One of the major reasons for disability in the United States is limb loss. It can make it impossible for someone to work in their chosen profession. It can change their life forever. Even losing one limb is a drastic change that can take years to adjust to — if you do at all — and losing multiple limbs could mean you need constant care for the rest of your life.
What you may be wondering is just how many people have to deal with limb loss on a daily basis. In the United States alone, the answer is about 2 million, per the Amputee Coalition. This number grows each and every year, as about 185,000 more people lose limbs annually.
It’s a staggering number, more than the population of many cities in the U.S. The population of Oakland is right around 420,000, for instance, so that would be like nearly half of those living in the city losing a limb.
Why is this so common? The truth is that there are many reasons for limb loss. The top reason is vascular disease, with 54%. Second is trauma, which could come from something like a workplace accident or a car accident. Trauma causes about 45% of these injuries. Third, with a mere 2%, is cancer. You then have a spattering of various reasons that are a bit more unique and make up smaller percentages.
If you have lost a limb, no matter how it happened, it is very important to look into all of the legal options you have as you adjust to this new time in your life.