Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Los Angeles, CA

Causes, Compensation, and Hope After a Catastrophic Injury

While many accidents have little or no long-term effects, the effects of catastrophic injuries can last a lifetime. These injuries can lead to lifelong pain, enormous medical expenses, loss of livelihood, and many other consequences. Whether you suffered serious injuries in a car accident or were exposed to hazardous chemicals, our catastrophic injury attorney in Los Angeles, CA will work aggressively to hold the negligent parties responsible. 

If you believe your injury falls into this category, it’s important to understand your legal rights in California.  Depending on how the accident happened, you might be able to seek compensation. This can be crucial for your financial security and future well-being as you focus on your recovery.

Quick Summary:

• Catastrophic injuries are severe and long-lasting, impacting daily life and work. They can be physical, mental, or emotional, causing permanent impairment or loss of function. Examples include spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, and burns. These injuries require ongoing medical care, therapy, and support, placing a significant financial burden on victims and their families.
• Catastrophic injuries can happen in many ways, often due to negligence. Common causes include car accidents, workplace accidents, medical mistakes, construction mishaps, falls, sports injuries, and faulty products. These injuries are life-changing, causing permanent physical and mental limitations. They lead to financial hardship, reduced quality of life, and difficulty working. 
• Many parties can be liable for catastrophic injuries in California, including drivers, vehicle owners, property owners, manufacturers, and employers. Compensation for victims include present and future medical care, pain and suffering, lost wages, and property damage. This compensation is meant to help victims rebuild their lives after a devastating event. Emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and out-of-pocket costs are also considered. In extreme cases, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the responsible party.

What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?

The term catastrophic injury covers a wide range of life-changing medical conditions. Depending on your work and lifestyle, the definition of catastrophic injury can be quite broad. It’s important to consider the physical, mental, and emotional impacts when defining these injuries. 

Catastrophic injuries are generally defined as permanent or long-term impairment or loss of use of an organ or limb, or an inability to perform daily activities and gainful work. When people sustain catastrophic injuries, their new normal involves ongoing medical care. They need regular therapy and family assistance. This also requires a serious financial commitment.

Some injuries that are commonly considered catastrophic include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Amputation
• Facial injuries
• Severe burn injuries
• Disfigurement
• Crushed bones
• Paralysis (tetraplegia, paraplegia, and triplegia)
• Loss of sight or hearing
• Internal organ damage
• Injuries that result in significant scarring
• Injuries requiring long-term medical care

What Causes a Catastrophic Injury?

Catastrophic injuries can arise in many different scenarios in California. Any incident that involves blunt force trauma to a victim can cause fractured bones and internal damage. These types of injuries occur abruptly and without warning. These are serious injuries that could permanently affect a victim.

Often the result of another party’s negligence or recklessness, the common causes of catastrophic injuries are:

• Car accidents: Motorcycle and pedestrian accident victims often suffer catastrophic injuries. These injuries can include traumatic brain injuries and paralysis.
• Driver fatigue: Tired drivers can react slower, leading to serious car accidents. Driver fatigue can increase the risk of an accident and the severity of injuries sustained.
• Workplace accidents: Accidents at work, especially in jobs with heavy machinery or construction, can cause catastrophic injuries. Equipment failures or unsafe conditions often lead to these injuries. Common workplace accidents include slips, falls, electrocutions, and entrapments. These hazards can result in extensive physical trauma.
• Medical malpractice: Medical malpractice occurs when healthcare providers make mistakes that harm patients. These errors can lead to catastrophic injuries such as brain damage, paralysis, organ damage, life-threatening illnesses, or even death. Common examples include surgical mistakes, misdiagnosis of serious conditions, or giving the wrong medication. 
• Construction accidents: Construction sites are notoriously hazardous. Workers may be exposed to dangerous conditions that can lead to severe injuries. Construction accidents include scaffolding and crane collapses, falls, electrocution, and equipment malfunctions. Unsafe conditions, like slippery surfaces or inadequate safety gear, also contribute to serious injuries.
• Falls: Fatal falls are the second leading cause of death in the US,. But even those who survive falls can suffer life-changing catastrophic injuries. This includes injuries like head trauma, broken bones, or damage to the spine.
• Sports and recreational activities: Sports injuries can range from mild strains and sprains to traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage. Sports injuries include concussions, torn ligaments, fractures, and nerve damage.
• Defective drugs or medical devices: Defective drugs and medical devices can cause significant harm to patients. Common defects include faulty design, manufacturing defects, and inadequate warnings. Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that their products are safe for use. Consumers can suffer severe and potentially life-threatening injuries when they fail to do so.

