Mendez and Sanchez - Catastrophic Injury Attorneys in Monterey Park, California
Did You Sustain Catastrophic Injuries in an Accident?
Simple accidents occur daily. In some cases the consequences aren't that simple, however. Individuals might slip and fall down a single step or an entire flight of stairs, especially when railings are inadequate or faulty. Reckless drivers cause injuries when they crash into another person's vehicle. Simple accidents aren't a major problem as long as individuals walk away with only minor bumps and bruises. If you sustain severe or catastrophic injuries, however, you may struggle with pain, disabilities, and financial losses for the rest of your life.
Seemingly regular accidents often result in long-lasting medical care, recurring medical bills, lost wages, and unexpected disabilities. When someone else causes or contributes to your injury, that individual should cover your damages. Unfortunately, negligent people or entities don't always step up and take responsibility for their actions. Therefore, it's up to you and a Monterey Park catastrophic injury lawyer to do what's necessary to make them pay.
What are common catastrophic injuries?
Federal law considers any permanent injury preventing an individual from working as catastrophic. Yet, some injuries occur more than others. Some common kinds of catastrophic injuries include:
- Severe burns are not only acutely painful, but they can also be traumatic and produce life-long physical and psychological pain. Burns are classified as catastrophic when they cover much of the body and require reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, and in some cases a medically induced coma to recover. Even with medical care, the risk of infection because of wide, deep burns is significant.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are caused by an external force striking or penetrating the skull. These injuries are usually caused by a violent blow to the head or by an object penetrating the skull. Traumatic brain injuries commonly happen in serious car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are classified as catastrophic usually mean that a victim experiences cognitive problems, like loss of memory and ability to concentrate; physical problems, like impaired coordination and balance and loss of motor functioning; hearing issues; vision problems; and behavioral issues, like depression, anxiety, and aggression. In situations with severe brain injuries, victims may experience a coma, a vegetative state, or death.
- Spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic because of how important the spine is to the human body's operation. A traumatic spinal cord injury can happen because of a sudden blow to the spine during a car accident or slip and fall. A catastrophic spinal cord injury frequently causes permanent loss of strength, feeling, and function below the site of the injury. This can cause temporary paralysis or even lifelong paraplegia or quadriplegia. In these situations, the injured victim will likely require extensive rehabilitation and assistive devices to return to some movement and independence.
- Major orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring several surgical procedures are also categorized as catastrophic. A crushed bone or several fractures most often happens when force or pressure is placed on a body part. Oftentimes these types of injuries result from being caught in between two heavy objects in a car crash or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are extremely painful, might require several surgeries, and also run the risk of long-lasting issues.
- Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is often a result of a severe accident. An amputation often can not be repaired and might put the individual's life at risk. Amputations are less common than a lot of other catastrophic injuries, but when they do happen it usually means a lifelong disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
- Permanent vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant burden for those who suffer these kinds of injuries. For this reason, vision and hearing loss are categorized as catastrophic. When an individual no longer has the ability to hear or see, they face a lifetime of hardship, financial difficulties, pain and suffering, lost income potential, and independence.
What types of damages can I recover?
If the court rules in your favor or you reach a settlement prior to litigation, you can acquire damages for losses you (or your loved one) have sustained as a result of the catastrophic injury.
Examples of types of damages you can recover include:
- Present and future estimated medical treatment expenses, including ambulance service, emergency room visit, hospitalization, surgery, medication, ongoing treatment, and continued nursing care in a long-term care facility
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity to compensate catastrophic injury victims who can not return to work or seek future employment
- Home modification expenses to make a house more accessible for someone with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, and creating a main floor living area for those that can not use stairs
- Expenses for replacement services a household must use for tasks and labor the accident victim did prior to their injuries, such as a lawn care service, snow removal service, childcare, and a cleaning service
- Physical pain and suffering
- Psychological pain and suffering
- Decreased quality of life
- Loss of consortium with a spouse
- Punitive damages in extreme cases of gross negligence or intentional harm
How can an experienced attorney help my claim?
Catastrophic injuries are life-altering events that leave victims financially devastated. Recovering damages for catastrophic injuries is more than getting compensation for negligence, it is an essential source of financing for future expenses related to the injury. Adding insult to injury, insurance companies use every tactic in their playbook to protect their bottom line and avoid paying claims.
Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that need additional resources and experienced lawyers. Experienced catastrophic injury attorneys do not only submit paperwork, they advocate for you and your loved one every step of the way.
Examples of how catastrophic injury attorneys assist their clients include:
- Investigating a case to uncover all the facts
- Building a strong case against the opposition
- Consulting with professionals that help raise value to a claim
- Obtaining valuable witness testimony
- Negotiating with insurance providers
- Bringing a case to court when settlement is not an option
- Negotiating to reduce medical expenses when a top settlement offer is received
Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their families physically, emotionally, and economically. Get in touch with our skilled Monterey Park catastrophic injury attorneys to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
If a negligent individual or company causes catastrophic injuries to you or a loved one, you have to take immediate actions to protect your legal rights. At Mendez & Sanchez, we constantly fight hard to recover damages for our clients, and we 'd like to determine if we can help you.
OUR MONTEREY PARK PERSONAL INJURY AND CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT LAWYERS ARE AVAILABLE 24-HOUR A DAY TO TAKE YOUR CALL. FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, CALL US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.