Although there is no such thing as a “good” injury, a catastrophic injury will be the most severe. The kind of injuries that are common tend to result in more complications than just physical disability. They usually require ongoing physical therapy and medical expenses that could exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the course of the patient’s life.
Stress and worry can result from not knowing what to do next or how to pay following a serious injury. If you’ve suffered from such an injury, then you might not be capable of returning to your place of work for months or even years. An Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyer at Wade Law can help you recover a bit of stability. We strive to accomplish this by making certain that the party responsible for the serious injury you suffered is the one who has the funds to cover the medical bills.
Our experienced attorneys have the knowledge and experience to prove liability in Georgia. We’ve been practicing law for over 60 years and have assisted clients to obtain compensation for various personal injury claims. We’re helping to ease the financial and emotional burden of injuries that are catastrophic.
For a free assessment of your case involving a catastrophic injury, contact us by calling 770-282-1188.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury lawsuit differs from a personal injuries claim due to the seriousness and long-lasting effects of the injury. In general, the definition of catastrophic injury is not a specific legal term with clearly defined criteria. But, Georgia law does outline catastrophic injuries as a result of workers’ compensation law. It is possible to use the same guidelines to define these types of injuries in the outside world as well.
These injuries are considered devastating under workers’ comp law:
- Any injury that results in the need for amputating a leg, foot, hand, or arm.
- A sprain that causes permanent loss of a foot, leg, hand, or arm.
- Any spinal cord injury that causes paralysis of the torso or limbs.
- Third-degree and second-degree burns take up more than 1/4 of the body.
- Third-degree burns if they take up more than 5 percent of the face.
- Any injury that leads to total blindness.
- Any brain injury that results in an impairment in communication or the function of the brain or causes neurological problems.
In general, if an injury is classified as catastrophic and causes the loss of a crucial part of your person. This could include any of your limbs, your vision, as well as your ability to move, or the impairment in your cognitive ability. These injuries tend to require ongoing treatment and care, and the patient may not experience a full recovery.
These injuries are severe and require special care. It is very costly. It is recommended to claim compensation for any injuries.
Catastrophic Injury Statistics
These injuries are much more common than we would prefer. There are 166 deaths every day caused by traumatic brain injuries (TBI). It is believed that just 26 percent of patients suffering from a serious TBI are expected to improve over the next 5 years. The longer recovery time means increased medical costs and an even greater need to seek compensation. TBIs are costly for patients, averaging $1.5 billion each year.
Although the amount of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) is significantly lower than what was expected, it’s still alarming. Experts estimate that around 17,900 cases of SCI are reported each year. According to the same study, 78 percent of these SCI cases involve men. Most of these cases result from vehicle accidents, with a large number also happening at the workplace.
Traumatic amputations are unplanned medical procedures that often are caused by a devastating accident. There are at least 30,000 traumatic amputations in the United States every year. Similar to SCIs, the majority of these amputations occur as a result of car accidents, with the second-largest percentage happening at the workplace. 70 percent of all injuries happen to the upper limbs. The majority of victims of traumatic amputations are males.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Catastrophic Injuries?
It is different based on the type of injury as well as the affected region. However, there are long-lasting effects that are shared with nearly all patients, regardless of the nature of the injury. They include:
Long-Term Financial Loss
It is typical to require continuing physical therapy or medical care over a period of time. These expenses can quickly add up and can become overwhelming in the space of a few months.
Career Change/Loss
It is likely that you’re not going to be working for a few months after being injured in a major way. You may be able to come back to work, or you may not be able to work in the same field. Many patients are forced to shift careers after making progress with recovery.
Lifestyle Changes
The injuries can affect movement, thinking, as well as your senses. They might require ongoing therapy and medication on a daily basis. Chronic pain may restrict the activities that a patient can take part in. This could result in major lifestyle changes for the majority of patients.
What Rights Do I Have If I’m the Victim of a Catastrophic Injury?
Absolutely. Georgia does not distinguish between the standard and catastrophic injuries unless it’s part of an insurance claim for workers’ compensation. You are able to file an injury claim in the same way you would normally. Georgia is also a state that follows modified comparative negligence law. You can sue for damages even if you’re partially responsible for the accident occurring.
Why Should I Hire an Atlanta Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?
These are the top reasons to hire a seasoned lawyer to handle your case that involves catastrophic injuries.
Find Evidence
As lawyers, one of our primary duties is to gather the evidence required to prove the liability. We seek to prove that the party who suffered the injury is responsible and ought to be held responsible for any damage.
Find a Way to Negotiate an Out of Court Settlement
We should try to settle claims out of court to ensure that you will receive the money due faster. When it comes to a catastrophic accident, insurance companies are not often willing to give up. We will continue fighting for your rights until we reach an equitable settlement that is fair and compensates you.
Advocate for You if Your Case Goes to Trial
In certain cases, insurance companies will defend themselves and refuse to pay to compensate the victim for the damage for as long as it is possible. That is when we take the claim to court and present our case before the judge and jury. If the insurance company is unable to understand the logic then we can guarantee that a jury will.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
The three kinds of damages offered are the same for a typical personal injury case. They are:
- Economic Damages: We demonstrate these losses by using financial records like invoices, receipts, and statements. These include medical expenses and physical therapy costs and wages lost.
- Non-Economic Damages: They cannot be quantified by financial calculations. They are mental anguish, loss of image, and other damages that are intangible.
- Punitive Damages: The monetary damages are applied to punish the person who is the defendant. They don’t need to be in conjunction with any loss caused by the victim. They are typically enforced when the defendant acted in a clearly dangerous or reckless way.
Get in Touch With Our Atlanta Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today
Are you the victim of a tragic accident that will alter your life forever? There may be a sense that things aren’t improving in the present. But Wade Law is available to assist. We’d like to put our knowledge of the law to good use by helping you get over the difficult financial obstacles that come with the occurrence of a serious injury.
Do not let the party at fault be excused from responsibility when you’re facing lifelong medical bills. Call our highly trained team of Atlanta attorneys today by dialing 770-282-1188Â and we’ll schedule a free case evaluation.