Knowing what causes catastrophic injuries helps you understand the risks. This knowledge allows you to take steps to protect yourself and others.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Catastrophic Injuries?

Injuries are classified as catastrophic when they have lasting or permanent effects on the victim. Catastrophic injuries from car, motorcycle, truck, and bicycle accidents can have countless long-term adverse effects. These injuries change a victim’s life. They make it difficult or impossible to resume normal activities.

If you suffered catastrophic injuries, it’s important to identify all of the long-term consequences of your injury before accepting any settlement offer. The compensation you receive will be directly tied to these losses. Here are some of the common long-term catastrophic injury effects:

Financial Struggles

A catastrophic injury can lead to immense financial burdens, with medical bills reaching millions over a lifetime. These financial struggles can strain relationships and hinder recovery, making it crucial to secure necessary support. Obtaining fair financial compensation for your catastrophic injury is essential.

Reduced Quality of Life

A catastrophic injury prevents an individual from enjoying everyday life. Due to physical or mental changes, victims may experience chronic depression, low self-esteem, or anxiety. Some people might need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom. This can be frustrating and make a person feel less independent.

Physical Disability

A catastrophic injury may cause permanent physical harm to a victim. This can change the victim’s quality of life. A survivor may have to live with a permanent disability, such as losing a limb or paralysis. If your injury results in a lifelong disability, you may be eligible for lifetime payments. These payments are based on your age, level of injury, pre-disability pay, and occupation.

Mental Incapacity

Catastrophic injuries could also inflict a mental disability. Mental incapacity can alter the way the victim talks, thinks, acts, and moves. These mental effects can be as devastating as physical limitations. These injuries can make it hard for you to work, take care of yourself, or even maintain relationships.

Employment Problems

Catastrophic injuries can make job-related tasks impossible. Brain injuries can impair concentration and memory. Reduced income and rising medical costs create an overwhelming burden.

Who Can Be Found Liable for Catastrophic Injuries?

Under California’s comparative negligence laws and statutes, there may be more than one party liable for a catastrophic injury. Several parties may share responsibility when negligent or reckless actions are committed. Here are the key parties who could potentially be held liable for catastrophic injuries:

• Drivers. Because catastrophic injuries commonly occur during motor vehicle accidents, the other driver (or drivers) involved may be negligent. If a driver was speeding, distracted, drunk, or reckless, they could be liable for your injuries.
• Vehicle Owners. Before letting your friend borrow your car, you must think twice. As the vehicle’s owner, if your friend gets into an accident, you may still be found liable in a catastrophic injury case.
• Landowners or Tenants. Slip and fall or premises liability claims often arise from the negligent actions of landlords, tenants, or homeowners. If you slip and fall on a dangerous property, like a broken sidewalk or icy stairs, the owner might be liable for your injuries.
• Manufacturers. Any company responsible for the retailing, manufacturing, and transporting of a defective product that causes catastrophic injuries may ultimately be found responsible. Faulty products, like exploding airbags or collapsing ladders, can cause serious injuries. The manufacturer could be held liable for putting a dangerous product on the market.
• Employers. Employers are responsible for providing a safe work environment. If a victim is injured by an employee who was on the clock, their employer may have contributed to the circumstances leading to the catastrophic injuries.

What Compensation Is Available to Catastrophic Injury Survivors?

The amount of financial compensation and damages available for your catastrophic injuries will depend on the circumstances of the case and your losses. Compensation is calculated based on the extent of the damage inflicted on the victim. 

