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Catastrophic injuries are never planned. These serious injuries are life-changing and can cause significant physical pain, emotional turmoil, and financial distress. In a matter of seconds, your life is turned upside down and you have to figure out a way to put it right side up again.
This is where the Maryland catastrophic injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long can step in. We deeply understand the pain and suffering you and your family are going through during this time and we are here to help. Our personal injury lawyers will take over your case and work tirelessly to obtain fair compensation for your injuries. Call today for your free consultation where you will speak with one of our compassionate personal injury attorneys. We will listen to your whole story, assess your legal options, and provide legal advocacy throughout the entire claims process.
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A catastrophic injury is defined as a physical injury or illness that is permanent or long-lasting and does severe damage to major body parts. In many cases, a full recovery is not possible. Although there is no exact difference between a catastrophic injury and a regular personal injury, a personal injury victim is expected to fully recover after the accident, whereas the injured victims from a catastrophic accident will not.
Any injury has the potential to be a catastrophic injury as long as the injured party suffers long-term consequences from the accident. However, there are several typical catastrophic injuries that can end up as a personal injury case.
The most common types of catastrophic injuries are:
Traumatic brain injuries result from a sudden blow or jolt to the head, causing damage to the brain. They can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. A traumatic brain injury can cause physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments including memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and motor coordination problems. Medical expenses may cost the victim over $2 million in their lifetime.
Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord is damaged, resulting in partial or complete loss of sensation and mobility. Spinal cord injuries often lead to paralysis, either paraplegia (loss of function in the lower body) or quadriplegia (loss of function in both the arms and legs). According to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, a severe spinal cord injury can cost over $1 million in the first year alone and over $100 thousand in the years that follow.
Amputations involve the complete or partial removal of a limb or body part. An amputation greatly impacts a person’s mobility and independence. They require extensive rehabilitation and the use of prosthetic limbs. Additionally, an amputation can leave a lasting impact on the victim’s mental and emotional well-being.
Catastrophic injuries can involve severe damage to internal organs, such as the heart, liver, lungs, or kidneys. Organ damage can occur due to blunt force trauma, penetrating injuries, or medical complications. The consequences of organ damage can be life-threatening and may require immediate surgical intervention or organ transplant.
Severe burns can result from fires, explosions, or chemical accidents. These injuries can cause extensive damage to the skin, underlying tissues, and organs. Severe burns often require painful and prolonged treatment, including skin grafts and surgeries. They can also lead to disfigurement and significant physical and psychological trauma. Burn victims often have to travel to specialized hospitals, which add onto the costs of medical care.
Multiple fractures involve the breaking of several bones in the body simultaneously. They often require surgical intervention, extended periods of immobilization, and intensive rehabilitation.
Facial trauma is bone or soft tissue damage to the face. The injuries can cause extreme pain, loss of function, and disfigurement. Facial injuries involve bleeding, swelling, bruising, lacerations, and burns. In the worst cases, a victim must undergo one or more reconstructive surgeries.
Suddenly losing your hearing or sight is a deeply traumatic and devastating loss for anyone. Losing your hearing or sight to any degree is catastrophic and will alter your life forever. A victim may have to cope with the loss of driving ability, inability to hold employment, chronic pain, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Some of the most common causes of a catastrophic injury are:
Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and other motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of a catastrophic injury. T bone accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, rear-end accidents, rollover accidents, and a head-on collision can all cause a catastrophic injury to the driver and passengers.
Slip and fall accidents are one of the five leading causes of death in the United States. Faulty staircases, uneven pavement, and slippery floors can all cause a dangerous fall. Falls from significant heights such as from ladders, rooftops, or other elevated surfaces can lead to catastrophic injuries. Slip and fall accidents often result in one or more broken bones.
Unfortunately, not every company creates safe environments for their employees. Construction sites, factories, and other industrial workplaces are prone to accidents. Falls from skyscrapers, amputations from equipment malfunctions, burns from chemical exposure, and explosions at the worksite can result in a catastrophic injury for the employees.
Certain high-impact sports such as football, rugby, hockey, and extreme sports, pose a risk of catastrophic injuries. These injuries can occur due to collisions, falls, and high-energy impacts, leading to spinal cord injuries, TBIs, and severe fractures. Since many of these injuries involve children, the lifetime costs for the family will be even greater.
