Catastrophic injures can affect you and your family for the rest of your lives. These injuries typically require long-term medical treatment, and the costs of that treatment—not to mention those associated with necessary special equipment and home renovations—can be enormous.
Fortunately, there may be help available. If the accident that caused your catastrophic injury was the fault of someone else, you may be able to file a lawsuit and claim compensation to cover the costs related to the injury.
If you suffered a catastrophic injury and would like to seek financial recovery, speak to a St. Louis catastrophic injury lawyer. A dedicated personal injury attorney could guide you through the claims process and make sure your interests are protected.
Defining Catastrophic Injury
The term “catastrophic injury” is not a commonly known legal term for many people. This is because they are rarer than other types of injuries—but, as the name suggests, much more severe.
In the State of Missouri, catastrophic injuries are defined as any injury that results in paralysis, the loss of two or more limbs, permanent cognitive impairment, failure or loss of a major organ, or significant loss of vision. In other words, catastrophic injuries are those that prevent someone from performing the everyday actions they once did, including walking, running, and enjoying life.
Determining Negligence
Not all catastrophic injuries can rely on a lawsuit to cover the costs. In order for an accident victim to file a claim, the accident must have been the fault of someone else. Proving fault generally involves the legal concept of negligence, which applies to virtually all personal injury claims.
When people act negligently or in a manner that fails to keep those around them safe, and that behavior causes an accident that results in injuries, the negligent party or parties can have a lawsuit filed against them. Such a lawsuit could claim compensation for costs associated with the injury, such as medical treatment, lost wages, and other expenses.
For example, if someone sped through a red light and hit someone traveling straight through on a green light, the driver that ran the red light could be considered negligent for their failure to follow the rules of the road, namely stopping at traffic signals. If the driver traveling straight through on a green light hit their head during the accident and suffered a catastrophic injury, the negligent driver would be responsible for paying all costs associated with that injury.
If you are partially to blame for an accident, you can still file a lawsuit to claim compensation in St. Louis no matter what percentage they were at fault. So, if you were speeding excessively but had the right of way prior to an accident, any damage award you receive would be reduced by the percentage of fault the court assigns to your speeding compared to the other party’s violation of right-of-way laws.
Proving negligence can be difficult—and proving that the accident victim did not share any of the blame, even more so. A catastrophic injury lawyer in St. Louis could perform an investigation to learn the facts and present evidence to prove who was really at fault for your accident.
Contact a St. Louis Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today
If you suffered a catastrophic injury that was the fault of someone else, you have only five years to file a personal injury lawsuit for your injuries. If the catastrophic injury was caused by a medical provider, the statute of limitations is only two years. Either way, it is important to act fast. Evidence can quickly become lost and eyewitnesses can easily forget what happened.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, it may be important that you speak to a St. Louis catastrophic injury lawyer right away. Call today to speak with an attorney who knows the law surrounding catastrophic injuries in St. Louis and could work hard to get you any compensation you may be entitled to.