This includes the severity of the injury and the cost of required care. The victim’s psychological counseling, emotional anguish, and lost enjoyment of life will also be taken into account.  Here’s what kind of compensation you could be eligible for:

Past and Future Medical Expenses

With a catastrophic injury, you may look at a lifetime of medical needs. It requires ongoing medical care, which may need to address secondary health concerns that stem from the original injury. As the victim, you could recover the medical treatment costs related to your catastrophic injury. The compensation can help pay for the following:

• hospital stays,
• surgeries,
• doctor visits,
• medications,
• rehabilitation,
• and ongoing therapy needed to recover or manage the injury.

Pain and Suffering

The emotional component of a catastrophic injury can be devastating. The physical and emotional pain and suffering you endure can have lasting consequences that should not be overlooked. Compensation can be awarded for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury.

This type of compensation could help cover the following:

• psychological trauma
• emotional distress
• mental anguish
• humiliation
• diminished enjoyment of life
• inconvenience
• loss of consortium
• lost quality of life

Out-of-Pocket Costs

These expenses can take a big bite out of your savings, especially when combined with medical bills and lost wages. If the catastrophic accident led to out-of-pocket costs, you can list these expenses as part of your personal injury lawsuit. These costs include court filing fees, legal fees, travel expenses, property repairs, or health care deductibles.

Property Repairs

Catastrophic injuries can mean changes at home or property. You might need repairs, modifications, or other adjustments to get around safely. If the accident also damaged your car or property, you can be compensated for repairs or replacements.

Lost Wages

A catastrophic injury can mean an abrupt halt to your career. But, even if you can continue working, you can expect a lengthy hiatus and a significant loss in earnings. Victims of catastrophic injuries can recoup the costs of wages lost from missing time at work. They can also recover foreseeable future lost earnings if a disability prevents them from returning to their jobs.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are more common in catastrophic injury cases than ordinary injury claims. A judge may grant a punitive damage award to punish a defendant for recklessness or gross negligence. This award can also be given for intent to harm or maliciousness.

Why Do I Need a Catastrophic Injury Attorney in California?

People often suffer catastrophic injuries following motorcycle accidents, vehicle accidents, and construction accidents. This means a new life for victims and families. Pain, long-term disabilities, and inconvenience become everyday struggles. Rigorous treatments and long hospital stays add to the burden.

If you’ve suffered an injury so severe as to be described as catastrophic, you must get the medical and legal help you need as quickly as possible. You are entitled to compensation from the at-fault party but recovering fair compensation for a life-changing injury can be challenging. In this situation, our catastrophic injury attorney in Los Angeles, CA can fight for you.

At Conlogue Law LLP, we can:

• Proving Liability: We will review the facts of your case and determine whether negligence was involved.
• Handling Legal Processes: We will conduct a thorough investigation of your personal injury case, arrange access and transportation to medical care, and handle all insurance-related paperwork and negotiations.
• Maximizing Compensation: We will discuss all available legal options for your catastrophic injury claim to help you obtain the maximum compensation to recover from a catastrophic injury. We can provide an estimate of how much your catastrophic injury claim/lawsuit may be worth and how long your catastrophic injury lawsuit might take to settle.
• Providing Legal Representation: We represent clients in Los Angeles in various personal injury matters, civil rights issues, police misconduct cases, and maritime injury claims.

Having our personal injury law firm on your side provides peace of mind. We will advocate for your rights, answer your questions, and support you throughout the legal journey, ensuring you’re not alone in this challenging time.

Call Our Los Angeles CA Catastrophic Injury Attorney Now!

A catastrophic injury drastically alters the victim’s life. While no one should ever have to endure such a traumatic experience, we can assure you don’t have to go through this alone. Given the complexities of proving a catastrophic injury case, working with our Los Angeles CA catastrophic injury lawyers at Conlogue Law LLP is essential to protect your rights.

Our personal injury law firm understands the immeasurable suffering that can be brought on following a traumatic life-changing injury. We focus on recovering the maximum compensation on your behalf, whether through settlement or at trial. We will handle every aspect of your personal injury claim from start to finish so you can focus on getting the treatment you need. We can provide peace of mind throughout every step of the catastrophic injury claims process. We won’t settle for anything less than a maximum financial damages payout for your catastrophic injury lawsuit.

After a catastrophic injury, let us help you get your life back. Contact us now to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about your legal options.