- Location: Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Type of Case: Workers’ Compensation / Third-Party Personal Injury (Workplace Accident)
- Settlement Amount: Confidential (High-Value Settlement Exceeding County and State Averages)
Case Overview & Firm Perspective
Skolnick Weiser Law Firm represented a worker whose life was permanently altered by a catastrophic industrial accident that resulted in the bilateral amputation of both hands. This case arose from a serious worksite injury involving heavy equipment and unsafe conditions—an incident that immediately ended the client’s ability to perform manual labor and dramatically altered daily living. From the firm’s perspective, this matter underscores the importance of looking beyond basic workers’ compensation benefits and pursuing every available avenue of recovery when negligence contributes to a devastating occupational injury.
Geography & Venue Considerations
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, has a strong industrial and manufacturing presence, which also results in a significant number of workplace injury claims each year. While Ohio’s workers’ compensation system provides defined benefits for loss of limbs, those benefits alone often fall far short of addressing lifetime losses in catastrophic injury cases. Statewide, even serious hand-loss claims frequently resolve within statutory benefit limits or low- to mid-six-figure settlements unless third-party liability is established. Against that backdrop, the recovery achieved in this case substantially exceeded typical county and state outcomes by incorporating a successful personal injury component alongside workers’ compensation benefits.
Injuries Sustained
As a direct result of the workplace accident, the client suffered traumatic bilateral hand amputation, one of the most severe injuries short of fatality. The loss permanently eliminated fine motor function, grip strength, and the ability to perform routine tasks independently. Beyond the immediate physical trauma, the injury carried long-term consequences affecting employment prospects, personal independence, and overall quality of life. The psychological impact of losing both hands further compounded the severity of the injury and was a critical component of the damages presented.
Treatment, Care, and Lifetime Expenses
Following the accident, the client required emergency trauma care, surgical intervention, and extended hospitalization. Long-term treatment included prosthetic evaluation and fitting, physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and adaptive training to relearn basic daily activities. Prosthetic devices require ongoing maintenance and replacement over time, creating substantial future medical expenses. Skolnick Weiser Law Firm worked with medical and economic experts to document not only current medical costs, but also projected lifetime expenses, lost earning capacity, and the financial burden associated with permanent disability.
Cause of Injury & Fault Analysis
The injury was caused by unsafe worksite conditions and failures in equipment safety mechanisms, creating liability beyond the employer itself. While workers’ compensation provided an initial layer of recovery, the facts supported a third-party negligence claim against responsible entities whose actions—or lack of proper safeguards—directly contributed to the accident. By identifying and pursuing these additional at-fault parties, the firm was able to move beyond statutory limits and seek compensation that more accurately reflected the catastrophic nature of the injury.
Legal Process & Timeline
After a prompt investigation, Skolnick Weiser Law Firm initiated workers’ compensation claims while simultaneously preparing a third-party personal injury action. The litigation involved detailed discovery, expert testimony regarding workplace safety, and extensive documentation of medical and vocational losses. A lawsuit was filed against the negligent parties, and after prolonged negotiations, the case resolved through settlement rather than trial. The timeline from filing to resolution spanned multiple years, reflecting the complexity and seriousness of the injury and the firm’s commitment to maximizing recovery rather than accepting early undervalued offers.
Settlement Amount & Comparative Value
Although the settlement amount remains confidential, the total recovery significantly exceeded average Ohio and Cuyahoga County outcomes for hand-loss and workers’ compensation claims. Many cases involving even severe hand injuries resolve within statutory benefit schedules or modest settlements that fail to account for lifetime disability. The hidden value in this result was Skolnick Weiser Law Firm’s ability to successfully pursue third-party liability, transforming what might have been a limited workers’ compensation recovery into a comprehensive settlement addressing medical costs, lost income, and long-term quality-of-life impacts. This outcome reflects the firm’s dedication to securing results that fully recognize the human and economic toll of catastrophic workplace injuries.