We see stories on the news all the time about people who get injured in horrible accidents. Usually, they involve chemical explosions or bridges that collapsed. Dozens of people get hurt and killed. They conduct an investigation to see what caused the accident. We also hear about the lawyers who help get these victims millions of dollars in legal settlements.
Not all catastrophic injuries involve accidents of this magnitude. In fact, many catastrophic injury settlements arise from everyday mistakes. For example, a plaintiff who suffered severe injuries in a car accident recovered $50 million in damages. The driver who hit her had been up all night partying, ran a red light and crashed into her car.
This kind of accident happens all the time. It isn’t necessarily a catastrophic injury, however. In order to qualify as a catastrophic injury case, the plaintiff needs to suffer very severe injuries. These are injuries that they’ll probably never recover from.
Arizona catastrophic injury lawyers have the experience necessary to get their plaintiffs the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a terrible accident, you need to contact an Arizona catastrophic injury lawyer right away. Attorney Nathaniel B. Preston at Warnock MacKinlay Law is ready to help you and your loved ones deal with all of the consequences of a catastrophic injury. Call today for a risk-free case review and get an expert attorney on your side.
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What is a Catastrophic Injury?
When people hear the words catastrophic injury, they tend to think of huge accidents where people are killed and hurt. In reality, the type of accident involved in these cases is not always something massive like that.
Most catastrophic injury cases involve everyday accidents that happen to people like you and I. They could involve any of the following:
- Car accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Construction accidents
- Workplace injuries
- Fires
The difference between a typical personal injury case and a catastrophic injury case has to do with the severity of the plaintiff’s injuries. In a catastrophic injury case, the plaintiff suffers injuries that are life-changing. We’re talking about more than whiplash or a broken wrist. We’re dealing with injuries that create long-term, life-altering issues for the victim.
In order to determine whether an injury qualifies as catastrophic, an Arizona catastrophic injury lawyer will look at the following:
- The debilitating nature of the injury
- The extent to which your disability will continue
- Can you perform the normal, day to day things?
- Will you require long-term medical treatment?
- What is the impact on your livelihood?
It’s important to look at each of these things in detail.
Debilitating Nature of the Injury
Catastrophic injuries require extensive treatment. For example, these plaintiffs need multiple surgeries and physical therapy. They may end up in a wheelchair for part or most of their lives. They also may need help getting around.
In a typical personal injury case, the plaintiff may suffer a few broken bones. They may even have a back injury that requires surgery. But, after a few months, they can return to work and resume a normal life. Plaintiffs in catastrophic injury cases aren’t able to do this. Their injuries are so severe, they just can’t function the way they used to.
Extent to Which Your Injury Will Continue
Arizona catastrophic injury lawyers represent clients who will need long-term or lifelong care. They may need multiple surgeries. They may need to hire live-in care. They certainly won’t recover in a few weeks or months. They’ll more than likely need care for years or even the rest of their life.
Some of these plaintiffs even need to move into assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Their injuries are just so bad, they can’t care for themselves. And their medical issues are so extreme, that their family isn’t able to care for them either.
Can you perform normal, day to day functions?
One of the ways Arizona lawyers prove their clients have suffered a catastrophic injury is by showing they can’t perform day to day functions. Their clients aren’t able to do things like drive, grocery shop or play basketball. They can’t cook for themselves or clean the house.
Many catastrophic injury plaintiffs require a lot of help just getting through the day. Some are lucky enough to have family members to help do this. Some aren’t so lucky.
Are you going to need long-term medical treatment?
You have to remember, catastrophic injury cases involve more than just physical injuries. It could also involve serious illnesses. Think of people who take dangerous drugs that cause cancer. They may need long-term or lifelong treatment for their illness. These are the types of cases that Arizona catastrophic injury lawyers handle.
These plaintiffs may be able to live at home and get medical care on an out-patient basis. However, as we mentioned earlier, some have to move into nursing homes or long-term rehabilitation facilities. They need constant and around the clock medical care to treat their long-term injuries.
What is the impact on your livelihood?
A lot of the victims of a catastrophic injury are no longer able to work. This could mean they aren’t able to return to the job they had prior to the accident. It can also mean they aren’t able to return to work at all. They may end up on permanent disability for the rest of their lives.
The issue here is that disability doesn’t pay all that much. You should be compensated for the money you lose as a result of not being able to work any longer. For example, if you used to earn $60,000 a year and only get $30,000 a year on disability, you should have a claim for damages. You would be entitled to about $30,000 a year for however many more years you would have worked.
No matter what type of accident or injury you’re involved in, you’re going to need a lawyer. The defendant is going to have a team of lawyers working for them. You don’t want to try to handle it yourself. This is why it’s important that you need to contact an Arizona catastrophic injury attorney.
What are the Most Common Catastrophic Injuries?
