A catastrophic injury can change how you work, move, and care for your family for the rest of your life. Spinal cord damage, a severe brain injury, a deep chemical burn, or an amputation can bring years of treatment and costs no family plans for. Our catastrophic injury lawyer in La Porte can help you measure those losses and pursue the people responsible.
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, catastrophic cases are a core part of the work we do as a personal injury lawyer in La Porte. We can help you find doctors and other medical providers who won’t require you to pay out of pocket. Get Brian and tell us what happened.
What Counts as a Catastrophic Injury in Texas?
A catastrophic injury in Texas is a severe injury that causes lasting impairment, disfigurement, or loss of earning ability. No statute defines the term, but Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.001(12) lets juries award damages for physical impairment and disfigurement. Injuries that often meet this standard include:
- Traumatic brain injuries that affect memory, speech, or behavior
- Spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis
- Amputations and crush injuries
- Severe burns from fires, explosions, or chemicals
- Loss of sight or hearing
Vehicle crashes cause more spinal cord injuries than anything else, at 37.5% of cases since 2015, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. Falls, violence, and sports injuries make up much of the rest.
For a legal consultation call (713) 500-5000
How Much Can a Catastrophic Injury Cost Over a Lifetime?
A catastrophic injury can cost millions of dollars over a lifetime: for a 25-year-old with high tetraplegia, estimated lifetime costs reach $6,077,646, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center’s 2024 data sheet.
The same report puts first-year costs for paraplegia at $667,569 and each later year at $88,433, in 2023 dollars. Those figures cover health care and living expenses only. They don’t include lost wages.
Insurers often make early offers before anyone knows the full cost of care. Our lawyers may work with life care planners, doctors, and economists to put a number on future surgeries, home changes, and lost earning power before you settle.
La Porte Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Near Me (713) 500-5000
Industrial and Highway Dangers in La Porte Can Become Catastrophic
La Porte’s chemical plants and port traffic expose workers and drivers to serious harm. When hot acid sprayed from a valve at LyondellBasell’s La Porte plant in 2021, two workers were seriously injured, and 29 others went to medical facilities, according to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.
On the roads, trucks hauling containers to the Barbours Cut Container Terminal share State Highway 146 and State Highway 225 with commuters every day. A crash with a loaded tractor-trailer often causes far worse injuries because of the truck’s size and weight.
Our firm has recovered a $63 million settlement for a plant worker with severe burns and an $18.5 million settlement for a client left with a permanent spinal cord injury after a motor vehicle crash. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Click to contact us today
Who May Be Responsible for a Catastrophic Injury?
More than one party may share the blame for a life-changing injury. Depending on how you were hurt, a claim may name:
- A trucking company and its driver
- A plant owner or a contractor working on site
- A manufacturer of defective equipment, vehicle parts, or safety gear
- A property owner who ignored a known hazard
- Your employer, if it opted out of workers’ comp
Texas lets private employers opt out of workers’ comp. Under Tex. Lab. Code § 406.033, you can sue a non-subscribing employer for negligence, and it can’t argue that you or a coworker caused the injury.
If your employer does carry coverage, a separate claim against another company at the site may still be possible. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers looks at every party involved before deciding where to file.
Complete a Case Evaluation Form Now
Steps That Protect You in a Catastrophic Injury Claim
Ambulance records from La Porte EMS and your hospital chart show how badly you were hurt from the first minute. Keep copies of every medical record, bill, and work note, and follow your treatment plan, because gaps in care give insurers a reason to downplay your injury.
If you were hurt on the job, your employer must report an amputation, the loss of an eye, or an in-patient hospital stay to OSHA within 24 hours, according to OSHA. You can call OSHA’s 24-hour line at 1-800-321-6742 to ask whether an inspection is open.
The other side’s insurance adjuster may call soon after the injury and ask for a recorded statement. You don’t have to give one, and anything you say can be used to lower your claim, so let our lawyers handle that call.
How Long Do You Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Texas?
The deadline to file a catastrophic injury lawsuit in Texas is generally two years from the date of injury under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a).
Government claims have shorter notice rules. An injury caused by the City of La Porte requires written notice to the city secretary within 180 days under Section 1.06 of the city charter, and claims against Harris County or the state need notice within six months under § 101.101.
For a child, the two-year clock generally doesn’t start until age 18 under § 16.001. Many people believe that being partly at fault ends a claim, but under § 33.001 you can still recover if your share is 50% or less, with your award reduced by that share.
Why Injured People Choose Our Catastrophic Injury Lawyers in La Porte
Brian White is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and he holds a 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo. Our lawyers are skilled litigators who are comfortable in the courtroom, and we apply real pressure on insurers to pursue the full value of your claim.
We don’t hand your case to another firm if the insurer won’t be fair. Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers is a catastrophic injury lawyer in La Porte who can come to your hospital room or home for your consultation, and our team offers services in Spanish.
To see who you’d be working with, read about Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers and our history serving Texas since 2008.
Speak With a Catastrophic Injury Attorney in La Porte
A catastrophic injury claim needs to account for the bills you have now and every year of care ahead of you. Our catastrophic injury lawyers in La Porte can build that case while you focus on recovery.
You can reach our team 24/7, and you’ll speak with a real person. Call us for a free consultation, and let’s talk about what your injury will cost and who should pay for it.
Call or Text (713) 500-5000 or Complete a Case Evaluation Form