Aliquippa Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Aliquippa, PA

Any personal injury can be life-changing, but a personal injury is classified as catastrophic when it causes a permanent disability to the victim. Catastrophic injuries can happen in many ways in Aliquippa, from high-speed collisions on PA-51 to falls and injuries at work. If you or a family member has suffered any type of permanently disabling injury, you need to consult an Aliquippa area catastrophic injury lawyer right away to discuss your recovery options.

Skilled Legal Counsel for Catastrophic Injury Claims in Aliquippa, PA

The attorneys at Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, have more than 45 combined years of experience representing clients in some of the most challenging personal injury cases in Aliquippa and throughout western Pennsylvania. In every case we accept, we take time to get to know our client, learn how their injury has affected their life, and develop an individually tailored legal strategy aimed at helping them recover as fully as state law allows.

It’s possible for a catastrophic injury to happen from a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall, an injury at work, or an act of violence. Some of the most reported catastrophic injuries in Pennsylvania include:

• Traumatic brain injuries. The International Brain Injury Association estimates that about one million Americans are treated in emergency rooms each year for brain injuries, and about 80,000 of these cases result in some type of permanent disability. Any injury to the brain can have unpredictable effects, and some symptoms of a brain injury can be permanently disabling.
• Spinal cord injuries. There are about 18,000 new spinal cord injury cases diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. Any injury to the spinal cord is permanent; it cannot repair itself like most other injuries. It’s possible for a spinal cord injury to result in complete paralysis.
• Severe burns. These injuries can be psychologically traumatic as well as painful and permanently damaging. The location and severity of the burn may mean a long and difficult recovery process. Many victims of these injuries struggle with permanent scarring, and psychological distress, and face extensive ongoing medical care.

Ultimately, any personal injury that causes extensive long-term damage, a permanent disability, or that diminishes the victim’s ability to work and their enjoyment of life can qualify as catastrophic. If another party has inflicted such a severe injury on you or a loved one, you need to consult a lawyer experienced in handling catastrophic injuries in Aliquippa right away.

Building a Personal Injury Case for a Catastrophic Injury in Aliquippa

When one party’s negligence or illegal misconduct causes harm to another party, it can form the basis for a personal injury case. To succeed with a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania, the injured plaintiff must identify the defendant who caused their injury, prove exactly how they caused it, and then prove the full scope of their resulting damages.

Various forms of evidence could be crucial to your case. A skilled attorney can obtain physical and digital evidence for you while you focus on your recovery, and they can also gather witness statements from anyone who saw your accident happen. Your attorney can also explain whether comparative negligence is likely to come into play in your case and, if so, how it could impact your recovery.

Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative fault rule, it’s possible for a plaintiff to share fault with a defendant and still qualify to claim compensation. However, this is only true if the plaintiff is found less at fault than the defendant(s). If the plaintiff is found more than 50% at fault, they will not be able to claim compensation from any other liable party.

Claiming Compensation for a Catastrophic Injury

The main objective of any personal injury case is for the injured plaintiff to seek compensation for the economic and non-economic damages they suffered because of the defendant’s actions. In a catastrophic injury case, the injured plaintiff may have grounds to claim compensation for:

• Medical treatment costs, including the cost of necessary future care, when they will need ongoing treatment for a serious injury. This can include multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and various other rehabilitative treatments that may be necessary to restore as much function as possible. It’s also possible for the plaintiff to be eligible to claim compensation for the cost of necessary in-home medical care after their injury.
• Lost wages. The victim of a catastrophic injury may not be able to work for an extended time, and it is possible for a serious injury to leave them unable to work at all in the future. Your Aliquippa catastrophic injury lawyer can help you claim compensation for your immediate and future lost income, calculating how much you would have reasonably expected to earn in the future if you hadn’t been injured.
• Property damage. When the defendant’s actions also resulted in damage to your personal property, you have the right to claim compensation for all associated repair and replacement costs.
• Pain and suffering compensation. The plaintiff can claim compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and psychological trauma they have experienced because of the defendant’s actions. Pennsylvania law does not limit non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, so the plaintiff in a catastrophic injury claim may be able to recover substantial compensation for their pain and suffering.

A skilled attorney can accurately assess the full scope of the damages you are eligible to claim, and they will know how to streamline your legal proceedings as much as possible, ideally reducing the time it takes for you to recover your losses. If you want to have the greatest chance of success with this difficult personal injury case, it is crucial that you speak with an Aliquippa area catastrophic injury lawyer as quickly as you can about your legal options.

The team at Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, has the skills and experience necessary to provide compassionate and results-driven legal counsel in the most challenging personal injury cases. When you believe that another party has inflicted a catastrophic injury on you or a family member, we can help you hold them accountable. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Aliquippa area catastrophic injury lawyer.