Catastrophic is a big, four syllable word that has very unique implications in the legal world.
While there is no specific legal definition of catastrophic injury, you
hope never to have it apply to you or someone you love. It typically
includes someone whose injuries require multiple surgeries, a lifetime
of medical treatment and the inability to return to work. If someone
else caused you to end up like this, a sophisticated lawsuit might be in
your future.
In these lawsuits, there are large damages (the amount of money) which
necessitate lots of legal work. Insurance companies rarely roll over and
fully compensate folks who have sustained catastrophic harms and
losses. The creativity of the arguments and how your evidence is
presented will make a huge difference in the level of compensation you
obtain.
A key factor in determining if an injury is “catastrophic” is how
debilitating the injury is and to what extent it is expected to
continue. If you are unable to perform activities of daily living on a
long-term basis, you need to accurately and meticulously show this in
order to make sure you don’t get short-changed.
If your injury causes a permanent disability that prevents you from
earning a living, it is your obligation to obtain sufficient
compensation to take care of your family’s financial future. While the
law says the defendant is required to pay damages that “make the
plaintiff whole,” getting that evidence and presenting it to an
insurance company or jury is hard work.
In order to receive enough money to pay for all of the medical expenses,
lost income, pain and suffering and loss of quality of life, multiple
medical, vocational, economic and other experts must be utilized.
Be educated and picky when choosing an attorney to represent you. Your
attorney needs to have a thorough understanding of the legal, medical
and insurance process to obtain for you the “right” result. When your
injury is “catastrophic,” turn to a law firm with a proven track record
of representing its clients with experience, insight, dedication,
compassion and relentless drive.
