Mendez and Sanchez - Catastrophic Injury Lawyers in Alhambra, California

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Simple accidents happen daily. In some cases the consequences aren't that simple, though. Individuals may slip and fall down a single step or a whole flight of stairs, especially when railings are inadequate or defective. Reckless drivers cause injuries when they crash into someone else's vehicle. Simple accidents aren't a major problem as long as individuals leave with only minor bumps and bruises. If you sustain major or catastrophic injuries, however, you may deal with pain, disabilities, and financial losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly everyday accidents sometimes result in long-lasting medical care, ongoing medical bills, lost income, and unexpected disabilities. When someone else causes or contributes to your injury, that person should cover your damages. However, negligent individuals or entities do not always step up and take responsibility for their actions. Therefore, it's up to you and an Alhambra catastrophic injury lawyer to do what's necessary to make them pay.

What Are Common Catastrophic Injuries?

Federal law considers any permanent injury preventing a person from working as catastrophic. Yet, some injuries happen more than others. Some common types of catastrophic injuries include:

• Severe burns are not just really painful, but they can also be traumatic and produce life-long physical and psychological pain. Burns are categorized as catastrophic when they cover much of the body and require reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, and in some cases a medically induced coma to heal. 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 severe car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are classified as catastrophic typically mean that a victim suffers from cognitive issues, like loss of memory and ability to focus; physical problems, like impaired coordination and balance and loss of motor functioning; hearing issues; vision problems; and behavioral problems, like depression, anxiety, and aggression. In situations with serious brain injuries, victims might experience a coma, a vegetative state, or death.
• Spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic because of how vital the spine is to the human body's operation. A traumatic spinal cord injury can occur because of a sudden blow to the spine during a car crash or slip and fall. A catastrophic spinal cord injury often causes long-term 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.
• Severe orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring several surgeries are also classified as catastrophic. A crushed bone or several fractures most often occurs when force or pressure is placed on a body part. In some cases these kinds of injuries are due to being caught in between two heavy objects in a car crash or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are extremely painful, might require multiple surgeries, and run the risk of long-lasting problems.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is usually a result of a major accident. An amputation often can not be fixed and might put the person's life at risk. Amputations are less common than a lot of other catastrophic injuries, but when they do occur it typically means a permanent disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
• Long-term vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant problem for those who suffer these kinds of injuries. For this reason, vision and hearing loss are categorized as catastrophic. When a person 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 receive 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:

• Current 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 income and lost earning capacity to compensate catastrophic injury victims who can not return to work or pursue future employment
• Home modification costs to make a home more accessible for someone with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, as well as constructing a main floor living area for those that can not use stairs
• Expenses for replacement services a household has to use for activities 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
• Emotional pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of consortium with a spouse
• Punitive damages in extreme cases of gross negligence or intentional harm

How Can an Experienced Lawyer Help My Case?

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 a critical source of funding for future expenses related to the injury. Adding insult to injury, insurance providers use every strategy in their playbook to protect their bottom line and avoid paying claims.

Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that require extra resources and experienced lawyers. Experienced catastrophic injury lawyers do not only submit paperwork, they advocate for you and your loved one every step of the way.

Examples of how catastrophic injury lawyers assist their clients include:

• Investigating a case to identify all the facts
• Building a solid case against the opposition
• Consulting with professionals that help raise value to a claim
• Securing valuable witness testimony
• Negotiating with insurance providers
• Bringing a case to trial when settlement is not an option
• Negotiating to lower medical expenses when a top settlement offer is received

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their loved ones physically, psychologically, and financially. Contact our experienced Alhambra catastrophic injury attorneys to see if we can help you get the compensation you are entitled to.

If a negligent person or company causes catastrophic injuries to you or a family member, you must take immediate actions to protect your legal rights. At Mendez & Sanchez, we always fight hard to recover damages for our clients, and we 'd like to determine if we can assist you.

OUR PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS IN ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA, ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY TO TAKE YOUR CALL. FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, CALL US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.