Catastrophic injuries are generally regarded as those that result in permanent disabilities or an inability to make a full recovery in the foreseeable future. These types of injuries often leave victims and their families feeling understandably anxious and fearful about how they will move forward from these difficult times.
If your catastrophic injuries were the result of someone else’s negligence, you could receive compensation that can help you pay the mounting costs of healthcare and more.
By getting in touch with a Covington personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your injuries, you will set yourself up to have the best shot at receiving the compensation you need to start putting your life back together. Catastrophic injury lawyers will help you file a claim, reach a settlement, and fight for you in the courtroom if your case gets to that point.
Examples of Catastrophic Injuries You Can Sue for
Most people have never heard the term “catastrophic injury” until they or someone they know experiences one. Catastrophic injuries are those that are so severe, they cause permanent damage. Some examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Lost limbs
- Loss of sight or hearing
- Burns
- Disfigurement
Some of the above conditions can be temporary but remain permanent when major enough. If your healthcare providers believe you have little chance of making a full recovery, you have sustained a catastrophic injury.
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Proving Fault in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Before you can collect any damages for your catastrophic injury, you must be able to prove that your injuries were caused by someone else’s irresponsible actions. You and your Covington catastrophic injury lawyer will work together to gather relevant evidence, such as photos and videos at the scene, witness testimony, medical documentation, and more, in order to make your case that the other party was liable for your injuries.
Although each catastrophic injury situation is different, there are several possible parties that could be responsible for your injuries, including:
- Property owners
- Other motorists
- Businesses or corporations
- Employers
- Manufacturers of drugs or other goods
Our team of qualified catastrophic injury lawyers in Covington will get right to work on your case, and we will fight on your behalf to hold the guilty party accountable for all that you have suffered.
Comparative Fault in Georgia
One important aspect of proving fault in comparative fault states, like Georgia, is that all parties may be assigned a certain percentage of the blame for any given situation. If a judge decides that you, the victim, were 10% responsible for causing the accident due to some slightly irresponsible actions you took, you can still receive compensation, just 10% less than you otherwise would.
In comparative fault states, the party that possesses the majority of the fault, 51% or more, is unable to receive any compensation. The other parties in your case will do their best to make your injuries seem insignificant and inflate your role in the cause of the accident, but you don’t have to face them alone when you enlist the help of an experienced catastrophic injury attorney in Covington.
Types of Damages in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Even before you have proved that the other parties deserve at least 51% of the blame for your injuries, it’s important to be aware of the types of damages, or compensation, you may be able to collect. In most cases, damages are broken up into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those that are easily measurable and relate directly to the financial costs a victim accrues after an accident. These often include:
- Medical devices
- Prescription medication
- Visits to healthcare providers
- Hospital stays
- Surgery
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Home health assistance
- Lost earnings or reduced earning capacity
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are those that are less easy to measure, as they deal with the trauma and other non-financial impacts that come with catastrophic injuries, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Disfiguration
- Anxiety and depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Chronic pain
These are just a few examples of possible non-economic damages you may receive, and your lawyer will do everything they can to ensure you get compensation for all that you have endured.
How Long do You Have to File a Claim in Georgia?
The state of Georgia allows up to two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim, according to Georgia Code §9-3-33. Failing to file your claim by this deadline may render you unable to take your claim to court, causing you to miss out on the compensation you deserve. We always recommend that a victim, or their family, gets to work on filing their claim as soon as they are able after the accident to ensure everything gets turned in on time.
By choosing to work with a lawyer early on, you can get assistance with filing the confusing paperwork along with the assurance that it will be filed on time. Filling out pages of paperwork is probably the last thing you want to do after an accident, but it’s a critical aspect of your journey toward compensation.
Work with the Best Covington Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
At John Foy & Associates, we are proud of our commitment to helping people like you take on those who have been careless or irresponsible and caused your life-changing injuries. Many people feel intimidated and uncomfortable about hiring lawyers, and they worry they will owe thousands of dollars if the case is lost.
We don’t charge for our services unless we win your case for substantial compensation, and we are there to help and support our clients every step of the way. If you or a loved one have suffered from a catastrophic injury, get legal help as soon as possible. For a free case review with us, please visit our website and fill out the contact form today!
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form