Sherman Oaks Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

Did You Suffer Catastrophic Injuries in an Accident?

Simple accidents happen every day. Sometimes the outcomes aren't that simple, however. Individuals may slip and fall down a single step or an entire flight of stairs, particularly when railings are inadequate or faulty. Reckless drivers cause injuries when they crash into another person's vehicle. Simple accidents aren't a major concern as long as people leave with only minor bumps and bruises. If you suffer severe or catastrophic injuries, however, you might struggle with pain, disabilities, and financial losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly common accidents in some cases lead to long-lasting 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 Sherman Oaks 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 types of catastrophic injuries include:

• Severe burns are not only acutely painful, but they can also be traumatic and create life-long physical and emotional pain. Burns are categorized as catastrophic when they cover much of the body and require reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, and in some cases 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 outside 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 happen in severe car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are categorized as catastrophic often mean that a victim experiences cognitive problems, like loss of memory and ability to concentrate; 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 essential 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 long-term loss of strength, sensation, and function below the site of the injury. This may cause temporary paralysis or even permanent paraplegia or quadriplegia. In these cases, 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 several surgeries are also categorized as catastrophic. A crushed bone or multiple fractures usually occurs when force or pressure is put on a body part. In some cases these kinds of injuries are due to being stuck between two heavy objects in a car accident or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are extremely painful, may require several surgeries, and also run the risk of long-term issues.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is often a result of a serious accident. An amputation often can not be fixed and might put the individual's life at risk. Amputations are less common than most other catastrophic injuries, but when they do occur it usually means a lifelong disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
• Permanent vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant burden for those that suffer these types of injuries. Therefore, 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, financial 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 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 who can not go back to work or pursue future employment
• Home modification costs to make a house more accessible for someone 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 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
• Decreased 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 case?

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

Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that require additional resources and experienced 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 lawyers assist their clients include:

• Investigating a case to uncover all the facts
• Developing a solid case against the other side
• Consulting with experts who help raise value to a case
• Securing valuable witness testimony
• Negotiating with insurance providers
• Bringing a case to trial when settlement is not an option
• Negotiating to lower medical bills when a top settlement offer is obtained

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially. Get in touch with our skilled Sherman Oaks catastrophic injury attorneys to see if we can help you receive the compensation you deserve.

If a negligent person or business causes catastrophic injuries to you or a family member, you have to take immediate actions 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 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 Catastrophic Accidents in Sherman Oaks, 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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