Irvine Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Irvine Catastrophic Injury Attorney

Suffering a catastrophic injury can be one of the most traumatic and difficult events of your entire life. Having to adjust to a new normal you didn’t ask for can be a big challenge, and most catastrophic injuries tend to be permanent. It can be disheartening to know that there is very little you can do beyond figuring out how to cope. One thing you can do is hold the right people accountable for your injury by hiring an Irvine catastrophic injury lawyer.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is a type of personal injury that often results in lifelong trauma, permanent physical damage, and a significant negative impact on your quality of life. A catastrophic injury can affect nearly every aspect of your life, resulting in a lack of employment options and a negative effect on your emotional and mental health, among other repercussions. These injuries are not often easy to recover from, and healing can be a lifelong process.

Catastrophic injuries often result in physical disfigurement, brain damage, permanent disabilities, physical and mental impairments, and many other forms of permanent trauma. It is important that you do what you can to try and hold the party responsible for your injury accountable. Pursuing legal action can be a good way to begin the healing process and try to find some semblance of closure for what happened to you.

Proving negligence in a catastrophic injury case is no easy task. In order to pursue legal action, you need to be able to prove that someone caused your injury either through malicious intent or negligent behavior. To prove negligence, you will need to establish the following elements:

• You were owed a duty of care by the defendant.
• The defendant knowingly breached that duty of care in a negligent way.
• The resulting breach is what caused your catastrophic injury.
• You sustained a multitude of damages and are owed compensation.

Statute of Limitations

Deciding to move forward with legal action is a big step and not one that should be taken lightly. If you decide that pursuing a catastrophic injury claim is your next step, you should be aware of the state of California’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including catastrophic injury claims. The state will generally give you two years to establish grounds, develop a case, gather evidence, speak with a lawyer, and file a claim for damages.

If you cannot file your claim before two years have passed, there is a strong chance that your claim will be dismissed, and your chance to file for compensatory damages will pass by with no legal action taken. It can take a long time to build a strong catastrophic injury case, so you may want to get started sooner rather than later. If you are concerned you don’t have a case, you can bring your concerns to a personal injury lawyer to have it assessed. You may have more than you think.

Different Types of Catastrophic Injuries

When your personal injury is permanent or leaves you with a lifelong disability, it is considered to be catastrophic. Recovering from such an injury can prove difficult or even sometimes impossible. Here are some examples of catastrophic injuries that people often suffer from:

• Spinal Cord Trauma: Any injury to the spinal cord has the potential to be permanent, as the spinal cord is one of the most fragile parts of the body. It is responsible for sending messages from the brain to the body and vice versa. If the spine is injured, that signal can be disrupted, and the resulting trauma to your body can be devastating.
• Traumatic Brain Injury: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be the consequence of virtually any significant blow to the head. Depending on how your brain is injured, you could be looking at immediate trauma or a gradual process that leads to irreparable damage. If you are hit in the head with force, you should see a doctor immediately.
• Severe Burns: There are few injuries more painful than enduring third or fourth-degree burns. These burns can cause untold external and internal devastation to your body.

FAQs About Irvine, CA Catastrophic Injury Laws

What Is the Maximum Amount of Compensation for Pain and Suffering Due to a Catastrophic Injury?

In Irvine, there is no maximum amount of compensation you can receive for pain and suffering in most personal injury cases. Aside from a cap in medical malpractice cases, you can pursue any amount for pain and suffering damages that you feel is appropriate for everything you have been through because of the accident and your injury.

How Are Catastrophic Injuries Treated?

The way that a catastrophic injury is treated depends entirely on the type of injury, the severity, and how quickly a doctor is able to begin treatment. Most catastrophic injuries are going to require immediate medical attention and a long-term care approach that may include physical therapy, surgeries, medication, and psychological counseling, among other treatments.

What Makes a Personal Injury Claim Catastrophic?

A personal injury claim is considered catastrophic when the injuries you received from the accident are permanent, life-changing, and affect your ability to seek gainful employment. A catastrophic injury causes you to have to adjust your entire lifestyle to accommodate your new normal. An effective injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for what you’ve been through.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Catastrophic Injury?

The long-term effects of a catastrophic injury depend largely on the injury in question. Some general symptoms of most catastrophic injuries include a permanent loss of some bodily function, permanent disfigurement or scarring, a significant decline in mental health, and lifelong medical assistance. Some injuries, such as a TBI or an amputation, may have additional effects.

Reach Out to a Lawyer Today

At the Corrales Law Group, we can help you figure out a plan for filing a catastrophic injury claim, allowing you to focus on your recovery process while we handle the details of your case. Contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our team members.