The #1 Edwardsville Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Understanding Catastrophic Injuries

When you’re involved in motor vehicle accidents or other types of unfortunate incidents, you can suffer injury.

In most cases, these issues are mild, but there are instances when you suffer serious injuries.

The worst ones are classified as catastrophic injuries.

These injuries are characterized by their severity and profound impact on a person’s life.

Catastrophic injuries are often permanent and cannot be reversed.

Recovery is almost impossible, and the person’s life is forever altered.

In the context of car accidents, these injuries often involve the following types of injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

TBIs occur when a sudden blow or jolt to the head disrupts normal brain function.

They can lead to cognitive impairments, memory loss, personality changes, and motor skill deficits, affecting the victim’s ability to work and engage in daily activities.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, affecting mobility and requiring extensive rehabilitation and lifelong care.

Severe Burns

Car accidents can cause severe burns, leading to permanent disfigurement, nerve damage, and ongoing medical treatments such as skin grafts and surgeries.

The immense pain and suffering you experience can also lead to other psychological problems.

Amputations

Being struck by sharp objects or crushed by the car’s weight can lead to the loss of a limb.

This catastrophic injury requires significant adjustments, including prosthetic fittings, physical therapy, and psychological support.

Loss of Hearing

Car accidents can cause significant trauma to the ears, resulting in partial or complete loss of hearing.

The sudden impact or exposure to loud noises during the accident can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear, leading to hearing impairments.

Victims may experience difficulties communicating, participating in daily activities, and engaging socially.

Loss of Sight

Blunt force trauma or penetrating injuries during car accidents can cause severe damage to the eyes, resulting in partial or complete loss of vision.

Vision loss can profoundly affect a person’s independence, ability to work, and capacity to perform routine tasks.

Victims may require ongoing medical interventions such as surgeries, visual aids, and adaptive techniques to cope with the visual impairment.

Disfigurement

Facial injuries in car accidents can lead to disfigurement, scarring, and facial injuries that require extensive reconstructive surgeries and therapies.

These injuries not only affect a person’s physical appearance but also have psychological and emotional consequences, impacting self-esteem and social interactions.

Victims may experience chronic pain, difficulty eating or speaking, and long-term rehabilitation needs to restore facial function and appearance.

Other Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Car accidents are the most common cause of catastrophic injuries, but other types of incidents or situations can result in these life-altering damages.

Other types of incidents or situations include:

• Workplace accidents
• Acts of violence
• Defective products
• Medical malpractice

Workplace Accidents

Industrial accidents involving heavy machinery, falls from heights, explosions, or exposure to hazardous substances can cause catastrophic injuries.

Occupational diseases caused by prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals or substances can lead to debilitating health conditions.

Acts of Violence

Assaults, shootings, stabbings, and other acts of violence can cause catastrophic injuries.

You can suffer from gunshot wounds, severe lacerations, and head injuries.

Defective Products

Defective consumer products — including vehicles, machinery, electronics, and medical devices — can malfunction and cause catastrophic injuries to users.

Medical Malpractice

Errors or negligence by healthcare providers during surgery, childbirth, or medical treatment can cause catastrophic injuries such as nerve damage or birth injuries.

Legal Considerations for Catastrophic Injury Victims

The legal implications of catastrophic injuries from car accidents are intricate due to the substantial damages involved and the long-term consequences for victims and their families.

Successfully pursuing a legal claim for catastrophic injuries requires careful understanding and utilization of the complexities.

Medical Evidence and Expert Testimony

Establishing the extent of catastrophic injuries requires comprehensive medical evidence and expert testimony.

You may need to consult with medical professionals specializing in fields like:

• Neurology
• Orthopedics
• Neurosurgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychiatry

Medical experts play crucial roles in assessing and documenting the nature and severity of injuries.

As professionals, they can serve as expert witnesses who provide testimony regarding the impact of injuries on the victim’s life.

The medical professionals can provide prognosis for recovery, discuss necessary medical treatments, and outline long-term care needs.

These experts can also help in gathering and presenting compelling medical evidence for substantiating legal claims and securing adequate compensation from the liable party’s insurance company.

Liability Determination

Determining liability in cases of catastrophic injuries can be complex, particularly when multiple parties are involved or liability is disputed.

In workplace accidents, for example, liability may extend beyond the employer to equipment manufacturers, contractors, or third-party entities responsible for safety regulations.

In medical malpractice cases, establishing liability requires demonstrating that the healthcare provider breached the standard of care, leading to the catastrophic injury.

For car accidents, pedestrians, car manufacturers, and even government contractors can be held liable if you can prove that their negligence led to your injury.

