Woodland Hills Catastrophic Accident Lawyer

Did You Suffer Catastrophic Injuries in an Accident?

Simple accidents occur daily. In some cases 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 someone else's car. Simple accidents aren't a big concern as long as individuals leave with only minor bumps and bruises. If you sustain serious or catastrophic injuries, however, you might struggle with pain, disabilities, and economic losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly regular accidents in some cases lead to long-lasting medical care, ongoing medical expenses, lost wages, and unexpected disabilities. When someone else causes or contributes to your injury, that person should cover your damages. However, negligent people or entities do not always step up and take responsibility for their actions. Therefore, it's up to you and a Woodland Hills catastrophic injury lawyer 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 create life-long physical and emotional pain. Burns are classified 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 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 serious car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are categorized as catastrophic typically mean that a victim suffers from cognitive issues, 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 serious brain injuries, victims might 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 operation. 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 often 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 situations, the injured victim will likely need extensive rehabilitation and assistive devices to return to 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 multiple fractures most often happens when force or pressure is placed on a body part. Sometimes these types of injuries are due to being stuck in between two heavy objects in a car crash or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are extremely painful, can require several surgeries, and run the risk of long-lasting problems.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is usually a result of a major accident. An amputation often can not be fixed and might put the individual's life at risk. Amputations are less common than a lot of other catastrophic injuries, however when they do occur it typically means a lifelong disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
• Permanent vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant problem for those that suffer these kinds of injuries. Therefore, vision and hearing loss are categorized as catastrophic. When a person 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 acquire 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 expenses, including ambulance service, emergency room visit, hospitalization, surgery, medication, ongoing treatment, and continued nursing care in a long-term care facility
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity to compensate catastrophic injury victims that can not go back to work or pursue future employment
• Home modification costs to make a home more accessible for a person with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, as well as constructing a main floor living area for those that can not use stairs
• Costs for replacement services a household must 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 spouse
• 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 economically devastated. Recuperating damages for catastrophic injuries is more than receiving compensation for negligence, it is an essential source of financing for future costs related to the injury. Adding insult to injury, insurance companies use every strategy in their playbook to protect their bottom line and avoid paying claims.

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

Examples of how catastrophic injury attorneys assist their clients include:

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

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their families physically, psychologically, and financially. Get in touch with our experienced Woodland Hills catastrophic injury attorneys to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

If a negligent person or business causes catastrophic injuries to you or a family member, you need 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 a Catastrophic Accident Lawyer in Woodland Hills, 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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