Victims of car crashes may suffer from a variety of injuries. These can include minor ones like scratches and scrapes, but they can also include catastrophic injuries like traumatic amputations.
A traumatic amputation involves a body part being severed from the body. Amputations are categorized by how much soft tissue, if any, is still connected. A partial amputation means that there’s still some soft tissue attached between the severed body part and the body. A complete amputation is one that doesn’t have any soft tissue still connected.
Medical attention is critical
Regardless of what type of amputation a person has, immediate medical attention is necessary. These injuries come with a risk of considerable blood loss and shock. In some cases, medical professionals can reattach the severed body part. The condition of the stump on the body and the end of the severed part determine if this is possible.
Long-term complications
Traumatic amputations can lead to long-term complications, whether the body part can be attached or not. If the body part is reattached, the victim may have to go through physical and occupational therapy to re-learn how to use that body part again. If their body part isn’t re-attached, they have to learn how to either function without it or with a prosthesis.
The medical care and recovery expenses after a traumatic amputation can be costly. If the crash was caused by a negligent driver, the victim may opt to pursue a compensation claim to cover the financial damages of the injury. This can include medical costs and lost wages. Others may be possible so victims should seek assistance from someone familiar with these matters.
