People suffer catastrophic injuries in a variety of incidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, workplace accidents, medical malpractice, and more. However, Virginia’s laws outline your right to recover compensation if the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence.
To prove negligence and file a personal injury claim, it’s important to seek legal representation from an experienced personal injury lawyer. As showcased by our case results, at Tronfeld West & Durrett we have over 50 years of experience handling personal injury cases in Virginia, and we can help you pursue the compensation you need.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is legally defined as a severe injury that has a long-term or permanent impact on a person’s life, significantly affecting their ability to perform daily activities or maintain gainful employment. In legal terms, these injuries often require extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, and ongoing care. Catastrophic injuries are typically characterized by their severity and the profound impact they have on the victim’s quality of life.
Unlike minor injuries that heal over time, catastrophic injuries often lead to permanent disabilities, chronic pain, or significant decreases in quality of life. Victims may need ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and might be unable to return to work or perform everyday activities independently. Given the complexity and severity of these cases, they require a thorough understanding of both medical and legal issues to ensure that victims receive the full compensation they deserve.
For answers to your questions with a catastrophic injury serving Newport News, call:
800-321-6741
What Kinds of Injuries Are Considered Catastrophic?
Catastrophic injuries include many types of severe physical traumas that have profound and lasting effects on the victim’s life. Here are some common types of catastrophic injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries: These injuries can result in long-term cognitive, physical, and emotional impairments. Victims may experience memory loss, reduced motor skills, and personality changes, all of which can drastically affect their daily lives and ability to work.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifelong medical care, physical therapy, and adjustments to living arrangements to accommodate new mobility challenges.
- Severe burn injuries: Burns can cause extreme pain, extensive scarring, and disfigurement. Treatment often involves multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and long-term rehabilitation to manage pain and restore function.
- Amputations: The loss of a limb not only affects a person’s physical capabilities but also has significant emotional and psychological impacts. Victims may need prosthetics, rehabilitation, and counseling to adjust to their new circumstances.
- Internal injuries: Injuries to internal organs can have severe, long-lasting health implications. These injuries often require emergency surgery, intensive care, and long-term monitoring and treatment.
- Multiple fractures: Severe fractures can lead to chronic pain, mobility issues, and the need for prolonged rehabilitation. Complex fractures might require multiple surgeries and can result in permanent disabilities.
As your personal injury attorneys, we will thoroughly assess the full extent of your catastrophic injuries to ensure your claim accurately reflects the damages and suffering you’ve experienced.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Unfortunately, these injuries often result from incidents involving negligence, recklessness, or intentional harm. Here are some typical causes of catastrophic injuries:
- Motor vehicle accidents: High-speed collisions, truck accidents, and motorcycle crashes are leading causes of catastrophic injuries. The sheer force of impact in these accidents can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other severe conditions.
- Medical malpractice: Errors during surgical procedures, misdiagnoses, and improper treatments can lead to catastrophic injuries. These can have lifelong impacts on the patient’s health and require extensive medical care to manage.
- Slip and fall accidents: Severe falls, particularly those from significant heights or onto hard surfaces, can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fractures.
- Sports and recreational activities: High-impact sports, diving accidents, and other recreational activities can lead to serious injuries, especially when proper safety measures are not followed.
- Violent acts: Assaults, shootings, and other violent acts can result in catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
By identifying the causes and understanding the nature of these injuries, we can better navigate the legal process to help you seek the compensation you need to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Click to contact us today
How Can Our Attorneys Effectively Handle Catastrophic Injury Cases in Newport News?
If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury in Newport News, you need a personal injury lawyer who has experience handling these types of cases. In fact, establishing liability in catastrophic injury cases can be complex and requires a deep understanding of Virginia’s law and the medical issues involved in it.
Our attorneys leverage their expertise to build a compelling case by meticulously gathering evidence and thoroughly exploring each legal avenue. We work closely with you to fully understand the extent of your injuries and include medical experts and other professionals in the equation to build strong cases.
So, to arm you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions during this critical time, here we’ll explore the legal options available to you and the types of damages you may be entitled to recover after a catastrophic injury in Newport News.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Your Legal Options Following a Serious Injury in Newport News
Since catastrophic injuries often result in long-term disability or impairment, the emotional and financial costs related to ongoing medical care and rehabilitation make it very important to recover a compensation amount that fully indemnifies you for your injuries.
Virginia law provides several avenues for legal recourse to catastrophic injury victims. After a catastrophic injury in Newport News, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Alternatively, you may be eligible for a settlement through insurance claims.
In both cases, it’s crucial to consult with a legal expert to determine the best course of action for your specific circumstances.
Understanding Contributory Negligence
Additionally, it’s important to note that Virginia follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, as outlined in the Virginia Code § 8.01-58. This means that if you are found to be even 1% at fault for the accident that caused your injury, you may be barred from recovering any damages. This makes it even more important to work with a team capable of building a strong case to prove the other party’s negligence.
Also, it’s important to remember that according to the Virginia Code § 8.01-243, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years, so you have a limited window to act in order to demand justice.
Recovering Damages After a Catastrophic Injury in Newport News
In personal injury cases, damages are the monetary compensation you can recover for the losses you have suffered as a result of your injury. These are often related to medical treatments and loss of earning capacity, but the truth is many cases require for an in-depth review of these damages to accurately cover all you need to recover.
According to Virginia’s law, you can recover the following types of damages:
Medical expenses
Beyond the immediate medical bills, this category includes a broad range of healthcare costs. From initial emergency room visits to ongoing rehabilitation and even future medical needs, a personal injury lawyer can meticulously account for all these costs to ensure you’re not financially burdened by your recovery.
Lost wages
The impact of a catastrophic injury often extends to your professional life, disrupting your income stream. Lost wages aren’t merely calculated from the days or weeks you’ve been absent from work: they also consider any diminished earning capacity in the future caused by the long-term consequences of the injury.
Pain and suffering
This is perhaps the most intangible category, and thus the more difficult to calculate. Pain and suffering quantify the physical discomfort and emotional distress you’ve endured, translating your suffering into a monetary value. While no amount can truly compensate you, this damage aims to offer some form of relief.
Loss of enjoyment of life
Imagine being an avid hiker who can no longer scale a mountain or a musician unable to strum a guitar—this category seeks to compensate for the joyous activities your injury has robbed you of. It acknowledges that life’s value isn’t solely based on economic loss but also on the quality of your lived experiences.
Loss of consortium
Often overlooked, this type of damage addresses the emotional and relational toll your injury may have taken on your spouse or partner.
As every case is unique, your lawyer will help you calculate the real impact of all of the damages related to the accident in order to claim the right amount of financial compensation. We are here to advise you on the realistic number you can put on your claim to make sure your claim is not dismissed from insurance companies.
Newport News Catastrophic Injury Attorneys: Maximizing Your Recovery
A catastrophic injury doesn’t just affect you; it impacts your family, your livelihood, and your future. However, armed with the right legal team and a thorough understanding of Virginia law, you can navigate this difficult period with confidence and security.
After a catastrophic injury in Newport News, our personal injury attorneys can help you not just identify but also maximize the damages you’re entitled to. We employ a professional approach, combining effective negotiation tactics with in-depth legal research and evidence-gathering processes.
If you are ready to recover the compensation you need to move forward with your life, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case.
Call or text 800-321-6741 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form