Often referred to as the “heart of Georgia,” Macon provides plenty to see and do for people of all ages. Unfortunately, there are plenty of ways to suffer a personal injury lawyer in Macon, as well. If you have suffered an injury that will likely prevent you from earning an income, a Macon catastrophic injury lawyer from John Foy & Associates can help you understand the process of seeking compensation for your injuries through the civil court system.
Catastrophic Injuries Require Important Considerations
A catastrophic injury generally refers to an injury in which the sufferer is highly likely to acquire permanent disabilities that will prevent them from earning an income. In other words: these are extremely serious and extremely costly injuries that impact every facet of a person’s life.
The term catastrophic injury is most commonly used in reference to injuries impacting the organs of the body’s central nervous system: the brain and the spinal cord. Consider these facts:
- According to Northwestern University, a traumatic brain injury will result in lifetime medical costs of up to $3 million.
- The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation reports that a 25-year-old who has suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis from the neck down can expect lifetime medical costs to treat the injury and associated complications to be in excess of $4.7 million.
Any accident can lead to catastrophic injuries, including collisions with large commercial vehicles. A Macon truck accident lawyer can help after a major injury caused by a tow-truck, 18-wheelers, semi-truck, or tractor-trailer.
Because of the extraordinary costs and impacts of a catastrophic injury, there are important considerations to be made.
Liable Parties and Insurance Resources
Clients are often surprised to learn that the most important factor when determining the value of a catastrophic injury claim is the amount of insurance the at-fault party has. The reason insurance is so important is that very few at-fault parties can afford to pay the high costs of the expenses associated with a catastrophic injury out-of-pocket. Instead, their insurance company covers the damages up to the limit of their policy.
Policy limitations are a difficult obstacle for catastrophic injury claims. Because catastrophic injuries are permanent in nature, they require an increased amount of compensation in order to cover future medical expenses and the loss of earning capacity. A Macon catastrophic injury lawyer will carefully review your claim in order to identify any additional sources of liability or insurance resources that may help alleviate the problems caused by policy limitations.
Future Expenses and Impacts
As mentioned, future expenses and impacts must be accounted for when seeking compensation through a catastrophic injury claim. For example, a Macon pedestrian accident lawyer would have to prove the need for the additional compensation required for future damages, such as the claimant being unable to work.
Attorneys often rely on expert testimony from medical or vocational professionals who can bring clarity to the types of expenses and impacts the future holds for individuals who have suffered a Macon catastrophic injury.
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How a Macon Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Can Protect Your Claim from Insurance Tactics
In spite of the importance of obtaining compensation after a catastrophic injury, the claims of the injured are generally met by an insurance adjuster who was hired by the at-fault party’s insurance company whose main goal is to reduce the value of the claim.
In order to do this, they often turn to tactics such as offering a low settlement before the claimant has had the chance to speak with an attorney, telling the claimant they cannot seek non-economic (pain and suffering) damages, or even convincing the client to release all of their medical records.
An experienced Macon catastrophic injury lawyer can protect their client’s claim from being reduced as a result of the insurance adjuster’s tactics by managing all communication with the insurance provider.
You can contact us after a motorcycle accident in Macon or another severe accident.
Other Services a Macon Catastrophic Injury Attorney Can Provide for Your Case
Not all the services a catastrophic injury lawyer in Macon can provide are necessary in every case. However, they are available if the need arises.
Evidence and Witness Testimony
A catastrophic injury attorney in Macon understands the type of evidence that is needed to prove a claim, such as:
- Medical documentation regarding the permanence of the injury
- Information about the claimant’s earnings before suffering a catastrophic injury
- Evidence and testimony regarding the at-fault party’s negligence, which led to the accident
Litigation Services
Most personal injury claims are resolved by settlement before they see the inside of a courtroom. That said, it is important to hire an attorney who is as comfortable seeking compensation on behalf of their client through litigation as they are with negotiating a settlement. The fact remains: some cases do go to trial.
Some of the litigation services provided by a Macon catastrophic injury attorney include making opening and closing arguments, presenting evidence, and examining witnesses. It should be noted that an attorney can still present settlement offers to their client even after the trial has begun, as long as a decision by the court has not yet been made.
Contingent Fee Billing
The expenses of catastrophic injuries are so high, that the last thing most claimants want to do is spend money on a lawyer. Fortunately, the contingent fee billing method that personal injury lawyers use allows the client to withhold payment for their attorney’s services until there is a settlement or award. At that point, their attorney will receive a percentage of the compensation received in accordance with the attorney-client contingent fee agreement.
If You’ve Suffered a Catastrophic Injury in Macon, Contact John Foy & Associates Today
Catastrophic injuries often happen quickly, yet they leave a lifetime of expenses and impacts for the sufferer to deal with. While compensation cannot restore complete function following a catastrophic injury, it can make life easier to bear.
An experienced Macon catastrophic injury lawyer from John Foy & Associates can help you navigate this complicated process in the pursuit of the maximum amount of compensation available to you.
For your free case evaluation, contact our legal team today.
478-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form