Did You Sustain Catastrophic Injuries In an Accident?

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Simple accidents occur daily. In some cases the outcomes aren't that simple, however. People may slip and fall down a single step or an entire flight of stairs, particularly when railings are inadequate or defective. Reckless drivers cause injuries when they crash into another person's vehicle. Simple accidents aren't a major problem as long as people leave with only minor bumps and bruises. If you sustain serious or catastrophic injuries, however, you may struggle with pain, disabilities, and financial losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly common accidents occasionally lead to long-lasting medical care, ongoing medical expenses, lost income, and unexpected disabilities. When someone else causes or contributes to your injury, that person should pay for your damages. However, negligent individuals or entities do not always step up and take responsibility for their actions. Therefore, it's up to you and a Woodland Hills catastrophic injury lawyer to do what's necessary to make them pay.

What are common catastrophic injuries?

Federal law considers any permanent injury preventing a person from working as catastrophic. Yet, some injuries happen more than others. Some common types of catastrophic injuries include:

Severe burns are not just acutely painful, but they can also be traumatic and create life-long physical and emotional pain. Burns are categorized as catastrophic when they cover much of the body and require reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, and in some cases 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 outside 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 happen in severe car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are classified as catastrophic often mean that a victim experiences cognitive issues, like loss of memory and ability to concentrate; physical problems, like impaired coordination and balance and loss of motor functioning; hearing issues; vision problems; and behavioral problems, like depression, anxiety, and aggression. In situations with severe brain injuries, victims may experience a coma, a vegetative state, or death.

Spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic because of how important the spine is to the human body's operation. 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 long-term loss of strength, sensation, and function below the site of the injury. This can cause temporary paralysis or even lifelong paraplegia or quadriplegia. In these situations, the injured victim will likely need extensive rehabilitation and assistive devices to get back some movement and independence.

Major orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring several surgeries are also classified as catastrophic. A crushed bone or multiple fractures usually happens when force or pressure is placed on a body part. Oftentimes these types of injuries result from being stuck in between two heavy objects in a car crash or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are incredibly painful, can require several 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 severe accident. An amputation often can not be fixed and may put the individual's life at risk. Amputations are less common than most other catastrophic injuries, however 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 problem for those who experience these types of injuries. For this reason, 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 before 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 wages and lost earning capacity to compensate catastrophic injury victims who can not return to work or seek future employment
• Home modification costs to make a home more accessible for someone with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, and creating a main floor living area for those who can not use stairs
• Expenses for replacement services a household has to use for tasks and labor the accident victim did prior to 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 partner
• 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 economically devastated. Recovering damages for catastrophic injuries is more than getting compensation for negligence, it is a critical source of financing for future costs related to the injury. Adding insult to injury, insurance providers use every tactic in their playbook to protect their bottom line and avoid paying claims.

Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that require extra resources and skilled attorneys. Experienced catastrophic injury attorneys do not only submit paperwork, they advocate for you and your loved one every step of the way.

Examples of how catastrophic injury lawyers assist their clients include:

• Investigating a case to identify all the facts
• Creating a solid case against the opposition
• Consulting with experts who help increase value to a case
• Securing valuable witness testimony
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Bringing a case to court when settlement is not an option
• Negotiating to reduce medical expenses when a top settlement offer is received

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their loved ones physically, psychologically, and financially. Get in touch with our skilled Woodland Hills catastrophic injury lawyers to see if we can help you receive the compensation you deserve.

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