Atlanta Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

Stubbing your toe, banging your knee on the table, slicing your finger while chopping vegetables, and numerous other minor injury types are injuries that we all can relate to. What is much less common, on the other hand, are catastrophic injuries. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury it Atlanta or surrounding areas and believe that someone else was to blame, you may have a personal injury claim. Here’s what you need to know..

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

Pinning down an exact definition of what constitutes a catastrophic injury can be difficult. To be sure, some sources claim that all injuries of a certain type–such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries–are catastrophic. Other sources state that an injury is catastrophic if it results in certain losses. One source–the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR)–states that a catastrophic injury is one that results in:

• Fatality;
• Permanent disability;
• Serious injuries;
• Temporary or transient paralysis; or
• Heatstroke.

To our legal team, a catastrophic injury is one that results in disability or/and disfigurement, and seriously disrupts your quality of life and your ability to care for yourself.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Typically, the types of injuries that qualify as catastrophic include:

• Traumatic brain injuries TBIs can happen from a forceful blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating injury that disrupts brain function.
• Spinal cord injuries There are few injuries that are more debilitating than those that affect the spinal cord.
• Amputation/loss of use of limb injuries The loss of a limb is a catastrophic injury that is certain to have a permanent effect on the victim’s life.
• Paralysis injuries
• Electrocution injuries;
• Serious bone fracture injuries – In a large number of cases, broken bones will heal completely- although the victim may have to undergo surgery, physical therapy, and other types of rehabilitation during recovery
• Burn injuries – Severe burn victims often suffer from permanent nerve damage, scarring, disfigurement, and chronic ongoing pain.

While the above are the most common serious injury types, the list is not inclusive.

Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are caused by numerous different types of accidents, but most of these accidents share a common source: negligence. Our lawyers have experience working with clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries in various different accidents, including:

• Workplace accidents, especially accidents involving heavy equipment and machinery;
• Car accidents;
• Truck accidents;
• Bicycle and pedestrian accidents;
• Slip and fall accidents;
• Sports accidents;
• Water-related accidents;
• Premises liability accidents;
• Defective product accidents; and
• Medical malpractice.

If you don’t see the accident type in which you were involved listed, please still reach out to our law firm. We can handle all personal injury case types, and would be honored to help you.

The Cost of a Catastrophic Injury

Suffering a catastrophic injury won’t just mean being in pain or being inconvenienced; a catastrophic injury can change your life. The costs will be both economic and noneconomic, and will include:

• Medical expenses. A bulk of your expenses after suffering a catastrophic injury will be comprised by medical expenses – health care is extremely costly in our country, and if you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury, you likely will require weeks in a hospital, the care of specialists, numerous surgeries, medication and therapy, and more. You may also face future medical costs, too.
• Lost wages. If you are seriously injured, you won’t be able to return to work. If you are seriously injured permanently, you won’t ever be able to return to work. This can mean hundreds of thousands–or millions–of dollars in lost wages and benefits over the years.
• Property damage costs. Depending on the type of accident in which you were involved that led to your injuries, your property may also have been damaged, too.
• Pain and suffering. You won’t just suffer financially, but emotionally, physically, and psychologically, too. The value of your pain, suffering, emotional distress, diminished quality of life, and other noneconomic losses should be accounted for.

How Catastrophic Injuries Impact Families

An injury that is this disruptive cannot help but have a major impact on those who are closest to the victim. If the person who was injured is married, their spouse is probably the one who is affected the most.

For example, the spouse may be quickly thrust into the role of caregiver, and unless they already work in the medical profession, this will be something totally new to them that they need to learn on the fly. As the primary caregiver, they may also be asked to make critical decisions about their spouse’s care and future without a lot of time to carefully consider all of the ways these decisions will impact them.

As if all of this was not stressful enough, the spouse will also likely become the primary breadwinner in the household. And if their injured spouse was the one who previously brought home most or all of the family income, then it will become especially difficult for them to make ends meet. So, on top of caregiving, the spouse may have to look for extra work just so the family can afford basic essentials like housing, food, and clothing.

There is another aspect to catastrophic injuries that impacts spouses in a profound way. Couples who are happily married usually have similar likes, interests, and activities that they enjoy doing together.

For example, maybe they both have a passion for traveling, hiking, swimming, playing a sport together, or any number of other activities. If their spouse now has a long-term debilitating injury, they may no longer be able to participate in these activities together again. And depending on the type of injury, their ability to be intimate with each other could be taken away as well.

Children are also heavily impacted by one of their parents suffering a catastrophic injury. Suddenly, a parent who they have always looked up to as a source of strength, support, and guidance has a debilitating injury and can no longer care for themselves. In some cases, there might even be a role reversal where the child is asked to help with caregiving and looking after their injured parent.

When something like this happens, it can be very difficult for children to deal with. The parent they once knew is now completely changed by the injury, and depending on the child’s age, they might have a very hard time understanding why this has happened. In some instances, the child may need to see a therapist to help work through the emotional effects of seeing their parent in this condition.

Your Right to Financial Reparations After a Catastrophic Injury

Understanding your rights after suffering a catastrophic injury can be confusing. You may not know whether or not you are entitled to compensation, and if so, from whom. You may also not be physically able to pursue damages, unable to do things like collect evidence or meet with insurance adjusters. You may also not know whether or not you should hire a lawyer.

At the law offices of Bailey, Javins, & Carter L.C., our Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyers are here to protect your right to financial reparations and justice after a catastrophic injury. Our lawyers can help you to prove that:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care;
• The defendant breached the duty of care owed to you by acting negligently;
• The negligence was the proximate cause of your harm; and
• You have suffered damages as a result.

You can bring your claim against a government entity, a private party, a business, a driver, a property owner, or anyone else as long as you can prove that your injuries would not have occurred but for this party’s negligence.

Our lawyers will help you by gathering evidence and investigating your case, which will allow us to identify the liable party. We also calculate your damages and represent you in all interactions with insurance adjusters. Of course, our goal is to get you the largest settlement possible, which means that we will negotiate tirelessly on your behalf. If an insurance company is being resistant, we can also explore the option of filing a lawsuit.

The Time to Act Is Now

We know that you are dealing with serious injuries and that filing a claim is the furthest thing from your mind. While it can be difficult to take action, you only have two years from the date of your accident to file a civil action; otherwise, you will be prevented from holding the at-fault party liable. The earlier that you meet with our lawyers, the sooner that we can start working on your case.

Get Started Today

Our lawyers work completely on a contingency fee basis, which means that we don’t get paid if you don’t. We also always offer free case consultations, so if you’re unsure about your legal options or working with our firm, we can sit down with you to discuss your case before you hire us.

If you are suffering from injuries that preclude you from traveling, we can come to your location, including your hospital room. We want you to feel comfortable and well cared for when you work with us.

To schedule your free consultation, please call us directly at 678-981-5370. You can also send us a message or visit our Atlanta office at your convenience. We also represent families who are pursuing wrongful death claims.