An accident that results in a permanent disability is one of the scariest experiences a family can go through. You are thankful for life, but there is fear for the future.

Whatever your diagnosis, we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve to cover medical expenses and other damages. Our partners are skilled, aggressive personal injury lawyers and well-known for their ability to litigate complex medical cases. Call 612-TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form. We want to hear from you.

Types of Permanent Disability

There are many types of injuries that qualify as permanent disability. Contact a Minnesota Permanent Disability Attorney if you have suffered a permanent disability from:

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss in a car accident can occur from direct trauma or from an air bag explosion. Loss of consciousness with a head injury can also lead to lost hearing.

There are two types of hearing loss:

• conductive
• sensorineural

Conductive hearing loss stems from a mechanical problem in the external or middle ear. Conductive hearing loss can be reversible. Sensorineural hearing loss stems from damage or dysfunction of the inner ear. It cannot be restored. Very often sensorineural hearing loss is from a traumatic injury.

Traumatic hearing loss can occur when the inner ear or temporal lobes are damaged by the head hitting the steering wheel or window in a car accident. It can also be caused by an air bag explosion, which can be so intense that it ruptures the eardrum and can cause bleeding from the inner ear. When the eardrum is ruptured, the fragile bones of the middle ear can be dislocated and major inner ear damage can occur.

Permanent Disability Compensation

If you have sustained a permanent disability from an accident that was not your fault, you can file a lawsuit against the person responsible for your injuries. In addition to compensation for your disability, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• past and future medical expenses related to your injury
• lost wages
• loss of earning capacity
• pain and suffering

Amputated Limbs

The loss of any part of your body is traumatic. Although it doesn’t change who you are, it changes your spirit and your emotions. Many traumatic accidents destroy blood vessels, leading to tissue death. As a result, infection can set-in; and if not treated aggressively, can spread through the body and jeopardize life. The medical team will strive to save the limb by replacing or repairing damaged blood vessels and tissue. However, if these measures do not work, amputation is necessary. 22% of all amputations are trauma related.

With a traumatic amputation injury, the surgeon will remove the fragmented bone and any compromised tissue, a process called debridement. (This is performed on burn injuries, too.) The uneven areas of the bone will have to be smoothed to prevent pain with artificial limb usage. In some cases, temporary drains will be put in place to drain blood and other fluids that may accumulate.

At the time of limb amputation, the muscles are divided and shaped to ensure that the stump has a comfortable contour for the prosthesis. The nerves are also divided and protected in an effort to minimize pain.

Causes of Limb Amputation

Traumatic limb amputations occur in a variety of situations, including:

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Product Liability Accidents
• Medical Malpractice

There are some additional risks and complications with limb amputation injuries, including:

• phantom pain
• chronic neuroma
• infection
• inadequate wound healing
• stiffness
• joint deformity (contracture)
• a severe bruise (hematoma)
• death of the skin flaps (necrosis)

Limb Amputation Compensation

The expenses associated with a limb amputation add up quickly and many of them are recurring. Our attorneys can file a claim to cover the following:

• medical expenses
• lost wages
• job retraining
• medical equipment
• prosthetics
• physical therapy
• occupational therapy
• psychological therapy

Spinal Injuries

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, there are more than 250,000 people in the United States living with a spinal cord injury. There are many more people that are living with other spinal injuries.

Types of Spinal Injury

Spinal injuries may include:

• Burst Fractures
• Compression Fracture
• Herniated Disc
• Facet Joint Injuries
• Soft Tissue Injury
• Spinal Stenosis
• Paraplegia
• Back Injury
• Radiofrequency Neurotomy (RFN) (treatment for facet joint injuries)
• Spinal Fusion (treatment for herniated discs)
• Laminectomy (treatment for spinal stenosis)

In addition to the pain and suffering these injuries can cause, they often require extensive, costly, and life-long medical treatments. If you are a victim of a spinal injury due to negligence, you may be able to obtain compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Causes of Spinal Damage

Spinal injuries are often caused by fully preventable accidents such as:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Sports Injuries
• Falls

Collisions involving automobiles are responsible for thousands of spinal injuries every year, including facet joint injuries (whiplash), vertebrae fractures, and paralysis.Whiplash is often thought of as a minor injury, but the truth is that severe cases can cause debilitating pain for months or years. The abnormal movements associated with whiplash may result in chronic neck pain, psychological problems, or even permanent disability.

Have Questions? Contact Us Today

It takes an experienced, aggressive Minnesota Personal Injury Attorney to successfully prove the debilitating nature of your injury and the associated costs — present and future. Our partners have been named Super Lawyers many times by Minnesota Law & Politics. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.