Catastrophic Injury Victim at the HospitalHow a Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You

Any injury can hurt and disrupt your life. However, some injuries hurt more and cause more disruption to your life than other injuries. Non-catastrophic injuries are those that are relatively minor and do not have a significant impact on your ability to function. These types of injuries may include sprains, strains, and minor fractures. Catastrophic injuries are severe and may impact every part of your life. These injuries may result in permanent disability or death.

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, it is essential to seek legal representation from an experienced Kansas City personal injury lawyer who can help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Common types of catastrophic injuries often include the following:

Traumatic brain injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when a person suffers a blow to the head that causes damage to the brain. These injuries can result in physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments.

Spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord is damaged, resulting in loss of sensation, movement, or function below the level of the injury. These injuries can result in paralysis or other forms of long-term disability.

Amputations

Amputations occur when a limb is severed completely from the body. This could happen at the accident scene or later due to the severity of injury or infection from accident injuries.

Severe burn injuries

Severe burns can result in extensive scarring, disfigurement, and loss of function. They can also lead to significant emotional trauma and require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Any of these injuries can change your life, cause pain, and require time off from work or school.

How Catastrophic Injuries Happen

Catastrophic injury or wrongful death may occur in any type of motor vehicle accident, including but not limited to:

  • Car crashes
  • Truck wrecks
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents

In some cases, catastrophic injuries may also occur after a dog bite, slip and fall, nursing home neglect, or sports-related accident.

What to Do After a Catastrophic Injury Accident

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, it is important to take immediate action to protect your legal rights and ensure that you receive the medical care and support you need. Here are some critical steps to take after a catastrophic injury:

Seek medical attention

The first and most important step after a catastrophic injury is to seek medical attention to diagnose your injuries, manage your pain, and keep your injuries from worsening.

Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer

Once you have received medical attention, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options and pursue compensation for your injuries.

Preserve evidence

It is essential to preserve any evidence related to your injury. Evidence may include photographs of the accident scene, medical records, witness statements, and other relevant documentation. Your lawyer can help you gather and preserve this evidence, which will be crucial in building a strong case and demonstrating the extent of your damages.

Keep track of expenses

Catastrophic injuries can result in significant expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with your injury. It is important to keep track of these expenses so that you can pursue compensation for them later.

Follow your doctor's orders

Following your doctor's orders and attending all recommended medical appointments and treatments is essential. This will help you recover from your injury and ensure that you have a complete medical treatment record, which will be important in your legal case.

Watch what you say

Anything you say or post online can be used against you, so it is important to avoid making statements that could be interpreted as admitting fault or downplaying the severity of your injuries.

These steps will help your Kansas City personal injury lawyer get you a fair recovery.

Catastrophic Injury Damages

If your injury was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party, you might be able to pursue compensation for your damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Here are some common types of damages that may be recoverable in a Kansas City catastrophic injury lawsuit:

Medical expenses

Catastrophic injuries often require extensive medical treatment, including surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. You may be able to recover compensation for all medical expenses related to your injury, including past and future medical bills.

Lost income

Catastrophic injuries can result in significant time off work and may even prevent you from returning to work in the future. You may be able to recover compensation for all lost wages, benefits, and earning capacity, including past and future income.

Pain and suffering

Catastrophic injuries can cause significant physical pain and emotional suffering, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. You may be able to recover compensation for all pain and suffering related to your injury, including physical and emotional distress.

Property damage

If your injury was caused by a car accident or other incident that also caused property damage, you might be able to recover compensation for the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle or other property.

Loss of consortium

If your injury has significantly impacted your ability to maintain a close relationship with your spouse or partner, you may be able to recover compensation for loss of consortium.

Wrongful death

In the most severe cases, catastrophic injuries may result in the wrongful death of a loved one. If this is the case, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit and recover compensation for your loss.

Punitive damages

In some cases, you may be able to recover punitive damages, which are designed to punish the responsible party for their negligence or recklessness. Punitive damages are typically only awarded in cases of extreme negligence or intentional misconduct.

It is important to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer to ensure that you receive full and fair compensation for your catastrophic injury. Your lawyer can help you calculate your damages, negotiate with insurance companies and other parties, and build a strong case to demonstrate the extent of your injuries and their impact on your life. By pursuing compensation for your damages, you can help ensure that you have the financial resources you need to move forward and rebuild your life after a catastrophic injury.

Brian Wallace
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Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney