If you suffered a severe injury in an accident in Central Texas that was caused by someone else’s negligence, the catastrophic injury attorneys at Burch Law Firm can help. We have extensive experience handling personal injury claims involving catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries dramatically change victims’ lives. They also significantly impact the lives of their loved ones. Catastrophic injuries usually require extensive medical care and rehabilitation, relearning basic skills, and making major life changes. All of this can create a financial burden for a family.
You’ll need all the financial resources available to help you meet this challenging time in your life. If you or your loved one has sustained severe injuries in a truck accident, car accident, or other personal injury incident, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in New Braunfels.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
In Texas, a catastrophic injury means a serious injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes:
- Serious permanent disfigurement
- Protracted loss or impairment of a bodily organ or member
- Death
Severe injuries can impact every facet of the victim’s life. Many catastrophic injury victims suffer life-threatening injuries that require intensive medical care. Victims may have a permanent disability that prevents them from ever working again. The financial impact of a catastrophic injury can devastate a family. Additionally, victims may suffer from debilitating chronic pain that decreases their quality of life. Victims’ relationships with loved ones may suffer due to these challenges.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Often, someone else’s negligence causes catastrophic injuries. Victims may suffer a catastrophic injury in:
- Car accidents – According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 2,098 car accidents occurred in Comal County in one recent year. These crashes resulted in 86 suspected serious injuries and 20 deaths. A New Braunfels car accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation following a serious accident.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcyclists do not have the benefit of a steel frame and other safety features that are common in other types of vehicles. For this reason, many motorcycle accidents result in serious injuries.
- Truck accidents – The Texas Department of Transportation reports that 32,562 truck crashes occurred throughout the state in one recent year. 184 of these crashes occurred in Comal County. If you were injured in a truck accident, our New Braunfels truck accident lawyers can launch an investigation into who and what caused the crash.
- Dog Bites – Dog bites can leave behind permanent scars, both physically and emotionally. A personal injury claim may help compensate you for the physical harm you have suffered.
- Premises liability and slips and falls – Slips and falls and other injuries that occur on others’ property can sometimes lead to devastating head injuries, broken bones, or other catastrophic injuries.
- Pedestrian accidents – Pedestrians often suffer life-altering injuries when vehicles hit them.
- Oil field accidents – Oil fields can be dangerous areas to work in. Explosions and fires can break out, putting workers in extreme danger. Workers can also fall from significant heights, leading to crush injuries.
If you sustained injuries in any of these accidents, contact Burch Law Firm. Our catastrophic accident lawyers can investigate who is responsible for your injuries and demand maximum compensation.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries
The following types of injuries are usually considered catastrophic:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Severe brain injuries can have a lasting impact on a victim’s life and result in:
- Memory loss
- Cognitive decline
- Paralysis
- Loss of motor skills
- Seizures
- Reduced language skills
- Visual changes
- Mood swings
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, reach out to our catastrophic injury lawyers for help.
Amputations
Motor vehicle accidents sometimes result in amputation or a crushed limb. These serious injuries can affect a victim’s ability to earn a living and their daily life. These injuries may also cause intense physical and psychological pain. Our car accident attorneys in Central Texas can help you recover compensation following a serious accident that led to amputation.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can result in permanent loss of bodily function below the site of injury. Some spinal cord injuries can cause partial or complete paralysis. In other cases that do not involve paralysis, spinal cord damage can cause chronic pain, weakness, or numbness in the body. Motor vehicle accidents, falls, or other personal injury incidents can result in spinal fractures, which are serious physical injuries that can affect a person’s ability to work, earn a living, or enjoy life.
Disfigurement
In some accidents, a victim may suffer physical injuries that can also negatively impact their appearance. Burns, broken bones, eye injuries, or head injuries can cause physical harm, as well as psychological harm. The victim may need reconstructive surgery or skin grafts to repair the damage.
Broken Bones
In a serious accident, you might suffer complex fractures that require surgery and extensive physical therapy. A personal injury claim may be able to help you recover compensation to pay for your medical care.
Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can cause nerve damage, pain, and permanent disfigurement.
If you suffered these or any other catastrophic injuries, contact our team for a free case evaluation.
What to Do After a Catastrophic Accident
Take these steps if you or a loved one is involved in a serious accident:
- Seek immediate medical treatment and keep all medical records you obtain throughout the process.
- Report the accident to authorities and request an accident report when it is prepared.
- Gather evidence at the accident scene by taking pictures of the vehicles and hazards involved and requesting information from the at-fault party.
- Keep all medical records related to your injuries.
- Follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan.
- Do not say anything to insurance companies before hiring a lawyer to advise you.
- Stay off of social media and do not say anything about the accident online.
- Contact a catastrophic accident attorney from Burch Law Firm as soon as possible so we can begin protecting your legal rights and claim.
How Compensation Is Determined in Catastrophic Accident Cases
Texas recognizes a victim’s right to receive compensation for the full extent of their damages. This includes economic damages that can be quantified, such as:
- Medical expenses for past, ongoing, and future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Repair or replacement of damaged personal property
Additionally, you can recover compensation for the non-economic damages you suffered, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement of permanent disability
- Reduced quality of life
A car accident lawyer in Central Texas from Burch Law Firm can discuss the potential value of your catastrophic injury settlement after they review the specific circumstances surrounding your claim. You can learn more when you contact us for a free case evaluation.
Differences Between Traditional Personal Injury Cases and Catastrophic Injury Cases
Not all personal injury cases are the same. Not all personal injury lawyers are equipped to handle catastrophic injury cases, which may involve:
- More extensive injuries – Catastrophic injuries may involve more extensive injuries that require ongoing care, medical specialists, and more costly medical interventions.
- Longer recovery time – Many personal injury lawyers do not recommend filing a claim until a person has reached maximum medical improvement. However, in catastrophic injury cases, you may need to begin the process before this so that you do not miss the filing deadline because the recovery time may be much longer than the statute of limitations.
- More significant damages – Catastrophic injury cases usually mean larger potential awards are at stake and that insurance companies will fight even harder to deny you the compensation you need.
How Burch Law Firm Can Help
The injury lawyers at Burch Law Firm have extensive experience with these catastrophic injury claims. We can help by:
- Identifying all potentially liable parties
- Calculating the full extent of your damages, including the lifelong expenses associated with your catastrophic injury
- Collecting evidence to establish who is responsible for your injury and the damages involved in your case
- Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf
