CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYER IN BELLEVUE
STANDING UP FOR VICTIMS LEFT WITH SERIOUS INJURIES AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN WASHINGTON
While most personal injury victims may find themselves dealing with a serious injury that may affect them temporarily, catastrophic injury victims often struggle with their accident’s long-term and likely permanent impact. Some of the most common catastrophic injury cases may occur due to an auto accident, medical malpractice case, or product liability case. Learn how catastrophic injury claims work in Washington and why getting the help of an attorney is recommended.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PERSONAL INJURY AND A CATASTROPHIC PERSONAL INJURY?
The types of injury a catastrophic injury victim may sustain vary from temporary partial disability to permanent, life-altering injuries such as spinal cord lesions, hearing or vision loss, traumatic brain injury, permanent scarring or disfigurement, and even loss of limbs (amputation). A catastrophic injury may also cause less visible damage to a victim, including mental deficits such as memory loss, neurological issues, and traumatic brain injuries that affect their ability to control their emotions, behaviors, cognition, and overall ability to be social and maintain the same lifestyle they had before the accident. A catastrophic injury victim may face a long and painful recovery process or may never fully recover and be permanently disabled.
WHAT TYPE OF DAMAGES MAY A CATASTROPHIC INJURY VICTIM BE ENTITLED TO?
As in any personal injury case, a catastrophic personal injury claim seeks to reimburse the victim for both economic and non-economic losses, referred to as ‘damages.’ Economic damages encompass the tangible financial losses sustained due to the accident, injury, and recovery process. Medical bills, the cost of future medical care, including rehabilitation or home health aide fees, prescription drug costs, and other medical expenses are all examples of economic damages. In addition, any wages lost due to the victim’s inability to return to work and any impacts on the victim’s future earning abilities may also be classified as economic damages.
However, because an accident of this magnitude affects a victim in more ways than just financially, catastrophic injury victims will also be entitled to receive non-economic damages. These are the more subjective effects of an accident and injury and often include mental and emotional distress, pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, limited capacity for activities a victim engaged in before the injury, and trauma resulting from the injury and recovery process. It is always a good idea to consult an attorney to discuss your case and understand what type of damages may be available to you.
ARE CATASTROPHIC INJURY CLAIMS MORE CHALLENGING THAN OTHER TYPES OF PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS?
While each case is unique, most catastrophic injury victims have sustained very significant damages. They are often left without the ability to earn their regular wages for many years or even permanently. Catastrophic injury claims can potentially be more challenging than other personal injury claims simply because the overall claim value is typically higher than a standard personal injury claim. Input from qualified medical and economic experts is commonly required.
In addition, insurance companies are not in the business of easily paying high settlements to any personal injury victim and may employ a series of common tactics to close out your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. The higher your claim value, the harder they may fight back, making it extremely important to recruit the help of a seasoned attorney to build a strong case and gather enough evidence to support your claim.
HOW SOON SHOULD I SPEAK TO A CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYER?
Even though Washington’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years from the date of the accident, it is not recommended to wait for that long. The longer you wait, the more challenging it may be to access the evidence necessary to support your case. The statute of limitations may be longer for minors. However, it’s best to consult with an experienced Bellevue personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that work to gather necessary evidence can begin. If you or a loved one were a victim of a catastrophic personal injury, get legal help immediately.
At Cascade Injury Law, PLLC, Bellevue, catastrophic injury victims can get the knowledgeable, professional legal help they need to reach a favorable outcome and get compensated for their life-altering injuries. Contact us at 425-654-8121 to see how we can help you.
