Accidents with big rigs, buses, and even vehicles the same size as yours could cause catastrophic injuries. Most devastating injuries change your life forever—and the lives of your loved ones. This type of injury often prevents you from working, or, if you can work, it is often for less money since you can no longer do the same job. You could even require medical care for the rest of your life if you suffer a catastrophic injury.
If you suffered catastrophic injuries because of another person’s negligence, the Spring Hill catastrophic injury attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A., can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call for your free case evaluation and learn more about how we can help you.
Why Hire Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, After a Florida Accident
Following a catastrophic injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you could recover the compensation you deserve by settling with the insurance company or going to trial. Settling a case is usually preferable—it costs less and takes less time. However, if insurance companies refuse to come to a fair and reasonable agreement, you may wish to litigate your claim.
Insurance companies are in business to make money because they are for-profit companies. Thus, they work to gather information to deny claims they believe are invalid. If they do find your claim legitimate, they may offer you just enough to make you go away, which is often not enough to cover your medical expenses.
Instead of using your time and energy to fight with insurance companies, allow a catastrophic injury attorney to take this responsibility over while you concentrate on recovering. Experienced Spring Hill personal injury lawyers know the tricks insurance companies use to limit payouts, therefore, having a lawyer on your side increases your chances of recovering a fairer and more reasonable amount.
Insurance companies often troll social media accounts to argue that your injuries are not as bad as you claim. They may also dispute your doctors’ findings, meaning you must bring in expert witnesses. Insurance companies may also try to persuade you to talk about the accident and your injuries, and then twist what you say to place the blame for the accident on you.
Let a Spring Hill attorney file your claim for you so that you can avoid insurance company manipulations. If you file a claim, only give the insurance company your contact information, the date and location of the accident, and your attorney’s contact information.
Recoverable Damages After a Catastrophic Injury
Following a catastrophic injury, you will likely have high medical bills and emotional turmoil. If someone else’s negligence caused these injuries, you may seek damages. Florida allows you to recover compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages have two categories: Economic damages and non-economic damages.
Most people who suffer injuries in a car accident recover some economic damages. Those who suffer catastrophic injuries may also recover non-economic damages.
If you recover compensatory damages and prove the defendant was grossly negligent or their actions were intentional, the court might order them to pay punitive damages. Compensatory damages make you whole again, while punitive damages are a way to punish the defendant for their grossly negligent or intentional actions or inactions. While it is usually difficult to recover punitive damages, in some cases, it is worth trying.
Economic Damages
Sometimes referred to as special damages, economic damages have a monetary value and include:
- Medical expenses, including doctors’ appointments, surgeries, follow-up appointments, prescriptions, and prescribed over-the-counter medications. Ambulatory aids, hand controls for vehicles, grab bars, handrails, and wheelchair ramps for your home.
- Therapy sessions, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive therapy, and psychological therapy.
- Long-term or permanent care in a nursing home or outpatient rehabilitation center.
- Lost wages.
- Loss of future earning capacity, even if you work full-time but must work for less money or your disabilities force you to work part-time.
- Replacement or repair of personal property destroyed or damaged in the accident.
- Death-related expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
Sometimes referred to as general damages, non-economic damages do not have a monetary value and include:
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress.
- Loss of quality of life if you have to make life-long changes, such as taking prescriptions or using ambulatory aids.
- Loss of companionship and consortium.
- Inconvenience if you have to hire someone to do the chores you usually do, including house cleaning, grocery shopping, lawn maintenance, and home repair and maintenance.
- Excessive scarring and disfigurement.
- Amputation of a digit or limb
- Loss of use of a body part or bodily function.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A. Locations
We have several offices across the state, including Spring Hill, so retaining our catastrophic injury lawyers is more convenient no matter where you live in Florida. You won’t have to travel far to get the representation you need to recover the compensation you deserve. In fact, we can even come to you or hold a virtual or telephone meeting if your injuries, professional life, or other factors make coming to us too difficult.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
Any injury that causes permanent disability or prevents you from being gainfully employed in the future is usually a catastrophic injury. The injury often happens suddenly, such as during a car accident. A catastrophic injury also has long-term or permanent effects on you and your family.
You might have a lifetime of medical expenses and rehabilitation or require lifelong assistance and supervision.
Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Neurological injuries.
- Amputation.
- Eye injuries.
- Extensive burns.
- Multiple broken bones.
- Crush injuries.
