How Catastrophic Injuries Impact Families

When a catastrophic injury happens and the victim is a close loved one, the entire family suffers. Not only are the injuries severe and life-threatening, requiring immediate medical intervention, but the injured might also be the primary breadwinner for the family.

Understand that life will not return to normal anytime soon following a catastrophic injury. Unlike a moderate to severe injury, a catastrophic injury will permanently change the loved one. It is with the recognition that the injury is “catastrophic,” that you and your family need to fully understand the degree of care you will need in the future.

It is at this time that you need a plan to pursue long-term compensation from the at-fault party. Don’t let the insurance company for the negligent party attempt to offer you a settlement based on a severe injury, especially when the outcome from the catastrophic accident has not yet been fully realized.

Attorney Chip Nix has years of experience assessing the degree of injury you have suffered and what the long-term medical consequences will be including your financial needs moving forward.  

What is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is one that has severe complications and long-term injuries.  Unlike a regular injury, a catastrophic injury may lead to disability, long-term, and permanent changes.
Catastrophic injuries might include:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Paralysis
• Burn Injury
• Death
• Disfigurement
• Loss of eyesight or hearing

A catastrophic injury might result from the following accidents:

• Workplace Accidents – A workplace is a dangerous place to suffer an accident. We know from federal statistics that there were 36,500 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the workplace in 2018. A catastrophic injury may result from a fall, slip, or trip into a hole or from a high structure; being struck by machinery; losing a limb or being severely mangled by being drawn into machinery; an explosion caused by on-site volatile materials; or dangerous exposure to toxins on the job.
  
• Transportation Accidents – According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), transportation and material moving jobs had the highest number of workplace fatalities and injuries in Alabama in 2018.   This would include heavy and tractor-trailer accidents and roadway or pedestrian collisions. Motor vehicle accidents including truck and motorcycle accidents led to almost 50,000 injuries in Alabama, which has the third highest motor vehicle accident death in the country.  
  
• Defective Products – When a product is put into commerce, it comes with the promise that it is safe and effective. When that product injures the user, a product liability or defective product lawsuit should be filed to prove the company knew its product could injure users catastrophically and to punish the company for putting a defective product into commerce.

Your Catastrophic Injury Attorney

In the state of Alabama, we are dealing with the contributory negligence rule.  Your lawyer will have to fight efforts by the other side to suggest that you contributed to your own injuries and are at least partially at fault for the accident. This happens every day as a way for the insurance company to avoid paying for the liability caused by the at-fault party.

Mr. Nix suggests that immediately following your catastrophic injury, you involve a personal injury law firm that will advocate on your behalf. An experienced attorney will collect evidence, speak to experts, and prepare your case. You are also facing a statute of limitations which requires you to file an action within two years of your injury date in most cases.

Permanent Injuries

You have two years from the accident in Alabama to file a claim against the at-fault party. Some types of permanent injuries from a car accident include

• Disfigurement
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Amputations
• Nerve Injury
• Paralysis
• Blindness
• Severe Burns 

Establishing Negligence

Before we secure your damages, we must prove that the at-fault party was negligent, which led to your injuries. It doesn’t matter if you broke your back or your arm or have suffered a traumatic head injury; we must first establish negligence and determine whose negligence led to your injuries. 

Establishing Damages

Attorney Chip Nix has extensive experience establishing damages in a personal injury case. For example, in the case of a permanent injury, there may be no way the victim can return to his previous job and salary. In some cases, he can be reassigned with a reduced salary.

With your focus on the catastrophic injury and your treatment options comes the question of how you will pay for your medical care. Chip Nix has the experience and attention to detail to build a case on your behalf to seek compensation from the at-fault party.

Compensation may include long-term medical treatment, rehabilitation, damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, and loss of consortium. Mr. Nix will pursue the maximum compensation you are due which can sometimes include punitive damages to punish the responsible party when there is clear and convincing evidence the actions that caused your injury were willful, malicious, or grossly negligent.

Call our offices at 334-203-6669 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!