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Losing a limb changes everything. The physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial burden following an amputation can overwhelm even the strongest individuals. If your amputation resulted from someone else’s negligence in Los Angeles or Southern California, you may have legal options to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and ongoing care needs.
Mercer Legal Group represents amputation victims throughout Los Angeles County, the San Fernando Valley, and surrounding communities. Our attorneys understand the complex medical and legal issues involved in limb loss cases and work to hold negligent parties accountable under California law.
An amputation injury claim is a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim filed when someone loses a limb—or part of a limb—due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct. Under California Civil Code § 1714, individuals and entities have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harm to others.
When that duty is breached and an amputation results, the injured person may seek compensation through a civil claim. California follows a pure comparative negligence system, meaning you can recover damages even if you share some fault for the accident—though your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Amputation claims differ from typical injury cases because they involve catastrophic, permanent losses that require lifetime care planning, prosthetic replacement schedules, and vocational rehabilitation assessments.
Traumatic amputations occur across many settings in Los Angeles and throughout California:
Motor Vehicle Accidents Car crashes, motorcycle collisions, truck accidents, and pedestrian accidents are leading causes of traumatic limb loss among California adults. High-speed impacts can crush extremities beyond repair.
Workplace and Construction Accidents OSHA data indicates machinery is involved in nearly 60% of workplace amputations. Manufacturing equipment, power presses, and construction tools pose significant hazards. California workers may have both workers’ compensation and third-party liability claims against equipment manufacturers or contractors.
Medical Malpractice Surgical errors, delayed diagnosis of infections, and failure to treat vascular conditions can lead to preventable amputations. These cases require expert testimony establishing deviation from accepted standards of care.
Defective Products Poorly designed machinery and dangerous consumer products cause crush injuries and traumatic amputations. Product liability claims may proceed under strict liability theories in California.
Agricultural Accidents Farm equipment and industrial agricultural machinery cause significant amputation injuries throughout California’s agricultural regions.
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Personal Injury
California law allows amputation victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover quantifiable losses like medical bills, rehabilitation costs, prosthetics, lost income, and diminished earning capacity. Non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
There is no cap on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases in California (medical malpractice cases are subject to specific limitations under MICRA). Settlement and verdict values vary significantly based on the type of amputation, the victim’s age and occupation, the strength of liability evidence, and available insurance coverage.
Amputation cases typically involve higher damages than other injury claims due to the permanent nature of limb loss and the lifetime of care required.
Amputation injuries present unique legal and financial challenges that require experienced handling:
Calculating Lifetime Damages Unlike soft tissue injuries that heal over time, amputations require ongoing medical care for decades. A certified life care planner can document projected costs for prosthetics (which require replacement every 2-6 years), physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling, home modifications, and attendant care. Studies indicate the average cost of an amputation can exceed $500,000 when accounting for initial treatment, rehabilitation, and prosthetic devices.
Identifying All Liable Parties Multiple parties may share responsibility for your amputation. A workplace accident might involve claims against equipment manufacturers, maintenance contractors, or property owners in addition to workers’ compensation benefits. An attorney can investigate your case to identify all potential sources of recovery.
Countering Insurance Company Tactics Insurance adjusters often attempt to minimize amputation claims by disputing the extent of future care needs or arguing that the injured person bears greater fault. Skilled legal representation helps protect your interests during settlement negotiations.
Meeting California’s Deadlines Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, personal injury lawsuits must generally be filed within two years from the date of injury. Claims against government entities require filing an administrative claim within six months. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation.
Mercer Legal Group brings substantial experience to amputation injury cases in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. Our approach includes:
Thorough Case Investigation We gather police reports, medical records, workplace safety citations, product specifications, and witness statements to build a documented case establishing liability.
Collaboration with Medical experienceds We work with orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, prosthetists, vocational experts, and life care planners to accurately document your injuries and future needs.
Aggressive Negotiation Insurance companies know which attorneys will take cases to trial. We pursue fair settlement offers while preparing every case for litigation if necessary.
Local Knowledge We understand Los Angeles courts, local insurance practices, and the specific challenges facing amputation victims in Southern California communities from the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach.
Our representation covers investigating accidents and preserving evidence, documenting injuries through medical expert consultations, calculating economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity), pursuing non-economic damages (pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life), negotiating with insurance carriers, and filing lawsuits when settlement offers fall short.
We handle amputation cases from car accidents, truck collisions, workplace injuries, construction accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, and premises liability incidents.
1. Get Medical Treatment Your health is the priority. Follow all medical recommendations and attend scheduled appointments. Medical records create documentation essential to your claim.
2. Preserve Evidence If possible, photograph the accident scene, keep defective products, and obtain contact information for witnesses. Do not give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal guidance.
3. Contact Mercer Legal Group Reach out to discuss your case. We can evaluate whether you have viable claims and explain your legal options under California law.
4. Let Us Handle the Legal Process Once retained, we take over communication with insurance companies, gather evidence, consult experts, and pursue maximum compensation while you focus on recovery and rehabilitation.
If you or a family member suffered an amputation due to someone else’s negligence in Los Angeles or anywhere in Southern California, contact Mercer Legal Group to discuss your case. We serve clients throughout Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
Call: (818) 351-2137
Let our amputation injury attorneys evaluate your claim and explain how California law may apply to your situation.
Visit a doctor immediately to diagnose and treat your injury. Record the incident’s date, time, location, and witnesses. Log medical procedures and costs.
An amputation injury law firm can help you obtain evidence, deal with insurance companies and liable parties, and represent you in court. They defend and compensate you.
Medical bills, lost wages, future earnings, pain and suffering, and long-term care may be awarded to amputation injury victims. Your case and the injury’s impact determine compensation.
Amputation injury lawsuit statutes vary by state and case. Consult an amputation injury lawyer quickly from a reputewd amputation injury law firm to file your complaint on time.
Yes, you can sue for amputation injury.
