Surviving an accident can leave a victim with a range of injuries, from minor to severe.
With minor injuries, most victims heal entirely within weeks or months.
Those suffering from catastrophic injuries usually find themselves in a wholly different situation.
Catastrophic injuries completely change a victim’s life and the lives of those around them.
Facing your uncertain future may feel overwhelming, but catastrophic injury attorneys are there to help.
Your catastrophic injury attorneys Austin enable you to recover the compensation you deserve from the party that caused your harm.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is a life-changing injury that severely or permanently affects a victim’s bodily functions and health.
Those suffering from catastrophic injury may find it impossible to return to work and experience a reduced quality of life.
The effects of a catastrophic injury impact not only the victim but also their families, caregivers, close friends, and extended relatives.
Common types of catastrophic injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries might result in cognitive dysfunction, abnormal speech, emotional difficulties, and personality changes. Brain injuries may also result in an inability to move the arms and legs.
- Spinal cord injuries may cause complete or partial paralysis, respiratory issues, circulatory problems, issues with reflexes and spasms, chronic pain, and other permanent issues.
- Severe burns can result in infections, limb loss, disfigurement, and permanent disability.
- Limb loss creates substantial issues and challenges for the amputee and for all family members and friends.
- Electrocution injuries include major burns, internal injuries, cardiac problems, and sometimes death.
- Nerve damage may cause long-term or permanent damage impacting feeling, movement, and vital bodily functions.
- Severe and multiple bone fractures lead to long-term recovery problems and permanent loss of strength and mobility.
A catastrophic injury is not limited to the above. Any long-term or permanent disability that significantly impairs your quality of life falls under the category.
Those sustaining these types of injuries require ongoing medical attention and months or even years of hospitalization.
Catastrophic injury victims may feel frozen by the financial stresses related to the medical attention required for their injuries.
An insurance company representing the party responsible for your harm may quickly try to offer a settlement that could alleviate some of your financial responsibilities.
However, these initial settlements rarely include the long-term costs of your medical care into the future.
Obtaining compensation that covers these costs well into the future is vital to helping you and your family move forward after such a traumatic experience. Our experienced Austin catastrophic injury attorneys will help you receive the compensation to cover the cost of your injury.
Catastrophic Accident Examples
A catastrophic accident can occur for several reasons and at any time. However, the most common causes of catastrophic injuries include the following:
- Car accidents,
- Workplace accidents,
- Slip and fall incidents,
- Sports and recreational activities,
- Construction accidents,
- Medical malpractice,
- Defective medical devices or drugs, and
- Product liability.
These accidents continue to happen regardless of the measures you take to be safe.
It’s important to remember that you have the right to pursue financial compensation from the party responsible for your injuries.
Texas Catastrophic Injury Settlement
Your Austin catastrophic injury attorney will begin negotiations with the attorney representing the party responsible for your injuries or with insurance companies. These negotiations start with an estimate of your case’s worth.
The most accurate way to calculate your lawsuit’s value is by evaluating your potential recoverable damages.
Texas law permits injured victims to recover compensatory damages in the form of both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages represent direct financial losses attributed to your catastrophic injury. These damages generally include the following:
- Medical expenses,
- Lost wages,
- Loss of future earnings, and
- Property damage.
Documentation supports your claim for recovering economic damages, including invoices, bills, pay stubs, and other similar evidence.
Economic damages are easier to quantify because they are tangible losses.
Non-economic damages represent subjective losses related to your injury.
For most people, these types of damages show up in psychological or emotional effects that are difficult to diagnose and not always outwardly apparent.
Non-economic damages include the following:
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional distress,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Permanent disability or disfigurement.
Due to their subjective nature, non-economic damages are difficult to prove without the help of an attorney.
However, non-economic damage awards are often larger than economic damage awards.
Many injured victims may find these awards more adequately compensating them for the “invisible” injuries that significantly affect their daily lives.
Due to the severity of catastrophic injuries, your attorney may also explore the possibility of recovering punitive damages.
Punitive damages are based not on an injured victim’s losses but instead serve to punish the responsible party for their conduct.
Punitive damages are awarded in addition to compensatory damages and apply only in cases of the most egregious conduct.
This higher standard is challenging to establish without a qualified attorney working on your behalf.
Catastrophic Injury Law Firm
An Austin catastrophic injury lawyer assists clients at one of the most challenging moments of their life.
In addition to being well-versed in personal injury law, catastrophic injury attorneys have various resources to assist in building a solid case.
During the initial stages of building your personal injury case, your attorney undertakes the following actions:
- Analyze and collect relevant evidence, including photographs, video, and other documentation,
- Obtain statements from eyewitnesses,
- Speak with insurance companies,
- Review your medical records,
- Consult with experts to assist in reconstructing your accident and establish liability.
Once your catastrophic injury lawyer completes their investigation, they work on determining a value for your case to guide settlement negotiations.
Furthermore, they handle these negotiations and prepare your case for trial if settlement negotiations fail.
Hiring a qualified attorney to handle your case permits you and your family to focus on living with your catastrophic injury and moving forward with your lives.
Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
If you suffered catastrophic injuries in an accident due to someone else’s negligent or willful conduct, contact the Austin catastrophic injury lawyers at the Weinberg Law Offices.
Our legal team works tirelessly to ensure you receive the compensation you are legally entitled to.
Handling the complex area of personal injury law when dealing with a catastrophic injury is extremely challenging without a qualified attorney. We are here to help.
At the Weinberg Law Offices, we inform our clients at every stage of your lawsuit.
While skilled at negotiating favorable settlements on behalf of our clients, we never hesitate to proceed through litigation to get you the justice you deserve.