Catastrophic Injury
The mere thought of sustaining a catastrophic injury is enough to cause anyone to grimace. Yet these types of severe personal injuries do happen to good, decent people each and every day. These accidents happen to innocent people that are the victim of someone else’s negligent or reckless conduct. As a Boston catastrophic injury lawyer, I help those and their family when a serious, permanent injury happens.
A catastrophic injury is a life- changing permanent injury that requires significant modifications of one’s daily activities. These injuries generate usually hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical bills, and extensive medical treatment. Sometimes multiple surgeries are needed. Almost always a long stay in a rehabilitation hospital is necessary.
If the victim can’t work any longer, then lost wages can, depending on income lost, be in the hundreds of thousands, or even millions.
These injuries usually result in a claim and lawsuit against the responsible party. These lawsuits are for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and all other damages for losses occasioned by the accident.
Since these injuries almost always affect the injury victim’s family, frequently these family members file claims for loss of consortium which are claims for the loss of comfort and support brought on by the accident. These claims are generally filed by spouses and children of the victim.
In the event of a wrongful death, an estate is set-up in order for the surviving family members to file a claim and lawsuit on behalf of the decent for the wrongful death.
These claims and lawsuits are paid by the insurance companies that insure the negligent parties that caused the accident. These cases frequently settle by way of mediation, which is an informal settlement conference amongst the parties to the case, as well as a license mediator. Sometimes these cases settle without a trial being necessary, other times if the case does not settle, then a trial in front of a judge and jury is necessary.
What Are Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries?Some examples of this type of devastating personal injury are:
These injuries can be brought by some of the following accidents:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Elevator accidents
- Construction accidents
- Bicycle accidents
Generally speaking, assuming the liability is strong, these cases can result in substantial settlements and verdicts. A claim will be for payment of medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, etc. The claim must cover all losses because once the claim is settled, the claim can never be opened up again. You have, as they say, one bite at the apple. Any compensation collected is not taxable as it is not considered to be income.
When a catastrophic injury strikes from an accident, it is important to have qualified and experienced representations on your side. Call the Earley Law Group Injury Lawyers today. We would be happy to fight for your rights for fair and just compensation.