Lynchburg, Virginia Catastrophic Injuries Lawyer
Any type of injury can cause a disruption in someone’s life. When that injury is catastrophic and debilitating, however, it can turn your whole world upside down. Medical costs can easily exceed six or even seven figures, victims often have to miss several weeks or months from work (if they are ever able to return to work at all), and they must live with the ongoing affects of a permanent injury. When a serious and catastrophic injury is caused by the negligent actions or omissions of another party, victims deserve to be fully compensated.
At the Straw Law Firm, PLLC, we understand the major physical, emotional, and financial toll catastrophic injuries take on victims and their families, and our goal is to make the legal process as smooth and seamless as possible. We work closely with our clients, providing the strong personalized representation they need and deserve. We are responsive, compassionate, straightforward, and down to earth, and we always adhere to the highest ethical standards.
We have extensive knowledge of personal injury law, and we have a successful track record representing clients in Virginia with even the most complex injury cases. We routinely go up against well-funded adversaries such as large insurance companies, and we are not afraid to take a case to trial when necessary. Our firm has the knowledge, skills, resources, and dedication to aggressively pursue full and fair compensation on behalf of each client we serve.
What Causes Catastrophic Injuries?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), unintentional injuries are the third leading cause of death in United States. More than 150,000 Americans are killed each year by an unintentional injury. Countless more sustain serious and catastrophic injuries from these types of incidents. There are numerous events that result in severe injuries, some of the most common include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Motor vehicle crashes and other traffic-related incidents are among the leading causes of catastrophic injuries. Examples may include car accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents. The impact of higher impact crashes can leave those involved with serious and debilitating health conditions.
- Premises liability accidents: Tens of thousands of serious injuries occur each year when individuals are on the property of another party. Events that cause these types of injuries may include slip and fall accidents, swimming pool accidents, elevator and escalator accidents, animal attacks, fires and explosions, and assaults that happen because of negligent security. When a property owner or caretaker does not take reasonable steps to keep invited visitors protected from dangerous conditions or adequately warn them of existing hazards, they may be liable for the injuries that occur.
- Medical malpractice: When someone receives treatment from a health professional, they have the right to expect competent care. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Common examples of medical malpractice may include failure to diagnose, misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, surgical errors, medication errors, and many others.
- Nursing home neglect and abuse: Seniors who live in nursing facilities also have the right to receive competent care. Sadly, aging demographics, staffing shortages, industry consolidation, and other factors have resulted in substandard care in many of the nation’s nursing homes. When a facility resident suffers a severe and catastrophic injury due to negligence or abuse, victims and their loved ones may have a right to compensation.
- Defective products: Countless new products come on the market each year, and many of them are not properly vetted. If a product causes serious injury to a consumer through normal use, the product designer, manufacturer, supplier, and/or distributor may be responsible for the injuries.
Catastrophic injuries are those that result in a fatality or leave the victim with a severe and most often permanent health condition. In a large number of cases, victims are unable to return to their previous jobs or participate in any type of gainful activity at all.
Some of the most common examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Paralysis
- Blindness and Deafness
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Severe Fractures/Broken Bones
- Amputations/Loss of Limbs
- Severe Burn Injuries
- Disfigurement
Damages in Virginia Catastrophic Injury Cases
Severe injuries can cost victims and their families and a number of ways. As mentioned earlier, medical bills alone can put households on the edge of insolvency, and if the injured party is one of the breadwinners in the family, the situation can result in financial hardship. Recoverable compensation for these types of injuries can be divided into two general categories:
- Economic Damages: These are quantifiable losses that result from the underlying incident. Examples may include hospitalization costs, cost for surgeries and other medical treatment, rehabilitation costs, ongoing medical costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, funeral and burial costs (in the case of a wrongful death), and damage to the victim’s personal property.
- Non-Economic Damages: These are intangible losses that are more difficult to assign a dollar figure to. Examples may include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment, loss of consortium, and disfigurement.
In rare cases in which the actions of the responsible party were especially egregious, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and help deter them and others from similar acts in the future. In Virginia, punitive damages are capped at $350,000.
Pursuing a catastrophic injury claim in Virginia is more challenging than in most other states because of this state’s “contributory negligence” legal standard. Under contributory negligence, an injured party can be barred from recovering damages if they are found to be even 1% at fault for the underlying event that caused the injury. For this reason, it is essential to get an experienced personal injury attorney involved as early as possible, so your right to recover just compensation can be protected.
Speak with a Seasoned Forest, VA Catastrophic Injury Attorney
A serious and catastrophic injury is a life-altering event, and if the injury resulted from someone else’s negligence, you need skilled legal counsel in your corner advocating forcefully for your rights and interests. At the Straw Law Firm, we handle all of the complicated legal tasks, so you can focus on your recovery. We fight hard for just compensation, and we explore every potential legal avenue to help ensure that those responsible for your injuries are held fully accountable.
Call our office today at (434) 595-3581 to schedule a free initial consultation.
We accept all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you only pay attorney fees if we win your case
