Topanga Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

Did You Sustain Catastrophic Injuries in an Accident?

Simple accidents occur daily. Sometimes the outcomes aren't that simple, though. People might slip and fall down a single step or a whole flight of stairs, especially when railings are inadequate or defective. Reckless drivers cause injuries when they crash into another person's car. Simple accidents aren't a major concern as long as people walk away with only minor bumps and bruises. If you suffer serious or catastrophic injuries, however, you may deal with pain, disabilities, and economic losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly common accidents occasionally result in long-lasting medical care, ongoing medical bills, lost wages, and unexpected disabilities. When someone else causes or contributes to your injury, that individual should cover your damages. Unfortunately, negligent people or entities don't always step up and take responsibility for their actions. Therefore, it's up to you and a Topanga catastrophic injury lawyer to do what's necessary to make them pay.

What are common catastrophic injuries?

Federal law considers any kind of long-lasting injury preventing a person from working as catastrophic. Yet, some injuries happen more than others. Some common kinds of catastrophic injuries include:

• Severe burns are not only really painful, but they can also be traumatic and produce life-long physical and psychological pain. Burns are categorized as catastrophic when they cover much of the body and require reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, and sometimes a medically induced coma to heal. Even with medical care, the risk of infection because of wide, deep burns is significant.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are caused by an external force striking or penetrating the skull. These injuries are generally caused by a violent blow to the head or by an object penetrating the skull. Traumatic brain injuries often occur in serious car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are categorized as catastrophic typically mean that a victim suffers from cognitive problems, like loss of memory and ability to concentrate; physical issues, like impaired coordination and balance and loss of motor functioning; hearing issues; vision problems; and behavioral issues, like depression, anxiety, and aggression. In situations with severe brain injuries, victims might experience a coma, a vegetative state, or death.
• Spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic because of how vital the spine is to the human body's function. A traumatic spinal cord injury can happen due to a sudden blow to the spine during a car crash or slip and fall. A catastrophic spinal cord injury frequently causes permanent loss of strength, feeling, and function below the site of the injury. This might cause temporary paralysis or even permanent paraplegia or quadriplegia. In these situations, the injured victim will likely require extensive rehabilitation and assistive devices to return to some movement and independence.
• Major orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring multiple surgical procedures are also classified as catastrophic. A crushed bone or multiple fractures most often happens when force or pressure is placed on a body part. Oftentimes these types of injuries are due to being caught between two heavy objects in a car accident or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are incredibly painful, might require multiple surgeries, and also run the risk of long-lasting problems.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is usually a result of a serious accident. An amputation often can not be fixed and may put the patient's life at risk. Amputations are less common than a lot of other catastrophic injuries, but when they do happen it typically means a permanent disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
• Long-term vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant burden for those who experience these kinds of injuries. Therefore, vision and hearing loss are classified as catastrophic. When someone no longer has the ability to hear or see, they face a lifetime of hardship, financial problems, pain and suffering, lost income potential, and independence.

What types of damages can I recover?

If the court rules in your favor or you reach a settlement prior to litigation, you can receive damages for losses you (or your loved one) have incurred as a result of the catastrophic injury.

Examples of types of damages you can recover include:

• Present and future estimated medical treatment costs, including ambulance service, emergency room visit, hospitalization, surgery, medication, ongoing treatment, and continued nursing care in a long-term treatment facility
• Lost income and lost earning capacity to compensate catastrophic injury victims who can not go back to work or seek future employment
• Home modification expenses to make a home more accessible for someone with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, as well as constructing a main floor living area for those that can not use stairs
• Costs for replacement services a household has to use for tasks and labor the accident victim did before their injuries, such as a lawn care service, snow removal service, childcare, and a cleaning service
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional pain and suffering
• Decreased quality of life
• Loss of consortium with a spouse
• Punitive damages in extreme cases of gross negligence or intentional harm

How can an experienced attorney help my claim?

Catastrophic injuries are life-altering events that leave victims financially devastated. Recuperating damages for catastrophic injuries is more than getting compensation for negligence, it is an essential source of financing for future costs related to the injury. Adding insult to injury, insurance companies use every tactic in their playbook to protect their bottom line and avoid paying claims.

Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that need additional resources and experienced lawyers. Experienced catastrophic injury lawyers do not just file paperwork, they advocate for you and your loved one every step of the way.

Examples of how catastrophic injury lawyers help their clients include:

• Investigating a claim to uncover all the facts
• Building a solid case against the other side
• Consulting with professionals who help increase value to a claim
• Obtaining valuable witness testimony
• Negotiating with insurance providers
• Bringing a case to trial when settlement is not an option
• Negotiating to reduce medical expenses when a top settlement offer is obtained

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their families physically, psychologically, and economically. Get in touch with our skilled Topanga catastrophic injury lawyers to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

If a negligent person or company causes catastrophic injuries to you or a family member, you need to take immediate actions to protect your legal rights. At Drake Law Firm, we constantly fight hard to recover damages for our clients, and we 'd like to determine if we can assist you.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients to get the compensation they require to recover. We won't let you accept unfair treatment from other law firms and we will defend you from beginning to end. If you need help with Catastrophic Accidents in Topanga, California, give us a call at (844) 513-7253 for a FREE consultation or visit our website at DrakeLawGroup.com to get started on your case today! 

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