About Catastrophic Injury Lawsuits
- Catastrophic injuries are severe and can drastically alter your life, affecting mobility, cognitive functions, and daily activities. Examples include severe burns, complex fractures, spinal cord injuries, head trauma, paralysis, and loss of limbs or organs.
- Catastrophic injuries often result from motor vehicle accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, unsafe premises, and dog attacks. Identifying the responsible party and understanding the case specifics are crucial, which is why professional legal assistance is vital.
- In Georgia, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline can bar you from recovering compensation for accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries, so timely consultation with a lawyer is important to navigate potential extensions or exceptions.
Why Hire CSS After a Catastrophic Injury Accident
At Childers, Schlueter & Smith, we understand that dealing with catastrophic injuries is an overwhelming experience. Our firm is dedicated to providing compassionate and expert legal support to individuals who have suffered severe and life-altering injuries. We recognize the profound impact these injuries can have on every aspect of your life, from your physical capabilities to your emotional well-being.
Our experienced attorneys in Atlanta are well-versed in the complexities of catastrophic injury cases. We handle every detail of your case with the utmost care and precision, ensuring that all legal aspects are thoroughly addressed. From investigating your injury’s circumstances to negotiating with insurance companies and representing you in court, we are committed to advocating for your best interests.
Choosing CSS means entrusting your case to a firm prioritizing your needs and well-being. We work tirelessly to hold responsible parties accountable and secure the compensation you deserve. Let us manage the legal complexities while you focus on your recovery. Contact us for a free consultation, and let our expertise guide you through this challenging time.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
Any time you are injured in an accident, the repercussions can be serious. However, a catastrophic injury can drastically affect your ability to function as you did before the incident. If you were in a life-altering accident, you may suffer from decreased mobility or diminished cognitive function that leaves you unable to work, perform daily tasks, or participate in recreational activities.
A catastrophic injury is identified by its severe impact on a person’s daily life. Common types of life-altering injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Burns
- Complex bone fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe head trauma
- Partial or total paralysis
- Loss of a limb or organ
- Mental incapacity or deficiencies
Whether the medical condition is long-term or permanent, claimants have the right to demand compensation from the parties responsible for their accident. An attorney working in Atlanta can help plaintiffs determine if their injuries are catastrophic.
Sources of Life-Changing Injuries
An individual could suffer a catastrophic injury in many ways. Atlanta is a busy city, so accidents are not uncommon. Some of the most common types of claims that result in life-altering injuries include:
- Motor vehicle and trucking collisions
- Defective products or prescription drugs
- Acts of medical malpractice
- Unsafe premises or negligent security
- Dog attacks
Anyone who suffers a catastrophic injury should seek help from a local attorney. A legal professional can help claimants analyze all the details of their accident to determine who is at fault. Often you may not even recognize someone else is responsible for your injuries.
Filing Deadlines in Catastrophic Injury Cases in Atlanta
Under Georgia law, there is a deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits known as the statute of limitations. Official Code of Georgia § 9-3-33 states that plaintiffs must file within two years of the date of the accident. The court can dismiss any cases filed after this deadline, leaving the injured party unable to recover compensation.
In rare cases, a claimant may have more time to file a lawsuit, but this is a very fact-specific determination and you should always contact an attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer familiar with the laws surrounding catastrophic injury cases can help injured parties understand these exceptions.
File a Claim with an Atlanta Catastrophic Injury Attorney
Catastrophic injuries greatly impact your health and well-being. After developing this type of severe medical condition, you may be understandably overwhelmed. If you believe another person or entity caused your accident, you may be able to hold them financially liable for your damages.
However, you do not have to do this alone. You should not have to stress during your recovery. Call an Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyer from our firm to set up a free consultation and discuss your legal options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Catastrophic injuries are severe and significantly impair daily life activities. Examples include severe burns, spinal cord injuries, head trauma, paralysis, and loss of limbs or organs.
If your injury severely impacts your ability to work, perform daily tasks, or engage in recreational activities, it may be classified as catastrophic. Consulting with a lawyer can help determine this.
You can claim various damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life. In cases of permanent disability, you may also seek compensation for future medical needs and ongoing care.
