The leaders in Woodstock, GA want the world to know that their city is a great place to escape and enjoy vibrant colors and sounds. However, tucked within that great escape and found along the road that takes you to it, there are a number of risks that can result in a catastrophic injury.
If you or your loved one have suffered a personal injury lawyer in Woodstock, an experienced personal injury lawyer from John Foy & Associates can help you understand the process of seeking compensation for the profound expenses and impacts these injuries often carry.
How Are Catastrophic Injury Claims Different?
A catastrophic injury is defined as one that produces a high likelihood of permanent disabilities that will make the sufferer unable to earn an income. The term is generally used to describe injuries that impact the body’s central nervous system, such as the brain and the spinal cord. As noted by Northwestern University, brain injuries can result in millions of dollars worth of medical expenses through the sufferer’s life and disabilities that are severe enough that 60 percent of adults with traumatic brain injuries are unemployed two years after the injury occurred.
Spinal cord injuries, as noted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, can result in more than $4 million in lifetime medical expenses, with many associated complications. Spinal cord injuries usually cause paralysis below the site of the injury, making earning an income extremely difficult, particularly for those whose injuries occurred in the cervical (neck) area of the spine.
Other types of injuries that can be considered catastrophic include limb amputations, loss of hearing or sight, or damage to the spinal vertebrae or discs that result in spinal instability.
Higher Medical Expenses
One of the major impacts to the value of a catastrophic injury claim is accounting for a lifetime’s worth of medical expenses related not only to the injury but to the complications that accompany the injury as well. In determining the cost of future medical treatment, an attorney will often seek testimony from medical professionals who specialize in this sort of injury, in order to gain a better understanding of the expenses that the individual will likely face.
Loss of Earning Capacity
The loss of the ability to earn an income is the main defining feature of a catastrophic injury, and loss of earning capacity is compensable damage in a personal injury claim. Loss of earning capacity is usually calculated by taking the average earnings of the claimant before the accident and multiplying that out over the years until they reach the age of retirement.
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Increased Psychological Impacts
Permanent disabilities that impact the sufferer’s ability to earn an income also tend to impact their ability to live and accomplish personal tasks independently. This loss of independence is extremely distressing to many individuals, who are also facing the loss of the ability to participate in hobbies and activities they formerly enjoyed, as well as profound changes in their relationships with family members and friends.
How Much does It Cost to Hire a Woodstock Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?
While you are not legally required to hire a personal injury attorney to assist you with your claim, it is strongly encouraged as most personal injury claims feature a level of complexity that is hard to overcome without education and experience in the law. In catastrophic injury cases, due to the high level of compensation needed and the efforts of insurance adjusters to reduce or even completely diminish payouts, a catastrophic injury lawyer in Woodstock who is experienced in this type of case is crucial to the success of your claim.
That said, many of our clients were hesitant to hire us because they were afraid of how to afford the costs of an attorney. Fortunately, our contingent fee billing method means there is no need to worry about whether you can afford a catastrophic injury attorney in Woodstock.
How Personal Injury Lawyers Bill Their Clients
Some lawyers, such as those who represent clients in family law or criminal defense matters, require their clients to pay a retainer, which covers the upfront costs of providing their services. They then go on to charge an hourly fee for the work they do. However, it doesn’t work that way with personal injury lawyers.
Instead, we use a contingent fee billing method. What this means is that our clients do not have to pay for our services until we have helped them obtain compensation either through a negotiated settlement or a court award. At that point, our payment is a percentage of the settlement or award, as outlined in the contingent fee agreement we enter into with you at the start of your case.
The Services Your Woodstock Catastrophic Injury Attorney Can Provide
Personal injury attorneys can offer a number of services to their clients, depending on the unique features of their claim. Some of the services provided to catastrophic injury clients include:
- Determining all liable parties and their associate insurance policies that can be accessed to provide the level of compensation you need
- Establishing a value to the claim that accounts for the permanent nature of the injury
- Securing testimony from medical professionals about the claimant’s prognosis, including the permanence of the injury and the complications and costs they will likely incur
- Settlement negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance provider that are focused on garnering an offer that will fairly compensate you for the injury
- Assistance collecting your settlement or award
- Guidance throughout the process, including the ability to obtain answers to your legal questions through a free, no-obligation case evaluation
If You’ve Suffered a Catastrophic Injury, We Can Help
Just as their name suggests, catastrophic injuries can wreak havoc on a person’s finances, career aspirations, and dreams for the future. Let us help you get the compensation you need to see you through a lifetime of disability. Contact us for your free case evaluation.
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