There is no such thing as a “good injury” but in terms of severity, a catastrophic injury is considered to be the most devastating. These kinds of injuries usually leave victims with more than just physical disabilities. They usually require ongoing physical therapy and medical bills that could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime.
What to do following the incident and how to make payments after suffering a severe injury causes anxiety and stress. You may be unable to return to work for a few months, or even for a long time after suffering such an injury. Our McDonough catastrophic injury lawyers at Wade Law are here to help you regain some semblance of stability. We make sure that the party responsible for your injury is also the person who is responsible for the high medical expenses.
Our lawyers are well-trained and are able to prove liability and get claims settled in the state of Georgia. We’ve been practicing law for over 60 years, and have helped clients get compensation for a variety of personal injury claims. We’re here to ease the financial and emotional burden that comes with serious injuries.
Contact us today at 770-282-1188 for a free evaluation of your case involving a catastrophic injury.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury lawsuit is different from a personal injury case due to the extent and lasting effects of the injury. A catastrophic injury is typically not a legal term that is governed by clearly defined guidelines. Georgia law does, however, provide for catastrophic injuries in workers’ compensation law. The same guidelines can be used to pinpoint injuries that are not related to the workplace.
The following injuries are deemed devastating under workers’ comp law:
- Any injury that leads to the need for amputating a foot, leg, hand, or arm.
- Any injury that causes the effective loss of leg, foot, arm, or hand.
- A spinal cord injury that results in paralysis of the torso or limbs.
- More than one-quarter of the body is covered in second- or third-degree burns.
- Third-degree burns if they cover more than 5 percent of the face.
- Any injury that results in complete blindness.
- Any brain injury which results in an impairment in communication or cerebral function or causes ongoing neurological disorders.
A serious injury can cause the loss of or damage to a major part of your person. It can affect your vision, ability to move, and your cognition. These injuries can be life-long and might not be able to lead to a complete recovery.
The serious nature of these injuries as well as the care they require can be debilitating and it’s also extremely expensive. It’s a good idea to get compensation for any damage.
Catastrophic Injury Statistics
These types of injuries are much more common than we would like to observe. There are more than 166 deaths each day caused by traumatic brain injuries (TBI). It’s believed that only 26 percent of those who suffer from a severe TBI will recover over the next five years. Longer recovery periods lead to greater medical costs and a higher demand to seek compensation. TBIs have cost patients upwards of $1.5 billion annually.
The amount of spinal cord injuries (SCI) every year is lower but still alarming. Medical experts estimate around 17,900 new SCI cases occur every year. According to the same study, more than 78 percent of SCI cases are male. Most of them are the result of accidents on the road, with a high proportion occurring at the workplace.
Traumatic amputations are surgical procedures that are usually caused by a devastating injury. At least 30,000 traumatic amputations occur in the United States every year. Similar to SCIs, most amputations occur because of injuries sustained in motor vehicles, with the second-highest proportion occurring at work. 70 percent of all injuries happen to the upper limbs. Nearly 80 percent of all patients who suffer from traumatic amputations are men.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of a Catastrophic Injury?
This varies significantly according to the nature of the damage and the location of the body that was affected. In spite of the kind of injury, nearly all patients experience the same effects. These include:
Long-Term Financial Loss
In-continuous medical treatment and physical therapy for decades are commonplace. These bills can quickly add up and become overwhelming in the space of a few months.
Career Change/Loss
Chances are, you’ll be out of work for some time after suffering a severe injury. There is a chance that you’ll be capable of returning to your job or it could be impossible to continue in that similar field of work. Many patients are forced to change jobs after making progress in recovering.
Lifestyle Changes
The injuries can affect movement, thinking, and your senses. These injuries may require daily medications and continued therapy. Chronic pain may limit the activities a patient can engage in. This can lead to significant lifestyle changes for the majority of patients.
Do I Have the Right to Sue for a Catastrophic Injury?
Yes. Georgia does not distinguish between catastrophic and common injuries unless the incident is part of a workers’ comp claim. In the same way have to do, you may file an injury claim. Georgia is also a modified comparative negligence state. It means you can pursue damages even when you’re partially responsible for the incident that occurred.
What’s the Benefit of Hiring a McDonough Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?
These are the most important reasons to hire a seasoned lawyer to manage a case that involves severe injuries.
Gather Evidence
One of our main responsibilities as lawyers is gathering all the evidence required to prove liability. We want to show that the person who caused the injury is responsible and is responsible for any damages.
Negotiate an Out of Court Settlement
We’re looking to settle your claims without having to go to the court system, which means you will get your money more quickly. In the case of a catastrophic accident, insurance companies are not often willing to give up. We will continue to fight for your rights until we reach an appropriate settlement that will compensate you.
We Can Represent You in the Event Your Case Goes to Trial
In certain situations, the insurance company might fight back and resist paying for damages as much as they can. This is when we bring the case before a judge and present the evidence to an impartial judge or jury. If the insurance provider doesn’t recognize the rationale, we can be sure that a jury made up of your peers will.
What Kind of Damages Can I Recover in a Catastrophic Inury Claim?
The three kinds of damages offered are the same for a typical personal injury claim. They include:
Economic Damages
The losses can be proven through financial records like receipts invoices, statements, and various financial documents. They include medical expenses and physical therapy costs as well as lost wages.
Non-Economic Damages
The damages cannot be quantified through financial calculations. The damages are mental anguish as well as reputational loss and other damages that are intangible.
Punitive Damages
The damages are imposed to punish the defendant. They don’t have to be considered as a loss for the victim. They are often enforced when the defendant acted in a clearly dangerous or reckless manner.
Contact Our McDonough Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today
Are you suffering from an injury that can alter your life? There may be a sense that things aren’t getting better currently. But Wade Law is available to assist. We are here to help you with the financial challenges that can arise from an injury that is serious.
Don’t let the party responsible avoid responsibility, while you’re paying for your medical bills for the rest of your life. Contact our expert now by calling 770-282-1188 and we’ll set up an appointment for a no-cost case assessment with a McDonough injury attorney.