The moving parts in any medical procedure can lead to a catastrophic injury for the patient. Anesthesia and surgical errors can be disastrous. On top of those, prescription blunders, delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and hospital-born infections can all lead to life-threatening results.
Intentional acts of violence such as assaults, shootings, stabbings, or domestic violence can cause catastrophic injury. These injuries may include gunshot wounds, severe head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and internal organ damage.
Engaging in recreational activities like diving, skiing, bungee jumping, or trampoline jumping carries the risk of catastrophic injuries, especially if the proper protocol is not followed. Spinal cord injuries, head trauma, and fractures can result from accidents during these activities.
Defects in consumer products, machinery, or equipment can lead to catastrophic injuries. Malfunctioning vehicles, faulty safety features, and poorly designed products can cause accidents resulting in severe harm.
It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive, and the causes of catastrophic injuries can vary widely. Each case is unique, and the circumstances surrounding the injury may require further investigation and analysis. These types of injuries are very complicated and often require numerous specialists to assess the physical and mental health of the injury victims.
In the state of Maryland, injuries are the most common cause of death for residents under the age of 45. Our Maryland personal injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long have won millions for our clients in over three decades of service. We are a leading personal injury law firm in the DC Metro Area and we are committed to protecting our clients’ rights. If any of the accidents listed above pertain to your story, call today for your free legal consultation with an expert legal advocate.
A personal injury lawsuit is filed by the injured victims in order to recover compensation for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. There are several parts to catastrophic injury cases, which is why it is essential to partner with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
At Regan Zambri Long, our injury lawyers will do all the heavy lifting. We deeply understand our clients are recovering from a devastating injury – their focus should be on that. Our focus will be on recovering the adequate compensation you deserve. Keep reading to see how a Regan Zambri Long personal injury lawyer will win your injury case:
The first step in any personal injury case is to determine whose negligence led to the accident that caused the injuries. In many cases, multiple parties can be held accountable. For example, let’s take medical malpractice cases. If you were catastrophically injured due to medical negligence, there are multiple people that could be responsible including the doctor, the nursing staff, the hospital, the anesthesiologist and many more.
Our injury lawyers will pinpoint all liable parties and make sure they are involved in the claim. In the state of Maryland, personal injury claims must be filed within three years from the date of the accident. While this may seem like a big window, it is in your best interest to obtain legal counsel as soon as possible. If personal injury claims are not filed within the statute of limitations, you will forfeit your rights to recover compensation. We will make sure your claim is filed correctly and on time.
The next step in all personal injury cases is to prove negligence. There are generally three steps in this process:
Maryland is one of only five jurisdictions left in the United States that still practices contributory negligence. This doctrine states that if the plaintiff (the person who filed the injury case) had any responsibility in the accident – even 10% – then he or she cannot seek compensation. Maryland defense attorneys are quick to jump to contributory negligence to get their clients off the hook.
However, our experienced injury lawyers know their tactics. We know the insurance company policies and we know the court system in Maryland. Our lawyers will build a rock solid case that proves you had no responsibility in the accident or your injuries. We will work tirelessly to secure the highest settlement possible.
Finally, the last step of the personal injury lawsuit is awarding damages to the victim. There are three types of damages you may collect when you win your case:
We understand that in the aftermath of a catastrophic accident, the very last thing on your mind is a lawsuit. You are dealing with severe physical pain, emotional trauma, and immense personal loss. However, our lawyers have also seen the extreme financial distress from a catastrophic injury. While we can’t change what happened to you, we can help alleviate your financial burden.
Our lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning we do not get paid until we secure a favorable settlement or verdict. Our law firm has the financial backing to hire top-notch professionals to assist with your case. This includes medical consultants, accident reconstruction specialists, and expert witnesses. Every single aspect of your case will be handled practically and financially by the Regan Zambri Long lawyers until we recover compensation for you and your loved ones.
No one ever thinks they will need a personal injury lawyer. Even though we meet our clients at their darkest hour, we strive to bring light to their situation. Call today for your no cost consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers to get the process started.
