Learning About Catastrophic Injuries in Pennsylvania Accidents
Northeast Philadelphia Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
Suffering a catastrophic injury in an accident can dramatically change your life forever, and navigating an uncertain future of medical treatment and bills can be confusing and complex. If you or a loved one were involved in a serious accident that led to life-altering injuries, it is crucial that you enlist the support of an attorney who is skilled and experienced in personal injury law.
In this article, we will explore some of the most common catastrophic injuries following an accident and how you can be made whole financially in Pennsylvania following a catastrophic injury. If you need help with a catastrophic injury claim that caused severe or permanent harm to you or a loved one in Northeast Philadelphia, Buckingham, Croydon, Doylestown, Langhorne, Levittown, Yardley, or elsewhere in Pennsylvania, contact our experienced attorneys at Cohen & Riechelson. Our proven personal injury lawyers have achieved numerous successes seeking financial recoveries on behalf of clients throughout the state. We offer free consultations to best meet your needs and are happy to review your case free of charge. Contact our office in Bensalem, PA at (215) 337-4915 or fill out the easy-to-use intake form for a free consultation.
What Factors are Considered to Classify an Injury as Catastrophic?
A catastrophic injury is one that significantly or permanently affects an individual’s physical, mental, or cognitive abilities, including the ability to move, walk, hear, speak, or think. A catastrophic injury may permanently prevent an individual from engaging in certain normal activities or being gainfully employed.
These types of injuries permanently alter the victim’s life in a significant way. They also typically require extensive, expensive, and ongoing medical treatment and therapies. In many cases, an individual may require medical care for their injuries and related conditions for the rest of their life.
Different Types of Catastrophic Injuries in PA
Some common examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severe organ damage
- Burn injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Vegetative states
- Loss of sight
- Loss of hearing
- Disfigurement
- Amputations
Prevalent Accidents & Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries occur most often in high-impact motor vehicle accidents in which the victim hits their head very hard on the windshield or elsewhere, is crushed by the impact, is punctured by metal or another object, or is ejected from the vehicle. Oftentimes, these accidents involve vehicles traveling at high speeds, colliding head-on, flipping, hitting a tree, or catching on fire. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, and individuals traveling in small vehicles are at particular risk for catastrophic injuries in the event of a serious accident, as they benefit less from the weight of and sheet metal around a larger vehicle or one with a greater height that may raise a victim higher from the point of impact. However, drivers and passengers of vehicles of all sizes can experience catastrophic injuries in a serious motor vehicle accident.
Work Side by Side with a Seasoned Lawyer to Obtain Just Compensation after a Severe Injury Permanently Changes Your Life in Pennsylvania
Individuals who have suffered from catastrophic injuries as a result of an accident are often fighting for their lives or fighting to perform what used to be everyday tasks. Not only is navigating a catastrophic injury claim without a lawyer stressful, but it is also risky. You are facing a future of likely expensive, yet uncertain medical bills and it is vital that you handle your claim properly so that your medical expenses are fully covered by the individual who is responsible for causing your injuries.
In Pennsylvania, an injured party must file an injury claim against the party or parties responsible for causing their injuries within two years from the date of the accident. If a city or county in Pennsylvania or the State of Pennsylvania is responsible for your injuries, then you must file a notice of intent to sue within six months after the accident. If you prevail in your claim, either through a settlement or in a court judgment, you may receive compensation for your past, current, and future medical bills, physical therapy, psychological therapy, occupational therapy, temporary or permanent disability, disfigurement, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and, sometimes, punitive damages.
Proving Liability: The Key Component for Your Catastrophic Injury Claim to be Successful
There may be more than one party liable for your injuries, depending on the facts of your case. To be successful in your claim, you must be able to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the party’s conduct deviated from the legal standard of care they owed to you in the situation. In the example of a motor vehicle accident, you must prove that the party failed to drive as a reasonably prudent person under the circumstances. Then, you must prove that this breach of duty caused your injuries. Finally, you must prove the extent of your injuries and other damages.
In support of this, you and your lawyer may provide a copy of the police report of the accident, photos of the accident scene and property damage, a report and testimony from an accident reconstruction expert, and copies of your medical records, including doctor’s notes, diagnoses, treatment, and imaging reports. You may also submit information from your treating physician or an independent medical examiner (IME) about your temporary or permanent disabilities, limitations, and their expert medical opinion as to the cause of your injuries.
If your catastrophic injury causes you to not be able to return to work or not be able to return to the same or similar job position, your lawyer may recommend obtaining an opinion from a vocational expert to support a claim for lost wages and loss of earning potential.
Contact our Bensalem PA Catastrophic Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation About Your Claim
Remember, you do not have to face the insurance companies alone. Serious injuries require a serious and expert approach to recovering the compensation you are entitled to. Our team of personal injury attorneys has successfully handled countless claims involving catastrophic injuries to our clients in Lower Makefield, Warminster, Middletown, Morrisville, Northampton, Richboro, Newtown, Warrington, and places nearby Northeast Philadelphia & Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will not owe any legal fees upfront when you choose to work with us. We will only get paid a small percentage of the total amount of compensation you receive in a settlement or court judgment.
Together, we will work together to make sure that the financial consequences of your catastrophic injuries will be one important obstacle that is taken off your plate. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation about your case by calling (215) 337-4915 for injury or contact us online.