Call Us atWhile any injury caused directly by someone else’s negligence can cause immense physical, financial, and personal losses, those losses are usually temporary in nature and can be reimbursed directly through financial compensation. However, certain types of injuries are so severe that no amount of money or professional medical treatment can completely erase the damage done, making the purpose of an ensuing civil claim more about minimizing long-term harm than overcoming it entirely.
If you have sustained a catastrophic injury due to another person’s misconduct, it may be especially vital for you to have help from a personal injury attorney with experience handling these uniquely complex and high-stakes claims. A knowledgeable Kenmore catastrophic injury lawyer could ensure you account for all your compensable losses and pursue every cent of the restitution you deserve.
Defining an Injury as Catastrophic
The term catastrophic injury is a colloquial phrase used to establish the severity of an injury in the eyes of insurance representatives, settlement negotiators, and civil judges or jury members. People generally understand it to describe an injury that will last for the rest of the impacted person’s life and cause a substantially debilitating loss of physical or cognitive function.
A spinal cord injury resulting in some form of permanent paralysis is a common example of a devastating injury, but the term can apply to many other injuries, from high degree burns to traumatic brain damage. Regardless of the specific nature of the injury, designating an injury as catastrophic indicates the injured person will need compensation for long-term losses they will experience months, years, and even decades after their civil case concludes, such as:
- Future costs of medical, rehabilitative, therapeutic, or maintenance care
- Costs of assistive equipment, in-home care, home and vehicle modifications, and other disability-related out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost future working and earning capacity, plus lost work benefits like health insurance
- Lost overall quality and enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Physical pain and suffering
A Kenmore attorney can discuss what losses should be factored into a catastrophic injury claim in more detail during a private initial meeting.
What Deadlines Apply to Catastrophic Injury Claims?
Even though catastrophic injuries are permanent by definition, people who sustain them through the negligence of another do not have unlimited time to file suit over their losses. Most of the time, Revised Code of Washington § 4.16.080 allows a maximum of three years after a catastrophic injury first occurs for any civil claim based on that injury to begin.
Some exceptions to this rule apply under specific circumstances—for example, when the injured person was a minor when they got hurt or when the person liable for the injury flees the state before litigation can begin. A catastrophic injury lawyer in Kenmore could determine which rules and restrictions might apply to a particular lawsuit or settlement demand.
Talk to a Kenmore Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today
Catastrophic injuries are life-altering, and they often stem from someone’s irresponsible or illegal conduct. When another’s negligent or wrongful act leads to you suffering a permanent and debilitating injury, they should pay for your injury-related losses.
Assistance from a Kenmore catastrophic injury lawyer could be crucial to ensuring you have the best chance of securing a positive case outcome. Learn more by calling today.
