If you or someone close to you has recently suffered a catastrophic injury, the attorneys with Butler Kahn understand the overwhelming physical, emotional, and financial pressure you’re likely under. Coping with the aftermath of such a life-changing event can be incredibly challenging – and navigating the legal system is probably the last thing you want to think about at a time like this. That’s why you need a catastrophic injury lawyer who can provide personalized legal advice and pursue compensation on your behalf.
That’s exactly what you’ll find at Butler Kahn. We are serious lawyers for serious injury cases. Our team has the experience, resolve, and reputation you can trust with yours. We carefully limit the cases we take so we can provide each client with the attention and support they deserve when dealing with life’s toughest challenges. Our track record of multi-million dollar awards and settlements demonstrates our commitment and results-oriented approach.
Let us go to work for you while you focus on your health and recovery. Contact Butler Kahn when you’re ready to speak with one of our Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyers for free.
What Types of Injuries Are Considered Catastrophic?
Catastrophic injuries result in severe, long-term, or permanent damage to the body, often leading to significant disabilities and loss of function. They can be life-altering, requiring extensive medical treatment, ongoing care, and lifestyle adjustments. Common examples include the following:
- Brain injuries – A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result from a sharp blow to the head or other trauma that violently shakes the brain inside the skull. Catastrophic accident victims with TBIs often suffer permanent brain damage, leading to physical and cognitive impairments.
- Spinal injuries – An injury to the back can damage the spinal cord. Depending on the location and severity of the damage, a spinal cord injury can cause partial or complete paralysis below the injury site.
- Burns – Severe burns can affect the outer layer of the skin or the soft tissues below it. They often result in scarring, disfigurement, and permanent disability. Burns can also cause respiratory distress and other complications that require extensive medical treatment.
- Broken bones – Severely broken bones can be catastrophic injuries. They are especially severe if multiple bones are affected or the break punctures the skin. Broken bones can also result in secondary complications, such as nerve and tissue damage or infections.
- Amputations – An amputation is the full or partial removal of an extremity. Amputation can be caused either by the violent trauma of an accident or a medical procedure because of irreversible damage to the affected body part. An amputation can have significant physical and psychological consequences, including chronic pain, mobility issues, and loss of quality of life.
- Severe neck injuries – Severe neck injuries cause debilitating pain, discomfort, and limited movement that can last for months or even years and make everyday activities difficult.
What Kind of Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries?
Any number of common accidents in the Atlanta area can lead to catastrophic injuries, including the following:
- Car accidents – High-speed crashes, head-on collisions, and other dangerous types of car accidents often cause catastrophic injuries.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders are at considerable risk for catastrophic injuries due to their relative lack of protection and direct exposure to the force of a collision.
- Bicycle accidents – Bicyclists are more vulnerable to catastrophic injuries than vehicle occupants for the same reason that motorcyclists are, with the added risk factor of their low speed and maneuverability.
- Work-related accidents – Workers in certain high-risk industries like construction and transportation are more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries on the job.
- Pedestrian accidents – Pedestrians lack any protection in the event of a traffic accident, making these road users more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries that impair them for life.
- Slip and fall accidents – Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere and, depending on the nature and severity of the fall, can have catastrophic consequences.
How Is a Catastrophic Injury Claim Different from a Personal Injury Claim?
The main difference between a catastrophic injury claim and other personal injury claims is the severity and permanency of the injury on which the claim is based. Accident victims with catastrophic injuries often suffer lifelong physical, mental, or emotional challenges due to their injuries – which come at a considerable cost. As a result, these victims need and deserve far more compensation for the harm they suffered.
How Is Fault Proven in a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
Personal injury law is built on the principle that anyone who causes harm to another person is financially responsible for the consequences of that harm. So if you can prove that someone else is to blame for your catastrophic injuries, you can also establish that they should compensate you accordingly. To do this, your attorney will gather evidence like:
- Photos and video footage
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert testimony
- Police officer crash reports
- Medical records
- Driving records
- Employment records
Your lawyer will then use this evidence to argue that the other person’s actions directly led to your catastrophic injury. They will also show how your injury had specific consequences on your life, like medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
How Much Compensation May Be Available in a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
The amount of compensation available in a catastrophic injury claim could vary based on the extent of the physical, personal, and financial losses you suffer. With an Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyer’s help, you could recover compensation for the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Household services
- Lost wages and benefits
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship
How Long Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?
Georgia law establishes deadlines for filing lawsuits after injury accidents, including those that result in catastrophic injuries. For most personal injury lawsuits, victims must file within two years of the accident or risk losing their right to sue. The best way to avoid missing important deadlines or losing money to other preventable mistakes is to work with a catastrophic injury lawyer from day one.
Contact an Atlanta Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
If you are reading this page because you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident, we hope you are receiving the medical care you need and are recovering. We hope the information on this page has been helpful. If you’d like to talk with us about your situation, call us or contact us online. There is no charge to talk with us about your case.
