Catastrophic Injury Lawyers in Chino Hills Obtaining Justice For Victims of Life-Altering Injuries

If a medical professional has informed you that you have catastrophic injuries, chances are that your life may never be the same again. It is likely that the effects of the substantial injuries that you have suffered will last throughout the rest of your life.

Our personal injury attorneys in Southern CA at The Paris Law Firm have a vast amount of experience in dealing with cases in which the injuries that the victim has suffered have been deemed to be catastrophic. In cases such as these, it is imperative that you seek legal representation as quickly as possible. Waiting could negatively affect your case and your ability to receive essential compensation for your injuries.

In an effort to get compensation for the necessary medical treatment that you will require, you need to speak with a qualified personal injury attorney. Our law offices in Chino Hills, CA, have skilled attorneys with the qualifications necessary to handle a case where the victim has sustained injuries that will alter the course of their lives.

What is California’s Legal Definition of “Catastrophic Injuries”?

Although there is no official legal definition in the State of California as to what catastrophic injuries entail, these types of injuries are considered to be permanent or long-term in nature. The pain involved with these injuries is severe and may involve the permanent loss of an organ or limb.

Some of the common types of injuries considered to be catastrophic in nature include the following:

Loss of a limb
Loss of use of a limb
Loss of an organ
Spinal cord injury
Traumatic brain injury
Paralysis
Severe or disfiguring burns
An injury that results in deafness or blindness

Due to the permanent nature of these types of injuries, often, the only way to hold the responsible party accountable is to file a personal injury lawsuit. This may be the only recourse that you as a victim have in being able to ensure that you have the necessary financial means to pay for ongoing long-term care.

What is the Difference Between a Catastrophic and a Non-Catastrophic Injury?

Not every accident is life-threatening or leaves the victim with lasting injuries that forever alter the way they live their lives. These may be considered minor injuries or non-catastrophic injuries. On the other hand, a catastrophic injury may leave a victim disabled or forever altered by the unfortunate accident that they were lucky to survive.

The primary difference between a catastrophic and a non-catastrophic injury is that while someone may eventually recover from a non-catastrophic injury, those who survive a catastrophic injury will permanently change their bodies and minds.

If you or a loved one have suffered a catastrophic injury, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Solid legal representation makes it possible to recover compensation that could help pay for some of the significant adjustments in the lives of those affected by catastrophic injuries. And while no amount of financial settlement may ever return things to how they used to be, such a settlement may comfort injured victims and lessen the financial burdens of living with their injuries.

What Are Examples of Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries are perhaps most widely represented by traumatic brain injuries, but there are other such injuries that victims and their families should be aware of.

Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

Amputated arms or legs, either in the accident itself or in the aftermath of the accident at the hospital.
Birth injuries, such as injuries to the newborn’s skull or spine.
Ear injuries, including the loss of hearing or severe ringing sounds in the ear canal that never go away.
Eye injuries, including the loss of sight.
Facial injuries which cause deformities.
Mesothelioma.
Nerve damage and soft tissue damage.
Partial or complete paralysis.
Serious mental health conditions, including but not limited to debilitating post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD),
Severe organ damage.
Severe second and third-degree burns.
Spinal cord injuries which limit the mobility of accident victims.
Throat and jaw injuries which may limit the ability to speak.
Traumatic brain injuries which cause lasting brain damage and limit cognitive skills.

What Are Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries?

These types of horrific injuries can occur in a number of different ways, including:

Assaults.
Car collisions.
Commercial trucking accidents.
Construction site accidents.
Defective products.
Dog bites and other animal attacks.
Falls from great heights or slip-and-fall accidents and trip-and-fall accidents.
Hotel and amusement park accidents.
Medical malpractice.
Motorcycle crashes.
Pedestrian accidents.
Recreational activities gone wrong.
Sports injuries.
Workplace accidents.

Catastrophic injuries can occur when we live life to the fullest or just do our daily duties. We never know when the accidents that will forever alter our lives may strike. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in an accident like one of those mentioned here, we hope that you sought the proper medical attention necessary for your pain and suffering. Following your medical assessment, it’s essential that you speak with a skilled personal injury lawyer with experience representing clients who’ve suffered catastrophic injuries.

