Car accidents can have a catastrophic effect on people’s lives. A severe collision can cause injuries so serious that people need to have a limb amputated. Amputation can affect people in several different ways.
Physical Health
According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, people usually need to go through rehabilitation after an amputation. If people lost a leg, they have to learn how to walk again. People who have lost arms have to learn how to dress themselves. Additionally, people typically need to work on their coordination and balance. People usually need to re-learn how to carry out the tasks they will perform in their daily lives, such as bathing themselves and cleaning their homes.
Mental Health
Losing a limb can also affect a person’s mental health. In the weeks and months after amputation, many people may need to rely heavily on family members and caregivers. People may feel like they are being a burden and may experience:
- Problems with their body image
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Suicidal thoughts
Additionally, people may sometimes experience phantom pains from their lost limbs.
Job Prospects
After an amputation, some people may be unable to return to their previous job. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, most lost limbs are upper limbs. Amputation of an arm means that people may be unable to lift boxes, carry loads and type. Even with a prosthetic limb, people may sometimes have difficulty performing everyday tasks. People may need vocational counseling so that they can transition to a new line of work. In some situations, people may need physical therapy so that they can re-learn how to do their current job.
Depending on the situation that resulted in the amputation, there may be grounds to seek compensation such an injury.