Dismemberment & Amputations
Our Ottawa dismemberment & amputation lawyers are on your side
Have you suffered from an amputation or dismemberment injury in Ottawa?
Amputation or dismemberment is a serious injury that classifies as catastrophic. These traumatizing and life-changing injuries are often the result of bad car accidents, industrial accidents, or even medical malpractice.
These injuries are severe and force you to completely re-learn how to perform what were once simple, everyday tasks. With this traumatic loss often also comes severe psychological damage for not only the victim, but their families too.
The treatment and recovery process for amputations is long and difficult, requiring you to attend a wide variety of appointments, see specialists frequently, and purchase expensive medical equipment, such as prosthetics.
When looking at your road to recovery from these injuries, it’s important you understand the physical, mental and financial toll your recovery can take. We don’t say this to discourage you, as recovery is very possible. We just want you to understand that you shouldn’t have to face these challenges alone. If you have suffered amputation or dismemberment as a result of someone else’s carelessness or negligence, you shouldn’t be liable to pay for your recovery.
MG Law can help you get the compensation you deserve and access to the best specialists available to help you heal faster. We will ensure you can afford your treatment and get you in touch with proper doctors, rehabilitative centres, physical therapists, counseling, and whatever else you require to properly heal and get back to your life.
Our firm specializes in the following:
Over 10 years of experience
Over $80 million obtained for our clients
Fluent in 10 languages
We will come to your home or hospital
We take your case very personally
Free initial consultation
You don’t pay until your case is won or settled
What are the different types of amputation?
Recovering from amputation or dismemberment is a long journey with many different potential outcomes. These types of injuries often require the victim to completely adjust to a new way of living, which can take a serious toll on their mental health. Amputations are divided into two categories – major amputations and minor amputations.
Major amputations include:
- Transfemoral (above your knee amputation)
Knee disarticulation - BKA (below your knee amputation)
- Transradial (amputation of your forearm)
- Transhumeral (amputation above your elbow)
- Shoulder disarticulation
- Hip disarticulation
Minor amputations include:
- Partial foot amputation
- Ankle disarticulation
- Amputation of fingers or toes
While many amputees can be fitted for prosthetics to help improve their quality of life, some people experience heterotopic ossification. This is a condition where the brain causes the bone to grow instead of forming scar tissue. In these cases, additional surgeries are required before you can be fitted for your prosthetic.
Many people who experience amputations face a phenomenon, called “phantom limb”. Likely a result of a neural map emanating from the brain, amputees often can feel or experience sensations from the limb that no longer exists. These symptoms often cause pain, itching, burning, or other negative symptoms.
Recovering from amputation or dismemberment is a long road, and you shouldn’t have to face the added burden of finances or returning to work on top of it. By receiving a fair compensation, you can focus on what matters – your mental health and your physical health. Let MG Law provide the support you need, so you can return to living your life.
Didn’t consult with an amputation lawyer at the time of your accident? We can still help.
If you didn’t meet with an amputation or dismemberment lawyer when your accident happened, that’s okay. We can still work with you to get you the compensation you deserve. You have up to two years from the time of your accident to pursue legal action and financial compensation.
It’s important to note that if your injury was the result of a slip and fall, the timeline changes. If the fall happened on municipal property, you only have 10 days to provide written notice to the municipality. If the fall happened on private property, you only have 60 days to provide notice.
The two-year limitation period does not begin for a child until they reach the age of 18, but that doesn’t mean you should wait until your child turns 18 to reach out to a amputation lawyer. It’s still a good idea to contact a lawyer while all of the details are still fresh, but even if you waited, you may still have a case.
Call us today at 613-730-8460 and get started with your free consultation. This meeting will allow us to get to know you and learn more about your accident, while at the same time giving you a chance to ask any questions you may have for us. You don’t have to face these unknown hurdles alone with MG Law at your side.
Our team fights for the compensation you deserve
We have access to a comprehensive team of community rehabilitation specialists
We provide a smooth transition from the hospital to your home
MG Law takes care of all the complex legal, medical and insurance related questions on your behalf
What clients are saying
Don't suffer in silence. We are here to help.
We have the experience and knowledge to help get you the compensation you deserve. Our team communicates in English, French, Greek, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Punjabi, Hindi, and all Arabic dialects, so you can feel more comfortable with our representation.
