Catastrophic injuries happen daily and may be caused by car accidents, workplace mishaps, slip-and-fall accidents, or faulty products, to name a few. Regardless of how you were injured, you might have a claim for financial recovery that can help you and your family move forward after an injury.
If you have sustained a severe injury that has dramatically altered your life, a catastrophic injury lawyer serving Lubbock can help you seek a financial recovery. D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ offers free consultations, so you can learn how a personal injury lawyer from our team can help with your case.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
According to 34 U.S. Code § 10284, a catastrophic injury “permanently render(s) an individual functionally incapable … of performing work.” Almost any severe injury may be catastrophic. Some of the types of catastrophic injuries may include:
- Spinal cord injuries: Including slipped or ruptured discs, a severed spinal cord, or injury resulting in partial or complete paralysis
- Severe head injuries: Including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which may cause permanent or long-lasting difficulty in day-to-day functioning
- Severe burns: Including those that may take years of treatment and leave disfiguring scars that require physical and emotional therapy for the victim
- Dismemberment: Including limb loss, such as fingers, toes, arms, or legs
- Bone damage: Including severe breaks, fractures, or crushing injuries that cause permanent or lasting complications
- Organ damage: Including injuries to any internal organ that disrupts the correct functioning of the organ
- Birth injuries: Including brain damage, amputation, mental disabilities, or paralysis
Catastrophic injuries typically happen suddenly and completely change the victim’s life. The one common denominator in all catastrophic injury cases is that the damage is severe and permanent.
Is Financial Recovery Available for Catastrophic Injury Cases in Lubbock?
Insurance companies may attempt to settle personal injury cases for the bare minimum. A catastrophic injury lawyer serving Lubbock will assist you in fighting for a fair financial recovery. There are two basic types of damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include direct monetary losses, such as medical bills, necessary property alterations, and lost wages. Some of these areas include:
- Ambulance costs
- Hospitalization
- Medications
- Medical equipment
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages, benefits, commissions, and future earning potential
- Home modifications to improve handicap accessibility
- Additional out-of-pocket costs
Non-Economic Damages
Additional recovery may be available for things that don’t have a direct monetary value. These non-economic damages may include:
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Physical impairment
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
Why Should You Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?
The most significant advantage of having a lawyer assisting with your case is that our team has handled many catastrophic injury cases before. We are familiar with Texas law and have skilled negotiators on our team. We know what forms to file and when they need to be placed on record to keep your case active.
We know the tricks that insurance companies and other law firms may use to get you to agree to a lowball settlement offer. With a law firm on your side, you will have our council and advice to guide you throughout the entire process. We will fight for your rights and the financial recovery you deserve for your catastrophic injuries.
How Your Catastrophic Injury Attorney Will Build Your Case
When our team commits to your case, work begins immediately to build your claim. One of the first tasks is to collect information and evidence, including:
- Medical information, such as doctors’ statements, bills, and prognoses
- Wage information, including pay vouchers, records of bonuses or commissions, and projected future earning potential
- Accident reports
- Statements from the plaintiff (you) and witnesses
- Photographs of the scene, vehicle damage, and injuries
- Video surveillance of the area, if available
As we collect evidence, our goal is to prove that the defendant’s negligence or carelessness caused the accident. We will organize all evidence and documentation to present your case to the defendant or their insurance provider. We may request testimony from expert witnesses or accident scene reconstruction specialists in some cases.
Determining Who Caused Your Injury
Catastrophic injuries may result from several different types of accidents. Our team will evaluate all the evidence to form a picture of the accident that caused your injury to determine who is at fault. Once we determine who is at fault, we will build a case to show the four elements that prove negligence:
- The defendant had a duty of care, or a responsibility to act in a specific manner, such as following the rules of the road or conducting proper maintenance on equipment in a factory.
- The defendant breached their duty or failed to conduct themselves responsibly.
- The defendant’s actions directly caused the accident, resulting in your injuries.
- You suffered damages as a result.
How Long do You Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in Lubbock?
Most claims never make it to court because the case compiled by a law firm is strong enough to prompt a realistic settlement offer from the insurance company. However, a lawsuit may be necessary in some cases to obtain a fair financial recovery.
Texas law limits how long you have to file a lawsuit in a personal injury case, including those with catastrophic injuries. Your catastrophic injury lawyer serving Lubbock will ensure that your case meets all deadlines.
Get a Free Case Evaluation with Our Law Firm
When you are searching for a law firm to handle your claim, finding a good fit is essential. Your law firm should have experience with catastrophic injury cases. Our catastrophic injury team looks to your present and future needs and your family’s well-being.
D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ offers free case evaluations so that you can tell us about your injury. The evaluation will also tell you about our team and what we can do to fight for financial recovery for you and your family. Contact us today to begin your initial consultation.
