Amputation
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Loss of Limb Offshore Injury Attorneys
From chains to hatches to winches, and more, offshore workers are constantly working with and around equipment that can quickly cause very serious injuries. A very real concern for many who work offshore is limb loss or amputation. In addition to traumatic amputation, offshore workers have to worry about crushed limbs which can lead to damaged nerves that may lead to a surgical amputation. Amputation of any kind of is devastating and life-altering. However, offshore amputation can be particularly devastating because the injury occurred while earning money to care for your family. If you or a loved one is living with maritime limb loss, a compassionate offshore amputation lawyer from The Carlson Law Firm understands what you’re going through. We can help you in your recovery process.
Whether the amputation was immediate and caused directly by the accident or the victim later required a surgery to remove the limb, our leading Maritime Limb Loss Attorney Reed Morgan can help. Morgan has achieved several significant trial victories and settlements for victims of offshore amputation. Our law firm backs Morgan with more than 40 years of experience protecting the rights of injured clients. We have the resources to assist you in getting the recovery you deserve. If you have an injury from an offshore amputation, contact our firm today. We will advocate for your rights and hold the right parties for your injury.
What is Offshore Amputation?
As with most injuries, seamen are at a high risk of losing limbs and amputation. Because they work around dangerous and heavy machinery, the level of injury an offshore worker can experience is typically severe. An offshore amputation can mean several things. Losing a finger, arm, foot or even toes is considered an amputation. Maritime limb loss can come in two forms:
- Partial Amputation: Occurs when the amputated part is partially attached to the body by some bone, tissue or muscle.
- Complete Amputation: Occurs when the body part is completely removed from the body.
Offshore amputations can also be the result of crushed limbs. While the injury may not result in immediate amputation, a severe injury to nerves can lead to a surgical amputation. A crush injury will cut the blood flow in the damaged appendage and lead to serious muscle and tissue damage. In severe cases, an infection may occur in crush injuries which can lead to a surgical amputation.
A 2016 report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows that 10,388 severe injuries were caused by workplace condition. These injuries resulted in 2,644 amputations. There is the presumption that just because the work you do is dangerous that you should just accept your fate. However, just because the work you do is dangerous, doesn’t mean that you should just accept your employer’s negligence. A maritime limb loss attorney can assist you in determining the next steps in your case.
Causes of Maritime Limb Loss
Proper maintenance of heavy machinery and equipment on board sea vessels is a federal law requirement. In addition to regular maintenance, companies are responsible for ensuring that the machinery is checked for damaged or failing parts. Additionally, your company should make sure that you and every employee you work with is properly trained on the equipment and safety procedures. If your employer has not assured these necessary precautions and you’ve lost a limb, as a result, contact The Carlson Law Firm to speak with a qualified offshore amputation lawyer. Possible causes of maritime limb loss include:
- Defective equipment or machinery
- Malfunction equipment or machinery
- Improper navigation planning
- Lack of training on equipment
- Lack of procedural or safety training
- Navigation collisions
- Broken or poorly maintained equipment
Recovering from offshore limb loss is a physically painful process. Contact our firm to speak with a compassionate Maritime Limb Loss Attorney.
Types of Maritime Limb Loss Injuries
Amputations can occur on any type of sea vessel. Barges, ships, oil rigs and other vessels have dangerous equipment on board. Amputation can occur as the result of a limb caught in vessel machinery, such as a winch, hoist or conveyer. Additionally, a limb can get stuck in a swinging door or water-tight door. In some cases, we’ve seen injuries as the result of lines or cables tangling around the limbs of an offshore employee. When an employer or vessel owner fails to provide the proper safety standards, it can result in offshore limb loss. Chains, hatches, winches and other heavy equipment can lead to crushed or traumatic amputation.
Limbs can get caught or injured in:
- Heavy chains
- Pulleys
- Belts
- Cables
- Doors
- Spindles
- Gears
- And more
If you or a loved one is living with an offshore amputation, contact our firm today. We can help you recover the damages owed to you. An offshore amputation lawyer can answer questions specific to your case.
