Catastrophic describes the severity of an injury, not the injury itself. During an accident, there is a high likelihood that you will sustain some kind of injury. When an injury is particularly severe, it can be classified as catastrophic, meaning you suffered a permanent disability or disfigurement.
There are only six injuries that qualify as catastrophic. These injuries can be amputations, loss of hearing, and others. Not every attorney can handle these cases; you will need to consult with a Canton personal injuries lawyer to ensure you get the maximum compensation.
Contact John Foy & Associates today.
Injuries that Are Categorized As Catastrophic
A life-altering catastrophic injury prevents a person from accomplishing normal daily functions. In Canton, there are six types of catastrophic injuries. The six catastrophic injuries we can cover are:
- Paralysis: Complete and partial paralysis are the two types of paralysis. When it is partial paralysis, you will have some feeling in your limbs, but complete means you have no feeling.
- Vision impairment: A concussion can often result in vision impairment. An accident can sometimes lead to eye trauma or a retinal detachment.
- Amputation: When you lose a limb, such as an arm or a leg, it can be one of the most life-altering experiences of your life. You will need lifelong care.
- Severe brain impairment: These injuries will result in a person in a coma or a vegetative state. It will completely alter the way you define normal.
- Extreme impairment from a mental disorder: Aside from physical impairments, there are also cognitive or psychological impairments that a person can suffer after an accident. A person who has a mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or PTSD can be considered a catastrophic injury.
- Combination of impairments: When several different disabilities affect a person, the impairment must be at least 55 percent of the body to be defined as catastrophic.
While a catastrophic injury may be apparent, the insurance company will be less sympathetic to your situation. You will need to have a catastrophic injuries lawyer in Canton to help you prove to the insurance company that the accident was the cause of your injury.
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The Worth of a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Canton
While the goal of a lawsuit is to get you compensation for your injuries, it will be challenging. Each injury will have different changes in your life. Due to your different impacts, you will have different types of compensation avenues available to you.
Some of the compensation you can get for your injuries includes:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- In-home modifications and medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Punitive damages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If a loved one suffers from a catastrophic injury and cannot speak for themselves, the family can begin to look into the legal process. Additionally, if your loved one passes away, you can file a wrongful death claim, especially if there was a catastrophic injury before their passing. It is essential to contact a Canton catastrophic injuries attorney to discuss your options and find the best solution for you,
Filing a Catastrophic Injury Claim
You do not have unlimited time to file a claim due to the statute of limitations for personal injury claims. You will have two years from your injury to file a lawsuit. There are two phases of a case: the pre-litigation and the litigation phase.
The pre-litigation phase can last up to two years, and it is when several legal processes occur, mainly discovery. Both sides will look for critical evidence that can help or hurt your case during this phase. Even if the evidence can harm you, your catastrophic injuries attorney in Canton should be aware of any possibilities the defense can use to lower or deny your claim.
The faster you move to file a claim, the quicker we proceed to find relevant information. Evidence can disappear quickly, and we must work to ensure it does not. Witness accounts can also fade; the sooner we speak to anyone who sees the accident, the better we can build our case.
We will also help you get the proper medical treatment and ensure that you get all of the diagnostic tests you need to determine the severity of your injuries. Because of the seriousness of these cases, they will take longer to resolve than a typical motor vehicle accident claim. It will also depend on how much evidence is available and the medical prognosis.
Why You Need to Consult a Canton Catastrophic Injuries Lawyer
There are many ways that a Canton catastrophic injuries lawyer can help you get through this difficult time. A severe injury requires extensive medical treatment, and you must focus on recovering physically, while John Foy & Associates focuses on the legal recovery path. Our first order of business will be determining fault and collecting evidence.
These two steps are critical to your compensation claim. The party who was at fault for the accident is the person who will need to pay for your losses. If your family member is in a disabled state, the family can begin the legal process while the patient recovers to a functioning state.
Call John Foy & Associates in Canton Today
You will need to discuss your catastrophic injury case with a Canton catastrophic injuries lawyer from John Foy & Associates to determine the possible strategies. In addition to collecting evidence, we will also negotiate with the insurance company to get you compensation. Your Canton catastrophic injury lawyer will try to resolve the case during pre-litigation by negotiating with the insurance company.
When there is sufficient evidence, the insurance company cannot deny that your injuries and losses directly result from the accident. When negotiations are unsuccessful, then the case will go into litigation. While it can go to trial, there are many processes along the way where your case can settle. Contact John Foy & Associates today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form