Frequently asked questions
Additional health issues amputees may experience
Unfortunately, dismemberment and amputations are a life-long injury. Your quality of life will improve as you heal and get used to your new capabilities with a prosthetic, but in the meantime, there are many additional health issues you may experience. These common issues are:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Infection at the amputation site
- Heteroptopic ossification (bone growing where scar tissue should)
- ‘Phantom Limb’ or negative symptoms or pain, itching or burning at the amputation site
- Stump pain
Biggest challenges faced after amputation
An amputation is a catastrophic injury that has life-changing consequences. The timeline for healing can be very long, even after you’ve left the hospital. Surgery, rehabilitation, appointments with specialists, and expensive medical equipment are all necessary to your recovery.
Beyond the recovery required to heal your amputation site, there are many challenges ahead in regard to your mental health and relearning how to be independent. Some challenges you can expect in the beginning of your recovery are:
1. Relearning how to perform everyday tasks
Things you used to be able to perform on a regular basis, such as washing, cooking or driving may all seem impossible after your injury. It can be difficult and take time to retrain your brain and body to properly function with one less limb. The good news is that prosthetics have come a long way in the last few decades, allowing people to regain many of the skills they lost. However, finding the prosthetic that works for you and then learning how to use it takes time and you’ll have to be patient.
2. Regaining your independence
Similar to the above challenge, in the time after your immediate injury, caring for yourself can be a real challenge. You will have to rely on the help of others while you heal and adjust to your new reality. For many, the loss of their sense of independence of bodily autonomy can be very difficult to come to terms with. As time passes and your body heals and adjusts, you’ll gain back much of your independence, but it’s important to remember to ask for help when you need it. Something huge has happened to you, and it’s important to lean on others while you adjust to this change.
3. Tending to your mental health
An amputation is a catastrophic injury with severe, life-changing ramifications. In these cases, it’s not unusual for the victim to experience pretty severe psychological trauma too. Whether you’re experiencing ‘phantom limb’ or dealing with PTSD from your accident that caused the amputation in the first place, it’s important that you take the time to heal with your mental health as well. Seeing a therapist or counselor is an important step you must take in your recovery, to ensure you’re properly looking after yourself.
If you or a loved one has suffered an amputation or dismemberment injury, you may feel overwhelmed by emotional trauma and medical bills, and not know where to start when it comes to dealing with insurance, submitting claims, and attaining benefits. This is why having a dedicated dismemberment and amputation lawyer is so important.
Why is it important to consult a dismemberment or amputation lawyer?
Amputation or dismemberment injuries are not something that should be taken lightly. They have profound and lasting impacts on a person’s quality of life and often result in much higher catastrophic injury settlements.
It’s important to meet with an amputation or dismemberment lawyer who is experienced at dealing with these claims. Our team at MG Law will fight tirelessly to get you the results that you deserve. We will be there for you every step of the way, to get you the amputation compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you know has suffered from an accident resulting in amputation or dismemberment, it’s important to consult with an amputation lawyer as soon as possible, when all of the details are still fresh. We can help walk you through the process of getting police records, hospital records, interviewing witnesses and dealing with your insurance company.
Our team of amputation lawyers won’t just help get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries, we’ll also connect you with a community rehabilitation team to provide you with assistance and support transitioning from your hospital stay to life back at home.
Your community rehabilitation team will be by your side every step of the way as you’re discharged from the hospital. This ensures you have a safe, accessible place to go home to, you have the proper appointments set up to help you recover, and much more.
Important steps to take when injured
It’s important to remember that injuries can take some time to present themselves. If you’ve been in a serious accident, it’s important to take these steps regardless of how you feel, as it may take a few days or weeks for the full extent of your injuries to become apparent.
1. Call the police and report your accident
Police reports are a valuable part of any court proceeding, so ensuring that the police have all the information you have available will reflect positively on your case.
Important steps to take when injured
It’s important to remember that injuries can take some time to present themselves. If you’ve been in a bad accident, it’s important to take these steps regardless of how you feel, as it may take a few days or weeks for the full extent of your injuries to become apparent.
Police reports are a valuable part of any court proceeding, so ensuring that the police have all the information you have available will reflect positively on your case.
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