Catastrophic Injuries Lawyers in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Experienced and compassionate legal representation for those severely injured in Tuscaloosa
Catastrophic injuries are those that cause severe and life-altering impacts, including on a person’s ability to work. Additionally, these injuries come with extensive costs related to medical expenses, caregiving, and even home modifications. When these injuries result from someone else’s negligence, coping with the fact that the harm was avoidable can be extremely devastating. However, it may be possible to recover compensation from the person or entity responsible for that harm. At Prince Glover Hayes, we stand up for the rights of those injured by negligence and fight to get them the compensation they need.
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Why choose Prince Glover Hayes?
At Prince Glover Hayes, we have represented injury victims in Tuscaloosa for over 40 years. Our dedicated team of litigators provides aggressive representation to our clients and has earned a reputation as fierce advocates for our willingness to go toe to toe with major corporations and insurance companies. We’ve secured several record-setting settlements and judgments and know what it takes to handle complicated catastrophic injury claims. You can learn more about our approach and record by contacting us for a free case evaluation.
Understanding catastrophic injuries
Personal injury cases involve all types of injuries. Many of them are injuries that a person will eventually recover from. Even broken bones can heal, allowing a person to return to normal life. Catastrophic injuries fall into a different category – these are the injuries that change a person’s daily life forever. Here are some of the injuries that are considered catastrophic.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries can result from falls, car crashes, workplace accidents, and more. Millions of people suffer TBIs annually in the US – from concussions to hemorrhages and other severe brain injuries. The lifetime cost of treating and caring for serious TBI cases can exceed $3 million. It’s important to seek compensation and support from every possible source.
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia. These serious injuries may require a lifetime of care and adaptive equipment. The leading cause of spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents.
Amputations
Amputations can occur because of a variety of reasons, including vascular disease, sepsis, and trauma. Traumatic amputations account for 45% of limb losses. Car accidents and motorcycle crashes are some of the likely causes of these injuries. Those who experience the loss of a limb often suffer from pain, depression, and reduced mobility. The costs associated with amputations are extensive, especially since the prosthetics alone can run in the tens of thousands.
Burn injuries
About 40,000 people are hospitalized in the US because of severe burn injuries. Burn victims may face disfigurement, scarring, and emotional trauma. Home fires, industrial fires, car crashes, defective equipment, including space heaters and industrial tools, and fireworks are some of the likely causes of serious burn injuries. Those who experience burns can face disfigurement, pain, scarring, mobility challenges, a high risk of infection, and other complications that require medical care and therapy.
Internal injuries
Car accidents and severe falls can lead to internal injuries, like bleeding and organ damage. These can be extremely dangerous, especially because they might not be visible initially after the traumatic event. An internal injury may require surgery, and in some cases, permanent damage can be done to internal organs.
Common causes of catastrophic injuries
While there are countless ways that these injuries can take place, here are a few common causes:
- Motor vehicle accidents: According to the National Safety Council, 2,383,000 injuries occurred in vehicle accidents in 2022 alone. Some of those injuries were catastrophic and debilitating.
- Falls: Falling is the leading cause of injuries for adults ages 65 and up. Construction workers are also at an elevated risk of fall-related injuries.
- Workplace accidents: Work-related injuries are more common in certain industries, such as construction, warehouse, or industrial.
- Violence: Gunshot wounds and other violent assaults are significant contributors.
- Defective products: Defective heavy equipment, household appliances, vehicles, and other products can cause devastating injuries.
Treatment and recovery following catastrophic injuries in Tuscaloosa
One of the defining factors in catastrophic injuries is that they require extensive medical treatment. The costs related to medical care start to add up almost immediately.
Emergency care: The average emergency room visit costs thousands of dollars – in the case of more severe injuries, those costs rise rapidly.
Surgeries: Some of the more common surgical procedures in the US come with six-figure price tags.
Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation at inpatient facilities for TBIs, for instance, costs about $1,600 per day. Spinal cord injury care can add up to thousands – and even hundreds of thousands per year.
Long-Term Care: From home modifications and assistive devices to ongoing medical care and, in some cases, in-home support from professional caregivers, the costs related to these injuries can persist for years and even decades.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about catastrophic injuries in Tuscaloosa
Following a catastrophic injury, there are a lot of issues to work out, including whether it’s possible to recover compensation. Here are some of the questions injury victims and their families often ask:
How do I prove negligence?
Proving negligence means showing that another person caused your injuries because they did not act in a reasonable way under the circumstances. In the event of a car accident, this might involve proving that another driver ran a stop sign or was intoxicated. You can discuss this with your catastrophic injury attorney to see how negligence might factor into your case.
What is the statute of limitations?
The statute of limitations is a time limit set by the law that allows only a certain amount of time to file a claim. In Alabama, you must file within two years of the accident that caused your injury. Failing to comply with the statute of limitations may lead to the court refusing to hear your case.
What types of compensation can I recover for a catastrophic injury?
In a successful claim, you can recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, ongoing care, and adaptive equipment costs. You also may collect damages for lost wages and the reduction in your earning capacity related to the injury.
How is the value of my claim determined?
When juries determine the value of your claim, they look at several factors, including the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, lost income, and the impact the injury causes on your quality of life. In the case of catastrophic injuries, the amounts are often substantial.
Are there caps on damages for catastrophic injury cases?
Alabama law does not place caps on your compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are your economic and non-economic losses, which means your actual financial losses, like medical expenses and lost earnings, as well as damages that are difficult to calculate, like your pain and suffering.
There is a cap on punitive damages in Alabama. Punitive damages are only available in cases where a defendant’s behavior was particularly egregious, and the jury wants to punish their behavior or deter similar future behavior. There are various factors courts consider, including the amount of your compensatory damages and whether the defendant is an individual, small business, or large corporation.
Do you have an attorney who can handle my catastrophic injury claim near me in Tuscaloosa?
Our office is at 2311 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. If you can't come to us due to your injuries, we can arrange to meet you elsewhere or schedule a call or video consultation to discuss your case.
Contact Prince Glover Hayes today to discuss your case
At Prince Glover Hayes, our team is ready to offer dedicated, compassionate support to you and your family. If you or your loved one experienced a catastrophic injury in Alabama, contact us today for a free consultation. We represent personal injury clients on a contingency basis.