Calabasas Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

Did You Suffer Catastrophic Injuries in an Accident?

Simple accidents happen every day. Sometimes the consequences aren't that simple, however. Individuals might slip and fall down a single step or a whole flight of stairs, particularly when railings are inadequate or faulty. Reckless drivers cause injuries when they crash into someone else's car. Simple accidents aren't a big problem as long as individuals walk away with only minor bumps and bruises. If you suffer major or catastrophic injuries, however, you might struggle with pain, disabilities, and financial losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly regular accidents occasionally lead to long-lasting medical care, recurring medical expenses, lost income, and unexpected disabilities. When another person 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 Calabasas catastrophic injury lawyer to do what's necessary to make them pay.

What are common catastrophic injuries?

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

• Severe burns are not just really painful, but they can also be traumatic and produce life-long physical and psychological pain. Burns are classified 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 due to wide, deep burns is significant.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are caused by an external force striking or penetrating the skull. These injuries are usually caused by a violent blow to the head or by an object penetrating the skull. Traumatic brain injuries often occur in severe car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are classified as catastrophic usually mean that a victim experiences cognitive issues, like loss of memory and ability to focus; physical issues, 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 serious brain injuries, victims might 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 function. A traumatic spinal cord injury can happen because of a sudden blow to the spine during a car accident 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 get back some movement and independence.
• Serious orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring multiple surgical procedures are also classified as catastrophic. A crushed bone or several fractures usually occurs when force or pressure is placed on a body part. Oftentimes these types of injuries are due to being caught in 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-term issues.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is commonly a result of a severe accident. An amputation often can not be fixed and may put the person's life at risk. Amputations are less common than a lot of other catastrophic injuries, however when they do happen it usually 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 that suffer these types of injuries. For this reason, vision and hearing loss are classified as catastrophic. When an individual no longer has the ability to hear or see, they face a lifetime of hardship, financial difficulties, 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 expenses, 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 house more accessible for a person with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, as well as creating a main floor living area for those who can not use stairs
• Costs for replacement services a household must 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
• Diminished 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 case?

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 funding for future costs related to the injury. Adding insult to injury, insurance companies use every technique in their playbook to protect their bottom line and avoid paying claims.

Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that require extra resources and experienced attorneys. Experienced catastrophic injury lawyers do not only 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 case to identify all the facts
• Building a solid case against the opposition
• Consulting with experts that help increase value to a claim
• Securing valuable witness testimony
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Bringing a case to court when settlement is not a solution
• Negotiating to lower medical expenses once a top settlement offer is received

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their families physically, emotionally, and economically. Get in touch with our experienced Calabasas catastrophic injury lawyers to see if we can help you receive the compensation you deserve.

If a negligent individual or business causes catastrophic injuries to you or a loved one, you have to take immediate steps 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.