A catastrophic car accident injury is life-changing. The injured person may undergo years of medical treatment and therapy, which means valuable time away from their work and loved ones. When someone is severely hurt because of another person’s negligence, the victim may have a claim for compensation. An experienced car accident attorney can help preserve your legal rights and advocate for your case. After a catastrophic accident, they can deal with the insurance company so you can focus on your recovery.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
An injury that is categorized as “catastrophic” for insurance or legal purposes is one that causes severe or life-threatening damage to the brain, skull, spine, orspinal cord. Catastrophic injuries typically lead to long-term disability or debilitation; they can permanently prevent someone from performing their work.Catastrophic injuries may include:
- Paralysis
- Blindness or Deafness
The Value of a Catastrophic Injury Claim
The goals of a catastrophic injury claim are to hold the at-fault party responsible for their negligence and to financially compensate the victim for their physical and emotional injuries. The value of a catastrophic claim depends on several factors, including medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and permanent disability. When a person is involved in a catastrophic accident, the medical bills can add up quickly – the individual may require major surgeries, weeks or months of rehabilitation, and future therapy sessions. The time the injured party spends in treatment means that they are away from their work and not bringing in a salary. Taking all of this into account, it is common for catastrophic injury claims to be in the range of six figures to millions of dollars.
Insurance companies are very aware that catastrophic injury cases can be highly valuable. Therefore, they will work diligently to avoid paying a settlement.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
Catastrophic car accident injury settlements can easily reach millions of dollars. Insurance companies, which are for-profit companies, are prepared to invest time and money to reduce payouts as much as possible. It is important to understand that the at-fault party’s insurance company is not on the victim’s side, and they are not there to help. They may seem friendly, but their goal is to protect their bottom line.
Insurance companies may engage in questionable or unethical tactics to get the victim to give up their claim or accept a low settlement. For example, it’s common for insurance companies to delay processing claims or responding to the accident victim in hopes they will give up or accept a lower settlement. Or, the at-fault party’s insurance company may deny or dispute liability. They may try to coerce the victim into admitting fault (directly or indirectly) or deny liability altogether. Another common strategy is for the insurance company to offer the accident victim a low settlement, hoping that the victim does not understand the value of their case or that they are just ready for the claim to be over.
How a Personal Injury Law Firm Can Help
Insurance companies will employ all kinds of tactics and intimidation to get the victim to say something that could minimize their injuries. Or, they’ll drag their feet and offer low settlements, hoping the victim will become frustrated with the process. That’s why it’s important to hire an attorney who will advocate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
A highly experienced catastrophic personal injury law firm can handle communications with the insurance company so that the accident victim can focus on their physical and mental recovery. An attorney will protect the victim’s rights and preserve their legal options. They can gather evidence in the case, help prove the at-fault party’s negligence and liability, calculate the financial damages, negotiate for a fair settlement, and, if necessary, take the catastrophic injury case to trial.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one recently suffered a catastrophic injury, an experienced attorney can help you understand your best legal options. Catastrophic injuries are life-altering and typically require years of care. That is why it is important to work with an attorney who will protect your rights and advocate on your behalf.
At Bostwick & Peterson, our award-winning personal injury team can help you file a catastrophic injury claim and build a strong case. Let us make this difficult time a little easier by holding the at-fault party responsible and communicating with the insurance company. We will deal with the legal details so you can focus on your medical care. Contact an experienced personal injury today by filling out this online form or calling 888-831-8448. We offer free initial consultations at our San Francisco-based offices.