Houston Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Why Hire Simmons & Fletcher For Your Catastrophic Injuries?

If you’ve experienced a catastrophic injury, you’re likely overwhelmed with the weight of physical, mental, financial, and emotional challenges, so initiating a legal claim can seem even more daunting than usual. At Simmons and Fletcher, we understand that, because we’ve helped many injury victims and we’ve seen the unique challenges and hurdles that they face.

However, we’ve also seen the empowering way that they’ve overcome those challenges in order to fight for their rights and—in some cases—recover compensation for the unjust damages that have been inflicted upon them.

Our firm prioritizes the well-being and rights of our clients above all else. Our dedicated and compassionate team of attorneys are heavily invested in helping the Houston community and members of that community who may be struggling—-including you and your loved ones. If we’re able to take on your case after your free case evaluation, we’ll gather evidence in your case, deal with insurance companies on your behalf, pursue a fair settlement or trial verdict, and do everything we can to support you through every step of the legal process.

Plus, we work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you owe us no attorney fees, no court costs, and none of our expenses unless we win your case. So you can get a free case review and top legal representation at no upfront cost to you!

Call Simmons & Fletcher at (713) 932-0777 to speak with an empathetic, experienced, and supportive Houston catastrophic injury lawyer. We look forward to hearing your story.

What is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is any injury that fundamentally impacts and changes your life. Often, these injuries cause permanent damage or largely impair your ability to function at your usual level, meaning your typical day-to-day activities are impossible or difficult to achieve.

Catastrophic injuries also include any injury that prevents you (or the injured party) from earning a living to support yourself or your family.

Most catastrophic injuries affect the head, brain, or spinal cord. Some of the most common examples of catastrophic injuries include amputation, severe burns, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries—however, any injury can be classified as catastrophic if the impact is severe enough.

Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when the brain is penetrated or made to move violently in the skull, resulting in bruising, damage, and even excessive bleeding. Our brains are crucial to our ability to function, so an injury to your brain can deeply (and catastrophically) affect who you are and how you behave. Your ability to speak, communicate, emotionally regulate, and clearly process information may be impacted. A TBI may also limit your physical mobility.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries happen when the spinal cord is damaged or destroyed, which may happen in a variety of personal injury accidents. When a spinal cord is injured, communication is shut down below the level of the injury—so the higher the injury, the more significant the damage. These injuries often cause partial or complete paralysis, as well as difficulties with breathing, communication, and temperature regulation.

Amputations

An amputation injury—wherein a limb is lost in a traumatic accident—is one of the most difficult catastrophic injuries to overcome, both physically and psychologically. People who lose an arm or leg often struggle with daily activities that used to seem commonplace, such as eating, bathing, getting dressed, driving, walking, and working. The inability to easily perform these tasks can cause severe emotional distress and mental anguish.

Burns

When an injury victim is severely burned by a fire or chemical source, they may experience significant tissue loss and bone damage. In these extreme cases, the injured person may suffer from impaired mobility, chronic pain, disfigurement, or amputation. Often, these burn victims end up with a permanent disability and are prevented from going back to work or resuming day-to-day activities.

Degloving Injuries

Often caused by motorcycle, bicycle, and car accidents, some degloving injuries can cause severe internal bleeding due to the degree of tissue separation from the bone. If not promptly and properly cared for, permanent injury or exsanguination may result.

Chest Injuries

Chest injuries are one of the most common severe injury types, accounting for up to 35% of trauma-related deaths in the U.S. Sometimes referred to as thoracic injuries, chest injuries are incredibly dangerous as they may directly impact the ribs and internal organs that are essential to survival. Survivors of thoracic injuries often struggle with chronic pain and other symptoms for years after the accident.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries include ruptured organs, internal bleeding, and swelling. These injuries are often not noticeable to the naked eye, and they may not even feel that painful at the start! However, internal injuries can be life-threatening if not treated right away, and even with treatment, they can lead to lifelong complications and permanent damage. The risk of these injuries is just one of the reasons that it’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately after an accident, even if you don’t feel or look injured.

What Are The Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Houston?

Any traumatic accident or event can cause a catastrophic injury, but some accidents are more severe than others. A fender bender, for instance, is less likely to cause severe or catastrophic injuries when compared to a head-on car collision. These are some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries in Houston, TX:

• Bicycle accidents;
• Car accidents;
• Commercial vehicle accidents;
• Construction accidents;
• Dog bites;
• Medical malpractice;
• Motorcycle accidents;
• Pedestrian accidents;
• Product defects;
• Slip and fall accidents;
• Truck accidents;
• Workplace accidents.

How To Prove Liability in Catastrophic Injury Cases?

In order to claim compensation after an accident, you must first prove that another party was negligent and can be held responsible for your damages. There are four essential elements to proving negligence and holding responsible parties in injury cases, which your Houston personal injury attorney will work tirelessly to prove:

• Duty of care: The liable party owed you a duty of care to protect your wellbeing.
• Breach: The liable party negligently breached that duty of care.
• Causation: This breach in duty of care directly caused your injuries.
• Damages: You’ve sustained financial, emotional, and physical damages as a result of these injuries.

What Types of Compensation Can You Seek in a Catastrophic Injury Case?

There are many types of personal injury damages that can be claimed as catastrophic injury compensation. By choosing Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., as your Houston catastrophic injury lawyer, we will try our best and fight to recover any compensation you may be due as part of your catastrophic injury settlement, which may include the following types of damages:

• Medical bills;
• Future care costs;
• Lost wages;
• Emotional distress;
• Wrongful death, in the case of a fatality.

What Is The Process For Filing a Catastrophic Injury Claim In Texas?

In Texas, adults have two years to file most personal injury lawsuits—a deadline set by the state’s statute of limitations. This two-year period usually begins at the time of your accident or on the date that you reasonably discover your catastrophic injury. If you don’t file your claim within two years of the accident, you may lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries and consequent damages. Minors have until their 20th birthday for claims other than medical expenses incurred before turning 18.

Don’t risk letting the time run on your case. Contact Simmons & Fletcher today to get your free case review with an experienced Houston catastrophic injury lawyer: (713) 932-0777.