Accidents happen every day. While the majority of victims can recover from their injuries, many are forced to deal with immense life changes. When an injury upends a person’s life, it’s considered catastrophic.
Most catastrophic injury victims need financial and emotional support to recover as fully as possible and learn how to cope with their new way of life. If you believe you sustained this type of injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you need a Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyer to help you seek justice and maximum compensation.
At Shrager Sachs & Blanco, we’re prepared to represent you and get you the compensation you deserve. Let us handle the paperwork so you can focus on getting your life back in order. Contact our law office for a free consultation to discuss how you became injured so we can advise you of eligibility to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses.
Types of Accidents That Lead to Catastrophic Injuries
For an injury to be defined as catastrophic, it has to occur without warning, seriously impact a person’s ability to work and leave them with a debilitating, life-long disability.
While anyone could potentially sustain an injury in any accident, there are certain situations where catastrophic injuries are more common. Oftentimes, these accidents are entirely preventable. Let’s take a look at the most common accidents that can have debilitating results.
- Animal Attacks. While we like to think most family pets are kind, gentle animals, there are unfortunate events where individuals are harmed. When a dog bites or attacks a person, the consequences can be severe. Infections can quickly set in if the wound isn’t cared for properly. Serious dog bites may require surgery and could result in permanent scarring, disfigurement, or amputations.
- Construction Accidents. Certain jobs are more dangerous than others. The construction industry happens to fit into that category. Severe injuries on construction sites are fairly common and can lead to devastating injuries or death. These accidents often happen when safety protocols are disregarded, hazards are unaddressed, or policies are unclear.
- Defective Products. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have a responsibility to their consumers to provide safe and effective products. A person could be seriously injured if they find themselves unexpectedly using a defective product. Some of the most severe injuries occur when vehicle parts are defective or improperly installed.
- Motor Vehicle Accidents. Car wrecks, motorcycle collisions, and truck accidents can be devastating for all parties involved. Most vehicle accidents can be traced back to speeding, distracted driving, or excessive alcohol consumption. Both drivers and injured passengers have legal rights to compensation in a vehicle accident.
- Slip and Fall Accidents. Property owners have a responsibility to those who step foot on their property legally. If you’ve been injured by a preventable hazard on someone’s property, you may have the grounds for filing a premises liability lawsuit.
No matter the cause, a Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyer will find out what caused the accident and how it hurt you. We’ll find the responsible party and hold them accountable for their actions.
Seek representation today by getting in touch with our office. Meeting with a member of our legal team to discuss your options is free of charge.
Serious Injuries Resulting From Accidents Caused by Others
In general, there are three classifications of injuries. They include:
- Physical injuries: These impairments impact or damage orthopedic function or tissue.
- Cognitive injuries: Traumatic brain injuries fall into this category. Injuries like these can cause the afflicted person to be unable to work, speak, or form new memories. These types of injuries often cost the most financially and emotionally.
- Spinal cord injuries: These types of impairments often cause the victim to experience permanent mobility issues.
Depending on the injury, the recovery process can take weeks, months, or even years. Some victims never fully recover and are forced to change their way of life to adapt to their disability. The injuries below are the most common devastating injuries a person is likely to sustain based on the accidents we discussed above.
- Amputation. Limb loss is common in serious car and workplace accidents. This most often happens when a part of a person’s body is crushed or a body part is severed.
- Burn Injuries. Depending on the accident, a person may be in direct contact with fire, electricity, or toxic chemicals. Burns, especially third and fourth-degree burns, can be incredibly difficult to recover from, as permanent nerve damage is a concern. Oftentimes, multiple surgeries and skin grafts are necessary. Burns are also some of the most painful physical injuries a person can experience.
- Loss of Hearing or Sight. In the event of an explosion or contact with toxic chemicals, a person may sustain an injury that leads to the loss of their hearing or vision abilities. This is likely to completely change their way of life in ways that will require a long adjustment period.
- Permanent Scarring or Disfigurement. Depending on the accident, permanent scarring or disfigurement can occur. This can lead to emotional and psychological trauma that can severely impact a person’s well-being.
- Organ Damage. High-impact accidents may cause injuries to your internal organs. These injuries may require surgery or other forms of intense medical care. Injuries that happen under the skin can include bleeding, swelling, and fractures.
- Head and Brain Injuries. Traumatic brain injuries range in severity; however, the more severe, the less likely a person is to recover. A TBI victim may suffer from cognition issues with attention, concentration, processing and understanding information, language and communication, remembering information, and problem-solving. In the worst cases, a brain injury can lead to total brain death.
- Spinal Cord Injuries. While some types of spinal cord damage can be fixed with surgery or physical therapy, others can lead to life-long paralysis or chronic pain. The severity of the injury depends on the location and how much of the spinal cord was damaged.
If your catastrophic injury wasn’t listed, you can still speak with one of our attorneys about the nature of your injury and how it happened during a free case review. Doing so is the first step to holding the party who harmed you accountable for their actions, so contact us to have that meeting so you’ll know if you’re able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation in your Philadelphia injury case today.
The Emotional Effects of a Permanent Injury
A traumatic accident can have long-lasting effects on anyone, and they aren’t always physical.
People can develop mental illnesses after an accident, especially if it has life-long consequences. It could be from the experience itself, a side effect of an injury, or how the person is reacting to the prospect of living with this injury.
Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all common issues that a person may have to grapple with.
These issues often need professional help, such as therapy or counseling. When someone requires these services, they don’t know how long they will need them because there isn’t a time limit on recovery. Treatment can also be expensive, so the person may not know how long they’ll need to afford this care.
Financial Consequences of Sustaining a Catastrophic Injury
After the shock of the injury has passed, you may now be dealing with some difficult changes. You may realize that you can’t return to work for a long time, or you’re no longer able to do your job. Your hobbies or activities may have to change.
Your life at home may require some drastic transformations, such as requiring medical equipment for you to live safely and maintain a high quality of life.
When a person is unable to return to their previous position, financial problems can quickly arise. Your family may have trouble paying bills and affording necessities like food. Even if you can return to work, you may have to switch to a position with lower pay.
In addition to managing without your previous income, the necessary medical equipment you need can add up quickly. Devices like electric wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs are expensive. When those devices are required to complete everyday tasks or be as mobile as possible, there’s rarely room to skimp. As a result, the medical bills can pile up even when you’re out of the hospital.
You deserve compensation for being wrongfully injured, and you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’re going to live your new life. One of our attorneys is primed and ready to speak with you about the legal options that are available to you, so reach out to us now for a no-risk, no-obligation, and confidential consultation with us by phone or email.
Applicable Pennsylvania Laws
Depending on how your injury occurred, Pennsylvania has a few state laws that could come into play at some point during your case. This is especially true in the event of a car accident, dog bite, or premises liability case. Our lawyers can determine which laws may affect you and how.
One of the most relevant laws to most personal injury cases is the lack of caps on injury damages. In Pennsylvania, the only limitation on how much compensation a person can receive is the state’s cap on punitive damages—which serves to punish the guilty party. As the victim, this law may benefit you.
It’s also important to keep in mind you only have a specific amount of time to file a lawsuit after suffering harm resulting from someone else’s negligence. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years, though this can vary in some cases, including birth injury claims.
This can differ on a case-by-case basis, which is why it’s important to hire the right attorney, so you can ensure you will walk away with the compensation you deserve.
Building a Strong Catastrophic Injury Claim
When you’re seeking compensation for a catastrophic injury claim, you’re likely facing a difficult road ahead of you. While you’re recovering from your injuries, it’s important to know about the aspects of your claim you’ll need to show so you have a valid case.
As your representation, our catastrophic injury lawyers know how complex these cases can become.
We’ll do everything we can to show the following happened in your case:
- The other party owed you a duty of care.
- They failed to meet the duty of care and acted negligently.
- Their negligence caused your accident.
- The accident resulted in your catastrophic injury.
To build a case like the one above, your lawyer will carefully investigate your case to find evidence that shows how you were hurt and the extent of your injuries. We’ll review the police report in the case as well as accounts of what happened, including that of eyewitnesses. There may also be surveillance footage that captured the accident—this can also give information on how the other party acted negligently and the severity of the accident.
Whether you were hospitalized, needed or will need surgical procedures, medication, therapy, medical equipment, or anything else needed for continued care—we’ll be able to assess the costs of past and future medical treatment.
Photographs of the accident scene can show how severe the accident was and may also give evidence of the kind of negligence that occurred. If you’re able to document your injuries, photographs can also provide insight into their severity.
You can also show how your everyday life is affected with a journal. Keeping track of painful symptoms, what you need to do to care for your injuries, and also documenting how the injuries are impeding you from accomplishing everyday tasks can demonstrate how much the other person’s negligence has caused pain and suffering.
Dealing With an Insurance Company After an Accident Injured You
If you’re seeking compensation for an accident, you’ll likely deal with an insurance company at some point. When an insurance adjuster contacts you, it’s important to remember that while they are supposed to evaluate your accident and injuries, their main concern isn’t to give you the compensation you deserve.
An insurance adjuster works for the insurance company—and their main priority is to make money.
They’re going to protect their self-interests before yours. This is why it’s important to have a lawyer represent you. We’ll advocate for you to receive full and fair compensation. We can also help with communication between you and the insurance company. This way, they’ll get the information they need, and you won’t have to worry about giving any information that could be used against you.
If you haven’t had time to contact a personal injury lawyer yet, it’s vital not to ake any official statements. Get in touch with one and give the insurance company the information they need as quickly as possible.
In addition to this, an adjuster likely will not look into the full losses of your injury like a lawyer would. Your adjuster isn’t thinking about the years of additional medical expenses you could have or the severe noneconomic losses you’ve suffered and will continue to suffer.
Your Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyer will keep all these in mind and will fight for you to recover them.
Help Is Just a Call or Click Away
You may feel hopeless after sustaining a serious, life-changing injury like a catastrophic injury. Seeking justice is a start that can put you on the road to a more certain future, and when you get the compensation you deserve, you have room to breathe.
This compensation can provide much-needed financial security that will help you heal physically and emotionally and help you cover the medical expenses of your case. When you have those finances covered, you won’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay those bills and keep up with other financial responsibilities like a mortgage, rent, groceries, and more.
At Shrager Sachs & Blanco, our lawyers will work to ensure you understand your rights and legal options every step of the way. We’re ready to answer questions and go over the options you have so you can feel confident in how you want to move forward. Contact our office today for a free consultation.
