A catastrophic injury is so severe it causes life-altering, long-lasting, or permanent bodily damage to a person. Victims who have incurred an injury this extreme are often unable to sustain gainful employment while in recovery, which could include their entire lives. Therefore, they often need a significant personal injury settlement to cover their extensive, ongoing medical expenses and loss of income.
At Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand that a catastrophic injury can have a devastating impact on your life and loved ones. If you were hurt in a preventable accident due to another person’s negligence, we encourage you to contact us today, so we can help you secure the compensation you need for your costly past, present, and future accident-related expenses.
What Can a Covington Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Do for You?
After sustaining a catastrophic injury, hiring an attorney who will advocate for your rights and best interests can help ensure you receive the compensation necessary to cover your losses. We have the legal knowledge, resources, and connections to courts and experts to establish a solid personal injury case. In addition, your attorney can handle complex legal tasks for you while you focus on healing. These include accident investigation, evidence collection, and filing claims.
After your initial consultation with one of our attorneys, we will get your case underway by doing the following:
- Analyzing and thoroughly evaluating your claim to begin building your case
- Handling your case throughout the process and protecting your legal rights
- Investigating the cause of your injuries and collecting evidence to prove liability
- Gathering your income statements, medical records, and other documentation needed to estimate your losses accurately
- Negotiating with insurance agencies on your behalf
- Taking your case to court, if necessary, to seek the compensation to which you are entitled
For a free legal consultation with a catastrophic injury lawyer serving Covington, call 800-333-9999
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Per 42 U.S.C. § 3796b, a catastrophic injury is legally defined as an injury that the direct consequences of which permanently prevent a person from performing gainful work. Considering a catastrophic injury is somewhat broadly defined, it can take many forms. However, some of the most common catastrophic injuries include the following:
- Partial or full paralysis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Multiple fractures
- Limb loss, amputation
- Severe burns
- Organ damage
- Vision or hearing loss
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Effects of a Catastrophic Injury and Recoverable Damages
Even with health insurance, catastrophic injury victims can incur massive medical bills, co-pays, and out-of-pocket costs. These can include ambulance service, emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, doctor’s visits, various therapies, testing and imaging, prescription drugs, etc.
However, the consequences of a severe injury do not stop with the physical injury itself and related medical bills. In addition, victims often seek compensation for the following losses:
Future Medical Expenses
Many catastrophic injury victims require physical therapy, rehab, medication, medical equipment, and other long-term treatments for the rest of their lives. These losses can be estimated and included in a personal injury claim.
Past and Future Loss of Income
Injury victims may miss months or years of work after a severe accident. In addition, victims who incur catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain or spine injuries, may not be able to work again or earn at the same capacity as before their accident. Therefore, the discrepancy in income can be accounted for when calculating a victim’s losses.
Scarring or Disfigurement
Scarring or disfigurement leaves a victim with lasting damage apparent to everyone. This can affect interactions with others in everyday life. It can also cause emotional distress and undermine self-confidence. Scar tissue can also be physically painful, limit movement and activities, and decrease one’s ability to live life normally. Scarring or disfigurement-related losses can be included in a personal injury claim as damages.
Physical and Emotional Pain and Suffering
It may be challenging to place a precise value on physical pain and emotional anguish, but the legal system has found ways to do so. Physical pain may not be controlled by medication, and any time motor skills are significantly impaired, victims are likely to experience a significant amount of discomfort.
Many injury sufferers may also be forced to cope with accident-related trauma for the remainder of their lives. In addition, they often struggle with mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, a victim’s physiological and psychological pain and suffering can be estimated and listed as damages in a lawsuit against a liable party.
Loss of Quality of Life, Life Enjoyment
Those who suffer permanent disabilities may find that they can no longer participate in activities and hobbies they previously enjoyed or experience the same relationship with their spouse or family members. This is a tremendous, all-encompassing loss that victims might experience and pursue compensation to cover.
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How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Kentucky?
The Kentucky personal injury statute of limitations is just one year. However, if the injury was related to a motor vehicle accident, the claimant has two years to file. This amount of time might seem significant, but you must also consider that it is helpful for the victim to have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) when filing a personal injury claim.
MMI means that the victim has recovered from a catastrophic injury to the greatest possible extent based on a doctor’s expert opinion. In extreme cases, it is possible that a victim may not be able to fully recover for the rest of their lives. Because personal injury compensation is based on injuries and losses, the victim should understand their scope before requesting payment so they can be calculated accurately.
This doesn’t mean that the victim will no longer receive medical care or that their condition won’t decline. But once they reach MMI, it will be easier to evaluate the rate at which their condition is expected to worsen. This is where a personal injury attorney becomes essential to filing a claim—to ensure every injury-related loss is accounted for and that all legal deadlines are met.
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Find Out How a Covington Catastrophic Injury Attorney Can Help
At Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the challenges of sustaining a catastrophic injury. Our attorneys have more than 400 years of legal experience collectively, and we have recovered $1 billion in settlements for our clients.
Our team will ensure you receive the funds and treatment you need for as long as you need it. Throughout your case, we will be available to provide you with guidance, support, and legal representation. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation so we can get started working on your claim and pursuing the compensation you need to heal and live your best life.
Call or text 800-333-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
