Youngsville Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Youngsville Catastrophic Injury Attorney

Youngsville residents regularly travel on Highway 89 and Chemin Metairie Parkway, where both passenger vehicles and large commercial trucks share the road. When a truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic. A Youngsville personal injury lawyer can help accident victims pursue compensation, while a Youngsville catastrophic injury lawyer can provide experienced representation for those facing life-changing injuries.

Experienced Catastrophic Injury Lawyers in Youngsville

Catastrophic injuries often come with difficult laws that can affect the compensation you might receive. At Sanchez Burke, LLC, we are experienced in applying these laws and explaining them to our clients in easy-to-understand terms. We can plan a roadmap outlining your next steps in your personal injury claim.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is a type of personal injury. Personal injuries range in severity. However, catastrophic injuries are more severe.

An injury is considered catastrophic if it leads to permanent disability. Something like a broken arm is usually not enough to be considered catastrophic. It takes lasting damage that affects your ability to work and enjoy hobbies like you used to. A catastrophic injury will:

• Be severe and permanent. These injuries involve significant and long-lasting damage to the body. Many catastrophic injuries affect the central nervous system, although this is not a prerequisite for consideration under this category.
• Cause functional impairment. Catastrophic injuries result in a loss of physical or cognitive function. The injured person may have difficulty communicating, performing daily activities, or maintaining mobility.
• Require extensive medical care. The victims of catastrophic injury accidents typically require long-term medical care, including rehabilitation and personal assistance.

Due to the level of impact catastrophic injuries have on your life, they often result in higher amounts of damages than other kinds of personal injuries. They also take longer to resolve due to the higher amount requested.

Common Examples of Catastrophic Injuries

Any injury that causes a serious, lasting disability can be considered catastrophic. However, there are some types of injuries that are more likely to fall into this category than others. They include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations
• Severe burns
• Hearing or vision loss
• Multiple bone fractures

If you’re not sure whether you have an actionable catastrophic injury claim, the first thing you should do is reach out to a personal injury lawyer who can evaluate your case and help you determine how to move forward with it.

Common Sources of Catastrophic Injury Claims

Catastrophic injury claims originate from serious accidents and intentional acts. Some of the most common sources of catastrophic injury claims include:

• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Severe car crashes
• Falls from heights
• Construction site accidents
• Sports accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Intentional acts of violence

No matter who is at fault, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries and the other damages you have suffered. A catastrophic injury attorney can help you determine who was liable for your accident and take steps to hold that person accountable for paying for your current and future medical needs.

Proving Liability in a Catastrophic Injury Claim

To prove that you deserve damages in a catastrophic injury claim, you need to prove that the accident happened. You also need to prove that the person responsible was negligent and that their actions directly caused the injuries. To do this, you need several forms of evidence, including:

• Police reports. In the event of a car accident or other major incident, police reports are often prepared by officers on the scene. These reports include important details, such as who was involved, where the accident happened, and other relevant details. Other details about the accident might provide clues about who caused it and why. You can file a report by contacting the Youngsville Police Department.
• Medical documents. After experiencing a catastrophic injury, most people go to the hospital for medical treatment. This creates records that are important for proving the scope of your injuries. Bills can also help estimate the overall cost of your injuries.
• Videos and photos. Any photos from the accident scene can help. If the accident happened near any businesses, they might have surveillance cameras that captured it before it happened. Also, check whether any of the vehicles involved have dash cameras that recorded the collision.
• Statements from witnesses. Anyone who saw the injury happen may have their own perspective on the reasons behind it. This can be valuable in a catastrophic injury claim because third parties do not directly benefit from blaming one side or the other. Their testimony is often seen as more neutral.
• Perspectives of friends and family. Catastrophic injuries also affect the loved ones of the victims. They witness firsthand how the accident affected your ability to live your daily life. Friends and family can offer insight into the extent of the accident’s damage, beyond simple medical bills and other costs.

Your attorney can help you collect these and other forms of evidence to support your claim. Most people cannot stop taking photos of the accident scene before seeking medical attention for a catastrophic injury, but your attorney can work with an accident recreation professional and use the information from the police report to determine exactly what happened and who caused your injuries.

Types of Damages Recoverable in a Catastrophic Injury Case

There are three types of damages you can recover via a catastrophic injury claim. Economic damages cover losses such as:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
• The cost of rehabilitation and long-term care
• Expenses associated with home modifications and assistive devices

Non-economic damages are slightly different. They’re generally more difficult to quantify and are calculated because of the severity of your injuries, how much you are awarded in economic damages, and/or how long your injuries last. Non-economic damages often awarded in catastrophic injury cases include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disfigurement

In Louisiana, the family members of someone who has been severely injured to the point where they can no longer perform the same functions in the home can file claims to seek compensation for a loss of affection, companionship, or household assistance, as well.

