$1.5M
Porterville pedestrian accident settlement: a vehicle struck a pedestrian, causing catastrophic injuries, including a brain injury and serious leg injuries. Several defendants faced claims.
Personal Injury
Amputation Injury Lawyer in California
Did another party’s negligence cost you a limb? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help California amputation victims pursue the full compensation these injuries demand. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Amputation Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team that helps Californians who have suffered life-altering limb loss. Our attorneys investigate how the amputation happened, work with life care planners and economists to document the true lifetime cost, and handle every conversation with insurers so you can focus on recovery. There are no fees unless you get paid.
Traumatic amputations are generally classified as complete or partial and by the limb involved. Upper-extremity amputations include finger or partial-hand loss, below-elbow (transradial), and above-elbow (transhumeral) amputations. Lower-extremity amputations include toe or partial-foot loss, below-knee (transtibial), and above-knee (transfemoral) amputations. The level of amputation directly affects prosthetic needs, rehabilitation, and long-term care costs.
Most traumatic amputations in personal injury cases trace back to preventable negligence. The causes we see most often include construction and industrial accidents, forklift accidents, motor vehicle and truck accidents, agricultural equipment, and defective products. Identifying every party whose negligence contributed to the injury is central to your claim, and our attorneys handle that investigation for you.
The lifetime cost of an amputation is often far higher than the initial hospital bills. Advanced microprocessor knee joints can cost $30,000–$70,000, and myoelectric arm prosthetics range from $20,000 to more than $100,000 — and prosthetics typically need replacement every three to five years. For a young amputee, lifetime costs can exceed $500,000. A legal professional can help document these future costs so they are not left out of your claim.
Yes — in many cases you can pursue both a workers' compensation claim and a third-party personal injury lawsuit at the same time. California Labor Code § 3852 expressly preserves the right to bring a third-party claim when a party other than your employer — such as a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — shares responsibility for the injury. Because third-party claims can recover damages workers' compensation does not, it's worth having a legal professional review your case.
California amputation victims can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages commonly include past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, home and vehicle modifications, lost wages, future earning capacity, and life care costs. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Because every case is unique, a legal professional can review your losses during a free case review.
In most California amputation injury cases you have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). Claims involving a government entity generally have much shorter deadlines. Because missing a deadline can end your case, it's best to speak with a legal professional early.
Meet Our Amputation Attorneys
Nationally Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Learn more about the team
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Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Philip Andonian, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. Guest, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.Partner$1.3M
Gardena premises liability settlement: a tenant walking to a car at a rental home stepped on nails spilled during roof renovations, causing catastrophic injuries.
$501K
Los Angeles dog bite settlement: a dog at an off-leash dog park bit a visitor who was protecting their own pet from it, causing serious injuries.
$350K
Kern County premises liability settlement: a restroom stall door left unrepaired for over a year caused a serious injury to a child.
*Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have an Amputation Injury Claim in California?
You likely have a valid amputation injury claim if another party's negligence caused your limb loss and you suffered real damages as a result. Fault means someone — a driver, a manufacturer, a property owner, or a contractor — failed to act reasonably. Damages include your medical care, prosthetics, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Even a pre-existing condition affecting the injured limb generally does not bar recovery, because California's "eggshell plaintiff" doctrine holds that a defendant takes the plaintiff as they find them. California's statute of limitations applies, so contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case review.
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Record-breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
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#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Amputation FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
Vocational experts and economists compare what you were expected to earn before the amputation with what you can realistically earn afterward, factoring in retraining, reduced hours, and the physical demands of your occupation. That difference, projected over your working life, becomes part of the claim.
Prosthetic limbs wear out and must be replaced periodically, and advanced devices are costly, so a certified life care planner projects the lifetime cost of prosthetics, maintenance, therapy, and home or vehicle modifications. This ensures decades of future needs are included, not just the initial hospital bills.
Often, yes. Beyond a workers' compensation claim, a separate third-party lawsuit may be available when a party other than your employer — such as an equipment manufacturer or an outside contractor — shares responsibility, and it may allow recovery beyond workers' compensation benefits.
Generally two years from the date of injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, with a shorter six-month deadline for a written claim when a government entity is involved. Deadlines have exceptions, so confirm yours promptly.