Amputation Statistics in the U.S.

“Amputation is an acquired condition that results in the loss of a limb, usually from injury, disease, or surgery,” according to Stanford Health Care. (1)

A 2024 study sets the total number of people living with limb loss (LL) or limb difference (LD) in the U.S. at 5.6 million. The report goes on to say the average annual rate of LL or LD is 507,293 individuals. (2)

“Lower body amputations (83%) were much more frequent than upper body amputations (17%),” according to the report. (3) And 75% of upper limb amputations are due to trauma. (4) Overall, 45% of amputations are due to traumatic injury. (5)

More surprisingly, LL also affects mortality. The report states, “While improvements in medical care and technology may have increased survival rates of individuals with traumatic injuries that result in LL, overall mortality for LL is extremely high (18.5%).” (6)

What Is an Amputation Lawsuit?

When injuries from accidents are severe enough to cause an amputation, the responsible parties should be held legally accountable. An amputation lawsuit seeks to do just that.

Victims of limb loss not only suffer from physical injuries, but also from the financial effects, in addition to the likely emotional and psychological trauma. Such injuries require months, if not years, in recovery. All of this impacts your emotional and mental health, quality of life, financial security, and future outlook.

You deserve compensation for this disruption in your life. And the person or company who caused it should be the one to pay financially.

If you or a loved one lost a limb due to negligence, call us now for a free legal consultation.

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Causes of Amputation

There are many causes of amputations. You could have been injured by an accident at your workplace. Or at some event or business. Or by another person’s action — or failure to act.

Here are some of the main reasons: (7)

  • Trauma, including accidents and violence.
  • Diseases and health conditions, such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease.
  • Infections involving gangrene, cellulitis, or necrosis.
  • Malignancies.
  • Congenital, focusing on birth defects and deformities.
  • Frostbite.

If you or a loved one has, through no fault of your own, suffered an amputation, it might be time to consider a lawsuit.

Types of Amputation Lawsuits

Laws vary, but there are generally two types of amputation lawsuits you may consider filing: personal injury and worker’s compensation claims.

Personal Injury Lawsuit for Amputations

You can file a personal injury lawsuit when your injuries are caused by someone else, whether intentionally or negligently.

Negligence is a legal concept. It applies when someone has been injured by another person or business because of what they did or failed to do. (8)

Proving negligence means showing the court the responsible party failed to act with the same level of care as any reasonable person would have, given similar circumstances. (9)

Workplace Accident Lawsuit for Amputations

You can file a lawsuit if your injuries happen due to an accident at work.

Your accident may have been due to a malfunction of equipment, negligent actions by a fellow employee or the employer, violations of laws, codes, or regulations, or simply inadequate training.

In such cases, it is important to hold any and all of the responsible parties accountable. This may include your employer, a fellow employee, a contractor or subcontractor, or even manufacturers.

Workers’ compensation may cover your medical expenses, but you’ll need to file a lawsuit to get money for your pain and suffering.

Qualifying to File an Amputation Lawsuit

Experienced amputation attorneys are able to help determine who to include in your lawsuit.

To qualify for an amputation lawsuit, you must be able to show the court you were not responsible for the accident and the resulting injuries. You need to prove the party you are suing was somehow negligent. (10)

In a negligence case, you need to demonstrate to the court the person or organization you are suing (the defendant) owed you (the plaintiff) a “duty of care.” This duty is an obligation to take precautions to prevent harm, and they are responsible for damages if they “breached” it. Their failure to succeed in the duty of care resulted in the accident causing your injuries. (11)

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Examples of Negligence Cases

An example of negligence might be if you are a construction worker injured while working on the job. You are working on scaffolding, over six feet high. You suffer an injury when the scaffolding becomes unstable and gives way. You fall and your leg is crushed so badly it must be amputated.

Your employer can be held accountable if the scaffolding equipment was defective, if there were not proper safety precautions in place (such as guardrails or personal fall arrest systems), or if the construction workers setting up or using the scaffolding had not been adequately trained.

In addition to your employer possibly being held accountable, there are many others that can be, as well. The property owner, the general contractor, subcontractors, and others may also be accountable for your injuries. An experienced lawyer can walk you through the process and ensure that all wrongdoers are held accountable.

Another example of negligence might be if a delivery truck runs a red light at an intersection and hits your car. Your injuries are so severe, you lose a limb. You might be able to sue the truck driver and the company the truck driver works for. But what if the truck driver ran the red light because the brakes on the truck failed due to a defect? Your lawsuit might also need to include the manufacturer of the truck or even the service station that maintains the vehicle.

While these are clearcut examples, most real-life cases are far more complex. An experienced attorney is able to determine the responsible parties, guide you through the legal process, and help you achieve a successful outcome in your case.

Filing a Lawsuit

When considering the right attorney for your amputation lawsuit, look for personal injury and negligence litigation experience — and outcomes. With nearly 40 years of experience representing clients in personal injury and negligence cases, Weitz & Luxenberg has a solid reputation for achieving positive outcomes for our clients.

W&L amputation attorneys listen to your story, investigate the circumstances of your claim, file your lawsuit, gather the evidence, and represent you in court — or negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Our team is also there to guide you through the appeals process, should it be necessary.

W&L helps you seek the most compensation the law allows in your case. This monetary compensation may be for past and future medical expenses and loss of income, mental and psychological distress, pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and — in some cases — punitive damages.

How W&L Can Help

Weitz & Luxenberg has a solid track record of success on behalf of our clients. Here are some examples of our successes: