A catastrophic injury can turn your life upside down. Once a person suffers a catastrophic injury, they may find themselves unable to work, robbed of their independence, struggling financially, and physically altered in a way that affects their quality of life permanently. Did you or a loved one suffer from a catastrophic injury in Monterey due to another party’s negligent or careless actions? Learn more now about what a Monterey catastrophic injury lawyer from BD&J can do for you and how compensation can help you recover!
Complete the form to learn how much compensation you may qualify for by speaking with a Monterey catastrophic injury attorney from BD&J!
What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injuries are extremely serious injuries that can cause long-term or permanent quality of life changes for an individual. These injuries can result in severe impairment. Legally speaking, if an injury causes long-term or permanent changes to your lifestyle and/or you are unable to work as you used to, you likely have a catastrophic injury. We have proudly fought alongside injured victims in Monterey to bring over $2 billion* of compensation for a wide variety of catastrophic injuries. In some cases, victims can recover normal function after significant and lengthy rehabilitation and treatment, but often their lives are never the same. The most common injuries BD&J’s catastrophic injury attorneys have represented include:
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Severe burns
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Multiple fractures or crushed injuries
- Vision or hearing loss
Common Causes of Monterey Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can completely change a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being, impacting a victim’s ability to function on their own as they used to. Unfortunately, innocent individuals end up paying the price for someone else’s recklessness; they may be permanently disabled or require years of recovery. Some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries include:
Car Accidents
Monterey County has more than 288,000 licensed drivers. With so many drivers on the road, car accidents can be common but not unavoidable. In many cases, reckless driving habits can lead to serious injuries like spinal cord injuries, whiplash and neck injuries, TBIs, burns, and more. Common car accident types that result in catastrophic injuries include head-on collisions, truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, t-bone collisions, hit-and-runs, and others.
Workplace Accidents
California saw 439 fatal work injuries in 2023. While many people don’t suspect their workplace can be the site for a catastrophic injury, the data shows differently. A wide variety of workplaces could be the site of severe commercial accidents, including construction zones, retail stores, warehouses and even corporate offices. Workplace accidents may include falls, vehicle accidents, exposure to dangerous or toxic substances, and dealing with defective work equipment. Commercial accidents resulting in injuries can often be life-threatening.
Construction Accidents
Construction sites will often be surrounded with heavy machinery and huge materials, leading to accidents for both construction workers and passersby that result in catastrophic injuries. Typical construction accidents may include slipping and falling from a height, defective equipment accidents, being struck by falling objects, being pinned by heavy materials or machines, and electrocutions.
Product Defects
Product defects occur when there is a manufacturing error in a product, a flaw in the design of an item, a lack of adequate warnings or instructions on use of a product, or a product fails even while being properly used according to instructions of usage. Common product defects include faulty car parts, medications without the proper side-effect warnings, and defective children’s toys. Always read usage instructions and report any unexpected problems with a product to the manufacturer.
What if a Loved One Died from a Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injuries can be life-threatening, and in some cases, may result in the death of a loved one. If a loved one passed away from a catastrophic injury, you and your family may be able to hold a party liable through a wrongful death lawsuit. Speak to a wrongful death attorney from BD&J to learn more about filing a claim.
Find out if you or your loved one qualifies to bring a lawsuit against a negligent party by scheduling a free consultation with a Monterey catastrophic injury lawyer today!
How Would a Monterey Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Help My Claim?
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury at the hands of another party, you may be entitled to compensation for ensuing treatment and rehabilitation expenses. While you can file a catastrophic injury claim by yourself, you may have a greater chance of recovering a higher settlement amount by working with a Monterey catastrophic injury lawyer. The process of a catastrophic injury claim can also be extremely complex and difficult to manage while you recover.
At BD&J, our catastrophic injury lawyers work with clients every step of the way in the legal process, including aiding in filing a claim, collecting strong evidence, negotiating settlements, navigating discovery, and representing them in communications with insurance companies and other legal representatives. This way, all you or your loved one has to do is continue the journey to healing and adapting to a new lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for a catastrophic injury lawsuit in California is two years from the date of injury. Filing a personal injury lawsuit for a catastrophic injury must be done before the statute of limitations is up in order to be eligible for compensation.
What if I File After the Statute of Limitations?
If a plaintiff attempts to file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations has passed, it will most likely be dismissed. There are special circumstances in which a catastrophic injury lawsuit can be presented after the statute of limitations has passed, like if the injury or damage was not discovered right away. Consult a catastrophic injury attorney in Monterey if you have questions about a deadline.
What if I Can’t Afford Medical Treatment for My Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injuries usually call for physical rehabilitation, surgical intervention, medications, assistive devices, and more. If you can’t afford medical treatment after a catastrophic injury, consult with a Monterey catastrophic injury attorney about filing a claim to attempt to recover compensation from liable parties. No one should go into debt or bankruptcy over injuries that were not their fault.
How Much Compensation Can I Get?
Every claim is unique, which means it is difficult to give your claim a precise value. Speak with a catastrophic injury attorney to learn more about the factors that go into determining the worth of a claim, including severity of injury, amount of fault, pain and suffering, punitive damages, etc. BD&J’s team of Monterey personal injury lawyers can help you find out how much you could recover free of charge.
What Can Compensation from a Catastrophic Injury Claim Be Used For?
Compensation for a catastrophic injury lawsuit can be used to cover past and future medical expenses, loss of wages, disability, physical rehabilitation, assistive devices, and more.
What if I Am Partially at Fault for the Accident that Caused My Catastrophic Injury?
If you are partially at fault for the accident that resulted in your catastrophic injury, you may still be able to obtain compensation. California is a comparative negligence state, which means that people who are partially at fault for their accidents can still recover compensation for their injuries. The compensation is simply reduced by the percentage of fault a plaintiff is found to have.
How To File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit
Are you dealing with the pain, discomfort, and financial stress of a catastrophic injury? Don’t pay for injuries caused by another party out of your own pocket. File a catastrophic injury lawsuit by:
- Collecting evidence. – Evidence of a catastrophic injury includes medical records of your injury, photos or videos of the accident site, police reports, eyewitness statements, and documentation of any long-term care expenses connected with the injury.
- Consulting a Monterey catastrophic injury lawyer. – Talking with a Monterey catastrophic injury attorney guarantees you have an expert legal advocate by your side to represent you to the fullest extent possible. Attorneys can appeal insurance claims, talk to expert witnesses for further testimony on your injury, and help to support and represent your claim.
- Stay up to date on your claim. – At BD&J, our attorneys work with clients to make sure they’re completely aware of any new developments in their claim, as well as going over all the claim details and evidence to continue to strengthen their case.
Diligent Monterey Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Who Advocate for Injured Citizens!
Catastrophic injuries can have a profound impact on individuals and their families. If you or a loved one suffered an injury like this at work, a construction site, on the road, or elsewhere, speak with a Monterey catastrophic lawyer to file a claim for compensation.
At BD&J, our Monterey catastrophic injury lawyers are thorough advocates for injured Californians. We don’t back down from the legal fight to obtain rightful compensation, and with more than $2 billion* recovered for injured clients, we continue to hold liable parties accountable for financial restitution. No fees until we win*.
