Some injuries can fundamentally change the course of your life. They can inflict excruciating pain, keep you out of work, and prevent you from participating in your life. If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury in an Orange County, California accident, you deserve to be compensated for your suffering. The experienced Orange County catastrophic injury lawyers at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian are ready to help you get the most compensation possible.
Since 1990, Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian has been a passionate advocate for catastrophically injured accident victims in Orange County, CA. We’re nationally-acclaimed California litigators with a proven ability to take on powerful corporations and win big on behalf of our deserving clients. Our results speak for themselves – with billions in benefits, settlements, and jury awards recovered.
Call our Orange County law office in Newport Beach to discover the considerable benefits of putting our award-winning legal team in your corner. We offer a free consultation and work on contingency, so reach out to get started today.
Why Choose Us?
- We have a long track record of success, with over $1 billion recovered on behalf of our clients.
- We have spent over 30 years representing personal injury and catastrophic injury clients.
- Our attorneys are not afraid to go to trial, when necessary.
- You will benefit from frequent communication with your lawyer – not an assistant.
- We take catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fees unless you win.
The Importance of Hiring a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Orange County
While a personal injury lawyer can benefit you in many ways during any type of case, it is especially important to use legal representation if you have been catastrophically injured in an accident in Orange County. You and your family will most likely have many years of related medical expenses, lost wages and disability from the severe injury. Do not risk settling for less than you deserve with an insurance company due to self-representation.
An experienced catastrophic injury lawyer can help you by providing high-quality legal services, such as:
- Evaluate your case and offer honest and dependable legal advice.
- Investigate the accident to determine fault and liability.
- Search for and discover evidence to support your claim.
- Accurately calculate the potential value of your past and future damages.
- Negotiate with an insurance claims adjuster on your behalf to advocate for fair compensation.
- File a lawsuit, if necessary, and handle complex legal procedures.
- Work with hired experts, such as medical experts and rehabilitation professionals.
The services provided by a catastrophic injury lawyer in Orange County will be tailored to your unique needs and case goals. Throughout your claim, you can have peace of mind knowing that an experienced legal advocate is fighting for justice and optimal results on your behalf. You can rest and focus on recuperating from a catastrophic injury while a qualified attorney handles the rest.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injuries, by definition, have a significant and profound impact on a person’s life. They are severe, debilitating, and painful. In many cases, but not all, catastrophic injuries are permanent or permanently change an important aspect of a person’s life.
Any injury, if it’s severe enough, can potentially be considered catastrophic. This is particularly true if it results in the temporary or permanent loss of cognitive ability, mobility, or another bodily function. Additionally, if you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party, you can speak with one of our Orange County wrongful death lawyers.
Catastrophic injuries typically include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Severe burns
- Amputation
- Severely broken bones
- Multiple fractures
- Crush injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Loss of hearing or eyesight
- Paralysis
- Death
At Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian, our Orange County personal injury lawyers have been advocating for catastrophically injured clients for more than 33 years. Call us to find out how we can help you.
What’s My Orange County Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?
Catastrophic injuries can be costly. If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury because of another person’s negligence or intentionally harmful actions, you may reserve the right to file a legal claim for damages.
Our catastrophic injury attorneys in Orange County can help you seek compensation for:
- Medical bills: current and future estimated necessary health care costs, including rehabilitation, physical therapy, surgeries, medications and assistive devices.
- Lost wages: compensation for lost income and potential future earnings if the catastrophic injury prevents the victim from working or reduces earning capacity.
- Disability: long-term or permanent disability, such as cognitive impairment or loss of an important bodily function.
- Disfigurement 0r scarring: any permanent physical scars or disfigurement suffered by the victim that impact quality or enjoyment of life.
- Emotional distress: the mental, psychological and emotional effects of a catastrophic injury, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Pain and suffering: physical pain endured by the victim, both during the accident and due to long-term impairment or chronic pain in the future.
- Loss of consortium: compensation for the loss of care, support, intimacy and companionship that the victim’s family members may experience due to the catastrophic injury.
