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We Don’t Just File Claims. We Fight to Change Lives.

The Swanson Law Group is ready to go to war with insurance companies. We’ve secured over $100 million in compensation for the injured and built our name on bold, client-first advocacy. Founding attorney Ben Swanson’s personal journey, including his own battle with Parkinson’s, fuels our empathy, compassion, and unmatched drive to get justice for clients who’ve suffered catastrophic harm.

If you’ve lost a limb in an accident, we don’t just see your injury—we see your humanity. And we’re ready to make those responsible pay.

Amputation Injury Statistics

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What You Need to Know About Amputation Injuries

Most amputation injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence; these are preventable tragedies that demand accountability. Common types of amputation injuries include:

  • Above-Knee (Transfemoral) and Below-Knee (Transtibial) Amputations: These are often seen in high-impact collisions or when blood supply to the leg is compromised.
  • Arm or Hand Loss: Including full or partial amputations of the fingers, hands, or forearms, frequently caused by machinery or crushing force.
  • Foot or Toe Amputations: Common in motorcycle crashes, workplace injuries, or when infections go untreated.
  • Multiple Limb Loss: Seen in catastrophic events like explosions, industrial accidents, or violent crashes.
  • Surgical Amputations After Severe Crush Injuries or Infection: Sometimes necessary to save a life when a limb is too damaged to recover.

Here’s how these life-altering injuries commonly occur:

  • Motor Vehicle Accidents: High-speed crashes involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, or rideshare vehicles can lead to crush injuries or traumatic limb loss.
  • Workplace Injuries: Machinery accidents, equipment malfunctions, and lack of proper safety protocols can sever limbs in an instant.
  • Construction Site Incidents: Falling objects, heavy machinery, and unsafe conditions are a daily threat to workers’ limbs.
  • Explosions or Fires: Severe burns and blast injuries often necessitate surgical amputation to preserve life.
  • Defective Products: Malfunctioning tools or equipment can cause traumatic injuries requiring surgical removal of a limb.
  • Medical Malpractice: Delayed diagnosis or failure to treat infections, blood clots, or vascular conditions can lead to preventable surgical amputation.

Where Do These Accidents Happen?

  • Busy intersections in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village (think Ventura Freeway, Lindero Canyon Road, etc.)
  • Industrial or construction zones
  • Shopping centers or parking garages
  • Warehouses or factories
  • In the home, due to faulty appliances or consumer products
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Why You Need a Lawyer for an Amputation Injury Case

Amputation injuries don’t just change your life—they rewrite your future. These cases involve long-term care, prosthetics, rehab, psychological trauma, and a massive financial impact. Insurance companies know that, and they’ll do everything they can to pay less than you deserve.

We won’t let them. Our attorneys:

  • Connect you with top specialists in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village
  • Document every loss, including future medical care and emotional trauma
  • Prepare every case for trial, not just settlement
  • Fight for policy limits and over-policy recoveries
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Who Can Be Held Liable for an Amputation Injury?

Depending on how your injury occurred, multiple parties may be legally responsible. When we take on your case, our team launches a full investigation to uncover every liable party. The more accountability we establish, the greater the potential compensation, and the more power we have to rebuild your life.

Here’s who might be held liable in your case:

Negligent Drivers

  • If you lost a limb in a car, truck, motorcycle, or rideshare accident, the at-fault driver can be held responsible
  • California law requires all drivers to operate their vehicles with reasonable care
  • If they were speeding, distracted, under the influence, or otherwise reckless, they’re liable for the consequences of the crash

Employers or Contractors

  • Workplace accidents involving machinery, tools, or unsafe conditions are a significant cause of limb loss
  • Employers are generally covered by workers’ compensation
  • In some cases—such as when faulty equipment or a third-party contractor is involved—you may be able to file a third-party liability claim in addition to workers’ comp (California Civil Code § 3601)

