If you’ve been in an accident on the road, at work, or while out in a place of business, you know how quickly an injury can throw a wrench in your day or week. Medical bills and property damage can take weeks or months to sort out for even temporary injuries. However, if you experience a catastrophic injury, your life could be changed forever, resulting in a traumatic and difficult adjustment to a new normal. In these situations, a catastrophic injury lawyer in Los Angeles could be exactly what you need to help understand the extent of your injury and losses and to fight for just compensation that can help you acclimate to life with a catastrophic injury.
Hurt in an accident and suffered a life-threatening injury? Call us 24/7 to see if you qualify for compensation.
What are Catastrophic Injuries?
In the personal injury world, not all injuries are created equal. While some are incredibly damaging but offer a path to full recovery, others are life-threatening and permanently disabling. Usually, these injuries that cause lifelong changes are known as catastrophic injuries. But how can you know which you have if every injury and person is unique? What may be debilitating for one could be livable for another.
Generally, catastrophic injuries are described as life-threatening or life-altering injuries that negatively impact your ability to live independently, perform your daily functions, or work. Your injury may require a caregiver in your home, a job change or complete exit from the workforce, or an inability to drive or perform your hobbies. These could all qualify as catastrophic.
What Kind of Catastrophic Injuries Are Most Common in Los Angeles?
With Los Angeles’s high traffic density and frequent construction, accidents can happen in many ways. From the workplace to the work site, from the crosswalk to the highway, there are so many ways Los Angeles residents could suffer catastrophic injury. At BD&J, our LA catastrophic injury attorneys most often handle cases involving:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Burn injuries
- Amputations
What Compensation Can I Be Entitled To?
By their very nature, catastrophic injuries are unbelievably costly. The financial burdens associated with a catastrophic injury can incur lifelong debt. Initial medical care following the accident is only the tip of the iceberg, and lifestyle changes can often require additional help (for a fee, of course). That’s why it’s so important to enlist the help of an LA catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. BD&J’s clients often receive compensation for:
- Initial and ongoing medical care
- Nursing, caregiving, or rehabilitative services
- Medical devices, including mobility aids
- Alterations to their home to make it accessible
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Therapy
- Loss of consortium or enjoyment of life
- Loss of income
How Do Los Angeles Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Help?
Los Angeles catastrophic injury lawyers understand the far-reaching impacts of experiencing a catastrophic injury. For thousands of BD&J clients, life is forever changed. So, it’s important to us to ensure they feel seen, understood, and protected from unnecessary financial burdens. Our catastrophic injury lawyers can help identify every possible avenue of compensation to ensure you receive the maximum amount available. We partner with experts to support your claim, investigate the accident extensively to collect evidence, and personally organize your medical records. We even provide cash advances to help you pay for bills while we’re still fighting for your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a head injury is serious?
If you suspect a head injury at all, seek medical attention right away. You’ll know if a head injury is inherently serious if you or another person experiences a loss of consciousness, persistent headache, vomiting, confusion, seizures, vision or speech changes, or leaking fluid from the ears or nose. These symptoms should be met with an immediate 911 call.
What are delayed symptoms after falling or being hit in the head?
Some symptoms do not present immediately after an accident like a fall or strike to the head. If any of these symptoms occur hours or days after an accident, seek medical help immediately. Persistent headache, vomiting, dizziness, slurred speech, vision blurring, lack of coordination, or confusion are known as delayed symptoms. Keep an eye out for these signs if you were recently involved in an accident.
What are the types of burns?
Burns don’t just happen from fire. There are four main types of burn injuries that can occur. Thermal burns are burns that occur because of heat, such as if you touch fire or the stove or are subjected to hot steam or boiling liquid. Radiation burns are those that happen if you’re exposed to prolonged ultraviolet radiation from the sun or another UV source, like a tanning bed. Radiation burns can also happen from X-ray radiation. Chemical burns happen when strong acids or solvents come into contact with your body. Electrical burns occur when a current runs through your body, like in lightning strikes or electrocution on a job site.
What are the Four C’s of burn care?
If you have a minor burn that affects just the top layers of skin, you can treat the burn yourself by applying the Fourt C’s of burn care. Cool the area, clean the area, cover the area, and comfort the area with the use of over-the-counter painkillers.
What are the four types of spinal cord injuries?
The four areas where you can be injured on your spine are the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. Each area of the spine. Cervical injuries occur in the neck area and could result in pain and loss of mobility. Thoracic injuries affect the chest and rib cage area, impacting sensory input and trunk movement. Lumbar injuries impact your lower back and could affect your bladder control or leg strength, even requiring a wheelchair. Sacral injuries typically result in reduced bowel and bladder control and sensory input issues in your feet.
Do I have lower life expectancy after a spinal cord injury?
Statistically, people who experience spinal cord injuries have a lower life expectancy than those without spinal cord injuries. According to a study from the National Institute of Health (NIH), those with complete tetraplegia lived roughly 70% of the average life expectancy and those with complete quadriplegia lived roughly 80% of the average life expectancy. These statistics are merely averages and do not mean you cannot live a full and joyful life after your accident.
How to Find an Experienced Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a wealth of catastrophic injury attorneys, but some may be better suited to your case than others. If you’ve been injured in a serious accident, you deserve to partner with the best lawyer for you so you can focus on recovery, not legal paperwork. Here are some of the best ways to identify which Los Angeles lawyers can help with your catastrophic injury case.
- Review their case results. Most attorneys will post their outcomes on their websites. You can determine which attorneys have the most experience with catastrophic injury cases and whether they fight for the maximum compensation by seeing what their results tend to be. Remember: case results on a website aren’t a guarantee for your case.
- Read over reviews. Client testimonials and reviews are some of the best ways to find out which attorneys are communicative, knowledgeable, and compassionate, as which ones are in it for the paycheck. Review aggregate sites can help you gain a clear understanding of how lawyers treat their clients.
- Schedule a free consultation. Consultations are not only your chance to learn if your case can return compensation, but they also are your opportunity to get a feel for the type of person a potential attorney is. Retaining a lawyer means forming a relationship with them for months or years. Make sure you work well together.
More Than $2 Billion* Recovered, Thousands Helped
At BD&J, we know that recovery from a catastrophic injury is one of the most difficult periods in a person’s life. That’s why we go above and beyond to not only manage the legal claims process but also help you with your everyday needs. We come to you wherever you are and will ensure you and your loved ones are taken care of.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, call us 24/7 to schedule a free consultation!
