After an amputation in Fort Worth: first steps, long-term care and who may owe you
We are sorry this happened. A severed part can sometimes be reattached, so go to a Level I trauma center fast: JPS or Texas Health Harris Methodist in Fort Worth. If a Fort Worth employer was involved, it has 24 hours to report the amputation to OSHA. Texas generally gives you 2 years to sue, but a claim against the City of Fort Worth needs written notice within 180 days.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (31)
Where should someone go first after an amputation in Fort Worth?
Call 911 right away. In some cases a severed part can be reattached, so tell the crew where it is. Ask which Level I trauma center they are driving to. JPS is also the county hospital district's hospital.
If you are with the person, keep the part with them. Do not worry about the claim yet. That comes after the person is safe.
What happens if the amputation was at a Fort Worth job?
The 24-hour OSHA report belongs to the employer, not to you. The Fort Worth Area Office answers questions at (817) 428-2470 and sits at 8713 Airport Freeway, Suite 302.
Not every employer here carries workers' comp, and DWC takes coverage questions at [email protected]. If yours does, benefits can be lifetime income benefits for the loss of both feet at or above the ankle, or one foot and one hand. The state DWC claim help line is 800-252-7031, option 1, and its office is at 150 Westpark Way, Suite 345, Euless.
Fort Worth has large industrial and freight employers, including Lockheed Martin, Bell Flight and BNSF. OSHA's construction program for Texas worksites targets falls, caught-in, struck-by and electrocution hazards.
Who pays for a prosthetic limb in Texas?
| Payer | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Part B | Covers prosthetic devices a provider orders; you pay 20 percent after the deductible. | |
| Workers' comp | Pays if your employer carries it, and may pay lifetime income benefits in listed cases. | |
| The responsible party | Can owe future care, therapy and replacement limbs if they caused the injury. |
Fitting usually starts when the wound is mostly healed, and learning a prosthesis takes time and therapy. Medicare recovers its payments from a liability settlement, so tell your lawyer if you have Medicare.
What help is there for recovery in Fort Worth?
Feeling sad, angry or frustrated after losing a limb is normal, and the MHMR of Tarrant County crisis line answers all day at 1-800-866-2465. Phantom sensation, the feeling that the limb is still there, is also common. Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation lists a Day Neuro location at 6601 Harris Pkwy, 817-738-9866.
What should we keep while we recover in Fort Worth?
Keep every bill, prosthetic quote, pay stub and therapy note in one folder. Ask for the incident or crash report number, and write down who saw what happened. A family member can do this for you. If it was a crash, a Fort Worth Police report costs $6 through TxDOT's CRIS site.
How long do I have to bring a claim after an amputation in Texas?
Two years to sue. If a government caused it, notice is due in six months, and Fort Worth's charter asks for 180 days.
A Texas jury can weigh mental anguish, disfigurement and physical impairment as three separate items in an amputation case. If a jury puts more than half the blame on you, the claim recovers nothing.
Questions
Can a claim cover future care?
Yes. Future prosthetics, therapy and lost earnings are part of the case, and lost earnings are counted after tax.
Do I need to talk to my employer's insurer?
You can report the injury, but get advice before giving a long recorded statement.
Is there help if I cannot work?
Workers' comp may apply at work, and the state help line is 800-252-7031, option 1.
Amputation in Fort Worth? See if you are owed money.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (31)
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “the part sometimes can be reattached”
- Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL 11/1/2028 E FORT WORTH 76104”
- Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “TEXAS HEALTH HARRIS METHODIST HOSPITAL FORT WORTH 1/1/2029 E FORT WORTH 76104”
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1904.39, checked 2026-11-09. “Within twenty-four (24) hours after the in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees or an employee's amputation”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- Fort Worth City Charter, Chapter XXVII, Section 25, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty (180) days after the same has been sustained, unless good cause is shown”
- Medicare.gov, checked 2026-11-09. “Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers prosthetic devices when a doctor or other health care provider orders them”
- Medicare.gov, checked 2026-11-09. “you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
- JPS Health Network, About JPS, checked 2026-11-09. “The Tarrant County Hospital District, known as JPS Health Network”
- OSHA, Texas Area Offices, checked 2026-11-08. “8713 Airport Freeway, Suite 302 Fort Worth, TX 76180-7610 (817) 428-2470”
- Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation, checked 2026-11-09. “Not all Texas employers provide workers' compensation insurance, but most do.”
- Texas Department of Insurance, Coverage Verification, checked 2026-11-08. “If you can’t determine whether an employer has coverage, email [email protected]”
- Texas Labor Code § 408.161, checked 2026-11-09. “loss of both feet at or above the ankle”
- Texas Labor Code § 408.161, checked 2026-11-09. “loss of one foot at or above the ankle and the loss of one hand at or above the wrist”
- Texas Department of Insurance, DWC Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “Call and speak to a customer assistant at 800-252-7031, option 1.”
- Texas Department of Insurance, DWC Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “Fort Worth | 150 Westpark Way, Suite 345 Euless, TX 76040-3708”
- City of Fort Worth, 2025 City Facts, checked 2026-11-09. “n Alcon Laboratories n Bell Flight Fort Worth n Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC”
- OSHA Directive DAL-CPL-04-00-001, checked 2026-11-09. “This Instruction applies to all worksites in Oklahoma, and Texas”
- OSHA Directive DAL-CPL-04-00-001, checked 2026-11-09. “focusing on the hazards of fall from elevations, caught-in or between, struck-by and electrocution”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Fitting for a prosthesis, a manmade part to replace your limb, may occur when your wound is mostly healed and the surrounding area is no longer tender to the touch.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Learning how to use it takes time. Physical therapy can help you adapt.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “Sadness, anger, and frustration are common.”
- My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, Crisis Services, checked 2026-11-09. “Mental health and Substance Use Disorder emergency support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH), checked 2026-11-09. “you may feel as if the limb is still there”
- Baylor Scott & White, Rehabilitation Locations, checked 2026-11-09. “Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Fort Worth Day Neuro”
- Fort Worth Police, FAQs, checked 2026-11-08. “for $6.00. If your search for a report returns no results, the report has not been approved.”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.001(12), checked 2026-11-09. “physical pain and suffering, mental or emotional pain or anguish, loss of consortium, disfigurement, physical impairment”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-09. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”