Catastrophic injuries disrupt lives, erase opportunities, and cause financial ruin not just for the person who was injured but also for their family. If you have experienced catastrophic injuries caused by someone else’s negligence, our Decatur catastrophic injury attorneys want to help. While no sum of money can turn back the clock and erase the accident, our catastrophic injury lawyers in Decatur, Alabama, can help you seek the money you need for medical care, ongoing treatment, lost income, and other assistance so you can move forward.
Since 1966, the personal injury law firm of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., has protected the rights of injured people in Decatur and throughout northern Alabama. We have a successful track record of obtaining settlements and verdicts that provide our clients with the help they need after a catastrophic injury.
It costs nothing for you to talk to a Decatur catastrophic injury lawyer from our law firm. Contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., today for a free consultation about your options for bringing a personal injury lawsuit. We understand the complexity of catastrophic injury cases and are ready to use our experience to hold the at-fault party accountable for your losses.
Definition of Catastrophic Injuries from Accidents in Decatur, AL
Some more minor injuries may heal in a few weeks. The impact of a catastrophic injury, however, can last months, years, or a lifetime. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, ongoing assistance, and modifications to the home and vehicles. Catastrophic injuries can permanently affect your quality of life.
Catastrophic injuries may make it harder or impossible to earn a living, enjoy activities, sports, or hobbies, and perform necessary daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, or dressing. When these injuries result from someone else’s carelessness, you deserve compensation for the new challenges you face.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries in Decatur, AL
Catastrophic injuries occur in many forms. Some examples of common catastrophic injuries include:
- Severe brain injuries – Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most complex catastrophic injuries due to the brain’s critical role in every bodily function. People who suffer brain injuries may experience profound physical, emotional, and behavioral changes.
- Spinal cord injuries – Spinal cord damage often leads to some level of impairment or paralysis, leaving victims unable to move parts of their bodies below the injury site. Depending on the location and extent of the damage, it may also affect digestion, sexual function, respiration, and waste elimination, creating significant complications in a victim’s daily life.
- Loss of sight or hearing – The partial or complete loss of sight or hearing is a profound and life-altering experience. Although individuals who experience these sensory losses can adapt to some extent, these injuries frequently affect their capacity to work, carry out everyday activities, or live a fully independent life.
- Severe burns – Severe burns can lead to extensive hospital stays, numerous surgeries, infection risks, and the need for long-term rehabilitation services. Victims must deal with the physical and emotional pain of scarring or disfigurement. They often need long-term pain management for their injuries and subsequent skin grafts or corrective surgeries.
- Loss of limbs – An amputation significantly limits the activities a person can participate in. Even with a prosthetic, fully restoring functionality can be very challenging. In addition to adapting to reduced mobility or body functions, individuals might be unable to return to their previous jobs or lifestyles.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries often result from someone else’s negligence or failure to provide an appropriately safe environment.
Some examples of causes of catastrophic injuries include:
- Car, truck, bus, motorcycle, and other motor vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents
- Industrial accidents
- Falls from heights
- Premises liability accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Injuries due to defective products
- Acts of violence
- Sports-related accidents
Impact of Catastrophic Injuries on Victims and Families
Catastrophic injuries affect victims and their families in a wide variety of ways, including:
- Physical impacts– Catastrophic injuries often result in severe long-term or permanent physical disability. Depending on the nature of the injury, it could mean loss of mobility, agility, or functionality in the affected body part. Victims may require ongoing medical treatment, equipment (like wheelchairs), surgeries, and rehabilitation to manage pain, improve mobility, or adapt to new physical limitations.
- Emotional impacts – The psychological toll of adapting to a new way of life with permanent disabilities can be immense. The loss of independence and changes in physical appearance or abilities can severely impact the victim’s self-esteem and sense of identity, potentially leading to long-term emotional and mental health challenges. It’s common for catastrophic injury victims to struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, grief, anger, and other mental health issues.
- Social impacts – Catastrophic injuries can significantly affect a person’s social life. The physical and emotional challenges may lead to social isolation as victims might find it difficult to participate in social activities they once enjoyed. Relationships with family and friends may undergo strain, and the loss of social interaction can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression.
- Financial impacts – The economic burden of catastrophic injuries can be overwhelming. Medical bills can reach staggering levels. If the injury prevents the victim from returning to work in the same capacity (which is typical), the resulting lost income, coupled with the increased expenses, adds stress and anxiety to an already challenging economic situation.
Role of a Decatur Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Considering the personal difficulties associated with a catastrophic injury, it makes sense that a victim and their family may find the process of pursuing compensation overwhelming. Thankfully, our catastrophic injury attorneys in Decatur are ready to handle the legal aspects of your case, allowing you to focus on your medical treatment and rehabilitation.
A skilled attorney from our law firm can:
- Determine liability based on evidence, including medical records, police reports, photos, videos, witness statements, and consultations with subject matter experts
- Assess your losses from a financial, physical, and emotional standpoint to determine how much support you will need today and in the future
- Pursue compensation from the liable parties and their insurance companies
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement, and if that process doesn’t succeed, take your catastrophic injury case to court
Potential Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries
The economic impact of a catastrophic injury could easily bankrupt a family. Our Decatur catastrophic injury attorneys want to seek maximum compensation for you to cover a wide range of needs, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Adaptive devices, equipment, and long-term care
- Lost wages and benefits
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Loss of companionship and quality of life
- Wrongful death benefits
- Punitive damages in exceptional cases
Why You Need Our Decatur Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
Dealing with the legal process of sustaining serious injuries is a lot to take on. At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., we help catastrophic injury victims and their families pursue the financial stability they need after a life-altering experience. For over 50 years, we’ve been a compassionate legal advocate for families in Decatur and throughout northern Alabama.
Contact us today for a free consultation about your legal options for a catastrophic personal injury claim.