- Funeral and burial expenses: in cases where catastrophic injury results in death, the family may seek compensation for reasonable funeral and burial costs.
The value of your catastrophic injury case will depend on the type of injury you’ve suffered, the type and extent of medical treatment you’ll require, your age, and how your life has changed (and will continue to change) because of your injury.
Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian will work closely with medical professionals and other experts as we build and calculate what your catastrophic injury case is worth. We’ll work tirelessly to get you a result that offsets your financial losses and makes up for the excruciating suffering you’ve endured.
What Causes Catastrophic Injuries in Orange County?
In California, an individual could suffer a life-altering catastrophic injury in a wide range of accidents and circumstances. These injuries can arise at work, on the road, at a business or right at home. Catastrophic injuries can result from any act of negligence or intentional misconduct, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- Assaults
The attorneys at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian have the resources and experience to handle all types of personal injury claims. No matter what kind of accident or incident catastrophically injured you or a loved one, contact us to discuss your legal options in detail. We can help you hold one or more negligent parties responsible.
Proving Negligence in a Catastrophic Injury Claim
The legal definition of negligence is the failure to behave with the same level of care that a reasonable and prudent person would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances. Both actions and omissions can constitute negligence. To hold a person or party liable (legally and financially responsible) for a catastrophic injury in Orange County, your lawyer must provide compelling evidence of the four fundamental elements of negligence:
- Duty of care: a legal obligation owed by the alleged wrongdoer (defendant) regarding the safety or health of the injured party (plaintiff).
- Breach of the duty of care: proof that the defendant failed to act as a reasonable person would have in the same situation, meaning his or her conduct fell below the standard of care expected.
- Causation: evidence that the defendant’s actions were the actual or legal cause of the injury; in other words, the catastrophic injury was foreseeable or would not have occurred but for the defendant’s negligence.
- Damages: proof that the plaintiff suffered actual damages in the accident, which may be physical, financial or emotional in nature.
Although negligence is the cornerstone of most personal injury claims in California, it may also be possible to bring a lawsuit on different legal grounds. For example, if you were injured by a defective product, the manufacturer may be held strictly liable or liable due to a breach of warranty. Discuss your specific case with one of our attorneys for more details about your legal options.
What to Do After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury in Orange County, CA
Taking the right steps after a serious injury accident in Orange County can help you protect yourself physically and financially. If you can, take the following actions:
- Seek medical care. It’s important to seek immediate medical treatment after any accident or act of violence in Orange County. Prompt care can help to limit the extent of your catastrophic injury and support a future claim for damages.
- Notify the authorities. Report the accident to the police, as catastrophic injuries typically require law enforcement notification. You may also need to tell an employer, supervisor, property owner or site manager.
- Document the accident. Take photographs while you are still at the scene of the accident, including pictures of your injuries. Gather the information of everyone involved in the accident and any witnesses.
- File a claim. Call your insurance company to report your injuries and file a claim. If someone else is at fault for your catastrophic injuries, your insurer will hold that party responsible. Do not give a recorded statement or admit fault during an insurance company investigation.
- Contact a catastrophic injury lawyer. Before accepting an insurance settlement, contact an attorney in Orange County to discuss your case. You may be entitled to more financial compensation than the insurance company is offering.
It’s important to seek immediate medical treatment after any accident or act of violence in Orange County. Prompt care can help to limit the extent of your catastrophic injury and support a future claim for damages.
Do not delay in seeking legal advice from an attorney after suffering a catastrophic injury in Orange County. A lawyer will protect your rights through every step of the recovery process.
Schedule a Free Case Assessment With Our Award-Winning Orange County Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today
Call Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian for immediate legal assistance if you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury in an Orange County accident. Our Orange County catastrophic injury lawyers can handle every aspect of your fight for compensation, giving you the time and opportunity to need to focus on healing.
You have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit in California, so reach out to our award-winning California trial attorneys for a free consultation today.