Van Nuys Catastrophic Accident Attorneys

Did You Suffer Catastrophic Injuries in an Accident?

Simple accidents happen daily. Sometimes the outcomes aren't that simple, though. Individuals 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 major problem as long as individuals walk away with only minor bumps and bruises. If you suffer severe or catastrophic injuries, however, you may deal with pain, disabilities, and financial losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly everyday accidents often lead to long-term medical care, ongoing 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 Van Nuys catastrophic injury lawyer to do what's necessary to make them pay.

What are Common Catastrophic Injuries?

Federal law considers any permanent injury preventing a person from working as catastrophic. Yet, some injuries happen 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 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 occur in serious car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are categorized as catastrophic usually mean that a victim experiences cognitive problems, like loss of memory and ability to concentrate; physical problems, 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 might 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 function. A traumatic spinal cord injury can happen due to a sudden blow to the spine during a car crash or slip and fall. A catastrophic spinal cord injury commonly causes permanent loss of strength, sensation, and function below the site of the injury. This can cause temporary paralysis or even lifelong paraplegia or quadriplegia. In these situations, the injured victim will likely require extensive rehabilitation and assistive devices to return to some movement and independence.
• Severe orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring multiple surgeries are also categorized as catastrophic. A crushed bone or several fractures usually happens when force or pressure is placed on a body part. Oftentimes these kinds of injuries result from being stuck between two heavy objects in a car accident or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are extremely painful, might require several surgeries, and run the risk of long-term problems.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is commonly a result of a major accident. An amputation often can not be repaired 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 permanent disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
• Long-term vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant burden for those who experience these kinds 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 difficulties, pain and suffering, lost income potential, and independence.

What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover?

If the court rules in your favor or you reach a settlement prior to litigation, you can acquire 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 that can not return to work or seek future employment
• Home modification expenses to make a home 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 has to use for activities 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
• Decreased 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 Claim?

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

Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that need additional resources and skilled attorneys. Experienced catastrophic injury attorneys do not only submit 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 uncover all the facts
• Developing a strong case against the opposition
• Consulting with professionals that help increase value to a claim
• Obtaining valuable witness testimony
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• 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. Contact our experienced Van Nuys catastrophic injury lawyers to see if we can help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

If a negligent individual or business causes catastrophic injuries to you or a family member, you have to take immediate steps to protect your legal rights. At Drake Law Firm, we constantly fight hard to recover damages for our clients, and we 'd like to determine if we can assist 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 Catastrophic Accidents in Van Nuys, 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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