Bozeman Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Catastrophic injuries can have devastating effects on an individual. Due to the severity of catastrophic injuries, a victim’s life can be forever altered with long-lasting repercussions on an individual’s quality of life. Victims of a catastrophic injury can have their financial, physical, and psychological aspects of life significantly impacted.
At Beck, Amsden & Staples, we take pride in advocating for our clients. Catastrophic industry cases can result in large amounts of damages that become contentious as insurance companies try to deny fault. Our personal injury lawyers take the time to understand these complex cases and provide you with the best legal strategy to achieve your goals. Our Bozeman catastrophic injury lawyers will give you the legal representation you need to get the justice you deserve. Call us today for your free consultation.
What Are Examples of Catastrophic Injuries?
Catastrophic injuries are typically severe accidents that require intensive medical attention. Victims may lose basic bodily functions permanently. Some examples include:
- Limb amputation
- Severe burn injuries
- Multiple bone fractures
- Disfigurement
- Blunt abdominal trauma
- Ruptured internal organs
- Traumatic brain injuries (can lead to cognitive disabilities, impaired speech, limited limb movements, etc.)
- Spinal cord injuries (can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation, loss of bladder/bowel control, etc.)
- Loss of sight
- Loss of hearing
What Are Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries?
Common causes of catastrophic injuries include:
- Vehicle crashes
- Medical Errors
- Explosions/Fires
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Workplace Accidents
- Product Manufacturing Defects (e.g. defective car brake system)
- Faulty Equipment
- Hazardous Chemicals
- Severe Dog Attack/Mauling
How Can Catastrophic Injuries Impact A Victim’s Life?
Some ways that catastrophic injuries can impact a victim’s life include:
- Lifetime Rehabilitation – Extreme bodily damages may require perpetual rehabilitative care for patients.
- Permanent Disability – A victim of catastrophic injuries may never have the same quality of life pre-accident. This is especially wounding if the victim once enjoyed physical activities like sports, dancing, hiking, etc.
- Dependency on a Caretaker – No one wants to depend on someone else to eat, bathe, use the bathroom, or move from one place to another. Moreover, a caretaker must also give up a sizeable chunk of their lives to care for a disabled person. These facts can be depressing for both sides.
- Loss of Ability to Work – Having no means to earn an income perhaps brings the worst feeling of hopelessness, especially in this economy. A victim who has been permanently impaired may have difficulty finding work because there are not as many jobs for people with disabilities as compared to those without.
What Type of Compensation Can You Get?
Recovery in catastrophic injury claims can be split into the categories of economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include:
- Medical Expenses – Victims can seek reimbursement for hospital bills, doctor’s fees, surgery fees, medication, medical devices, ambulance fees, the cost of rehabilitative care, etc.
- Loss of Earnings – Victims who are unable to work due to the injury can receive compensation for all the wages they lost while absent from work.
- Loss of Future Earnings – Victims who are permanently disabled are entitled to receive compensation for the wages they can no longer earn due to their inability to earn money.
- Property Damages – A victim’s car might have been damaged during the collision. Victims can seek recovery for these damages.
- Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses – Some miscellaneous expenses can include a victim who needs a wheelchair or who needs to build a ramp to be able to navigate their home.
Non-economic damages include:
- Loss of Consortium – The spouse of a victim can file for loss of consortium when their partners can no longer give them love, support, sexual relations, child-bearing capacity, and companionship due to the injury or death caused by an accident.
- Loss of Society – This damage claim is similar to the loss of consortium but is generally meant for other loved ones like family members. This may include the loss of companionship and guidance that a deceased victim once provided. Loss of society can be proven through witness testimonies and statements from psychiatrists.
- Pain and Suffering – Victims can be reimbursed for their physical pain following the accident. Some multipliers can be used to convert the amount of pain to a sufficient monetary amount.
- Emotional Distress – This includes PTSD, anxiety, and depression that the victim may experience after the traumatic catastrophic injury.
Punitive damages are a special type of damage claim. This is reserved for cases involving malice, intention, or offense if it caused the injury. Money gained from punitive damages is meant as a punishment to discourage the behavior from occurring in the future.
How Can A Catastrophic Injury Attorney Help You?
Many victims do not realize that some of the most crucial parts of your case can be decided right at the get-go. To maximize the chances for your best outcome, a lawyer who is on your case at the beginning can help to place you in the best possible position. A knowledgeable catastrophic injury lawyer will sort through the various laws and statutes relative to your case. More specifically, a catastrophic injury attorney will gather witness statements, sort through police reports, negotiate with the opposing party’s insurance, and argue for fault by the opposing party.
At Beck, Amsden & Staples, our skilled attorneys will walk through you every step of the process. Our Bozeman catastrophic attorneys will identify your goals and provide you with the best legal strategy for success. If you or your loved one suffered due to a catastrophic injury, we are here for you. Call our Bozeman catastrophic injury lawyers today for your free consultation.