Catastrophic injuries are exactly what they sound like; catastrophic. A word that describes the injury itself, as well as the potential effects of the accident on the injured person. While catastrophic injuries ⎯ from spinal cord injuries to broken bones and fractures ⎯ and the damage they cause can occur almost anywhere, there are some especially common causes of catastrophic injuries. These include motor vehicle accidents, like car accidents, truck accidents or motorcycle accidents.
Catastrophic injuries are also caused by defective products, or in a workplace environment like offshore oil tankers and construction sites.
Regardless of where or how you sustained injuries, the results are the same ⎯ catastrophic injuries can cause irreparable damage. At Simmons & Fletcher, P.C., our catastrophic injury lawyers put each client and their stories first. Our goal is to get you the compensation you deserve, starting with a free consultation with a Houston catastrophic injury attorney prepared to fight for you.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is a physical or mental injury to a person that results in a substantial alteration of a person’s life, well-being, and/or ability to provide for oneself. Common types of catastrophic injuries and examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Loss of Life
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Severe Burns and Other Burn Injuries
- Severe Disfigurement and/or Scarring
- Loss of hearing;
- Traumatic orthopedic injuries;
- Amputation
- Paralysis
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Wernicke’s Encephalopathy & Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
- Exsanguination
- Degloving injury
Catastrophic injuries may include any number of life-altering conditions that impact the body’s major functions and how the injured person may live. Like spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries, these serious injuries can last for years or be permanent. If you or a loved one have sustained a catastrophic injury, you need a Houston catastrophic injury attorney who has handled these types of injuries before. Call Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., and get a trusted Houston catastrophic injury attorney from a law firm near you that has been providing serious injury representation to negligence victims since 1979.
Finding Coverage When You Have Suffered a Catastrophic Injury
One of the biggest hurdles catastrophic injury victims face is how to pay for future expected costs. Texas only requires automobiles to provide 30,000 in coverage per person. Many other states require even less. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, your Houston personal injury lawyer must consider all the options, including:
- Is there a corporate defendant responsible?
- What available insurance policies and insurance claims are there?
- Was the tortfeasor working for a company at the time?
- Are there assets to which a judgment can be attached?
- Is there potential Dram Shop liability?
- Are there other responsible parties?
- Are you past the statute of limitations on personal injury?
You need to know that your Houston catastrophic injury lawyer considered all of these options, to make you feel like they have your best interests in mind. At Simmons & Fletcher, P,C., we understand that dealing with insurance companies can lead to a million questions and a million more frustrations. A personal injury attorney in Houston can take on the work of communicating with your insurance company.
In addition to coverage, a personal injury attorney or Houston catastrophic injury attorney will help you understand all your legal rights and options.
Contact us to work with a trusted law firm in Houston.
Negligence and Wrongful Death with Houston Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
If the injury occurred in any workplace due to another person or party’s negligence, we also recommend discussing your case with a work injury lawyer in Houston.
If you’re a maritime worker who sustained injuries in a maritime accident, oil rig explosion or offshore drilling accident, you should also ask questions about the Jones Act law. This law allows seamen who suffer catastrophic injuries to hold their employers liable.
Every personal injury case is unique, and every client is different. Speak with a personal injury and wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible for a free consultation and legal advice relevant to your case.
In worst cases, a vehicle accident or workplace accident (slip and fall on a construction site) occurs, resulting in fatal catastrophic injuries. If a family member or someone you love has been catastrophically injured and lost their life, you have our sincerest sympathies. If you believe that their death was caused by negligence or a negligent at-fault party, you may have a case for wrongful death. In wrongful death cases, the family can file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for loss of companionship and other damages.
We know that an injury can cost millions of dollars in expenses, which is why at-fault parties must be held responsible. Experienced catastrophic injury attorneys in Houston may also tell you what you can claim as damage, including:
- Lost wages due to time away from work;
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress;
- Diminished quality of life and/or enjoyment of life
- Medical care and future medical expenses;
- Cost of in-home care.
Future Considerations When You Suffer a Catastrophic Injury
Assuming you have a party that can be held liable for the full extent of your injury when you sustain a catastrophic injury, there are several things you must consider in resolving your case. Some things to consider are:
- Will you need a life care plan to provide for yourself?
- How will you pay for future medical costs?
- Will you require home healthcare assistance now or in the future?
- Do you qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security Disability?
- Are you required to do a Medicare set aside?
- Will your settlement payout in an annuity or a lump sum?
In addition to the above, there may be several things to consider in deciding whether you may be able to return to gainful employment in the future. For example:
- Will you have to make a career change?
- Will you ever be able to return to work?
- Will you require a work-hardening program?
- Should you submit to a functional capacity exam?
- Will you have a substantial loss in future wage-earning capacity?
- What is your work-life expectancy?
- Are you being improperly placed at maximum medical improvement?
All of the above matters may need to be addressed in your case in order to assess your future losses from a catastrophic injury. Your Houston catastrophic injury attorney must be prepared to discuss these matters with you in order to best provide for your future with the resources available.
Expert Witness Resources from a Houston Catastrophic Injury Attorney
Mental health professionals can sometimes help people cope with catastrophic injuries.
Mental health professionals can sometimes help people cope with catastrophic personal injuries. In many catastrophic injury and personal injury cases, expert testimony is critical to establishing not only the liability but also the full extent of the damages suffered. Hiring experts can run tens of thousands of dollars in many cases. If necessary, your Houston catastrophic injury lawyer must have the resources to get you evaluated by the appropriate expert witnesses to determine the full extent of your losses. Is your Houston catastrophic injury attorney prepared to go the distance?
Our Houston catastrophic injury law firm has been handling these cases since 1979. We employ 6 lawyers and over 40 staff at our firm to handle the largest of catastrophic injury cases. Some of the types of expert witnesses we often employ for our clients include:
- Life Care Planners
- Medical Expert Witnesses
- Economists
- Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Accident Reconstructionists
- Engineers
- Human Factors Experts
- Toxicologists
All of the above experts may have their place in any catastrophic injury case. You should hire a Houston catastrophic injury lawyer with the skill, expertise, and experience in handling serious injury cases. Our law firm has been trusted by injured victims nationwide since 1979 to handle these kinds of cases. Call Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. today: (713)-932-0777.
Our Personal Injury Attorneys Want to Help You
If you’re looking for an experienced Houston catastrophic injury attorney, our team has your back. We’ll do our part to get you justice and compensation. Contact us online with this form ⎯ just tell us your last name, first name, and a brief summary of your story. We’ll be following up with a
free consultation and, as a disclaimer, you don’t pay us a penny unless we win your case.
At our Houston catastrophic injury law firm, each of the personal injury attorneys works hard to help our clients every step of the way. Let us help you with your Texas catastrophic injury claim.
From Catastrophe to Compensation with Simmons & Fletcher
Catastrophic injuries can occur to anyone, and they frequently cause long-term effects. Our Houston catastrophic injury law firm is dedicated to helping people whose lives have been affected by an extreme personal injury including those sustained from medical malpractice, etc.
You can get in touch with a Houston catastrophic accident attorney today and, if we take your case, we will do our best to help you receive a just amount of compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation at (713)-932-0777.