Have you or someone you love suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of a car crash, truck collision, or slip and fall incident? No matter the exact cause of your injuries, situations like these can leave victims facing physical, emotional, and financial hardships.
Not only are you in pain and distress, but you’re also likely trying to figure out how to seek justice amid confusing legal jargon. However, you are not alone in this—a catastrophic injury lawyer in Overland Park is the one to call when you’re not sure what to do next.
At Foster Wallace Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re here to support you as your Overland Park personal injury lawyer. We have 45 years of combined legal experience, and we’ve recovered over $1 billion in compensation for those injured as a result of someone else’s negligence.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Overland Park
Catastrophic injuries can happen in virtually any setting, but some scenarios are more common than others. These are examples of situations that often leave victims grappling with catastrophic injuries:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and truck collisions remain a leading cause of catastrophic injuries. High-speed collisions, head-on impacts, and crashes involving pedestrians or bicyclists can all result in devastating physical trauma.
- Commercial truck accidents: Semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles pose a major risk on highways, especially local ones, like I-435 or I-35. Due to their size and weight, collisions involving large trucks often lead to far more serious injuries than those involving passenger vehicles.
- Workplace incidents: Workers in the construction, manufacturing, and agriculture industries often face daily hazards. Falls from heights, machinery-related accidents, and exposure to harmful substances can all cause catastrophic harm. Employers in Kansas are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, but serious injuries may also lead to third-party liability claims in certain situations.
- Falls and premises liability: Falls from ladders, down the stairs, or on dangerous properties can cause spinal injuries, brain trauma, or fractures. Property owners who fail to maintain safe conditions may be held responsible for the consequences.
- Medical malpractice: Surgical errors, the failure to diagnose serious conditions, and birth injuries are examples of catastrophic harm that can occur in a healthcare setting. These claims often involve complicated medical and legal matters.
- Violence and intentional acts: Gunshot wounds, stabbings, and physical assaults can result in catastrophic damage. Thankfully, Kansas state laws allow victims of intentional harm to pursue civil claims in addition to criminal proceedings.
- Defective products: Faulty vehicles, malfunctioning machinery, or dangerous consumer products can all cause life-altering injuries. In Kansas, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers alike can all be held liable under product liability laws.
Your catastrophic injury attorneys in Overland Park can work with you to uncover the root cause of the incident that changed your life.
Long-Term Consequences of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries affect more than just the physical health of victims. They often result in dramatic shifts in a person’s quality of life, family dynamics, and financial stability.
More specifically, these are common consequences of catastrophic injury cases:
- Loss of earning capacity: Many people with catastrophic injuries are unable to return to their previous jobs. In worst-case scenarios, victims of these incidents cannot hold down any form of employment after getting injured. Even those who can work may be limited in their hours, job type, or advancement potential.
- Lifelong medical care: Survivors of catastrophic injuries may need to attend routine medical appointments, take prescription medications, undergo long-term physical therapy, use assistive technology, and hire home health aides for years to come, if not for the rest of their lives.
- Psychological impacts: Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and social withdrawal are common among people who’ve experienced traumatic injuries. These emotional consequences often affect both the injured individual and their loved ones.
- Changes in personal relationships: The burden of caregiving, physical limitations, and emotional strain can significantly alter family roles and relationships in the aftermath of the incident that left you injured.
- Loss of independence: Many catastrophic injury survivors have to rely on others for daily tasks, transportation, and mobility as a result of their injuries. This loss of autonomy can be incredibly difficult to cope with.
- Home modifications and adaptive needs: Wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, specialized vehicles, and accessible bathrooms are often necessary to accommodate permanent disabilities.
Your Overland Park catastrophic injury lawyers can take on the task of demonstrating the full impact of your injuries. This information will strengthen your claims as you pursue the compensation and accountability you rightfully deserve.
Contact our Kansas city personal injury lawyers now.
Statute of Limitations for Catastrophic Injury Cases
In Kansas, the standard statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the date of the injury. This applies to the majority of catastrophic injury cases, including those caused by motor vehicle crashes, premises liability, or defective products.
Special notice requirements and shorter deadlines often apply for claims against government entities. For instance, you may have 12 months or less to file a written notice to the appropriate government agency.
Failing to file a claim before the deadline can result in your case being dismissed altogether, no matter how serious the injuries are. However, a catastrophic injury attorney in Overland Park can help you make sure you adhere to all deadlines that apply to your case.
Reach Out to Our Overland Park Catastrophic Injury Law Firm Today for More Information About What We Can Do for You
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, it might feel like all hope is lost, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While the physical, emotional, and financial toll of the situation can feel overwhelming, you don’t have to face these difficulties all on your own.
Instead, reach out to the law firm of Foster Wallace as soon as possible. Our catastrophic injury attorneys in Overland Park know how to handle cases like yours, and we are here to guide you through every step of the legal process.
We’ll work hard in pursuit of the compensation you need to move forward with your life. Don’t delay—contact us now. Let us help you take the first step toward the justice you deserve.