Product Manufacturers

  • If a defective or unreasonably dangerous product caused your amputation, the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer can be held liable under California’s strict product liability laws (California Civil Code § 1714.45)

Property Owners

  • Under California’s premises liability laws, property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe environments for visitors
  • If you were injured due to a hazardous condition—such as an exposed blade, unguarded machinery, or construction zone negligence—the property owner or manager may be liable (California Civil Code § 1714(a))

Medical Professionals or Institutions

  • In some cases, amputation is the result of medical malpractice, such as failure to diagnose a severe infection, improper surgical technique, or delayed emergency care
  • Hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers can be held liable if their actions fall below the standard of care, resulting in avoidable limb loss (California Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA))
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What Compensation Can You Recover After an Amputation Injury?

After an amputation, the financial, physical, and emotional toll is massive, and the law recognizes that. California personal injury law allows victims to pursue three categories of compensation.

Economic damages are your out-of-pocket expenses and future costs related to the injury:

  • Medical bills (hospitalization, surgeries, medications)
  • Prosthetics and assistive devices (which may need replacement every few years)
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Rehabilitation and adaptive equipment
  • Lost wages during your recovery
  • Loss of future earning capacity if you can’t return to the same job or career


Non-economic damages reflect the human cost of your injury—the suffering that doesn’t show up on receipts:

  • Pain and suffering (including phantom limb pain)
  • Emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, or depression
  • Loss of enjoyment of life—including hobbies, relationships, and independence
  • Disfigurement or loss of bodily integrity
  • Loss of consortium (impact on intimate relationships)


If the person or company that caused your injury acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, California courts may award punitive damages to punish them and deter others (California Civil Code § 3294). These awards aren’t automatic, but we pursue maximum penalties when we uncover willful neglect, corporate cover-ups, or reckless disregard for safety.

Steps to Take If You’ve Suffered an Amputation Injury

  1. Get immediate medical care
  2. Document the accident (photos, witness info, medical records)
  3. Do not speak with the insurance company without legal representation
  4. Contact The Swanson Law Group for a free consultation
  5. Let us handle the rest—medical liens, paperwork, and negotiations

FAQs

How long do I have to file an amputation injury claim in California?

What kind of fault laws apply in California?

What is the legal process like for an amputation injury case?

Do you charge legal fees up front?

What if I need surgery or ongoing care?

Will I need expert witnesses?

What happens if the insurance company offers a low settlement?

How do you calculate the value of an amputation injury case?

How long do I have to file an amputation injury claim in California?

You have two years from the date of injury under the California statute of limitations (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1).

What kind of fault laws apply in California?

California follows a pure comparative fault system—your percentage of fault reduces your compensation.

What is the legal process like for an amputation injury case?

It involves investigation, documentation of damages, negotiation, litigation, and trial if needed.

Do you charge legal fees up front?

No. We work on contingency—you don’t pay unless we win.

What if I need surgery or ongoing care?

We help you get treatment now and defer payment until your case is resolved.

Will I need expert witnesses?

Likely. We retain medical, vocational, and financial experts to build your case.

What happens if the insurance company offers a low settlement?

We counter, and if needed, take them to trial.

How do you calculate the value of an amputation injury case?

We assess medical costs, wage loss, future care, pain, suffering, and life impact, often resulting in seven-figure demands.

Empathetic, Trauma-Informed, Strategic Advocacy

The Swanson Law Group partners with top orthopedic trauma consultants, life care planners, and prosthetics professionals to build the kind of evidence insurers can't ignore. We collaborate with economists and vocational experts to project true lifetime losses. And we do it all while offering you access to real-time support, including treatment coordination, progress tracking, and long-term recovery guidance.

Ben Swanson built this firm for people like you—people whose lives have been turned upside down by injury, and who refuse to be treated like a file number. Our team is multilingual, deeply trauma-informed, and strategically equipped to handle complex, high-stakes litigation from day one. Contact us today to book your case evaluation and learn more.

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