Any personal injury incident, whether it’s a car crash or workplace accident, has the potential to cause catastrophic injuries.
These injuries often come with lifelong difficulties, such as extensive medical care, chronic pain, or disability.
However, there are other emotional costs as well that greatly reduce the quality of life of the victim.
At Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., we tirelessly advocate for victims of negligent acts.
Our Phoenix catastrophic injury lawyers understand that you or your loved one may never truly recover from the physical aspects of their injury.
That’s why we use our extensive trial experience to fight for the compensation that may help ease the financial and emotional burdens on you and your family.
What Counts as a Catastrophic Injury?
Generally, a catastrophic injury is any harm that causes a person to suffer long-lasting or permanent disability.
In other words, the injury itself usually changes people’s lives in a few different ways, such as making it impossible to work or enjoy life.
Some examples of injuries that a Phoenix catastrophic injury attorney considers catastrophic include:
- Severe burns,
- Lung damage,
- Blindness,
- Deafness,
- Paralysis,
- Disfigurement,
- Amputation,
- Spinal cord injury, and
- Traumatic brain injury.
This broad definition encompasses many scenarios where a victim may have life-altering injuries.
As a result, every catastrophic injury case has unique circumstances and losses. Some might involve an excessively long recovery, while others result in permanent damage.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
While some personal injury incidents are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries than others, they happen in all types of situations.
However, some of the most common causes include things like:
- Car collisions,
- Truck crashes,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- Workplace accidents,
- Defective products,
- Slip and falls, and
- Criminal acts.
The one thing that all of these causes have in common is the potential for negligent or intentional harm. In both cases of negligence and cases of intentional harm, the responsible party should be held accountable for their actions.
Even if you don’t see the specific cause of your injuries here, we encourage you to reach out to a catastrophic injury attorney in Phoenix to discuss your case.
Types of Potential Compensation
Like any personal injury case, there are a number of losses victims may pursue as part of their claim.
In Arizona, these losses fall into one of two categories: economic and non-economic. Each category covers different types of losses based on their specific impact.
Economic damages, also known as special damages, include the current and future financial losses of the victim. This is an important category of damages in catastrophic injury cases due to the future impact of the injuries themselves.
Victims may seek several losses under this category, including:
- Ambulance fees,
- Hospitalization costs,
- Medication and treatment expenses,
- Property damage repair/replacement,
- Lost wages due to recovery, and
- Diminished earning capacity.
Since this includes future losses, victims may specifically seek compensation for future treatment or even accessibility accommodations. For many catastrophic injury claims, these are the losses that make up the foundation.
Non-economic damages, or general damages, are slightly different.
This category includes any intangible physical or emotional losses of the victim, such as:
- Loss of quality of life,
- Mental distress,
- Permanent disability,
- Disfigurement, and
- Pain and suffering.
These losses are incredibly personal and vary from person to person.
As a result, many Phoenix catastrophic injury attorneys calculate them on an individual basis. Ultimately, it depends on how these losses affect the victim’s life. For some, mental distress may cause more damage than any chronic pain.
The Unique Challenge of Catastrophic Injury Claims
At first glance, a claim involving catastrophic injuries may seem like any other personal injury case.
However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Catastrophic injuries carry a much higher burden than other types of injuries; thus, these claims present unique challenges.
For example, if the victim loses a limb, there are many future consequences a Phoenix catastrophic injury attorney takes into consideration. Perhaps a person works in construction and can’t continue that line of work.
In addition, they may need a prosthetic limb or some accessibility conversions for their home. Over time, these costs pile up and leave the victim struggling financially.
This alone is one of the ways that a catastrophic injury claim differs from other cases.
Why Choose Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. for Your Case
In catastrophic injury claims, there are many things at stake for the victim.
Since these injuries are life-changing, having a Phoenix catastrophic injury lawyer on your side is essential.
At Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., our attorneys know the impact these injuries have on the lives of victims and their families.
With extensive trial experience, we aggressively fight for the well-being of our clients.
This means providing competent, knowledgeable service while managing the different aspects of your case, like:
- Gathering evidence from the scene of your injury,
- Contacting potential witnesses to your injury,
- Negotiating a settlement with the defense on your behalf,
- Keeping track of the statute of limitations for your case,
- Finding you high-quality medical care, and
- Preparing the case for trial if necessary.
Our number one goal is to provide the best outcome possible for you and your family through compassionate advocacy. For us, there is no substitute for hard work and personable care.
Contact a Phoenix Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today
Catastrophic injuries are incredibly devastating for victims. If you sustain any serious injuries that reduce your quality of life, don’t try to fight alone.
At Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., we are dedicated to helping fight for the compensation victims need after such life-altering injuries.
To schedule a free consultation with a Phoenix catastrophic injury attorney, please send us a message or call us at 575-222-1000.