Accidents that Could Cause Catastrophic Injuries
Any accident could cause catastrophic injuries, though certain accidents make cause them more frequently:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Car accidents, especially those that happen at higher speeds or with vehicles much larger than yours
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products
- Dangerous medications or chemicals
Florida limits the time you have to recover damages from a negligent defendant. Reach out to a Spring Hill catastrophic injury attorney immediately after the accident to ensure you do not miss the filing deadline and forfeit your claim.
Florida’s Statute of Limitations
Florida law includes a statute of limitations that states you must take legal action before a certain time or you lose your opportunity to seek compensation. In most cases, you have four years to file a Florida accident claim.
Retain a Florida catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as possible, as it takes some time to prepare a case. In some cases, such as medical malpractice, the statute of limitations decrease—medical malpractice cases have a two-year statute of limitations. Cases involving the government may give you far less time than that.
Actions that must happen before you file a case include:
- A diagnosis for long-term or permanent medical issues.
- An accident scene investigation.
- Expert witness reports.
While you might receive an initial diagnosis, it could take time for doctors to determine that your injuries will affect you for the rest of your life. Contact a lawyer immediately to begin the fact-finding and legal processing so you stay ahead of the clock.
Catastrophic Injury FAQ
Our clients and their families often have similar questions regarding catastrophic injuries. If you need more information on a specific question or have additional questions, call today for your free case evaluation with a Spring Hill catastrophic injury attorney to obtain the answers you need.
+ What Do I Do After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury?
Always seek medical attention immediately. You should also discuss your case with an experienced catastrophic injury attorney, even if you are unsure whether your injuries are catastrophic. Once a doctor checks you out, you or a loved one can call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A., in Spring Hill to set up a free case evaluation.
+ How Do Catastrophic Injuries Differ From Other Injuries?
Because of the severity of catastrophic injuries and because they usually cause long-term or permanent disabilities, the legal case to recover compensation is usually more complex. You could recover future medical expenses and loss of earning capacity. You could also recover compensation for pain and suffering and/or emotional distress.
Your case will most likely require extensive settlement negotiations and the opinions and/or testimony of expert witnesses, including accident reconstruction and medical experts. Your injuries may also require you to have ongoing medical care and supervision, which insurance companies may challenge.
+ Who Can I Hold Responsible for Damages?
Part of a Spring Hill catastrophic injury attorney’s job is to determine who is responsible for your injuries. In some cases, when only one other person hits you, it is relatively easy to determine who shares liability. However, if a commercial vehicle caused the accident, you might recover compensation from several people and entities, including the driver, the driver’s employer, vehicle manufacturers, inspectors, dispatchers, auto technicians, and others who contributed to the cause of the accident.
+ Do I Have to Take My Case to Court?
Absolutely not. However, if the insurance companies refuse a fair and reasonable settlement, litigation is the surest way to recover the compensation you deserve.
+ How Long Does it Take to Obtain a Settlement for Catastrophic Injuries?
It depends on:
- How quickly the insurance company responds.
- Whether the insurance company comes back with a counteroffer, accepts your initial demand, or denies your case.
- How severe your injuries are. It might take doctors minutes to determine initial injuries, but the effects of some catastrophic injuries might not show for weeks or months.
- If the insurance company refuses a fair and reasonable settlement and you decide to litigate, it could take up to and over a year to collect from the insurance company, depending on how hard it fights.
+ How Do I Pay for a Florida Catastrophic Injury Lawyer When I Can’t Work?
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A. in Spring Hill works on a contingency basis. Your initial case evaluation is always free and without obligation. Should you decide to retain us, you only pay if we win your case. We recover our fees and costs as part of your settlement agreement or trial award.
+ How Do I Pay Medical Expenses Until I Recover Compensation from a Settlement or a Trial Award?
You can use your auto insurance and health insurance policies to pay for medical expenses. After you win your case and before we disburse any money to you, we reimburse your insurance companies and pay your outstanding medical expenses.
You can also request that we write a letter of credit requesting that a doctor or medical establishment hold off on collections until you receive a settlement or trial award.
Contact a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Spring Hill
When you work with the Spring Hill catastrophic injury lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A., you are more likely to receive the care you need, including surgeries, therapies, and other necessary care. You are also more likely to recover the compensation you deserve instead of a pittance.
Our catastrophic injury attorneys help you through every step of the process of settling a case, and if you need to go to trial to obtain a fair amount, we ensure you meet all court deadlines. To learn more about settling your case, how the process works, and more, contact a Florida catastrophic injury attorney at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A. or call (352) 612-3437 for a free case evaluation.