Amputations and Loss of Limbs: Catastrophic Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Injuries

Amputations and loss of limbs are among the most catastrophic and debilitating injuries that can occur in the workplace. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10,000 workers suffer from amputations each year. The most common type of amputation injury involves partial or full fingers, thumbs, and toes. About 3% involve the loss of hands or arms, and another 3% involve the loss of feet or legs. The manufacturing and construction industries are responsible for about 2/3 of workplace amputation injuries.

Traumatic amputations and loss of limbs can occur in almost any type of work environment, but these type of accidents most often involve improperly or inadequately guarded machinery, including:

• Band saws 
• Circular saws 
• Grinding machines 
• Conveyor belts 
• Drill presses 
• Punch presses 
• Food slicers 
• Metal shears 
• CNC milling equipment 
• Forklifts 
• Meat grinders 
• Printing presses 
• Milling machines 
• Power presses 
• Roll-forming machines 
• Roll-bending machines 
• Trash compactors 

Amputations can also occur surgically. For example, if a body part is too damaged to repair, it may be surgically amputated after an accident. Or, after an injury, if a body part fails to heal, and develops serious infection, surgical amputation may be necessary to prevent a deadly systemic infection.

Amputation injuries usually require extensive medical care and rehabilitation. Workers who have suffered amputation injuries often have significant difficulty returning back to work after an injury, and may incur substantial wage loss. An injured worker may also require modifications to their homes or vehicles to make them more accessible. There are a variety of Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits available to workers who have suffered amputations injuries, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and/or vocational rehabilitation benefits.

Tragically, dozens of catastrophic amputation work injuries happen in Minnesota every year. A knowledgeable and experienced Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer can assist you in obtaining the benefits you’re entitled to. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680 or click here to send us an email to learn more about your rights.