quantify. In addition to your medical treatment costs, economic damages can include:
- Loss of past and future income
- Loss of future earning ability
- Property damage or destruction
- Diminished property value
Coping with the loss of a limb can take an emotional and physical toll. Your compensation request will include the costs of any psychological care you need to deal with the emotional trauma of the accident and your injuries.
You Can Also Seek Non-Economic Damages in Your Amputation Claim
Non-economic damages your amputation attorney can request include compensation for include:
- Disability and disfigurement
- Physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
- Anxiety and depression
How Florida’s Statute of Limitations Affects Car Accident Compensation
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Florida is generally two years from the accident date, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11. If this deadline expires, you generally cannot file your lawsuit.
Filing a lawsuit without a lawyer can be challenging. Various factors can change the filing deadline, and the severity of your injuries can prevent you from participating in your case as fully as you would like. Consider hiring a traumatic amputation lawyer to represent you and file your lawsuit. Most car accident lawyers will do so on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront and can get started immediately.
A Florida Car Accident Lawyer Can Steer Your Case Toward an Out-of-Court Settlement
Negotiating a car accident settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company starts with assessing the value of your claim. Your lawyer will handle each phase of this process for you, including:
- Submitting evidence that indicates the policyholder’s negligence
- Providing documentation that supports the value of your claim
- Exploring the limits of the at-fault driver’s insurance policy
- Creating and submitting a settlement demand letter on your behalf
If the responsible party’s insurance company does not accept your initial compensation request but makes a counteroffer, your lawyer will weigh the pros and cons of the offer. They will negotiate for you until they make an acceptable settlement agreement.
Get Legal Support for Your Car Accident Amputation Claim in Florida
If you or someone you love lost a limb due to a car accident, we will pursue financial compensation from the driver whose negligence caused the accident. Focus on taking care of yourself or helping a loved one through their recovery. Our law firm will prepare your amputation claim after a Florida car accident.
Get a no-cost, no-obligation review of your case now. Call (954) 633-8270 to contact our consultation team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today.
