Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries often result in complex cases that require an experienced personal injury attorney in order to pursue compensation.

All personal injury cases involve accidents or events that cause real harm and injuries, whether it is physical or mental.  Accidents involving a catastrophic injury, however, are much more damaging than most and leave those involved with very serious injuries.  Many of these cases involve injuries that will never fully heal, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries or quadriplegia or paraplegia.  With such serious injuries, the victim is left with long-term effects and may become dependent on others for care.

Catastrophic injuries are unfortunately all too common.  Some may be the result of a car accident or a work-related accident, and a single mistake or negligent act from someone else can leave you dealing with the consequences for the rest of your life.

If you have been seriously hurt, it is important that you contact a personal injury attorney who has experience with cases involving catastrophic injuries as soon as possible.  Many cases involving catastrophic injuries are very complex and expensive to successfully prosecute.  Additionally, given the large amount of damages involved in these cases, it is absolutely essential that you retain a lawyer with expertise and a record of success.  We have handled many of these difficult cases and will work tirelessly to protect your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries can result from any number of situations, including auto accidents, tucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, on-the-job accidents and slip and fall accidents.  Losing even a portion of your capabilities to think and reason clearly, or control your body, is a very significant injury and devastating to both the injured party and family members.

After suffering a head injury, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, most importantly with a neurologist who can give you a complete evaluation.  Prompt attention can lessen the risk of permanent damage while accelerating treatment and rehabilitation.  After seeking medical attention, avoid any circumstances or events that could cause another head injury, including driving.  Contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible to investigate the accident, gather evidence, consult with expert witnesses and, above all else, protect your rights and pursue compensation.

Compensation for traumatic brain injuries is intended to cover the damages you have suffered, including:

• Medical bills, including your emergency care after the accident;
• Future medical expenses, such as continued medical services and monitoring to look for long-term effects of brain damage that are not apparent at first;
• Future damages for any additional associated medical problems you will suffer, such as depression;
• Pain and suffering;
• Lifestyle changes if you have had to change your activities or give up things you once enjoyed due to your injury;
• Life care to cover any non-medical needs you may have, including home care for cooking or driving;
• Lost wages to compensate you for the time you were off work while you recovered;
• Reduced earning capacity to compensate you for your diminished earning capacity if you are now limited in the work you can do; and
• Punitive damages to punish the responsible party if they behaved recklessly or intended harm.

Because brain injuries can be caused in many different situations, the party responsible for causing the injury depends on the specific circumstances of your case.  Therefore, depending on the facts of your case, a negligent driver, an employer who didn’t offer protective equipment, or a landlord may be responsible for your injuries under the law.

Spinal Cord Injury

Nearly 11,000 people in the United States suffer from a spinal cord injury each year.  Most of these injuries are caused by auto accidents, although work-related injuries, falls, violence and sports injuries can also cause damage to the spinal cord.  In a great deal of these cases a third party is responsible.  Victims of a spinal cord injury typically face life-long expenses, including large medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity as well as pain and suffering.

Spinal cord injuries may be complete or partial, depending on how many nerves have been damaged.  In a case of a complete spinal cord injury, the victim loses all sensation and voluntary movement below the injury and both sides are affected.  Cases of a partial spinal cord injury are still very serious and result in some loss of function and feeling.

Quadriplegia and Paraplegia

Paraplegia and quadriplegia (also known as tetraplegia) are two classifications of spinal cord injuries.  Quadriplegia is typically caused by injuries to the spinal cord near the neck, causing a complete loss of sensation and use in the body below this point.  Paraplegia typically occurs when the spinal cord is injured below the neck and results in a loss of sensation and use in the lower area of the body.  Victims suffering from quadriplegia and paraplegia often face life-long difficulties and may need assistance to breathe.

Because catastrophic injuries result in such large damages, it is especially important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney who has successfully handled many catastrophic injury cases.

Our Catastrophic Injury Attorneys: