When you or a loved one have suffered a catastrophic injury, the effects will be devastating both physically and financially. Your family needs the financial compensation that comes from a settlement or jury award. If the accident that caused your catastrophic injury was someone else’s fault, you and your family might be entitled to a significant amount of money. First, you need to take legal action. The insurance company will only give you the money if you fight for every dollar.
The Bloomsburg injury attorneys at Luschas, Naparsteck & Crane fight for you to receive every dollar that you deserve after you have suffered an injury by someone else’s carelessness. Call us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
There is no one set definition of a catastrophic injury. People use it in many different ways, and they may even overuse the term. What is not in dispute is that a catastrophic injury is a very serious one that will result in a widespread impact on your life or that of a loved one.
Some people define a catastrophic injury as one that you may never recover from for the rest of your life. That is not entirely true. It is possible to recover from a catastrophic injury, but it can take a considerable amount of time and treatment. However, many catastrophic injuries will affect you for life.
A catastrophic injury will result in the loss of the use of a body part or a key function of the body, either permanently or for a considerable length of time. These injuries can require:
- Multiple surgical procedures
- Extensive time missed from work (or being unable to work again)
- A lifetime of care for your personal needs
- Months or years of physical rehabilitation
Catastrophic injuries can also involve emotional trauma and significant pain. Not only are you suffering the physical effects of the injury, but you may also be dealing with significant anxiety and depression.
Examples of Catastrophic Injury
Here are some examples of things that may be considered catastrophic injuries:
- The loss of a limb, whether you are unable to use it again or it has been amputated
- Burns that can leave you permanently scarred and disfigured
- Spinal cord injuries that can lead to quadriplegia or paraplegia (or those that are incomplete but can require a lengthy rehabilitation period)
- Loss of eyesight due to damage to the eyes
- Traumatic brain injuries that can cost you the ability to process, speak or perform other vital functions
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries occur most often when there has been significant trauma to the body. Usually, they happen in an accident, but they can also happen over time when the body is subjected to stress or exposed to toxic substances.
You can suffer a catastrophic injury at work or in your own free time at any time of the day. Here are some examples of accidents that can lead to catastrophic injury:
- A fall on the job or in a store where you hit your head
- Burns, when there has been an explosion, fire, or a malfunctioning piece of equipment
- Car accidents, where you have suffered serious trauma to your head and neck that caused a spinal cord injury
- A crush injury or contact with an extremely sharp object causes an amputation when the limb cannot be saved
- Defective drugs and medical devices
Regardless of how the catastrophic injury happened, the legal principle is still the same – if you can prove that someone else was to blame for your accident injury through their negligence or recklessness, you will be legally entitled to financial compensation.
Compensation in a Catastrophic Injury Case
Your financial compensation will depend on where and how you suffered the injury. If you suffered an injury on the job, you would need to file a workers’ compensation claim. If a third party injured you, or you suffered an injury off the job, you will file a lawsuit.
Your compensation may be considerable when you have suffered a catastrophic injury. Personal injury compensation is based on the scope and extent of your own injuries. Catastrophic injuries will have lifelong impacts on you and will require extensive medical care to treat. Therefore, it is essential to get the highest possible financial recovery because you will need the money in the future.
Your damages may consist of the following:
- The cost of your medical care
- Lost wages (and a catastrophic injury often means that you either can never work again or cannot perform the same job responsibilities that you once did)
- Pain and suffering (which will be considerable in a catastrophic injury case)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and permanent disfigurement
Our attorneys will fight for you to receive every dollar that you are due, that you must have for both your present and future.
Call a Bloomsburg Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today
When you need legal help after a catastrophic accident, the lawyers at Luschas, Naparsteck, and Crane are standing by and ready to help you. We know how much your case is worth, and we will not let the insurance company get away with it when they either try to deny you compensation or give you less than you deserve. You can schedule a free initial consultation by calling us today at (570) 802-6981 or by sending us a message online.
Catastrophic Injury Case FAQs
What happens if the responsible party does not have enough insurance coverage?
If you suffered an injury in a car accident, you could file a claim against your own underinsured motorist coverage. You can also seek to hold the responsible party personally responsible.
Can I afford a catastrophic injury attorney?
Finances should not be a worry because you only owe an attorney money if you win.
