Losing a limb is a catastrophic, life-altering event. Whether it is a traumatic amputation at the scene of an accident or a surgical amputation required to save a life after a severe injury, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences are permanent.

If your amputation was caused by someone else's negligence, you are entitled to compensation that reflects not just your immediate medical bills, but the full lifetime cost of living without that limb — prosthetics, rehabilitation, lost earning capacity, and the profound impact on your quality of life.

Traumatic amputation — the limb is severed or destroyed at the scene of the accident. This occurs most often in severe vehicle crashes, industrial machinery accidents, and train accidents.

Surgical amputation — the limb cannot be saved due to the severity of the injury (crush injury, severe burns, vascular damage, infection) and must be surgically removed. This is the more common scenario in personal injury cases.

Partial amputation — loss of fingers, toes, a hand, or a foot. While less severe than full limb loss, partial amputations still cause permanent disability and significant compensation claims.

• Car and truck accidents — crush injuries, door entrapment, rollover accidents
• Motorcycle accidents — road rash and crush injuries that destroy limbs
• Workplace accidents — industrial machinery, construction equipment, conveyor belts
• Defective products — power tools, lawn equipment, industrial machinery with inadequate guards
• Severe burn injuries — fourth-degree burns that destroy tissue to the bone
• Boat and watercraft accidents — propeller strikes are a leading cause of limb loss in Florida
• Medical malpractice — surgical errors, failure to diagnose vascular conditions, improper wound care leading to infection and gangrene

Insurance companies will try to settle amputation cases quickly and cheaply. Do not let them. The true lifetime cost of limb loss is enormous:

Prosthetics alone can cost $5,000 to $70,000+ per device, and most amputees need a new prosthetic every 3–5 years. Over a lifetime, prosthetic costs alone can exceed $1 million.

Additional lifetime costs include:

• Ongoing rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Occupational therapy to relearn daily tasks
• Home modifications (ramps, grab bars, accessible bathroom)
• Vehicle modifications (hand controls, wheelchair lifts)
• Attendant care for high-level amputations
• Psychological treatment — depression, PTSD, and body image issues are extremely common
• Lost earning capacity — many amputees cannot return to their prior occupation

• All past medical expenses — emergency care, surgery, hospitalization
• Future medical care — prosthetics, rehabilitation, ongoing treatment
• Lost wages — time missed from work during recovery
• Loss of earning capacity — if the amputation prevents return to prior work
• Pain and suffering — both physical pain and emotional anguish
• Permanent disfigurement — Florida law specifically compensates for disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life — inability to engage in activities, sports, hobbies
• Phantom limb pain — a recognized, compensable form of chronic pain
• Loss of consortium — damages for a spouse or partner
• Punitive damages — in cases of gross negligence

Florida has more registered boats than any other state, and propeller strikes are a tragically common cause of limb loss. If you or a family member was struck by a boat propeller, you may have claims against the boat operator, the boat owner, and potentially the manufacturer if a propeller guard was not available or was defective. These cases require immediate investigation to preserve evidence.

In amputation cases, we retain a certified life care planner — a medical professional who documents every future expense the victim will incur over their lifetime. This expert testimony is critical to ensuring the jury understands the full value of the case and does not undercompensate the victim.

Call Juan Cordero Lawyers at 305.525.8957 for a free consultation. We fight for amputation and limb loss victims throughout Florida. You pay nothing unless we win.