If you get into a car accident or suffer a slip and fall, you’re going to be hurt. You may even need surgery. However, the types of injuries associated with a catastrophic injury case are much more severe than the injuries suffered in a run of the mill accident.
Some of the more common types of catastrophic injuries in Arizona include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
TBI is a brain injury caused when you suffer a severe blow to the head. The problem with TBI is you may not realize you’ve even suffered an injury. This is why it’s so important that you go to the hospital immediately after your accident. The signs and symptoms of a TBI include:
- Nausea
- Vision impairment
- Memory loss
- Inability to communicate
- Headaches
- Fatigue or insomnia
The only way to confirm if you’ve suffered a TBI is to go to the hospital. They’ll run the necessary tests to detect a TBI. These tests could include an x-ray, MRI, or a CT scan. The doctor can also conduct diagnostic tests himself that will confirm if you have a TBI or not.
Spinal Cord Injuries
If your spinal cord is severed or damaged, you could end up partially or totally paralyzed. You could end up in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. If the spinal cord injury is severe enough, you could end up in a hospital bed for the rest of your life. Very few people ever fully recover from a spinal cord injury. This type of injury will more than likely make it impossible for you to work. You won’t even be able to perform the normal, day to day functions.
Loss of limbs
Sadly, some catastrophic accidents will result in the loss of one or more of your limbs. For example, if you get hit by a tractor trailer, your legs could be crushed to the point where they have to amputate one or both of your limbs. Or, a medical procedure could go wrong and you end up with an infection that costs you a limb. These injuries typically entitle the plaintiff to a large amount of damages.
Severe burn injuries
When we think of severe burns, we tend to think of house fires and car accidents. However, there are many other ways you can suffer severe burn injuries. You could be injured in a chemical explosion. Or, you may get burned due to an electrical fire or electrocution. These injuries often have no treatment other than time. Doctors can do very little to treat these injuries. They also tend to be very painful and can cause permanent scars and disfigurement.
Facial disfigurement
Many catastrophic injury victims suffer severe facial disfigurement. This could be caused by a car accident or workplace injury. It could take years and several rounds of reconstruction surgeries to correct these injuries. For many people, they’ll never actually look the same ever again. Whether it sounds vain or not, our face is something we’ve lived with our entire lives. When we lose that, it can be very painful, both physically and mentally.
If you’ve suffered any of these or another type of severe injuries, you need to call an Arizona catastrophic injury lawyer immediately.
What Kind of Damages are Involved in Catastrophic Injury Cases?
Arizona catastrophic injury lawyers work hard to get their clients’ as much money as possible. The damages in these cases tend to be a lot higher than in other personal injury cases. Given the long-term impact of these injuries, plaintiffs should expect to receive significant damages, but it won’t happen without a fight.
An Arizona catastrophic injury lawyer will demand that you be compensated for all of the following:
Medical bills
Your short-term and long-term medical expenses will be quite high. Your personal health insurance may cover much of this care. However, if someone else caused your injuries, they need to be held accountable. The insurance provider will expect to be reimbursed. You also need to be reimbursed for any out of pocket medical expenses. Your Arizona catastrophic injury lawyer will also demand that you be compensated for any future medical expenses. He’ll have your doctor and other experts testify as to the amount of care you’re going to need.
Lost Wages
Clearly, if you suffer a catastrophic injury, you’re going to miss a lot of time from work. You may not be able to work for months or years. The defendant needs to compensate you for these lost earnings. If you’re going to be out for an extended period of time, you may lose your job entirely. Your lawyer will fight to get you compensation for any lost wages.
Pain and Suffering
As you can imagine, these cases involve a great deal of pain and suffering. These damages are intended to compensate you for mental and physical anguish caused by the accident. Juries are very sympathetic to catastrophic injury victims. Your lawyer will demand that you be compensated fairly for your pain and suffering.
Permanent Disability
If you’re unable to work again, you’ll end up on permanent disability. This means you’ll be losing a lot of money since you can’t work full-time. You’ll be entitled to receive compensation for the difference between what you receive on disability compared to what you would have earned if you could return to work.
Your Arizona catastrophic injury lawyer has the experience it takes to get you the compensation you deserve. They’ll pursue the defendant’s insurance company to get you a fair settlement.
Contact an Arizona Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today
If you or your loved one have suffered a catastrophic injury, your life is going to change forever. It’s important that you have an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer handle the legal side of things for you while you focus on getting better. We have recovered millions of dollars for clients and want to help you as well.
Call us today at (602)600-6427 today and schedule your free initial consultation with a catastrophic injury lawyer in Arizona. Contact Nathaniel B. Preston at Warnock MacKinlay Law today and make an appointment to meet with him as soon as possible.
The defendant will have a team of lawyers working for them. You should too. The consultation is absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.
