Catastrophic Injury

Houston Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Some injuries are so severe that your life will change forever. You might struggle with a permanent disability and find yourself unable to work. You may never be able to enjoy life in the same way again. When you suffer a catastrophic injury and someone else is to blame, you could be entitled to a significant financial award. Let the Houston catastrophic injury lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers help you fight to get every last dollar you deserve.

You probably have many questions. Don’t hesitate to contact our Houston law office to schedule a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys will sit down with you, review your case, and help you understand your legal rights and options. Call us at (713) 500-5000 today.

What is a Catastrophic Injury?

Generally speaking, a catastrophic injury is one that fundamentally changes your life. A catastrophic injury typically causes permanent damage, impairs your ability to function, and substantially interferes with your day-to-day activities. 

A catastrophic injury can also be defined as one that “permanently prevents an individual from performing any gainful work.” In other words, the direct and indirect consequences of the injury are so significant that you’re unable to earn a living to support yourself and/or your family

Most commonly, catastrophic injuries affect the head, brain, and/or spinal cord. However, any injury can potentially be classified as catastrophic if it is severe enough. 

Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

When you’re involved in an accident or traumatic event of any type, there’s a chance that you will get hurt. Depending on the severity of your accident, your injuries could be catastrophic. At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we advocate for clients who have sustained catastrophic injuries as a result of:

Catastrophic injuries can also be a consequence of an assault or attack. No matter why or how you’ve been injured, our seasoned lawyers will be there to help. Give our law firm a call today to arrange a free initial case assessment to learn more.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Again, any injury can potentially be categorized as catastrophic. It ultimately depends on how pervasive and extensive the trauma is. We regularly represent accident victims in catastrophic injury cases involving:

Traumatic Brain Injury

The brain is so important to our ability to function and thrive. When you’re involved in a traumatic accident, however, the brain can be injured. The force of trauma can cause the brain to move violently in the skull, resulting in bruising, damage, and excessive bleeding. A penetrating head injury can cause extensive trauma to the brain and result in permanent damage.  

When you suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), your ability to speak and communicate with others can be compromised. Your executive functions could be impaired, meaning that you might not be able to think clearly or process information properly. TBIs can limit or prevent mobility and cause significant changes in your ability to regulate your emotions.

Spinal Cord Injury

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs from the base of your skull to your tailbone. It connects the brain with the rest of your body. When the spinal cord is damaged or destroyed, communication shuts down below the level of the injury.

So, the higher on the spinal cord the trauma, the more significant the injury. For instance, a spinal cord injury in the neck or upper back could result in permanent paralysis from the neck down. An injury lower on the cord might only result in partial paralysis of the lower limbs.

Victims of spinal cord injuries often struggle with partial or complete paralysis. Others have problems regulating their temperatures, difficulty breathing, and challenges communicating. Many spinal cord injury victims rely on medical devices and equipment, while others are forced to rely on other people to help them accomplish normal everyday tasks.

Amputation

Few injuries are as traumatic as losing a limb. The impact of an amputation injury often depends on the extremity you lose. Many victims of a traumatic amputation find that they struggle with day-to-day tasks, such as eating, bathing, and getting dressed. Losing a limb can prevent individuals from driving, walking, and engaging in many different types of work. 

It’s not uncommon for amputation victims to require substantial rehabilitation and physical therapy to relearn how to perform common tasks with their new bodies. However, many will find that they are unable to engage in activities they once enjoyed because of their injury. This can, and often does, lead to severe emotional distress and suffering.

Burns

Some burns are so pervasive that victims sustain significant tissue loss and bone damage. This can impair mobility, cause chronic pain and disfigurement, and even lead to the need for a surgical amputation. In turn, this can cause permanent disability and prevent a burn injury victim from going back to work. 

Chest Injuries

Injuries to the chest are incredibly common. Unfortunately, they’re also among the most dangerous. Thoracic injuries account for about one out of every three trauma-related deaths in the United States. For chest injury victims who survive, it’s not uncommon to struggle in the days, months, and years that follow a traumatic event. A chest injury can cause significant damage to the ribs, internal organs, and even the spinal cord. 

Internal Injuries 

Sometimes the consequences of an accident aren’t noticeable right away. However, that doesn’t mean that you haven’t been injured. It also doesn’t mean that any injuries you’ve sustained aren’t catastrophic. Internal injuries – including ruptured organs, internal bleeding, and swelling – can be life-threatening if not treated right away. Even if you do secure immediate medical care, complications can cause permanent damage and fundamentally change your life forever.

What Are the Costs Associated With a Catastrophic Injury?

Don’t let insurance companies discount the impact a catastrophic injury can have on your life. Remember, an injury is categorized as catastrophic because the consequences will be so pervasive and severe. Depending on your age, overall health, and extent of your trauma, your injury could easily have long term consequences and cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars – or more – over the course of your life. 

Costs and expenses that are associated with many catastrophic injuries include:

  • Hospitalization
  • Surgery, both corrective and cosmetic
  • Medication
  • Medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs, hospital beds, chair lift, respiratory devices)
  • Modifications to your home and/or vehicle
  • Rehabilitation and therapy
  • Lost income and wages
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Permanent disability, and
  • Counseling.

Those are just the financial costs of your catastrophic injury. An injury of this severity will also likely take quite a toll on your emotional wellbeing and mental health. Those consequences are no less devastating or costly. 

You deserve to be compensated for all of the costs associated with your catastrophic injury. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers will work hard to make that a reality for you. Our Houston catastrophic injury attorneys will work closely with specialists as we investigate, build, and value your case. We’ll rely on their expertise as we work to determine how your injury affects you today and how it will likely affect you in the future. This can help us position ourselves to secure substantial monetary benefits on your behalf.

You’ll Have a Limited Time to File Your Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit

In Texas, the statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits is two years. The clock usually begins to run at the time of your accident or whenever you reasonably discover your catastrophic injury. There are times when you could have more or less time to file a claim, but those are the exception to the rule.

You will lose the right to recover compensation if you hesitate or wait too long to assert your rights. So, the best thing to do is reach out to our Houston personal injury attorneys for help as soon as you can after your accident. We can begin to work on your case as soon as you enlist our help.

Hire an Experienced Houston Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Did you recently sustain a catastrophic injury in an accident in Houston, Texas? Has someone you love died because of a catastrophic injury? Call Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate legal advice and assistance. You could be entitled to a financial settlement or recovery. Our Houston personal injury lawyers will help you fight to secure all of the money you deserve. 

We offer a free initial case assessment, so give us a call or reach out to our team online. You have a limited amount of time to act, so contact us today.