Thousand Oaks Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

Did You Sustain Catastrophic Injuries in an Accident?

Simple accidents happen every day. Sometimes the outcomes aren't that simple, though. People may slip and fall down a single step or an entire flight of stairs, especially when railings are inadequate or defective. Reckless drivers cause injuries when they crash into someone else's car. Simple accidents aren't a big concern as long as individuals walk away with only minor bumps and bruises. If you sustain serious or catastrophic injuries, however, you may deal with pain, disabilities, and economic losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly everyday accidents occasionally lead to long-term medical care, ongoing medical expenses, lost income, and unexpected disabilities. When another person causes or contributes to your injury, that person should cover your damages. Unfortunately, negligent people or entities do not always step up and take responsibility for their actions. Therefore, it's up to you and a Thousand Oaks catastrophic injury attorney to do what's necessary to make them pay.

What are common catastrophic injuries?

Federal law considers any kind of permanent injury preventing a person from working as catastrophic. Yet, some injuries occur more than others. Some common types of catastrophic injuries include:

• Severe burns are not only 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 because of 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 commonly happen in severe car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are categorized as catastrophic often mean that a victim suffers from 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 issues, 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 important 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 accident or slip and fall. A catastrophic spinal cord injury frequently causes long-term loss of strength, feeling, and function below the site of the injury. This can cause temporary paralysis or even permanent paraplegia or quadriplegia. In these cases, the injured victim will likely require extensive rehabilitation and assistive devices to return to some movement and independence.
• Major orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring several surgical procedures are also classified as catastrophic. A crushed bone or several fractures most often occurs when force or pressure is placed on a body part. Sometimes these kinds of injuries are due to being caught in between two heavy objects in a car accident or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are extremely painful, can require several surgeries, and also run the risk of long-lasting issues.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is often a result of a major accident. An amputation often can not be fixed and might put the patient's life at risk. Amputations are less common than a lot of other catastrophic injuries, but when they do occur it usually means a lifelong disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
• Long-term vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant problem for those who suffer these types of injuries. For this reason, vision and hearing loss are classified as catastrophic. When someone 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 prior to 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:

• 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 treatment facility
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity to compensate catastrophic injury victims that can not return to work or pursue future employment
• Home modification costs to make a home more accessible for an individual with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, and constructing 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
• Psychological pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of consortium with a spouse
• Punitive damages in extreme cases of gross negligence or intentional harm

How can an experienced attorney help my claim?

Catastrophic injuries are life-altering events that leave victims financially devastated. Recovering damages for catastrophic injuries is more than receiving compensation for negligence, it is an essential source of funding for future costs related to the injury. Adding insult to injury, insurance providers use every technique in their playbook to protect their bottom line and avoid paying claims.

Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that require additional resources and skilled attorneys. Experienced catastrophic injury attorneys do not just submit paperwork, they advocate for you and your loved one every step of the way.

Examples of how catastrophic injury lawyers assist their clients include:

• Investigating a claim to identify all the facts
• Developing a strong case against the other side
• Consulting with experts who help increase value to a claim
• Obtaining valuable witness testimony
• Negotiating with insurance providers
• Bringing a case to trial when settlement is not a solution
• Negotiating to lower medical expenses when a top settlement offer is obtained

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially. Get in touch with our experienced Thousand Oaks catastrophic injury lawyers to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

If a negligent person or company causes catastrophic injuries to you or a family member, you must take immediate actions 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.