In some accidents, a victim’s life can change in an instant. Catastrophic injuries can cause mobility issues, extensive injuries, and the need for a lifetime of care. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury in an accident, you need legal advice and guidance.
Since 2005, Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group has protected the rights of victims injured in St. Petersburg, Florida. We are committed to helping you seek maximum compensation to ease the financial burden caused by someone else’s negligence.
Our personal injury law firm offers a free, no-obligation case review in which you can discuss the circumstances of your case with an experienced St. Petersburg catastrophic injury lawyer. Call us today to arrange yours at (772) 569-8155.
How Can Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group Help After a Catastrophic Injury?
In some situations, you may not need a lawyer to handle your personal injury claim. For example, if you only sustained property damage and minor cuts or bruises, you may be able to handle your claim on your own. However, this is not the case if you have sustained a catastrophic injury.
You will be dealing with painful injuries, extensive medical appointments, and an uncertain future. You need a knowledgeable legal advocate in your corner who can help you through every aspect of your case.
The dedicated team at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group can help by:
- Investigating the accident to identify all at-fault parties and pathways for financial recovery
- Preserving valuable evidence to prove fault
- Ensuring you receive the best medical treatment available
- Working with medical experts, economists, life care planners, and other professionals who can accurately assess the long-term impact of your injuries
- Handling communications with insurance companies to protect you from their tactics to devalue your claim
- Monitoring case deadlines and managing claim paperwork
- Negotiating for maximum compensation
We encourage you to call us today for a free case review with a skilled St. Petersburg, FL catastrophic injury lawyer.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
There is no universal term for catastrophic injury. One federal law, 42 USC § 3796b, defines a catastrophic injury as “consequences of an injury that permanently prevent an individual from performing any gainful work.” The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research defines catastrophic injuries as “fatalities, injuries that result in permanent functional disability, and serious injuries that result in temporary functional disability with full recovery.”
Florida’s workers’ compensation laws do not define the term but say that workers who suffer catastrophic injuries can receive permanent total disability benefits.
Generally, a catastrophic injury is an injury that causes permanent total disability, prevents someone from engaging in gainful employment, or dramatically affects a person’s daily life. These injuries may be permanent or long-standing in nature.
Catastrophic injuries may cause the loss of a body part or function, disfigurement and scarring, or functional limitations. Some cause mobility issues. Others cause the loss of bladder or bowel control. Still others cause sexual dysfunction.
Catastrophic Injuries and Car Accidents in Florida
Florida uses a no-fault insurance system for car accidents in which car accident victims turn to their own insurance provider for coverage after a collision, regardless of fault. This system provides limited benefits to accident victims and generally bars them from recovering damages for their pain and suffering. However, if they suffer specific injuries, they can pursue compensation for all their accident-related damages and losses from the third party.
Under Florida law, these injuries include those that cause:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Death
If you or a loved one suffered any of these injuries, contact a car accident attorney today.
Examples of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can affect various body parts and systems.
Some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can affect every aspect of a person’s life and cause problems such as:
- Paralysis, weakness, or other motor function problems
- Cognitive impairment
- Difficulty communicating
- Sensory changes
- Behavioral and emotional problems
- Difficulty controlling bladder and bowel function
- Sleep problems
Sadly, some traumatic brain injury victims never return to their old selves again.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can cause significant mobility issues, with some resulting in paralysis. A spinal cord injury may make it impossible for you ever to work again and can significantly reduce your quality of life.
Amputations
The loss of an arm, leg, or other body part can be devastating. You may have a deformity that causes embarrassment and humiliation. Your day-to-day life may also be affected.
Severe Burns
Burns are one of the most painful injuries accident victims can suffer. Burn victims may have to undergo painful surgeries and skin grafting procedures. Some may lose body function or suffer from disfiguring injuries.
Deafness or Blindness
Some injuries can result in permanent deafness or blindness, affecting every day of your life and every aspect of it.
Other Serious Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can encompass many other types of severe injuries that reduce your quality of life and impact your future earnings and ability to perform activities of daily living.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Various events can lead to catastrophic injuries, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Scooter accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Slips and falls
- Violent attacks
If you suffered a catastrophic injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to pursue compensation from them.
What Is My Catastrophic Injury Claim Worth?
Catastrophic injury claims are often more valuable than other claims because of their significant impact on victims.
However, the actual amount you can expect to recover can vary based on factors such as:
- The type of injuries you suffered
- Whether the injury rendered you permanently disabled
- Whether you’ll ever be able to work again
- The identity of the party or parties responsible for your injuries
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- The insurance coverage available
- Whether you were partially responsible for causing the accident
Let one of our experienced St. Petersburg catastrophic injury attorneys review your case and assess its value.
What Compensation Can I Recover from a Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injury victims can seek financial compensation or damages for the full extent of their losses, which may include:
- Medical treatment – Catastrophic injuries often involve expensive medical treatments, including surgeries, hospitalizations, specialist visits, intensive care unit treatment, rehabilitation, therapy, and specialist visits. You can seek compensation for these treatments.
- Lost income – Catastrophic injury victims can recover compensation for the lost wages they immediately suffered from the accident. They may also be able to pursue compensation for long-term income losses caused by permanent disability or having to move to a lower-paying job that can accommodate their disability.
- Pain and suffering – Catastrophic injuries can cause significant physical pain and suffering, accompanied by mental anguish and emotional distress. You can seek compensation for these losses.
- Disabilities and impairments – You can be compensated for the decreased quality of life you experience because of your disabilities and impairments.
- Loss of consortium – Catastrophic injuries sometimes cause loss of sexual function or impede a person from being able to show affection. Accident victims and their families may be able to recover compensation for loss of consortium.
An experienced personal injury attorney can review your case and determine the damages you may be able to seek in it.
Can I Recover Compensation If the Insurance Company Is Blaming Me?
Insurance companies do not like catastrophic injury claims because it exposes them to substantial liability. Catastrophic injury cases can involve expensive medical bills, significant pain and suffering, and the need to compensate for a lifetime of lost earnings. As such, insurance adjusters will try to do everything possible to get out of paying on these claims, including blaming the victim.
An experienced lawyer can combat these tactics with strong evidence that shows the insured was responsible for the accident.
Even if you were partially at fault for the accident, Florida law allows you to pursue compensation for your damages as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the accident. In such cases, your damages will be reduced by your degree of fault. Our lawyers can work hard to mitigate the degree of fault assigned to you.
What is the Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Florida has a two-year statute of limitations that applies to most personal injury lawsuits. However, certain circumstances can cause this timeframe to be shorter or longer. Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible to preserve your right to recover compensation for your accident-related injuries and losses.
Contact Our St. Petersburg Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, a personal injury lawyer from Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group can help. Our St. Petersburg catastrophic injury lawyers can review your case, discuss how the injury has impacted your life, and seek to hold the at-fault party accountable for the full extent of your damages. Contact us today to begin your path to recovery.