Burlington Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Just about any forceful impact can cause catastrophic injuries that forever reduce a person’s quality of life. Anyone who sustains such debilitating harm will require a skilled attorney such as the Burlington catastrophic injury lawyer who has provided strong and compassionate representation for injured individuals.
Federal law defines a catastrophic injury as rendering a permanent impairment that prevents gainful employment. But this type of injury is far worse than described in that legal terminology, saddling the injured and their families with extensive debt and life-long medical expenses. Contact a determined personal injury attorney who can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Catastrophic Injuries
Brain damage is caused by a blunt force. The Brain Injury Association says no two brains are the same. Therefore, the effects of blunt force can be varied among individuals, and the impacts can depend upon the location and severity of the injury. Brain damage alters the way someone moves, thinks, feels, and acts. Even falling off of a horse can sever or partially sever the spinal cord, and the area below wherever the injury happens can be paralyzed totally or partially.
Other examples of these debilitating injuries are amputations, loss of sight or hearing, severe burns, organ damage, and multiple bone fractures.
Catastrophic injuries can happen in various ways – vehicle wrecks, accidents at work, sporting activities, hobbies, military service, and even random or willful violence committed in the course of a crime.
Legal Remedies
People who sustain these injuries may use the legal system to be compensated for the monetary losses they have. The law involved is personal injury, and plaintiffs in personal injury cases aim to prove a negligent act.
North Carolina is one of 12 states that have adopted the contributory negligence doctrine. To encourage people to act safely, the doctrine prevents anyone who has any fault in causing harm from benefiting from it. They cannot collect any damages, and will have to rely on personal injury insurance.
Negligence has four building blocks called elements that a Burlington catastrophic injury lawyer would aim to prove. Duty of care is the first element, which requires that a person perform in a way that does not injure others or cause property damage.
If an act that violates that element is performed, the duty is breached. The breach caused the harmful event and the event caused the injury and losses.
Potential Damages
Families of catastrophic injury victims face steep expenses, so the law permits two types of damages – economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are expenses for medical care and home care, and loss of income that cannot be earned because of the injury. Non-economic damages are non-tangible, such as pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Since these are more difficult to place a figure on, juries are sometimes a bit dubious.
Filing a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit
A lawsuit is a vehicle for achieving damages. Preparing a lawsuit takes time, so it is wise to arrange a consultation with a Burlington catastrophic injury lawyer. The attorney can assess what happened and why, in order to determine if the case can win.
In personal injury cases, the law allows only three years to file a lawsuit with the proper court, or it cannot be brought up again.
It happens often that the personal injury case can be settled between the litigants. An attorney that has extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies that attempt to limit damages, can work to achieve full and fair compensation.
Speak with a Burlington Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one were involved in any type of accident due to the negligence of another person and sustained debilitating injuries, then do not hesitate to contact a Burlington catastrophic injury lawyer who can examine all of the aspects of your case, discuss your potential legal options, and help you to decide what the best steps are going forward.