Can You Obtain Financial Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries?

With a strong case it is possible to recover financial compensation for your catastrophic injuries. However, it is not always as simple as it should be.

In order to recover the proper settlement for your case, it’s important that your case establish fault. Usually this will mean showing that another party’s negligence, recklessness, or criminal actions were directly responsible for your accident and the injuries you suffered. To establish these facts, an investigation must take place. The sooner you speak with a personal injury attorney, the sooner that attorney will be able to begin crafting a case to represent your claims.

With a solid case, your lawyers can potentially recover economic, non-economic, and maybe even punitive damages for your case.

Economic damages could take the form of lost wages, medical expenses, loss of future income, and property damage. You may recover non-economic damages for things like mental anguish, physical pain and suffering, lost quality of life, loss of companionship, disfigurement, loss of social life, disability, and emotional distress. If the actions of the at-fault party were especially egregious or even purposefully malice, you might be able to recover punitive damages as well.

Who Can Be Held Liable For Catastrophic Injuries?

Under California law, you may be entitled to file suits against every individual who may be responsible for your injuries. Of course, in order to successfully accomplish this, you will need the help of a skilled attorney who understands the intricacies of catastrophic injury law.

For example, if you were injured due to the negligence of an employee at a business, you have the potential to file a lawsuit not only against the employee themselves but also against the owner of the business. The business owner can be held legally responsible for the acts that their employee committed that caused your injuries.

If you sustain catastrophic injuries due to a defective product, then you may be entitled to sue not only the manufacturer but also the distributor and the entity that sold the product.

The Paris Law Firm of Chino Hills, California, has personal injury attorneys who have extensive experience in dealing with cases in which the victim has sustained catastrophic injuries. We will thoroughly review your case and make a well-informed decision as to who needs to be held accountable for the harm that you have sustained.

Is There a Statute of Limitations on How Long I Have to File a Claim for my Injuries?

Typically, California law allows an individual up to two years from the date that the injury occurred to file a lawsuit. However, based on individual circumstances, there may be what are known as “exceptions” to the statute of limitations.

Delayed discovery: This rule applies if you did not immediately realize that you were injured or that your accident was caused by another individual’s negligence. In these types of scenarios, the statute of limitations begins when you first discover that you are injured or become aware of how the negligent actions affected you.

The defendant leaves the state: If the individual believed to be responsible for your injuries leaves the state of California, an extension is issued that temporarily puts the statute of limitations on hold. The hold is placed on the time limit because it is first necessary to serve the would-be defendant with legal paperwork in order for a lawsuit to proceed.

What Type of Compensation Can I Receive for my Chino Hills Catastrophic Injuries?

It should be noted that each personal injury claim involving catastrophic injuries is different due to the individual factors that are involved. Nevertheless, there are certain damages that you may be qualified to receive. They are as follows:

Economic Damages: These are damages that the court may award you for the money that you have had to spend due to being injured in an accident.

Past and future medical bills and other associated costs: This includes hospital bills, prescription medications, physical or occupational therapy, and long-term care.
Loss of past and future wages: This includes the money that you lost due to your injury and future earnings because of your inability to work.
Loss of earning capacity This compensation allows for the fact that due to your catastrophic injury, you most likely may never be able to work again.

Non-economic damages: These types of damages are thought to be more subjective in nature.

Mental suffering: Compensation for the mental trauma that you have had to endure as a result of your injuries.
Loss of enjoyment of life: Your inability to enjoy the activities that you participated in before the accident.
Past and future pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and other physical sufferings that you have had to withstand due to your injuries.

If you have been seriously injured in an accident and have been told that you have catastrophic injuries, it is imperative that you speak with a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Do not leave your future to an inexperienced attorney. Due to the extreme nature of your injuries, you will need to file a claim as soon as possible in order to receive the financial compensation you will need to sustain your life.

The Paris Law Firm is dedicated to helping individuals who have had their lives forever changed due to their injuries. Contact us today by calling (909) 325-6185 and scheduling a free initial consultation and case review.