Contact Details
Block LLP
![Block LLP](https://blockllp.com/wp-content/themes/blockllp-main/img/logo.png)
Copyright © Block LLP, 2024 | All rights reserved.
Catastrophic accidents can result in permanent life changes due to the severity of the injuries that usually occur. These injuries — like traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), paralysis, severe burns, loss of limbs, or blindness – could force you to adjust to new daily life. Not to mention that the recovery time could result in a loss of income, expensive medical bills, and emotional distress over your condition.
Although these aspects of accidents are stressful, you do not have to deal with them alone. A Westlake Village catastrophic injury lawyer could offer compassionate and reliable assistance. We could fight to get you the highest possible compensation from the reckless or negligent party who caused these lifelong losses. When you are in a serious accident and are not sure what to do next, call to speak with one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys at Block LLP to discuss your options.
The American Medical Association (AMA) favors a narrower view than federal law about what constitutes a catastrophic injury. Under 42 United States Code § 3796b it is any trauma that stops people from working regular hours in the field of their choice. The most widely recognized catastrophic injuries and the harm they inflict are:
Catastrophic injuries are attributed to vehicular accidents, explosions, falls, crimes, medical malpractice, and dangerous recreational endeavors. If someone else is at fault for a catastrophic injury, the attorneys at Block LLP could negotiate with insurers or file negligence lawsuits to get clients the compensation they will need for the extensive care these injuries inflict.
Negligence is a legal concept that requires people to behave reasonably in each situation. For example, all drivers must follow traffic laws. By act or omission, falling below the reasonable person standard is a breach of a duty. If that breach causes an accident that is foreseeable, and someone is injured, a negligence action is appropriate.
According to the California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, prospective plaintiffs in personal injury claims have two years to file a lawsuit.
Time pauses if the person responsible for the accident is younger than 18, has left the state, has been judged legally insane, or is in state prison. Once the condition is rectified, for instance, the person in prison has been released, the clock begins ticking again. Missing the statute of limitations filing deadline and filing late gives reason to the defendant to ask for a dismissal, which the court will grant. A person should consult a skilled lawyer in Westlake Village as soon as possible after they face a catastrophic injury.
Injured plaintiffs can receive economic and non-economic damages in these lawsuits. Economic damages repay a plaintiff for what they have lost and can calculate, such as for medical care and wages while unable to work. Non-economic damages estimate what a subjective loss is worth, including for disfigurement, suffering, loss of limbs or eyesight, and the psychological trauma of living with a catastrophe.
If the defendant’s actions are especially egregious, punitive damages may be available in a catastrophic injury case to punish those actions, with which a lawyer in Westlake Village could assist. These damages are pleaded separately and are granted only on rare occasions.
Our attorneys understand you have been through a traumatizing experience. Catastrophic injuries, by definition, are a turning point in your life, and you must process all the changes you face.
You should not have to pay the medical and rehabilitation bills or worry about your finances because you cannot work. You deserve compensation from the person responsible for your injury, and we could help you make that happen. A Westlake Village catastrophic injury lawyer could advocate for you and gather evidence to help form an argument that could win you the damages you deserve. Call today for your initial consultation.
Block LLP offers a free E-book to help you maximize your car accident settlement!