Catastrophic injuries are the most severe injuries imaginable. They often permanently impact a person’s quality of life and lead to expensive, ongoing medical care. When these injuries are caused by negligence, the injury victim should take every measure to ensure they get the compensation they’re entitled to.
The New Orleans catastrophic injury lawyers at Dudley DeBosier have years of experience helping people get the compensation and resources they need to get their lives back after a catastrophic injury. Though some injuries can’t be completely healed, an injury claim can provide victims and their families a lifeline that saves them from financial ruin.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in New Orleans or anywhere in Louisiana, Dudley DeBosier is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injuries are intense, life-altering injuries that usually result in physical, emotional, and financial challenges. These injuries significantly disrupt the core functionality of the injured person’s body, often resulting in permanent disability, chronic medical conditions, or a shortened lifespan.
Catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputations or Loss of Limbs
- Blindness
- Severe Burns
- Disfigurement
The consequences of catastrophic injuries go beyond immediate physical suffering and typically include profound impacts on mental health, the ability to earn a living, and the overall quality of life for the individuals affected as well as their loved ones.
The Costs of Catastrophic Injuries
The lifetime costs of catastrophic injuries can be staggering and vary widely depending on the nature and severity of the injury, the age at which the individual is injured, and the victim’s geographical location (due to differences in healthcare costs).
These costs include immediate and ongoing expenses for medical care, rehabilitation, specialized equipment, home and vehicle modifications, and personal care assistance. The victim’s loss of income and earning capacity is another financial blow. Here’s a breakdown to provide a clearer picture:
- Medical Expenses: These can include initial hospitalization, surgeries, ongoing medical care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation services, which can accumulate into millions of dollars over a lifetime.
- Specialized Equipment and Home Modifications: Wheelchairs, prosthetics, home modifications like ramps and stairlifts, and adapted vehicles are often necessary for mobility and independence. These require a significant investment, both initially and over time as needs and technologies evolve.
- Long-Term Personal Care and Assistance: Some catastrophic injuries may require full-time personal care assistance to perform daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
- Loss of Income and Earning Capacity: The inability to work or the limitation in the type of work an individual can perform post-injury leads to a significant loss of income and benefits, including lost career opportunities and retirement savings.
- Psychological Support: This can include counseling and mental health support for both the individual and their family members to cope with the emotional and psychological impacts of the injury.
- Miscellaneous Costs: There are also additional costs that might not be immediately apparent, including increased transportation expenses, specialized educational needs, and higher insurance premiums.
In many cases, the direct costs of a catastrophic injury can be millions of dollars. That doesn’t include the pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life associated with catastrophic injuries.
Seeking Damages Through Personal Injury Claims
Because the damages can be so costly, it’s important for people suffering from catastrophic injuries to consider all available options to help cover their expenses. If the injury was caused by another person’s negligence, the victim has a right to pursue compensation through personal injury claims.
In an injury claim, victims can seek payment for all the costs listed above. Working with an experienced injury lawyer is essential, as they can ensure all costs are factored into a claim. That’s important because once you accept an offer from an insurance company, you are typically limited to just that amount.
If you’ve been injured, you should know your rights. Insurance companies very rarely make offers to injured people that cover the full costs of their injuries. You DO NOT have to accept an insurance company’s first offer, and it’s typically not in your best interest to do so.
Before you accept an offer, speak to a lawyer who has a track record of handling catastrophic injuries. They can evaluate your case, review the insurer’s offer, and advise you on the steps needed to maximize your compensation.
How Our New Orleans Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Can Help
At Dudley DeBosier, we’ve helped tens of thousands of clients, recovering over $1.2 billion for injury victims. Our clients’ stories highlight our commitment to the people we represent. Our team understands the life-changing consequences of catastrophic injuries, and we fight to make sure our clients get the compensation they truly deserve.
Our goal is to let our clients focus on their health and recovery while we do the work of building a case on their behalf. That means we handle the paperwork, correspondence with insurance companies, conducting research, consulting expert witnesses, and demonstrating the full extent of our clients’ injuries.
When you hire Dudley DeBosier, you pay us nothing —no fees, costs, or expenses—unless we get you money. Our consultations are free, and you are under no obligation to move forward with our firm if you don’t wish to do so.
Contact Dudley DeBosier for a Free Consultation
The New Orleans catastrophic injury lawyers at Dudley DeBosier are proud to fight for injured people in our community. If you or a loved one has suffered serious, life-altering injuries, you need an advocate on your side. Contact our team today to schedule your free consultation.
