Losing a limb or living with a disfiguring injury after an accident can change everything. It’s not just the physical recovery—it’s the emotional toll, the financial stress, and the uncertainty about what comes next. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you shouldn’t have to shoulder that burden alone.
This page is here to help you understand what to expect when it comes to the long-term costs of an amputation injury, what your legal options are in Alabama, and how to take the first step toward getting the compensation and support you deserve.
Whether you’re ready to file a claim or simply have questions about the process, you can count on the experienced Birmingham catastrophic injury attorneys at Nomberg Law Firm to explain your legal options and fight for the support you need. Find out more by scheduling a free consultation.
What percentage of people are missing a limb?
According to a study published in the ARCHIVES of Rehabilitation Research & Clinical Translation (ACRM), as of 2024, the number of people in the U.S. living with limb loss is about 2,309,000, which is less than 1% (about 0.67%) of the U.S. population. This number is expected to double by 2040.
How many amputations occur each year in the U.S.?
The ACRM study found that there were about 564,893 amputations performed in the U.S. in 2019, and this number has been increasing steadily each year over the last few years.
More than half (about 54%) of these amputations were the result of complications from diabetes or peripheral artery disease, while trauma accounted for about 45%. In 2019 alone, 32,527 amputations resulted from some type of traumatic accident.
What body part is most commonly amputated?
About 91% of amputations are done on a lower extremity, while only about 9.2% involve an upper extremity, according to the ACRM study. This is likely because diabetes often impacts circulation in the lower legs, and the legs can also be more vulnerable in serious vehicle accidents.
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What happens when you lose a limb in an accident?
While it’s not common to lose a limb in an accident, certain types of personal injury accidents, like high-speed car accidents, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian accidents, and crashes with commercial trucks, are more likely to result in catastrophic injuries that require amputations.
The sheer force of these accidents can result in severe trauma, making amputation necessary to save a life or prevent further complications. But beyond the immediate medical crisis, the financial burden of limb loss can be overwhelming. Medical bills for surgery, prosthetics, rehabilitation, and ongoing care quickly accumulate.
According to the Amputee Coalition, the lifetime health care cost for people with limb loss is $509,275, which is about $150,000 more than the estimated health care costs for those without an amputation.
The inability to return to one’s previous job or the need for a complete career change adds another layer of financial strain. Additionally, adapting to life with a prosthetic limb often requires extensive modifications to homes and vehicles, further increasing expenses.
If the accident that resulted in your limb loss was caused by someone’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. This compensation should include not only immediate costs but also the long-term expenses associated with ongoing medical care, lost earning capacity, and the emotional toll of adapting to a new way of life.
What is the average payout for loss of limb?
There’s no single “average” payout for the loss of a limb, as every case is unique—but settlements and verdicts for amputations can often reach into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. That’s because amputations are considered catastrophic injuries, meaning they permanently impact your ability to work, live independently, and enjoy life the way you used to.
In Alabama, a personal injury attorney will consider several key factors when calculating fair compensation for a limb loss case, including:
- Medical expenses. This includes emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and future medical needs.
- Prosthetic costs. After an amputation, many people require one or more prosthetic limbs—not just initially, but throughout their lives. Prosthetics must be fitted, maintained, and replaced regularly, which can add up to significant long-term costs.
- Home modifications. Your home may need modifications such as wheelchair ramps, wider doorways, or accessible bathrooms to accommodate your new physical needs, creating another layer of ongoing expense.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity. If you can’t return to your job—or have to take a lower-paying job—this loss of income can be factored into your settlement.
- Pain and suffering and loss of quality of life. This covers the physical pain and emotional toll that come with a traumatic injury and ongoing challenges.
- Disfigurement. Disfigurement refers to any permanent change that negatively affects a person’s physical appearance (like amputations and burns). These injuries often qualify for additional compensation due to the long-term physical, emotional, and psychological impact they can have on your life.
- Loss of consortium. If applicable, compensation for the impact on the victim’s relationships with their spouse or family can also be included.
Please be aware that Alabama uses a pure contributory negligence rule when determining who’s at fault in an accident. This means that if you’re found to be even 1% responsible for the accident that caused your injury, you won’t be eligible for any compensation.
Because these cases carry high stakes, it’s critical to work with a local Alabama personal injury attorney who not only knows how to fully calculate the impact of your losses but can also help prove that you didn’t contribute to the accident in any way.
Looking for the best Alabama attorneys to help with your amputation claim?
At Nomberg Law Firm, we understand that a serious injury involving an amputation changes more than just your physical abilities—it changes how you live, how you work, and how you see yourself.
With over 50 years of combined experience handling catastrophic injury claims, our knowledgeable Birmingham personal injury attorneys have helped people across Alabama get the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next, we’re here to listen and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Reach out to Nomberg Law Firm for a free consultation today to learn how we can help with your claim.
References
LIMB LOSS IN THE U.S. (n.d.). https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2021-04/llam-infographic-2021.pdf
Rivera, J. A., Churovich, K., Anderson, A. B., & Potter, B. K. (2024). Estimating Recent US Limb Loss Prevalence and Updating Future Projections. Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, 100376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arrct.2024.100376