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What Legal Options You Have After a Catastrophic Injury

May 3, 2022 Legal Team
Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury can instantly change a person’s life. One minute you might be a perfectly healthy individual with full usage of all of your limbs and unlimited potential. Then in an instant, an accident can occur that leaves you mentally altered from a brain injury, or paralyzed due to a spinal injury.

When this happens, you have the right to hold the responsible party liable for your injuries, loss of quality of life, and loss of income.

Learn what legal rights you have.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury has life-altering effects that may be permanent. Some common types of catastrophic injuries can include:

  • Spinal cord injuries, which may cause partial or total paralysis.
  • Severe spinal injuries.
  • Traumatic brain injuries.
  • Severe head injuries.
  • Loss of a limb.
  • Severe burns.
  • Disfigurement or scarring.
  • Any injury that causes a long-term or permanent disability that alters the victim’s life.

To prove that you sustained a catastrophic injury, you will need to provide your medical records, tests, diagnosis, and prognosis to detail the long-term impact of the injuries.

Your Legal Rights

If you suffered a catastrophic injury due to someone’s negligence or intent, you have the legal right to hold that person accountable.

In many cases, the defendant might settle the case out of court. This happens when the victim and the defendant’s insurance company reach a settlement that the victim and his or her attorney consider to be fair compensation. Your attorney will negotiate this amount on your behalf.

If you are unable to settle with the insurance company, and you deem their offer to be unfair, you will need to go to court to seek compensation. During the court proceedings, both sides will bring witnesses to testify and will present evidence as to who was at fault and what led to the accident. In the end, the judge will determine if you are owed damages and how much.

Damages You Can Seek After a Catastrophic Injury

After suffering a serious injury, your attorney will help you determine how much you can seek in damages. Your lawyer will review your medical records to determine the extent of your injuries, look at your prognosis to consider the long-term effects of the injuries, and review all bills and costs you’ve tallied. Some items your attorney might seek compensation for can include:

  • Past medical bills
  • Future medical expenses
  • Medications
  • Lost wages and income
  • Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
  • Emergency transportation costs
  • Medical equipment
  • At-home care costs
  • Increased living expenses due to the injury
  • Long-term treatment and therapy
  • Mental and emotional suffering
  • Property damages
  • Loss of opportunity
  • Disfigurement
  • Home remodeling costs to make your home accessible

Why You Need Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

When you suffer a catastrophic injury due to someone’s negligence or intent, it’s important to hire an experienced attorney. A lawyer has the expertise to know what types of damages to seek – and at what value. An attorney can also represent you and deal with negotiating with the defendant’s insurance company while you focus on recovering from your injuries and getting treatment. A lawyer can also bring in other professionals to testify in court to prove the extent of your injuries and long-term expenses and needs.

 We Can Help

If you suffer a catastrophic injury, you need help from top-rated, hard-working representation. At Shapiro|Delgado, our attorneys put their injury law experience to work for you. And we handle catastrophic injury cases on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you do.

We represent clients throughout Florida, including Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, and surrounding communities.

To set up a free personal consultation, call 941-954-4000 or use our convenient online contact form.

Your family counts on you.

You can count on us.