Catastrophic injuries involve damage to the brain, spinal cord, spine, or the loss of a limb. The bills associated with these injuries are astronomical, and many victims need lifelong care. Facing these kinds of tragedies can be overwhelming, especially if the pain and damage result from someone else’s negligence or malice.
If you or a loved one have suffered life-changing injuries from a vehicle accident, dog bite, or hazard on someone’s property, you need help understanding your options for compensation. A Horn Lake personal injury lawyer from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC can explain how to proceed in your situation. We offer free case evaluations with experienced attorneys who will work tirelessly for you.
Examples of Catastrophic Injuries
While you may experience severe injuries in a traumatic event such as a car crash, you can often recover and return to your normal life. Catastrophic injuries are even more serious, involving the spine, spinal cord, and brain. They may also include amputations or internal damage.
They can occur in various situations and usually require multiple surgeries, specialized treatment, and lengthy care plans. Victims of catastrophic injuries suffer extreme damage and are often disabled for the rest of their lives. Their injuries can involve multiple parts of the body, such as:
- Spinal cord
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Skull fracture
- Damage to the digestive tract
- Coma
- Severe burns
- Loss of a major sense, such as sight or hearing
- Loss of speech ability
- Birth injuries
If you slip and fall in a store and break an arm, you can expect the arm to heal quickly. However, if you suffer head trauma and can no longer care for yourself or work, you could claim a catastrophic injury. Such a fall could result in a permanent and drastic change in your quality of life, and you may need lifelong care.
When the victim is young, they and their families must face paying for decades of care. If a child is injured at birth due to someone’s carelessness, plans are needed for the child’s care during their lifetime and after their parents pass away. The amount of damages for a life of care and medical treatment can add up to millions of dollars.
Potential Damages in a Horn Lake Catastrophic Injury Claim
Catastrophic injury cases can be challenging to prove, but a skilled attorney will assess your situation and gather documentation to support your claim. Because these injuries can occur from a wide range of causes, making a successful argument that the damage is catastrophic takes experience. Some examples of cases are:
- A defectively manufactured skincare cream causes permanent scarring on a consumer’s face.
- An employee is injured in their workplace and left paralyzed.
- A pharmaceutical dispensing error results in a severe allergic reaction, leaving the victim with organ damage.
- A professional musician suffers nerve and tissue damage from a car door slammed on their hands.
In all these instances, the victims suffer lasting damage affecting their quality of life, health, and livelihoods. It is critical to have an experienced Horn Lake catastrophic injury lawyer help you calculate what damages to pursue because you must consider how much money you will need to cover your expenses for the rest of your life. In addition to economic costs such as medical treatment, you will need to factor in the non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.
Economic Damages
Common economic damages include:
- Full-time care, such as a private nurse or facility
- Initial and future surgery bills
- ICU or ER costs
- Medical or mobility devices
- Therapy costs (physical, psychological, and occupational)
- Loss of income
- Loss of earning potential
- Travel costs for medical treatment
- Home services such as cooking, cleaning, maintenance, and vehicle care
- House renovations to accommodate a disability
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages can be significant, including:
- Mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Amputation of one or more limbs
- Paralysis of one or more limbs
- Loss of bodily function
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
Mississippi allows you to receive compensation for all your economic damages but limits non-economic awards to $1 million. In cases of medical malpractice, the limit is $500,000.
When the person responsible for your injuries behaved in an especially reckless, malicious, or negligent manner, the judge may choose to award punitive damages. They are rare in Mississippi and are usually set at 2%-4% of the defendant’s net worth.
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Why You Need a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Horn Lake on Your Side
Arguing that your injuries and damages are catastrophic takes significant knowledge of the law. Instead of facing this burden by yourself as you recover, you can rely on your attorney and their professional team to handle all the work. A catastrophic injury attorney in Horn Lake will investigate and collect documentation supporting your claim for the payment you need.
Your Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC attorney will negotiate with insurance companies, pushing back until they reach a settlement that will cover all your losses. In court, our team will litigate aggressively to show how you have been hurt and the toll it takes on your life. We do not rest until our clients’ needs are met.
In civil cases such as these, you must prove the defendant did not uphold their duty of care and is guilty of neglect. Your Horn Lake catastrophic injury attorney will describe how the other person had a duty to consider others, failed in this duty, and that you suffered injuries and incurred damages as a result. Our legal team will collect videos, photos, witness statements, expert testimony, and medical records to demonstrate how the defendant’s negligence caused your pain and loss.
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Speak to a Horn Lake Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today
The statute of limitations for filing a claim in Mississippi is only three years from the date of your injury. Gathering evidence and building a successful case takes time, and you need the help of a qualified Horn Lake catastrophic injury lawyer to ensure nothing is left to chance. The attorneys at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC are ready to hear your side and prepare a strong claim for you or a loved one.
Do not wait to reach out to us for help. Critical evidence can be lost or damaged as your bills pile up. You should not face these difficult times alone. Contact us today for a free consultation using our convenient online form.