Treatment for Maritime Limb Loss and Amputation
The average lifetime healthcare costs for people with limb loss is $509,275. This cost includes prosthetics, medicines, initial hospitalization, rehab and outpatient doctor’s visits. Recovering from offshore amputation is not just a physical recovery, but in some cases may require mental recovery as well.
Physical Recovery
Physical therapy may become a long-term part of your life. However, the benefits of physical therapy include building muscle tone and coordination surrounding an amputation. Additionally, physical therapy will help with a victim’s circulation to the limb area. Some people will opt for pros In some cases of maritime limb loss, victims experience a sensation known as phantom limb. This means that the victim still feels the pain as if the lost limb is still there. Scientists have not determined why this occurs, but many theorize that is the brain’s reorganization.
Mental Recovery
There are both obvious complications stemming from the loss of a limb, such as bleeding and shock. However, there are also the psychological effects that a person can experience after a traumatic incident. The injured must now adapt to a new normal, which includes the appearance of their body, as well as physical demands such as walking, eating, or performing routine tasks.
Around 30 percent of amputation victims experience some level of depression or anxiety. Amputation of any kind is a traumatic experience. The Amputee Coalition lists five stages of the grief that an amputee experiences. Because of this, amputees often require additional therapy outside of physical. This can come in the form of speaking with a counselor or a therapist to joining an amputee support group.
Your physical and mental recovery go hand in hand. The Carlson Law Firm believes that everyone should receive the help they need regardless of economic status. We will fight for your right to get the treatment you deserve. Contact our firm today to speak with a qualified maritime limb loss attorney.
Offshore Amputation Damages
Under Maritime Law, you have several avenues for recovering damages. An offshore amputation lawyer from The Carlson Law Firm can get you the compensation your injuries entitle you to. If your offshore injuries resulted in the loss of a finger, hand, foot, arm or leg, you can get relief. General maritime law, as well as the Jones Act, works to protect offshore workers—no matter who is at fault.
Maintenance and Cure
Most seamen have probably heard the term maintenance and cure, but may not be entirely sure what it means. Simply maintenance and cure means that an offshore worker is entitled to room and board while recovering from an injury at home.
Maintenance includes:
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Property taxes
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Food
However, maintenance only relates to the expenses deemed necessary to run a household. It doesn’t include payments toward expense such as telephones, cable, internet or car payments.
Cure, on the other hand, is the company covering the seaman’s reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Additionally, it covers the cost transportation of getting to and from reasonable and necessary medical treatment. Much like land-based employees, an injured seaman should not have to pay for any medical treatment related to the work injury.
An offshore amputation injury can lead to lifelong consequences. In some cases, you may not be able to work again. The costs of a maritime limb loss injury can far exceed maintenance and cure costs. Many offshore amputation victims will require prosthetic legs and several other long-term expenses. By seeking a qualified offshore amputation lawyer, you can guarantee that your needs will be met. Contact our firm today to speak with a qualified Maritime Limb Loss Attorney.
AN OFFSHORE Amputation LAWYER FROM THE CARLSON LAW FIRM CAN HELP
The team of offshore injury attorneys at The Carlson Law Firm are prepared to intervene and advocate on your behalf to recover maximum damages for the pain you have suffered on the job.
Working aboard ships and other offshore facilities is a risky and demanding occupation. Workers risk exposure to many hazards that can lead to several types of physical injuries. Because of this, federal law requires that companies protect their employees from potential hazards. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Just because the work you do is dangerous, doesn’t mean that you should just accept your employer’s negligence. The law entitles you to certain protections. The law may require your company to help you or your family pay for medical bills and other damages as a result of their negligence. A qualified offshore amputation lawyer can help you determine what your next steps are.
If you or someone you living with the effects of maritime limb loss as a result of an offshore amputation injury, you may be entitled to the compensation you so rightly deserve. Contact the Carlson Law Firm today for a free, no obligation, consultation with our offshore amputation lawyer, Reed Morgan. If you are looking for prompt, personal and proven representation for your offshore injury, Jones Act claim or any other Maritime Law claim, The Carlson Law Firm is here to help. Above all, our team of attorneys, specialists, and research associated has the experience and resources to guide you through your legal journey and help you secure the best results possible.
