Motorcycle Accidents Causing Amputation: How These Claims Are Valued

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s City Crash Summary Report, 575 motorcycle accidents were reported in Chicago in 2023 – over half of which resulted in physical injuries. These statistics show some of the unique risks associated with motorcycle accidents and raise serious questions about the safety of motorcyclists on our local roadways.

In some devastating motorcycle crashes, riders’ injuries are so serious that an amputation is required. As a result, survivors and their families often find their lives are permanently and irrevocably changed. Let’s explore how amputations typically factor into motorcycle accident claims and discuss how courts and insurers put a price on an incalculable loss.

How motorcycle accidents can lead to amputation

It might sound obvious, but one of the reasons motorcyclists are more prone to serious injuries is the fact that motorcycles are far less sheltered than traditional passenger vehicles. With less structure between themselves and the elements, motorcycle riders can more easily come into direct contact with the pavement or other environmental hazards during an accident. This puts motorcyclists in danger of suffering serious cuts, burns, road rash, crushed limbs, and other injuries in a crash.

When an accident causes widespread tissue damage, disrupts blood flow, or results in an irreparable crush injury, doctors may have no choice but to perform an amputation. Sometimes, they’ll perform the amputation as part of emergency medical care. Other times, they use amputation as a last resort after more conservative interventions fail. Both scenarios have their challenges and can mark the beginning of a lifelong recovery and readjustment process.

The cost of an amputation injury

The effects of an amputation injury extend far beyond the initial surgery, as does the expense. While the initial cost of an amputation surgery can be staggering in and of itself, the secondary costs of these injuries can further complicate the recovery process for survivors and their families.

Research suggests that the total lifetime cost of an amputation can be as high as $500,000, depending on a patient’s insurance coverage, surgical outcome, and long-term support needs. Between ongoing medical evaluation, prosthetics, reduced earning capacity, and other losses, the full value of a survivor’s amputation-related losses can easily exceed their financial means and leave them struggling to meet even their most basic needs.

Additionally, the loss of a limb often takes a substantial emotional toll on survivors and their families. The process of adjusting to life post-amputation can be a major source of stress and uncertainty that persists for months or years following an initial surgery. These mental health concerns can also require professional intervention, leading survivors to incur additional expenses related to the cost of therapy, psychiatric care, and prescription medications.

While the long-term cost of amputation may differ significantly from survivor to survivor, the bottom line is that these injuries often pose unique financial challenges that can seriously impact multiple aspects of a patient’s life. That’s why so many survivors of negligence-related motorcycle accidents choose to file claims for compensation related to their loss of limb.

What kinds of compensation are available to amputees in Illinois?

If you lost a limb in a motorcycle accident and can prove that your injury was the direct result of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for a variety of economic and non-economic damages. Some common examples of economic and non-economic damages sought in amputation cases include:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Surgery costs
• Ongoing medical care
• Prosthetic-related expenses
• Prescription medication costs
• Rehabilitation and/or physical therapy
• Costs associated with wheelchairs or other mobility aids
• Lost wages
• Reduced lifetime earning capacity
• Mental health treatment
• Psychiatric medications
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

All of these expenses can seriously add up over time, which is why many amputation injury survivors turn to insurance claims or, in some cases, personal injury lawsuits to help them pursue the compensation they need to cover their necessary costs.

While the at-fault party’s insurance is often the first source of compensation after a negligence-related accident, additional legal action may be necessary to ensure the injured person receives full and fair compensation for their losses. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help you better understand all potential sources of compensation in your case and advocate for fair and appropriate compensation under the law.

Keep in mind, however, that your right to compensation is directly influenced by Illinois’s modified comparative negligence system, which requires that a victim not be more than 50% responsible for their own injuries in order to recover damages. If you did contribute to your own crash but were not more than 50% responsible, any damages you receive via insurance claim or personal injury suit will be reduced in proportion to your level of fault.

How are damages calculated in amputation cases?

It’s hard to put a price tag on a part of your body. That’s why insurance companies and civil courts have to rely on several different kinds of evidence when evaluating claims for these kinds of injuries. Medical records, surgical reports, and expert testimony can all help to establish the severity of a survivor’s injury and eliminate some of the guesswork from these complex calculations.

If a case involves lost wages or long-term disability, employment records can help to establish the extent to which the claimant’s injury stands to affect their earning potential. There is some amount of forecasting and extrapolating involved in these calculations, so many motorcycle accident lawyers rely on financial professionals and vocational experts to provide a comprehensive overview of these economic losses.

Following a motorcycle accident – particularly an accident that results in an amputation – it’s important to retain copies of all medical bills, treatment records, insurance or employer communications, and anything else that can support your claim. A clear and compelling paper trail can help insurance companies, judges, and juries better understand the nature of your losses and support the assessed value of your damages.

Final thoughts

Motorcycle accidents can be incredibly dangerous for riders of all ages and skill levels. When a motorcycle crash results in an injury so severe that an amputation is required, survivors often find themselves unexpectedly thrust into lifelong physical, emotional, and financial disarray. An insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit can help survivors recover some of the compensation they need to stay afloat after an accident, but only if their claim reflects the full and fair value of their losses.

At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we understand the serious impact amputation injuries can have on accident survivors and their families, and we are committed to helping our clients fight for the most appropriate compensation available to them under the law.

If you or a loved one suffered an amputation after a motorcycle accident in Chicago, contact Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers now or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case review. We are standing by to learn more about your accident and provide you with the support you need to make an informed decision about how best to pursue the compensation you deserve.