When To Hire A Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has fallen victim to an incident that resulted in catastrophic injuries, it’s likely going to be a life-changing event that requires extensive legal attention. Our legal team at Bachus & Schanker understands that catastrophic injuries can result in long-term medical care, loss of income, and severe pain and suffering for the victim and their loved ones. We are here to fight for your rights and ensure you receive proper compensation and justice.
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What makes an injury catastrophic?
A catastrophic injury is a serious injury that results in the victim having permanent damage. Catastrophic injuries can occur as the result of car accidents, medical malpractice, a defective product, or any other dangerous situations that likely result in harm. While there are many types of catastrophic injuries, some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries include:
- Spinal cord injury
- Internal organ damage
- Burn injury
- Traumatic brain injury, concussion
- Amputation
- Quadriplegia, paraplegia, paralysis
- Broken bones, including back, skull, legs and hips
- Disfiguration and scars
- Permanent disability
Regardless of the catastrophic injury types, those who suffer from these life-altering injuries usually experience a limited range of mobility or lose significant levels of cognitive function, which can sometimes last for long periods of time. As a result, these victims incur expensive medical bills for both treatment and rehabilitation services. In addition to these high medical bills, victims of catastrophic injuries unsurprisingly suffer a loss of income due to their inability to return to work, making it nearly impossible for them to catch up with the ever-increasing mountain of medical bills that piles up after the accident.
Often, the person who suffered the injury isn’t the only victim of the catastrophic accident. The injured victim’s family is usually likely to suffer as a result of the injury as well. Not only do many family members step up to help with caretaking, but many often lose their jobs as a result of needing more time at home to help with the caretaking and other basic necessities.
What is the difference between catastrophic injury and personal injury?
Although both types of cases involve some level of injury, catastrophic injury cases involve significantly more than the average personal injury lawsuit. Regardless of how the injury occurred, it’s essential to factor in the specific needs and life care planning that is required to treat and care for a catastrophic injury. Some essential personal care required for the recovery of a catastrophic injury include:
- Modifications for work and transportation
- Assistive or prosthetic devices
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation services (physical, occupational, speech, vocational therapies)
- Modifications for home accessibility
- Full-time, long-term care
Regardless of the type of catastrophic injury, whether it’s a spinal cord injury, medical malpractice injury, traumatic brain injury, or another severe injury, the victim will likely be debilitated for the remainder of their life. Long-term care for the victim is considered by the catastrophic injury lawyers when determining the settlement package in these catastrophic injury cases.
Our highly trained catastrophic injury attorneys at Bachus & Schanker fight for these victims to ensure that both the victim and their loved ones can start fresh with the appropriate amount of compensation to cover their long-term care and other damages.
What damages can be recovered in a catastrophic injury case?
Similar to regular personal injury cases, there are two main categories of damages that can be recovered in a catastrophic injury case: economic damages and non-economic damages. Similarly to personal injury cases, each catastrophic injury case is unique, and damages can vary on a case-by-case basis. Despite the uniqueness of every case, our catastrophic injury lawyers can answer any questions you may have.
Economic damages
Economic damages in a catastrophic injury case are exactly what they sound like; economic damages consist of any financial loss you may have incurred due to the incident. The most common types of monetary damages that are accounted for in a catastrophic injury case include:
- Medical equipment
- Home modification/accommodation costs
- Pre-tax value of past wage loss
- Pre-tax value of future lost wages
- Retail value of past medical bills
- Retail value of future medical expenses
- Retail value of rehabilitation costs
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages are also what they sound like — damages for any suffering the victim may have incurred that are not financial in nature. Non-economic damages are typically more difficult to calculate due to their subjective nature. Some common non-economic damages that can be compensated for in a catastrophic injury lawsuit include:
- Pain
- Suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Inconvenience
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
Our attorneys at Bachus & Schanker can ensure you are properly compensated for any damages you or a loved one may have suffered due to the catastrophic injury. In addition to non-economic and economic damages, our attorneys are well equipped to handle cases in which punitive damages are necessary, too. If you believe someone needs to be held accountable for your catastrophic injuries, be sure to bring this to your attorney’s attention immediately so that justice can be served.
Do I need a lawyer for a catastrophic injury?
The catastrophic injury attorneys with the Elite Litigation Group at Bachus & Schanker are highly trained to assist injury victims and their loved ones by providing strong legal counsel and seeking justice against the negligent party. Our attorneys always fight for the maximum compensation to ensure that our clients can comfortably rebuild their lives and work toward their recovery.
Be sure to contact our team to schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential claims with one of our attorneys. Our impressive team of lawyers is eager to help and guide you and your loved ones every step of the way throughout your catastrophic injury lawsuit.
Sources:
Goguen, D. Special & General Damages in Your Personal Injury Case.
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Written and Legally Reviewed By: Kyle Bachus
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,461 Google Reviews
Kyle is a member of the Colorado and Florida Bar associations and has served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association for more than twenty years in total. Over the years, Kyle has achieved justice for many clients. He has served on numerous committees and repeatedly won recognition from his peers at both the state and national level. He is proud of the role he has played in the passage of state and national legislation to protect consumers and is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer.
