Workplace accidents can lead to injuries that require the amputation of a limb. If your employer has opted out of the Texas workers’ compensation system, you might not know where to turn for the financial compensation you will need to move on with your life. Our workplace Houston personal injury attorney can help you recover.
How Texas Amputation Injuries Happen at Work
Traumatic accidents can happen in many different environments, but they are most common in workplaces that involve manual labor, heavy machinery, and jobs that require driving vehicles. For those who work in a construction or factory setting, the risks of severe injury, including the loss of a limb, are dramatically increased due to the daily use of dangerous machines and equipment. Equipment that could cause an amputation includes:
- Printing presses
- Roll-forming or roll-bending machines
- Power press brakes
- Mechanical power presses
- Drill presses
- Milling machines
- Powered and non-powered conveyors
- Meat grinders
- Food slicers
- Meat-cutting band saws
Some common causes of workplace amputation include:
- Operating unguarded or inadequately safeguarded machines or tools
- Working with mechanical equipment that involves rotating, cutting, punching, or shearing
- Workplace uniforms that are improperly fitted or have pieces that could get caught in machinery
What is the common theme with all of these amputation risks? The employer could be deemed responsible. In fact, workplace negligence on the part of the employer or company is one of the most common causes of amputations on the job. There are steps businesses can take to prevent this terrible occurrence, but unfortunately, many times, they do not want to go through the cost or time necessary.
Outside of factories or other machinery settings, jobs that require driving also increase the risk of a limb-loss injury. If a truck driver is operating a big rig that is not properly maintained, for example, they are at higher risk for an accident that can cause severe injuries, including amputation. Proper maintenance of vehicles and equipment, as well as appropriate training of all employees and supervisors, is necessary to provide as safe a work environment as possible.
Living With the Loss of a Limb
Living life post-amputation is not easy. Life will never be the same as it once was, and you will have to adjust every aspect of your life. Especially if your dominant arm was severed, you will have to relearn basic skills like grasping objects and writing. Some physical complications of amputation include:
- Infection
- Muscle shortening
- Excessive bleeding
- Blood clots in the lungs (aka pulmonary embolism)
- Skin problems and irritation from prosthetic use
- Phantom pain
- Surgical complications
There are also psychological and emotional effects from amputation. These include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Flashbacks of the injury happening
- Isolation due to the inability to enjoy activities that are now not accessible
- Isolation from embarrassment or trauma
What to Do After a Houston Workplace Amputation Injury
There are a few steps you should take following an amputation injury to ensure you are in the best position possible, should you decide to file suit against your employer.
- Get the medical help you need right away
- Report the accident to your employer
- Gather statements from any witnesses of the accident
- Contact an attorney
This last step is extremely important. It might seem overwhelming to worry about contacting a lawyer in the midst of such pain and trauma, but this is your ultimate protection against a non-subscriber Texas employer that will try to get out of paying you what you deserve.
Why Hire a Texas Attorney After an Amputation Injury?
In many instances, a Texas factory, refinery, or another job that requires manual labor from its employees will be a non-subscriber employer. This means that they have opted out of participating in the Texas workers’ comp system. Pursuing a work injury case with a qualified Texas attorney ensures that you are in the best position to win the damages you deserve, including:
- Medical bills related to the accident
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Coverage of cost for any modifications needed to your home
