Nothing can be described as an “good injury” but in terms of severity, a catastrophic injury is considered to be to be the most damaging. The injuries that result from them can cause more than just physical disabilities. They often require continuing physical therapy and medical expenses that can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime.
Stress and anxiety can come due to not knowing what you need to do next or how to settle the bill after an injury that is serious. If you’ve sustained an injury, then you might not be in a position to return to your place of work for months or years. Wade Law’s Jeffersonville catastrophic injury lawyers can help regain some stability. We aim to do that by making certain that the responsible party for your serious injury is the person who will provide the money to pay for those costly medical expenses.
Our lawyers are well-trained and have the knowledge and experience needed to prove their liability and get claims settled in Georgia. Our lawyers have been practicing law for over 60 years. We have helped clients win compensation in a variety of personal injury lawsuits. We aim to alleviate the enormous stress and financial burden that comes with devastating injuries.
To get a no-cost assessment of your catastrophic injury case, contact our team by calling 770-282-1188.
What Are Catastrophic Injuries?
A catastrophic injury case is different from a normal personal injury case based on the severity of the injury and the lasting impact of the injury. In general, a catastrophic injury isn’t a particular legal concept with clearly defined rules. However, Georgia law does outline catastrophic injuries in relation to laws governing workers’ compensation. These same criteria determine these kinds of injuries in the outside world as well.
In accordance with workers’ compensation law, these injuries are categorized as catastrophic
- An injury that causes the need for amputating a leg, foot, hand, or arm.
- Any injury that causes the functional loss of leg, foot, arm, or hand.
- A spinal cord injury that results in paralysis of the body or limbs.
- Burns on more than 1/4 of the body classified as second- or third-degree.
- Third-degree burns on more than 5 percent on the victim’s face.
- Any injury that leads to complete blindness.
- Any brain injury that results in a loss of communication or mental functioning, or causes neurological problems.
A typical injury is classified as catastrophic as it results in the loss of a crucial component of your personality. It can affect your vision, your ability to move and move your limbs. These injuries can be life-long and might not be able to lead to a complete recovery.
These injuries are severe and require extreme care. It can be very expensive. That’s why seeking compensation for damages is always advised.
Catastrophic Injury Statistics
These kinds of injuries are more frequent than we’d wish to see. Around 166 people die every day due to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Just 26 percent of TBI patients will recover within five years. A longer recovery period means more expensive medical expenses, as well as a greater need to seek compensation. TBI sufferers pay more than $1.5 billion each year.
Although the amount of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) is significantly smaller than was anticipated, it’s still alarming. Experts estimate that around 17900 new instances of SCI are reported each year. A similar study shows that more than 78 percent of SCI instances are men. Most of these cases are caused by vehicle accidents, with a large number occurring at work.
Amputations for trauma can be unplanned medical procedures, often due to a serious injury. There are at least 30,000 Amputations that are traumatic in the United States every year. Similar to SCIs and the majority of amputations are due to injuries from vehicles The second highest percentage occurring at work. 70% of all traumatic amputations involve the upper limbs. Nearly 80 percent of all traumatic amputation patients are male.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Catastrophic Injuries?
This is largely dependent on the severity of the injury and the area of the body that was affected. Whatever the type of injury the majority of patients suffer the same long-lasting effects. These are:
Long-Term Financial Loss
It is common to need continuing physical therapy or medical care for many years. These expenses can quickly add to become overwhelming in only a couple of months.
Career Change/Loss
After suffering an injury that is severe there is a good chance that you won’t take a break for a few days. You might be able to come back to work however, you may not be able to continue working in the same industry. Many patients are forced to shift careers after making progress in recovering.
Lifestyle Changes
These injuries could affect the way you move, think, and your senses. They may require ongoing therapy as well as daily medication. Chronic pain may limit the activities a person is able to engage in. All of this can result in some pretty serious lifestyle changes for the majority of patients.
What Rights Do I Have If I Am a Victim of a Catastrophic Injury?
Georgia does not differentiate between catastrophic and standard injuries, unless it is part of an insurance claim for workers’ compensation. You can proceed with filing an injury claim in the same way you normally would. Georgia is also a state with modified comparative negligence. It means you can claim damages even if you’re only partially responsible for the accident that took place.
What’s the Advantage of a Jeffersonville Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?
The top reason is that you should hire an experienced lawyer to manage a case involving severe injuries.
Gather Evidence
One of our primary tasks as lawyers is gathering all the evidence required to establish liability. We want to show that the person who caused the harm is accountable and should be held responsible for all damage.
Negotiate an Out of Court Settlement
In the ideal scenario, we would like to settle our claims out of court to ensure that you will receive the money owed faster. When it comes down to catastrophic injury, insurance companies are not necessarily willing to negotiate. We won’t stop fighting for you until we’ve secured an affordable settlement that compensates for your losses.
Assist You If Your Case Goes to Trial
Sometimes the insurance company could resist and not compensate for the damages for as long as a possible. This is why we take the case before a judge and present the evidence before jurors or a judge. If the insurance provider doesn’t think rationally, then we know that a jury composed of your peers definitely will.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
The three types of damages that are available 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. They include lost income, medical expenses, and costs for physical therapy.
Non-Economic Damages
They are not quantifiable using financial calculations. They include mental anguish, reputation loss, as well as other damage that is intangible.
Punitive Damages
The damages are able to be used to punish the defendant. They do not need to be associated with any loss by the victim. They may be enforced if the defendant behaved in a reckless or dangerous manner.
Get in Touch With Our Jeffersonville Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today
Have you suffered a devastating injury that is going to transform your life forever? It could seem like you’re not getting better at the moment. But Wade Law is here to help. We’re eager to put our expertise in law to good use by helping you get over the difficult financial hurdles that follow an accident that has caused serious injuries.
Don’t let the party responsible be excused from responsibility when you’re facing lifelong medical bills. Call our highly trained Jeffersonville staff by dialing the number 770-282-1188Â and we’ll schedule a free case evaluation.
