If you or your loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, you may be wondering, what do I do now? You may be facing extensive medical bills or dealing with grief over a loved one’s death. You are probably sick with worry about how you will pay for medical costs or burial costs. Or maybe you don’t know how you will survive if you can no longer work. A catastrophic injury law firm like Riley | Ersoff LLP can answer your questions and help you understand your options for seeking compensation for the harm you have suffered.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is one that severely impacts someone’s ability to enjoy life and perform everyday activities. Examples include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI),
- Spinal cord injury,
- Paralysis,
- Blindness,
- Deafness,
- Amputations,
- Severe burns,
- Chronic lung damage, and
- Other permanent physical disabilities.
Every case is highly fact-specific. Important factors are the seriousness of the treatment, whether the injury is permanent or incurable, and how severely the victim’s life is affected.
How Much Time Do I Have to Sue?
Generally, a negligence victim has two years to sue the responsible party from the time of the incident causing the harm. If someone dies as a result of a catastrophic injury, their family can bring a wrongful death claim up to two years from the date of the person’s death. In some instances, the statute of limitations is extended every time an abusive landlord fails to make repairs to a tenant’s rental home. Minor children generally have until they are 20 to file suit. However, please keep in mind that statutes of limitation are complicated and should be analyzed by competent counsel. Every case is different and the applicable statute of limitations may be different depending on the facts.
What Kinds of Compensation Could I Recover?
The purpose of personal injury claims and settlements is to make the victim or their family as whole as possible. Severe injuries can require lifelong medical treatments and astronomical bills. Compensation for these types of claims can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages. California does not place a cap on compensatory damages in personal injury cases unless they involve medical malpractice.
In a wrongful death action, compensation can include both economic and non-economic damages as well. A jury will consider such factors as the person’s age and health habits, lifestyle, level of financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and loss of companionship. Your catastrophic injury lawyer will help you determine how much compensation you are entitled to.
How Can I Get Compensation for My Injuries?
It is possible for more than one party to be liable. A negligent party might include property owners, property managers, hotels, or other businesses. California is a comparative negligence state—that means a victim who was partially at fault for their own injury can still recover from the other party for their percentage of fault.
Should I Hire a Catastrophic Injury Attorney?
If you or your loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, you should contact a catastrophic injury law firm immediately. Riley | Ersoff LLP has a team of experienced catastrophic injury attorneys that focus on landlord/tenant actions and negligence claims involving property owners, such as lead or carbon monoxide poisoning. Your catastrophic injury lawyer will know how to identify the party at fault and create a compelling case to prove their negligence. We will help you evaluate the overall cost and impact of your injury and put together the extensive proof required to show how badly your injury affected your life. Our past results include multi-million dollar settlements for our clients, and our team is not afraid to go to trial to fight for you. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.