The final type of damages available to catastrophic injury victims is known as punitive damages. Courts in Louisiana very rarely award punitive damages, so you should not expect this in your case unless your attorney tells you that you will receive them. Unlike the compensatory damages described above, punitive damages are intended to punish the person who caused your catastrophic injury and deter similar behavior in the future.

Pure Comparative Fault and Catastrophic Injury Settlements

Louisiana is a pure comparative fault state, which means you may still be eligible to receive compensation if you were partially at fault for the accident that caused your injuries. Louisiana accident victims are allowed to seek damages even if they were mostly to blame. To implement this legal precedent, the court will:

• Apportion fault. A judge or jury will decide what percentage of fault for the accident should be assigned to you vs. another liable party.
• Reduce damages. Your damages will be reduced depending on the amount of fault you were apportioned.
• Recovery. You can still recover damages even if you were 99% at fault for the accident.

Because damages are reduced commensurate with your percentage of fault, you’ll receive less money from your initial settlement if you are assigned more of the blame. If you were 10% at fault for a car crash, for example, you’ll receive 90% of the initial settlement you were offered before fault was apportioned.

Louisiana Prescriptive Periods

Louisiana has an exceptionally short prescriptive period in which you are allowed to file a claim. You shouldn’t wait until the prescriptive period is about to expire to contact a Youngsville catastrophic injury attorney. Reach out to our office as soon as you realize you’ve been injured, while evidence is still easy to collect and your recollection of the event is accurate.

Catastrophic Injuries and Life Care Plans

A life care plan is a comprehensive document that details a person’s medical and non-medical needs over a lifetime. Having a life care plan in place can help you make sure that you receive sufficient compensation to pay for 100% of your damages, including future damages. To build these plans, we often work with:

• Vocational rehabilitation professionals
• Forensic economists
• Life care planners

Life care plans need to cover all the costs associated with providing you with ongoing care for your injuries. They can include:

• 24/7 in-home nursing care
• Custom wheelchair-accessible home modifications
• Customized transport vehicles
• Lifelong unique therapies

You can work with your catastrophic injury lawyer to come up with a life care plan that accurately details the extent of the care you’ll need.

Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Youngsville, LA

The average household size in Youngsville is 3 people. If one of them undergoes a catastrophic injury, it can affect everyone else within the home. That’s why it is important to work with an attorney to reduce the impact a catastrophic injury has on a family.

These injuries deserve compensation. However, this is easier said than done. Insurance companies do not like compensating people after catastrophic injuries because it is expensive.

They might claim that you were injured outside of the accident and, therefore, are not entitled to compensation from the insurance company. They can also downplay the severity of your injuries. An attorney is prepared to deal with both scenarios. They regularly communicate with insurance companies to get what you deserve.

When you hire a catastrophic injury lawyer, you’re getting more than just access to someone who knows catastrophic injury laws. Your lawyer will advocate for you every step of the way and handle all the details of your claim so that you can focus on healing and finding ways to move forward with your life.

Sanchez Burke, LLC has vast experience working with victims of personal injuries. We have recovered damages for countless clients who are struggling to recover from injuries while trying to pay medical bills and keep the lights on. We aim to provide support for people facing hardship through no fault of their own, with compensation from a catastrophic injury claim.

FAQs About Catastrophic Injury Law

What Would Be Considered a Catastrophic Injury?

What would be considered a catastrophic injury is anything that permanently changes the way you live your life. This normally includes things like amputated limbs or severe brain damage. These injuries place limits on the victims in ways they were not limited before the accident. Catastrophic injuries are often more expensive to manage and treat than other personal injuries.

What Is the Hardest Catastrophic Injury to Prove?

The hardest catastrophic injuries to prove are usually related to mental injury. This is because severe brain injuries might not be noticed immediately. It could take a while to even realize the injury happened. This can cause insurance companies to claim that you were injured after the accident to avoid paying out.

What Proof Should I Gather After a Catastrophic Injury?

The proof you should gather after a catastrophic injury includes things like police reports and medical records. Any expenses related to your injuries should also be documented, and their receipts should be kept. If there is any video footage of the accident, or if you know anyone who saw it happen, getting their contact information is also a good idea.

Who Is Responsible for My Catastrophic Injury?

Who is responsible for your catastrophic injury depends on who caused the accident. This could be another driver, a building owner, or even a healthcare provider in cases of catastrophic medical malpractice. The person had to have been acting negligently to be responsible. This can be intentional or accidental. The negligence has to be directly connected to the accident.

Youngsville Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Suffering an injury of any kind is difficult. It can impact your quality of life, your ability to work, and leave you with a lifetime of medical bills. Get the support you need to pursue the compensation you deserve. Our team has the knowledge and experience you need. Schedule a consultation with Sanchez Burke, LLC to connect with our experienced legal team and learn more.