Catastrophic injuries refer to any injury that can lead to permanent injuries. Disfigurement, amputation, scarring, and permanent disabilities all fall into this category. Invisible injuries can be in this category also—chronic pain is a type of catastrophic injury. In addition to physical pain, catastrophic injuries often take an extreme emotional and mental toll on their victims and their victims’ families. People who are unable to work or resume their everyday lives tend to struggle with depression. Plus, the entire family dynamic may change.
When you or a loved one suffers one of these severe injuries due to someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior, you may be entitled to compensation. A Metairie catastrophic injury lawyer could assess the circumstances of your injury and inform you of your legal rights. A seasoned personal injury attorney could also provide a potential settlement range based on their experience with similar injuries.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Any accident can lead to a catastrophic injury. Some frequent causes include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Premises liability
- Medical malpractice
- Assaults
- Sports injuries
Culpability in these accidents may range from negligence to intentional behavior.
When determining a potential value for a claim, a Metairie catastrophic injury attorney looks at the wrongdoer’s behavior. The worse the behavior, the easier it is to prove fault. Plus, willfully wrong behavior upsets judges and can lead to larger compensation awards.
Economic Damages
When someone has a catastrophic injury, they experience various economic damages. Economic damages refer to compensation for financial losses. The losses can be direct—lost wages or medical bills, or indirect—loss in earning capacity. What makes them economic damages is the fact that these losses have a direct financial value.
For catastrophic injuries, the value of economic damages can be extremely high. Lifelong medical care can be costly. People may need caregivers or accommodation to facilitate daily living. In addition, the loss of earning capacity can easily translate to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars over a lifetime.
It can be challenging for a victim to value the lifelong cost of their injuries properly. Most people underestimate the expenses associated with lifelong medical care. They may also undervalue lost wages. A Metairie attorney who handles catastrophic injury cases could help provide a reasonable estimate of those costs.
Non-Economic Damages
Victims of catastrophic injuries may also be entitled to non-economic damages. These damages compensate for losses that are not financial. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship are some examples of non-economic damages.
There are few available remedies in the justice system. Monetary damages are the primary way the courts can try to do justice. Nothing the court can do can take away emotional distress, erase pain and suffering, or restore a spouse to their condition before an accident. However, the court can attempt to put a dollar value on those losses.
In an initial settlement offer, insurance companies often low-ball the value of these non-economic damages. However, a dedicated catastrophic injury lawyer in Metairie could collect evidence to show the extent of these harms. Generally, the more significant the injury’s impact on a person’s life, the greater the economic value of the suffering.
Meet With a Metairie Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today
Louisiana does not legally differentiate between catastrophic injuries and other types of personal injuries. The same laws govern all ranges of personal injuries. However, catastrophic injury cases require more experience than other claims.
Your attorney needs to understand the realistic lifelong expenses connected with specific types of injuries. They also need to understand the complex emotional trauma and changes that accompany these injuries. Contact a Metairie catastrophic injury lawyer to get a well-practiced, knowledgeable, and compassionate legal advocate on your side.