To determine liability, your Edwardsville personal injury attorney will conduct thorough investigations, analyze evidence, and more.

Calculating Damages

Catastrophic injuries often result in significant economic and non-economic damages that extend far beyond immediate medical expenses.

Calculating damages requires a meticulous assessment of medical bills, lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, and more.

How Can Personal Injury Lawyers Help?

Having an experienced team of lawyers can give you and your family an advantage when seeking a fair settlement offer.

TorHoerman Law’s team of Edwardsville Injury Lawyers specialize in advocating for victims and their families.

We offer the following services and more to help with your personal injury case.

Conduct Thorough Investigations To Determine Fault and Liability

Catastrophic injury lawyers conduct extensive investigations to determine fault and establish who the at-fault party is.

This process often involves analyzing accident scenes, gathering physical evidence, and reconstructing events to determine how the injury occurred.

The goal is to identify all potentially liable parties, such as negligent drivers, employers, property owners, manufacturers, or healthcare providers.

As part of the investigative process, lawyers will review police reports, witness statements, and any available surveillance footage to piece together the sequence of events leading to the injury.

Lawyers also consult with accident reconstruction specialists, engineers, or forensic experts to provide insights into causation and liability.

Collaborate with Medical Professionals and Experts

In catastrophic injury cases, lawyers often work with medical professionals to understand the nature and severity of injuries.

Lawyers can arrange comprehensive medical evaluations by specialists to diagnose and document the full extent of physical injuries, cognitive impairments, and psychological trauma.

This process allows lawyers to gather evidence for the severe injury, document expert opinions on prognosis, treatment options, and long-term implications of injuries.

Lawyers obtain and review a wide scope of medical records, diagnostic reports, and treatment histories to support legal claims with empirical evidence.

Calculate Compensation Claims to Reflect the Lifetime Impact of the Injury

Your car accident lawyer will work to provide a clear numerical equivalent for the damages you suffered.

We account for the economic and non-economic damages, to be specific.

To quantify these damages, we will need to collaborate with economic experts, vocational specialists, and life care planners.

Our findings can help you present a compelling argument during settlement negotiation or trial.

Damages covered by personal injury claims include:

• Medical Expenses: Including hospitalization costs, surgeries, rehabilitation therapies, medications, assistive devices, and future medical expenses
• Lost Income and Earning Capacity: Factoring in current and future lost wages due to disability or inability to return to work
• Pain and Suffering: Compensating for physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish resulting from the severe injuries
• Long-Term Care Needs: Coverage for anticipated ongoing care costs, home modifications, and specialized assistance required for daily activities
• Disability and Impairment: Evaluating the impact of disabilities on the victim’s ability to perform tasks, participate in activities, and maintain relationships

Negotiate With Insurance Companies To Secure Settlements That Meet the Victim’s Needs

Catastrophic injury lawyers engage in negotiations with insurance companies to achieve fair settlements that adequately address the victim’s needs.

Lawyers will prepare strong settlement demands, presenting detailed documentation of damages and compelling evidence of liability to insurance adjusters.

Almost all personal injury claims are resolved at this stage.

An attorney will advocate on behalf of the victim to counteract lowball settlement offers.

Experienced lawyers can also negotiate terms and conditions that include provisions for ongoing medical care, future expenses, and financial security.

Advocate for the Victim’s Rights in Court To Achieve Fair Compensation

In cases where settlement negotiations are unsuccessful or litigation is deemed necessary, catastrophic injury lawyers advocate for the victim’s rights in court.

Lawyers will prepare litigation strategies by developing robust legal arguments, gathering evidence, and preparing witnesses for trial.

During court proceedings, lawyers aim to present a compelling case before a judge and jury that addresses the full impact of the injury and the negligence of the other party.

This process often includes cross-examining opposing witnesses and experts to challenge their testimonies.

The ultimate goal of litigation is to seek just compensation that accounts for the full extent of damages and the victim’s long-term needs.

Catastrophic injury lawyers are able to fight for justice and fair compensation on a victim’s behalf.

Lawyers work to ensure full accountability for negligent actions that led to life-altering injuries.

TorHoerman Law: Edwardsville Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has experienced catastrophic injuries from a car accident, it’s highly recommended to seek the help of an experienced Edwardsville Catastrophic Injury Lawyer.

Our team of Edwardsville Personal Injury Lawyers are sensitive to the needs of our clients and their families, and we have made it our mission to seek full and fair compensation to catastrophic injury victims.

We can provide competent legal representation tailored to your unique needs.

Our team will handle the legal process you can focus on your recovery.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to TorHoerman Law today if you’re interested in filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Contact us for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page for a free case evaluation to find out if you qualify for a personal injury claim today.