If you suffer a catastrophic injury in a preventable accident in California, hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you during the claims process can alter your future for the better. Catastrophic injuries change lives. Before trusting an insurance company with your claim – which will likely try to underpay you – contact an Orange County catastrophic injury attorney to protect your rights and best interests.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is a serious injury that will affect the victim in a significant and/or permanent way. A catastrophic injury may have long-lasting physical, emotional and financial effects, such as the inability to earn a living wage after the accident due to a permanent disability. These injuries often require extensive (and expensive) medical care.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Incidents such as motor vehicle collisions, severe falls, workplace disasters, construction accidents, wildfires, dog attacks, medical malpractice and acts of violence may all result in catastrophic injuries in California.
Examples of these injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Permanent brain damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis (paraplegia, quadriplegia)
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Organ damage
- Loss of an important bodily function
- Vision or hearing loss
- Scarring and disfigurement
- The loss of a fetus
- Injuries that are ultimately fatal
California law technically does not have a specific definition for “catastrophic injury.” However, it is generally agreed to refer to a severe injury that causes long-term disability, debilitation or loss of quality of life.
Damages Connected to Catastrophic Injuries
If you suffer a catastrophic injury in any type of accident in California, it is important to fully understand how your diagnosis will affect you, both now and in the future. A comprehensive list of your damages can allow you to calculate the true value of your injury claim.
Common economic losses associated with catastrophic injuries are:
- Emergency or intensive care
- Lengthy hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Therapies and rehabilitation
- Around-the-clock or ongoing care
- Medical devices and equipment
- Disability accommodations
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Lost wages and lost ability to earn
- Lost value of household services
Non-economic or intangible damages can include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Chronic pain
- Mental health disorders
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Diminished quality or enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
You are under a time limit to file a claim that seeks financial compensation for a catastrophic injury in California. Under §335.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure, you must take legal action against a defendant within two years of the accident or of injury discovery.
How to Ensure Justice After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury in California
Legal action after a catastrophic injury can provide you or your injured loved one with the monetary relief needed during an incredibly difficult time. However, it is common for insurance companies to underpay claimants for catastrophic injuries. They know how much these cases are truly worth, and will try to diminish payouts to protect their own profits.
It is critical to protect your future by hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer in Orange County to represent you during the claims process. An attorney will accurately determine how much your claim is worth. Then, your lawyer will seek maximum compensation by demonstrating all the tangible and intangible ways in which your long-term injury will impact you.
You can count on an attorney to aggressively fight for fair case results for you – including taking your catastrophic injury case to court, if necessary, for justice. In the meantime, you can focus on rebuilding your life and looking toward the future.