When injuries occur due to the negligence of another party, a claim can be filed to recover compensation. If the injuries are particularly severe, they may be classified as catastrophic injuries. With catastrophic injury claims, additional payments may be warranted.
To find out how you can secure compensation if your severe injury was caused by the negligence of another individual or entity, work with a Lilburn catastrophic injuries lawyer from John Foy & Associates.
The Severity of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are a specific class of injuries that includes all injuries that have a long-lasting impact on someone’s overall quality of life. When someone suffers a catastrophic injury, they usually require life-long assistance and medical treatment. Even if the condition does not last for the remainder of their lives, catastrophic injuries will at least have a long-term impact that lasts for months or often years.
If your catastrophic injuries were the result of an accident caused by another, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. Whether you are eligible depends on the circumstances of the accident. A catastrophic injury claim can only be successful if the plaintiff, you, can prove that the defendant’s negligence caused the accident.
You may be able to do this independently, but your chances of winning are much higher if you work with a catastrophic injuries lawyer in Lilburn.
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Understanding a Catastrophic Injury
Whether your injury is classified as a catastrophic injury depends on the type of injury you incurred. Legally, only certain injuries qualify as catastrophic injuries. To understand whether you have a catastrophic injury, consider the following types of catastrophic injuries.
Amputation
When a limb is removed forcibly or through a medical procedure, the term used to describe the event is “amputation.” Losing a limb effectively always counts as a catastrophic injury. If you are wondering why, consider the fact that losing a limb will permanently reduce someone’s overall quality of life.
The victim can no longer live life as they used to, so the damage will be experienced for the remainder of their lives. An amputation can occur in several ways in an accident. Sometimes accidents cause irreparable damage, leaving medical professionals with no choice but to remove it to protect the victim.
In other instances, the accident will cause immediate amputation. This is common in car accidents and accidents that involve heavy machinery.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Your brain is one of the most important organs in your body. When it is subject to significant pressure, a traumatic brain injury can occur. This pressure alright can come from an impact, stab, cut, or another form of force.
Upon suffering a traumatic brain injury, victims may lose both physical and cognitive ability. This can be devastating and often have life-long impacts. Some people have suffered traumatic brain injuries and do not even know it.
For example, if some slips and falls on someone else’s property and hits their head, a traumatic brain injury may have occurred. If they do not seek medical attention, it may be hard to tell. Though, they may experience certain symptoms like nausea, trouble with memory, dizziness, fatigue, and more.
If you recently hit your head, there is a chance you suffered a catastrophic injury. A Lilburn catastrophic injuries attorney can help you determine if your injuries qualify you to recover catastrophic injuries compensation.
Severe Chemical Burns
Some chemicals create dangerous reactions when they come into contact with skin or other body parts. A chemical burn can be minor, causing injuries like redness, skin irritation, or localized blisters. But, chemical burns can also cause catastrophic injuries when exposure is substantial.
Chemical burns can sometimes have other effects, such as nausea, coughing, sudden pain, and breathing issues. If you were working in a company that handles such chemicals and you came into contact with the chemicals due to the negligence of another worker, the company may be liable. While this is not the only situation that causes catastrophic chemical burns, it is one of the most common.
If the burns are extreme, work with a catastrophic injuries attorney in Lilburn to find out if your employer or another party is responsible for your damages.
Radiation Burns
People are exposed to increasing amounts of radiation as certain technologies become more prevalent. While most of these forms of radiation are safe for humans, there are some that can cause catastrophic injuries. In many cases, overexposure to radiation can cause severe radiation burns that disfigure victims.
Radiation burns frequently occur during medical procedures that involve using machines that produce radiation. The machines themselves may be safe, but improper administration and negligence can sometimes make them incredibly hazardous. In some cases, individuals are irradiated without warning, causing catastrophic injuries and illnesses.
Catastrophic Injuries Compensation Options
Catastrophic injuries require serious medical attention, often for the remainder of the victim’s life. If you were not responsible for your injury, you should not be on the line for paying these expenses. Nor should you be expected to earn an income if your condition does not permit you to do so.
With a catastrophic injuries claim, there is a chance that you can eliminate some of your financial burdens by recovering compensation from the at-fault party. Through a catastrophic injuries claim, you or a loved one can recover economic damages, non-economic damages, and potentially, wrongful death compensation.
Economic Damages
These are damages that are associated with the loss of money. This can be money you have already lost, are currently losing, or will lose in the future. When calculating your economic damages, consider the cost of medical bills, the wages you have lost and will lose, as well as other expenses, such as housing and childcare.
Non-Economic Damages
These are damages that are not associated with tangible losses. Non-economic damages are generally mental or emotional loss, such as the loss of a relationship or pain and suffering. Other examples of non-economic damages include loss of enjoyment in life, the onset of depression or anxiety, and emotional distress.
To calculate these damages, your lawyer will review your medical records and ask you a number of questions.
Wrongful Death Damages
If your loved one died in an accident that caused them catastrophic injuries, you may be able to recover compensation that is representative of their losses as well as your own. Through a wrongful death suit, the courts attempt to provide surviving family members with compensation that is equivalent to the value of the lost life.
John Foy & Associates Can Help You Recover Full Compensation
To manage a long-term illness, you will need substantial compensation. If you choose to pursue a personal injury claim without getting help from a Lilburn catastrophic injuries lawyer, there is a chance you will recover less money than you need to support yourself in the long term.
To maximize your chances of getting all the money you need to live a sustainable life, get in touch with John Foy & Associates to schedule a free case evaluation. You can reach us by using the contact form on this page.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form