Catastrophic Injury
After a major accident, you can face devastating injuries that require months of medical care. You may experience serious physical pain and wonder what to do to get your life back
The Johnson Law Firm in Pikeville, Kentucky, has represented many Kentuckians who have suffered various types of catastrophic injuries. We have seen how catastrophic injuries can devastate lives.
Every type of catastrophic injury has its own challenges. Severe pain, disfigurement, loss of work ability, loss of the ability to enjoy hobbies and life, and even death can occur.
If your injury was due to the negligence of another person or entity, the Johnson Law Firm may be able to assist you in receiving compensation for your injuries. Many of these accidents are preventable, and if negligence was involved in your accident, we believe you deserve compensation.
What Is A Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injuries occur every day. The CDC reports that 135,928 people died due to unintentional injuries in 2014, and 30.6 million visited ERs due to unintentional injuries. In some of those cases, the accident was due to the negligence of another party.
Catastrophic injuries can happen in a variety of circumstances. They can occur driving on an interstate, walking down a street, or simply performing chores in the home. They happen more often than you might think. Catastrophic injuries can include:
- Head injuries that cause loss of sight or hearing, difficulties with motor skills, or reduce cognitive functions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and Brain Bleed. The CDC reports there were 56,000 TBI deaths in the US in 2013.
- Spinal cord or neck injuries that cause partial or complete paralysis. There are approximately 17,500 spinal cord injury cases in the U.S. each year, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.
- Major burn injuries
- Scars and disfigurement
- Coma
- Internal organ damage, such as the lungs, heart or kidneys
- Amputation, crushed or broken bones. There are 185,000 amputations in the United States each year, with approximately 45% due to trauma.
- Death
Accidents and Other Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
- Car, motorcycle and commercial vehicle accidents: Motor vehicle accidents can cause many types of catastrophic injuries. When an accident occurs with a tractor trailer, the injuries can be disastrous and often fatal. Motor vehicle accidents often cause brain injuries, paralysis, and broken bones. In Kentucky in 2014, 672 people died on public roads.
- Construction or workplace accidents: Injuries on the job frequently can be catastrophic, particularly in construction work. The use of heavy construction equipment and construction materials can cause serious injuries such as broken bones, brain injuries and paralysis.
- Defective products: Whether the defective product is a car or truck, an electronic device or another consumer product, our personal injury attorneys at the Johnson Law Firm can help. We can, for example, work with people who have been hurt by Takata’s defective airbag inflators.
- Nursing home injuries: The number of Americans who are 65+ could reach up to 70 million by 2030, according to the US Census Bureau. The greater number of elderly Americans living in nursing homes means more cases of nursing home injuries and negligence. From poor nutrition to serious personal injuries, nursing home patients may not always get the care they deserve.
Possible Compensation for a Catastrophic Injury
The nature of your injuries will dictate the compensation you may receive. You could be entitled to the following:
- Payment of prior medical bills
- Payment of future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity in the future
- Compensation for pain and suffering in the past, present and future
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage.
In a case where the catastrophic injury led to death, the beneficiaries may be entitled to compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Kentucky does not have damage caps for personal injury lawsuits. There is no limit to the amount of compensation you can receive for your catastrophic injury in Kentucky.
Remember the Kentucky Statute of Limitations
Kentucky features a statute of limitations of one year for personal injury claims. You have only one year after the date of the catastrophic injury to file the claim. If you miss this important deadline, your case cannot be brought to court. So time is of the essence.
Contact A Kentucky Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, you need experienced legal representation immediately. Once the insurance company has been informed that a client may have caused a catastrophic injury, it will immediately dedicate ample legal resources to build its case. It is important for you to do the same.
The Johnson Law Firm will represent your legal rights and construct the strongest possible case to obtain the financial compensation you deserve. Attorney Billy Johnson handles catastrophic and personal injury claims throughout the state of Kentucky. Please contact our Pikeville office today for a complimentary case consultation: 606-437-4488.
Attorney Billy Johnson
William “Billy” Johnson grew up in the Dorton area of Pike County, Kentucky, and early on decided to stay in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Like many others in Eastern Kentucky, Billy’s dad worked as a coal miner, a hard job but one that taught his son how to meet challenges head on and persevere. Attorney Billy Johnson has years of experience helping injured clients with claims such as car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, wrongful deaths, work injuries, and more. [ Attorney Bio ]
