An article in The Wall Street Journal talks about the possibility for catastrophically injured amputees to walk again with high-tech prosthetic limbs. IWalk Inc., the maker of a prosthetic foot called the PowerFoot BiOM, now makes robotic limbs that closely mimic the action of actual ones. Bilateral amputee Hugh Herr, who lost both legs in an accident in 1982, founded the company. The high-tech limbs simulate the action of the ankle, the Achilles tendon and calf muscles by propelling the prosthetic limb forward and slightly upward with each step. These limbs are made from a combination of materials such as titanium and carbon fiber, which the company says, makes them adapt well to different terrains.
There is no question that this is encouraging news for amputees. There is reason to hope where there was perhaps very little or none. While prosthetic limbs cannot replace real ones, for many amputees, with modern technology, they come pretty close. However, these limbs can be very costly and learning to walk with them can be challenging for many.
Significant Financial Burden
Limb amputations may occur in a variety of circumstances. Amputations may result from auto accidents, workplace injuries, dog attacks, fire accidents as well as defective product related incidents. A lost limb or disfigurement affects the victim’s life forever. Amputees tend to face a significant amount of financial strain including lost earnings, lost livelihood, medical expenses, surgery costs, hospitalization, costly prosthetics, rehabilitation, etc.
Not all of this may be covered by insurance. In cases where workers are injured on the job, they may find out that workers’ compensation doesn’t cover all damages. Parties that may be held liable in such cases may include a negligent driver, the manufacturer of a defective product, a negligent property owner or a dog owner.
Compensation for Victims
If you or a loved one has suffered permanent injuries due to the negligence of another person or entity, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our skilled injury lawyers have a proven track record of helping victims get fair compensation for their losses. Please contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: The Wall Street Journal