Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Charlottesville

Certain injuries suffered in accidents such as a car crash, a semi-truck accident, a workplace accident, or slip and fall, can be life-altering injuries. These catastrophic injuries may take the form of traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, loss of limbs, or loss of sight or hearing.

Catastrophic injuries may leave an injured victim unable to work or with limited employment options and facing expensive medical treatment and ongoing care. In these difficult situations, it’s crucial to seek the guidance of a knowledgeable catastrophic injury attorney who can review the details of the accident and discuss your options for pursuing compensation for your losses and anticipated expenses.

The Virginia catastrophic injury lawyers at Kendall Law Firm have the experience and resources to help if you’ve been badly hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. We will work to identify who should be held financially liable for your injuries, find the insurance policies available to compensate you and pursue the full amount you need to rebuild your life.

Our caring team has more than 30 years of experience with Virginia personal injury claims. We offer quality legal representation with a personal touch to clients in Charlottesville and beyond. Our clients have claimed substantial compensation with our help. Every catastrophic injury case is in some ways unique and stands on its own facts. As a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, founding attorney David Kendall knows the importance of integrity, perseverance, and determination.

If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident, David Kendall and Kendall Law Firm are ready to fight for justice and full compensation for you. Get a free initial consultation today by calling our office or visiting our contact page.

What Are Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries involve severe physical harm and in many cases emotional harm. Catastrophic injuries often lead to long-term or permanent disability. They have a lasting impact on the victim.

Along with the physical impact, catastrophic injuries often cause significant emotional and financial harm to victims due to inability to work and loss of income.

Catastrophic injury victims often experience psychological effects such as depression, heightened anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Victims may also experience financial hardship due to the cost of medical treatment and the need for ongoing care months or years after the accident.

A few examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Head and brain injuries – Traumatic brain injuries can affect your memory, cognitive abilities, motor skills, and other bodily functions.
• Spinal cord injuries – Severe damage to the spinal cord can result in loss of sensation and movement in the lower limbs (paraplegia) or throughout the entire body (quadriplegia).
• Severe burns – Third- or fourth-degree burns can damage skin, muscle, bone, and nerves in the affected area. These injuries may require skin grafts to heal. Severe burns can lead to life-threatening infections and disfiguring scarring.
• Crushed limbs and amputations – A motor vehicle crash, workplace accident, or other severe accident can cause someone to have their limbs crushed or amputated. The loss of a limb severely affects the individual’s quality of life going forward.
• Loss of sight or hearing – A head injury, exposure to certain substances, or penetration injuries can cause someone to lose sight in one or both eyes. Many people in severe accidents experience partial or complete hearing loss due to a head injury or close proximity to loud noise. Head injuries can also lead to persistent ringing in the ears.
• Bone fractures – Some bones can heal easily and quickly after a break, but certain types of fractures can lead to lifelong pain and complications. Injuries that affect the hip or pelvis can be especially damaging.

Some of the common causes of catastrophic injuries include:

• Motor-vehicle accidents – Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other crashes involving motor vehicles can lead to broken bones, crushed limbs, burn injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and more.
• Workplace accidents – Workers can be injured by malfunctioning or defective industrial equipment, falls from heights, unsafe working conditions, falling objects, exposure to toxic substances, and more.
• Slip-and-fall accidents – A hard fall can lead to a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, and other catastrophic injuries. In many cases, slip-and-fall accidents are the result of negligent property owners failing to address property hazards and maintain their property in a safe condition.
• Medical malpractice – There’s a wide range of medical errors that can lead to significant or permanent harm to patients, including surgical mistakes, issues with prescription medications, a delayed or false diagnosis, and more.
• Unsafe products – Dangerous children’s toys, medications that haven’t been properly tested, and poorly manufactured consumer goods can all cause catastrophic injuries in the wrong circumstances.
• Acts of violence – Many catastrophic injuries are the result of accidents, but sometimes they’re the result of intentional acts of violence, such as shootings, stabbings, and physical assaults. In addition to facing criminal charges, people who commit acts of violence causing catastrophic injuries may be held financially accountable through a civil lawsuit.

What Should I Do in the Event of a Catastrophic Injury?

If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury, it’s imperative that you do whatever you can to minimize the effect of the injury and protect your rights to pursue compensation. Here’s what you need to do:

• Call 911 – If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury, you need medical attention immediately. Call 911 to bring emergency responders to the accident scene. Calling 911 also gives you a chance to file an accident report with the authorities.
• Document the accident scene – Do whatever you can to document what happened such as taking photos. If you’re unable to do so, ask someone to take pictures of your injuries, the scene of the accident, and the surrounding area. Be sure to get the names and contact information of any potential eyewitnesses as well. Once you’ve started medical treatment, write down everything you can remember about the accident in as much detail as possible.
• See a doctor – If you aren’t taken to a hospital, see a doctor as soon as you can. You may have internal injuries that could worsen or even prove fatal without quick treatment. The doctor’s examination will provide documentation of all your injuries. Seeing a doctor right away also demonstrates that you’re taking your injuries seriously.
• Stay away from social media – Any comments you make on social media about an accident or injuries may be taken out of context and used against you later. If you post photos of a vacation or trip a few months after the accident, the photos may be used to undermine the seriousness of your injuries. It’s a good idea to stay off social media during your recovery.
• Don’t talk to insurance companies – In most cases, personal injury claims are resolved in an out-of-court settlement with the liable party’s insurance company. An insurance company may call you in the wake of a major accident, but don’t say anything to them. Anything you say could be used against you to deny your claim. Let your lawyer handle all communication with any insurers.
• Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible – You have a limited time to act if you intend to file a personal injury claim after sustaining a catastrophic injury. The sooner you talk to a catastrophic injury lawyer at Kendall Law Firm, the sooner our legal team can start working on your case. We will gather evidence to support your claim and negotiate with the insurance companies for a just settlement of your catastrophic injury claim.

Damages for Catastrophic Injury Cases

Because catastrophic injury claims cause severe physical, emotional, and financial losses, it’s important to seek full compensation for your losses. Virginia law gives catastrophic injury victims the right to pursue compensation for a wide range of damages, including:

An important reason to seek the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer with a catastrophic injury claim is Virginia’s strict negligence laws. Under Virginia law, you could be barred from recovering any compensation for your injuries if you are found to be partly responsible for the accident. A catastrophic injury lawyer can help you build the strongest possible case for compensation and fight attempts by defense lawyers to shift the blame.

Statute of Limitations in a Catastrophic Injury Case

In most cases, Virginia’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years from the date of your injuries. If you fail to file a lawsuit within the time allowed, you will most likely be unable to recover any compensation for your injuries. Be sure to talk to a catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as you can.

Contact a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Charlottesville

With so much at stake after a catastrophic injury, you should consult with a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible. Call today for a free initial consultation with a compassionate Charlottesville catastrophic injury lawyer at the Kendall Law Firm today or use our online contact page. Call today.