Proving negligence involves demonstrating that the responsible party had a duty of care, breached that duty, caused your injury and that the injury resulted in damages. Evidence such as accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and expert testimony can support your claim.
Seek medical attention and consult with a lawyer as soon as possible to understand your legal options.
You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Georgia.
If the responsible party lacks adequate insurance, you may still have options, such as pursuing compensation through your own insurance policy (e.g., underinsured motorist coverage) or seeking compensation from other liable parties.
CSS offers experienced legal representation in catastrophic injury cases, providing comprehensive case management, expert legal advice, and dedicated advocacy to maximize your compensation and support your recovery.
A traumatic brain injury or TBI is a disruption in normal brain function caused by a blow or jolt to the head. Symptoms can range from headaches and dizziness to memory loss and difficulty concentrating.
Symptoms can include confusion, headaches, nausea, dizziness, memory problems, and in severe cases, unconsciousness, seizures, or cognitive impairments. Some symptoms may not appear immediately after the head injury.
It’s best to seek a medical evaluation after an injury to the head to be safe, but it is common for symptoms of brain injuries to appear later. As long as the injury can be connected to the accident, you may still have grounds for a legal claim.
Brain injuries are often caused by falls, motor vehicle accidents, assaults, or accidental impacts with objects. Any serious blow to the head can potentially result in a traumatic brain injury.
Proving fault involves demonstrating that another party’s negligence or recklessness caused your injury. Your attorney will gather evidence such as accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimony to support your brain injury case.
The process involves gathering medical records, proving liability, and determining the amount of damages. Your attorney will handle negotiations with insurance companies and take the case to trial if necessary.
Compensation can cover medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and, in severe cases, long-term care or disability expenses.
In Georgia, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is typically two years from the date of the injury. Consult a catastrophic injury attorney with brain injury experience to confirm filing deadlines.
Personal injury lawsuits can cover thermal burns, chemical burns, and electrical burns, each of which may result from accidents involving negligence by another party, such as a defective product, unsafe working conditions, or a fire hazard.
Your burn injury attorney will gather evidence by analyzing medical records, interviewing witnesses, consulting experts, and investigating the circumstances of the incident to establish fault and demonstrate negligence.
In Georgia, the rule of modified comparative negligence allows you to recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Compensation may cover medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care for disfigurement or permanent disability resulting from the burn injury.
The value of a burn injury case depends on several factors, including the severity of the burn, the cost of medical treatment, the impact on your ability to work, and the emotional toll of the injury. Your attorney will assess these factors to estimate a fair compensation amount.
In Georgia, you typically have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. It’s essential to act quickly to preserve evidence and build a strong case for a burn injury.
Most personal injury attorneys, including Childers, Schlueter & Smith, work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless your attorney successfully recovers compensation for you. This allows you to pursue your burn injury case without upfront legal fees.
Various events, including vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, and medical malpractice can cause spinal cord injuries. These injuries may involve stretching, lacerations, or punctures to the spinal cord, leading to serious long-term effects.
After seeking immediate medical attention, it’s important to contact a spinal cord injury attorney as soon as possible to help protect your legal rights. An attorney can help gather evidence from the accident, obtain witness statements, and gather medical records to build a strong case.
Long-term effects can include partial or total paralysis, chronic pain, loss of motor skills, and impaired bodily functions like bladder and bowel control. Many individuals also face ongoing emotional and psychological challenges due to lifestyle changes.
Some spinal cord injuries may heal over time, while others are permanent. Regardless of severity, spinal cord injury victims have the right to seek legal compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of their injuries if caused due to someone else’s negligence.
Liability is determined based on evidence showing that another party’s negligence or wrongful actions caused the spinal cord injury. Your attorney will investigate the circumstances of the accident, gather evidence, and consult with experts to establish fault and build your case.
If a spinal cord injury is caused due to negligence by others, you may be entitled to economic damages like medical expenses, long-term care, and lost wages. Non-economic damages could include compensation for emotional trauma, loss of companionship, and diminished quality of life.
No, many spinal cord injury cases are resolved through settlements outside of court. A skilled catastrophic injury attorney can negotiate with responsible parties or their insurers to reach a fair settlement. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, the case may proceed to trial.
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