A serious accident can leave you with lifelong injuries that impact every aspect of your life. The reality you knew before the accident may be permanently changed as a result of the injuries you suffered. While there is no good news associated with catastrophic injuries, you do have a legal right to full compensation when you prove that someone else was responsible for what happened to you. Our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers at Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys will help you at every step of the way of your personal injury lawsuit.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is one that has a severe impact on your life, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Severe fractures
- Burns
Catastrophic injuries will usually result in some sort of permanent disability. Your life will likely never be the same after suffering such an injury. You may require extensive rehabilitation, which may not lead to a full recovery. Catastrophic injury victims often need lifelong care, and they are often no longer able to work. These injuries will have significant financial and non-economic costs.
Immediate Steps To Take After an Injury
Your medical situation is the most important concern after a catastrophic injury. When you have been severely hurt, it is essential that you obtain all the medical support you need. Follow up on all medical appointments and take all medications prescribed to you. The more help that you receive at the early stages and the more that you adhere to your medical care, the better chance you have of making the fullest recovery possible. Unfortunately, catastrophic injuries are likely to leave you with lasting effects for the rest of your life.
You should contact an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as possible. Your injury could likely lead to significant financial costs—costs that you could recoup if you show that someone else was to blame for the accident. Your catastrophic injury lawyer will fight for your legal right to full compensation, including both your economic and non-economic losses. The legal process can take a considerable amount of time, so it is vital that you begin as soon as possible, regardless of when you file your claim.
Documenting Your Injury and Incident
While there is not much that is within your power when you are dealing with a serious injury, you can and should do everything possible to document both what happened to you and the aftermath. If you have any evidence that could show legal responsibility for your accident, it is vital that you provide it to your attorney as soon as you hire them. In addition, you should also take steps to document your financial losses and your experience after the accident, as you would be eligible for full compensation for everything that you have endured.
If you are not able to document your injury on your own, have a trusted family member do so. The more information you can give your attorney, the more quickly they will be able to get to the bottom of your case and help you take legal action.
Understanding Your Legal Rights
Regardless of whether you have suffered a moderate or severe accident injury, The concept that guides your legal rights is always the same. You can receive full compensation for your injuries when you prove that someone else was negligent. That said, your legal rights are not established immediately after an accident. You are the one who has the burden of proof to gather and submit evidence to either an insurance company or a jury that proves that someone else was at fault.
Once you are able to prove negligence, you then have the right to be paid for all of the damages you have suffered, regardless of whether they are actual economic losses or more subjective non-economic injuries. You can be compensated for every dollar you have lost and every bit of pain and discomfort you have experienced.
How a Lawyer Helps After You Have Suffered a Catastrophic Injury
When you have suffered a catastrophic injury, you may be dealing with an insurance company in some capacity. You would either file a claim directly with the insurance company or a lawsuit against the responsible party in court. If you have opted for the latter, the insurance company would be the one defending your case.
A catastrophic injury lawyer’s job is to help you maximize the value of your claim. Your damages are more than just a number. These are the actual losses you have suffered, and you are entitled to be compensated for them. A catastrophic injury lawyer would work with expert witnesses and review your situation to help you know how much to ask for in a claim or lawsuit.
Your attorney would investigate the accident and build the case you need to get a settlement.
They would then spearhead the legal process in which you are seeking compensation, filing a claim or lawsuit on your behalf and either negotiating a settlement or trying your case in court.
Reach Out to an Experienced Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer
Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys understands what you are going through because we have a long track record of helping injured clients like you. We listen to you before we help you fashion a comprehensive legal strategy to get every dollar you deserve. You can schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys by sending us a message through our website or by calling us today at 910-405-7751.
