Clear Lake Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Every year, residents of Clear Lake, TX, suffer catastrophic injuries after unexpected accidents. These injuries completely alter the course of their lives. Many people experience debilitating pain, lose their quality of life, and can no longer support their families. Catastrophic accidents can cause lasting physical and emotional trauma.
A Clear Lake catastrophic injury lawyer at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help you. Our team has more than 45 years of combined legal experience. We have helped put tens of millions of dollars back into our client’s pockets. We know that the stakes are high in catastrophic injury cases. That’s why we aren’t afraid to work hard to get you justice.
Call our office in Clear Lake, Texas, today at (936) 508-2854 to schedule a free consultation with a Clear Lake catastrophic injury attorney.
How Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Catastrophic Injury In Clear Lake
After a catastrophic injury in Clear Lake, TX, Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will fight to enforce your right to compensation. We can help you get money to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional suffering.
Our Clear Lake personal injury lawyers are locally and nationally recognized among the best of the best.
We are proud to have Board Certified civil trial lawyers on our team, and named:
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum Members
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- Expertise Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Houston – 2020
When clients come to us after suffering a catastrophic injury, our Clear Lake personal injury attorneys will:
- Investigate the accident
- Identify all defendants
- Calculate your damages
- Collect and review evidence
- Handle insurance claims from beginning to end
- Consult with experts on your case
- Request and review medical records
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Represent you at every court hearing and during the trial
We aren’t afraid of going to trial to get what you deserve. Our team has a wealth of experience advocating for clients in the courtroom. We will rely on this experience to get the best possible outcome in your case.
Call our office to schedule a free consultation with a Clear Lake catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as you can.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
There’s no singular definition of a catastrophic injury. Generally, a catastrophic injury is a permanent, life-altering injury. It is usually quite traumatic and can completely change the direction of someone’s life.
Many people who experience a catastrophic injury require constant care and ongoing medical treatment. They usually need a dedicated caretaker and completely lose their quality of life. People with catastrophic injuries generally suffer physically and mentally for the rest of their lives. Some people may learn to cope with their injury and live a fulfilling life, while others never will.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Amputations
- Loss of eyesight or hearing
- Organ damage or failure
Many people who have catastrophic injuries also have multiple coexisting injuries. The existence of more than one serious injury creates a debilitating prognosis. For example, a brain injury or spinal cord injury could lead to the loss of certain bodily functions or organ damage or failure.
What Kind Of Damages Are Available To Catastrophic Injury Victims?
Catastrophic injury plaintiffs can recover compensatory damages as a matter of right once they prove their case. Compensatory damages pay a plaintiff for their actual and predicted future losses. This can include both economic losses and non-economic losses.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are financial losses. These losses are tangible and easy to calculate.
In catastrophic injury cases, economic damages may include:
- Emergency medical bills
- Cost of surgeries
- Ongoing medical treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- In-home nursing care
- Inpatient or outpatient care
- Lost wages
- Lost employment benefits
- Lost future earning capacity
- Cost of pharmaceuticals
- Cost of therapeutic medical devices (like a wheelchair, for example)
- Home renovations to accommodate a permanent disability
- Increased domestic labor costs
- Increased transportation costs
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
We can prove your economic damages through evidence like medical bills, invoices, pay stubs, and credit card statements. It’s best to keep track of these documents after an accident so you can easily provide it all to your lawyer.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are intangible losses. This is often called pain and suffering. These damages can be significant in catastrophic injury cases.
Non-economic damages may include payment for:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional suffering
- Mental illness (such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression)
- Permanent disfigurement or scarring
In catastrophic injury cases, your non-economic damages could be more than your economic damages. We can help you calculate your non-economic damages so that you recover everything that you are entitled to recover.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?
Catastrophic injury lawyers in Clear Lake charge a contingency fee. This means that you pay the lawyer only if they win your case. If they lose, you aren’t obligated to pay anything.
Furthermore, the amount you pay depends on the outcome of the case. You will agree to pay a percentage of the damages at the beginning of the representation. Usually, it fluctuates between 33% and 40%, depending on the complexity of the case.
If the case goes on for a long time or results in a lengthy trial, you may pay a higher percentage than if the case settles quickly out of court. The benefit of a contingency fee arrangement is that you can always afford your lawyer since the fee comes directly from the damages.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Blamed For My Catastrophic Injury In Texas?
Texas applies a modified comparative fault law with a 51% bar. This means that you can still recover compensation as long as you are less than 51% responsible for the accident. If you are 51% or more at fault, then you can’t recover anything.
The amount that you can recover is proportionate to the defendant’s share of liability. For example, if you are 25% responsible and the defendant is 75% responsible, you will recover 75% of your damages. Alternatively, you are responsible for 25% of your damages because you are 25% responsible for the accident.
What Causes Most Catastrophic Injuries In Clear Lake?
Any type of accident can cause a catastrophic injury.
In our experience working in Clear Lake, most catastrophic injuries happen after a:
- Car accident
- Truck accident
- Motorcycle accident
- Bicycle crash
- Pedestrian accident
- Construction accident
- Workplace injury
- Defective product
- Slip and fall
- Medical malpractice
Sometimes, it’s obvious how an accident happened. Other times, it may not be as clear. We can help you investigate the incident to find out how the accident happened. This may reveal crucial evidence to prove your case. Without a thorough investigation, your catastrophic injury claim could fail.
How Do I Prove Negligence After A Catastrophic Injury In Texas?
Like most personal injury cases, catastrophic injury cases tend to revolve around negligence. That means the plaintiff must prove that the defendant was negligent to collect damages.
A defendant is negligent when they cause an accident because they failed to use reasonable care. Reasonable case is a legal term of art. It means using the same level of caution that a reasonable, ordinary person would use under the same circumstances.
There are four parts to every negligence claim. The plaintiff must prove each element by a preponderance of the evidence. That means that it is more likely than not true.
The elements are:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
The duty of care is a legal duty that we all owe to one another. It is a duty to act cautiously to avoid getting into accidents and harming others in a foreseeable way. If someone breaches that duty and causes an accident then they are legally liable for the damages.
How Long Do I Have To File A Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit In Texas?
Texas has a two-year statute of limitations. You have two years after the date you got hurt to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately, most people who have a catastrophic injury are consumed by doctor’s visits. Their attention is focused on other things besides filing a lawsuit.
A catastrophic injury lawyer can help you keep track of the statute of limitations. If you try to file a lawsuit after the deadline, the court will dismiss your case. You will lose all legal rights to damages. That means that the statute of limitations is arguably the most important deadline in your case.
Contact Our Clear Lake Catastrophic Injury Lawyers For A Free Consultation
The best decision you can make is to talk to a Clear Lake catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as possible. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers offers a free consultation for every new client. This consultation is an opportunity to learn more about our Clear Lake, TX, law firm and your legal options.
Call us to schedule a time to talk today.
