Top Amputation Lawyers

Large Recoveries For Clients With Catastrophic Injuries

Founding partner Matt Casey won a $23.1 million verdict in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, for a 55-year-old woman who lost both legs due to medical negligence.

A home care nurse failed to properly evaluate and timely report Sharlee Ann Smoyer’s infected catheter, resulting in a bloodstream infection that ultimately forced the below-the-knee amputations. The verdict is among the highest ever for a medical malpractice case involving amputation injuries in Lehigh County and across the state.

Casey also won a $19.1 million verdict for a man who was struck by a vehicle as he was pushing a disabled car to the side of a Philadelphia road. Patrick Hennessy suffered severe injuries in the crash and eventually underwent an above-the-knee leg amputation. Casey settled the case with the insurance company for $22 million, making it the largest such bad-faith settlement in Pennsylvania history.

Founding partner Robert Ross recovered $17.8 million in an amputation injury lawsuit that involved the failure to adequately treat a client’s infection, which resulted in an amputation.

Other noteworthy loss-of-limb lawsuits litigated by Ross Feller Casey’s Philadelphia amputation attorneys include:

• $51 million verdict in Philadelphia against SEPTA for a boy whose foot was torn off by an escalator
• $20.8 million verdict in Philadelphia for a podiatrist who had to have her foot amputated because of a misdiagnosis of bloodstream infection
• $8 million Pennsylvania recovery for an amputation injury in a factory accident
• $6.5 million recovery for a partial amputation injury to a factory worker
• $4 million recovery for a man who suffered an amputation as a result of a workplace accident
• $2.4 million settlement for a small boy who suffered the amputation of his lower left arm as a result of medical negligence

How Common Are Amputations?

According to national statistics, one out of every 200 Americans — 1.7 million people overall — has suffered some limb loss, with 50,000 new amputation cases reported across the U.S. annually.

A large number of these amputations occur as a result of traumatic accidents. However, diseases and other medical conditions — diabetes, cancers, infections, and tumors — outnumber trauma as the primary cause. While a medical amputation that is needed due to certain medical situations can be devastating, it is even more traumatic when the amputation could have been prevented.

If limb loss occurred due to medical malpractice, such as a doctor’s failure to exercise reasonable care, there might be grounds for an amputation lawsuit in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania. Litigation may also be possible in other circumstances, such as a traumatic injury from a defective machine or in a car accident where another person was at fault.

What Are Complications Related To Amputation?

Recovering from losing a limb is a traumatic, painful, and emotional process. Your ability to walk, drive, interact with family and friends, and perform your work and daily activities is impacted. As a result, you may suffer from depression, anxiety, or even post-traumatic stress disorder. You may require medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or prosthetic limb, which can be difficult to adapt to and necessitates substantial lifestyle changes. Additionally, you may experience wound-healing issues and phantom limb pain. This is when you feel phantom pain in the area where your limb would have been if it hadn't been amputated.

Unfortunately, your quality of life and livelihood may also be impacted. For instance, if you had a leg amputation, you may be unable to return to your previous job. You may have to consider another career that requires extensive training. Financial hardships are common because of the significantly high costs of medical equipment and lifetime medical care associated with amputations.  

Does Pennsylvania Have Caps On Compensation For An Amputation Injury Case?

Pennsylvania does not set damage caps on compensatory and non-economic damages. They include wage loss, medical bills, future medical treatment costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. However, the punitive damage cap for medical malpractice recovery is two times the compensatory damages, except in cases alleging intentional misconduct. Punitive damages are awarded in rare cases where the defendant’s conduct is especially egregious or malicious in nature.

Speaking with a Philadelphia amputation attorney about your amputation injury case is essential to obtain the best possible outcome.

How To Find An Amputation Lawyer - Philadelphia PA

Talk with the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Ross Feller Casey to determine whether you have a case. We have an on-staff team of Ivy League-trained doctors and doctor-lawyers with proven track records of helping clients win medical malpractice lawsuits against medical professionals and hospitals in amputation injury cases.

You might be able to recover financial compensation for medical expenses and other damages through an amputation lawsuit, even if the loss of the limb occurred some time ago. But time may be running out for your personal injury case.

Contact Ross Feller Casey today to set an appointment to discuss your free consultation. Because our medical malpractice amputation error cases are handled on a contingency basis, there is no cost unless we secure a winning verdict or settlement for your personal injury claim.