North Hollywood Catastrophic Accident Lawyer

Simple accidents occur daily. In some cases the outcomes aren't that simple, though. Individuals might 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 big problem as long as people leave with only minor bumps and bruises. If you sustain major or catastrophic injuries, however, you may struggle with pain, disabilities, and economic losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly common accidents often result in long-term medical care, recurring medical expenses, lost wages, and unexpected disabilities. When another person causes or contributes to your injury, that individual should cover your damages. However, negligent people or entities don't always step up and take responsibility for their actions. Therefore, it's up to you and a North Hollywood catastrophic injury lawyer to do what's necessary to make them pay.

What are common catastrophic injuries?

Federal law considers any permanent injury preventing an individual from working as catastrophic. Yet, some injuries occur 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 psychological pain. Burns are categorized 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 generally 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 typically mean that a victim suffers from cognitive problems, like loss of memory and ability to focus; 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 vital the spine is to the human body's operation. A traumatic spinal cord injury can occur because of a sudden blow to the spine during a car crash or slip and fall. A catastrophic spinal cord injury commonly causes long-term loss of strength, sensation, and function below the site of the injury. This can 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.
• Severe orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring multiple surgical procedures are also classified as catastrophic. A crushed bone or multiple fractures usually happens when force or pressure is put on a body part. In some cases these types of injuries result from being caught in between two heavy objects in a car accident or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are extremely painful, may require several surgeries, and run the risk of long-term issues.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is usually a result of a serious accident. An amputation often can not be fixed and may put the individual's life at risk. Amputations are less common than a lot of other catastrophic injuries, but when they do occur it typically means a permanent disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
• Permanent vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant problem for those that experience these kinds of injuries. For this reason, vision and hearing loss are categorized as catastrophic. When an individual no longer has the ability to hear or see, they face a lifetime of hardship, economic 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 sustained as a result of the catastrophic injury.

Examples of types of damages you can recover include:

• Current 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 care facility
• Lost income and lost earning capacity to compensate catastrophic injury victims who can not return to work or seek future employment
• Home modification expenses to make a house more accessible for a person with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, and constructing a main floor living area for those that 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
• Psychological 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 lawyer help my case?

Catastrophic injuries are life-altering events that leave victims economically devastated. Recovering damages for catastrophic injuries is more than receiving compensation for negligence, it is an essential source of funding for future expenses 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 skilled attorneys. Experienced catastrophic injury attorneys do not just file paperwork, they advocate for you and your loved one every step of the way.

Examples of how catastrophic injury attorneys help their clients include:

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

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their families physically, psychologically, and financially. Get in touch with our experienced North Hollywood catastrophic injury lawyers to see if we can help you get 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.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients to get the compensation they require to recover. We won't let you accept unfair treatment from other law firms and we will defend you from beginning to end. If you need help with a Catastrophic Accident in North Hollywood, California, give us a call at (844) 513-7253 for a FREE consultation or visit our website at DrakeLawGroup.com to get started on your case today! 

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