If you or a loved one suffered from a catastrophic injury that was caused by someone else, you may be wondering how you are going to pay for everything. Damages in Houston catastrophic injury cases could amount to a huge amount of money, but it does not stop there. Besides the costs of medical expenses, you could also be dealing with severe pain, emotional side effects, and other things that are very difficult to deal with.
There is hope for you in your terrible situation. A talented catastrophic injury attorney could evaluate your case, determine liability, and pursue financial compensation for the accident and injuries.
Economic Damages in a Catastrophic Injury Case
A catastrophic injury is severe and often changes the injured person’s life. Because of the severity of the injury, there could be a lot of medical expenses. The medical expenses could include:
- Surgeries
- Doctor visits
- Physical therapy
- Assistive devices
- Future medical care
- Prescription medications
- Lengthy hospital stays
- Initial emergency care after the accident
The damages could include costs for modifying the home to accommodate a wheelchair or other necessary medical equipment.
The injured person could lose substantial wages while recovering from the injury. If the injury is so severe that earning wages is no longer possible, a lawyer could calculate the future earnings the person will not receive. This amount could be included in the final settlement.
Property damage could be part of the economic damages in a Houston catastrophic injury claim. For example, if a car accident caused the injury, the injured person could recover the cost of repairing or replacing the car.
Non-Economic Damages in a Catastrophic Injury Case
Non-economic damages address the ongoing hardships the injured person endures because of the accident. These damages do not have a set dollar amount but often relate to medical costs or the severity of the injury. An experienced personal injury lawyer could calculate the total non-economic damages and include them in the overall damages sought through financial compensation.
In a catastrophic injury case in Houston, the non-economic damages could include the amount of pain and suffering that the injured person must endure, as well as the emotional distress they may experience due to the accident. Emotional distress could include anxiety, depression, or PTSD. In order to include these non-economic damages, the lawyer must be able to show that they are linked to the accident.
Other damages could include loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, or physical impairment. Many catastrophic injuries result in disfigurement and permanent disability, which could drastically change the lifestyle of the injured person for the remainder of their life.
Statute of Limitations
Even though catastrophic injury damages in Houston could affect the injured person long after the accident, the statute of limitations limits when they may file a personal injury claim. In Texas, they must file within two years of the accident. Contact a lawyer promptly because filing after the deadline could prevent recovery of compensation.
Speak to a Houston Attorney About Recovering Damages After a Catastrophic Accident
We are here for you when you are suffering from a severe injury. Let us know more about the accident and the injury, and we can determine if you could file a catastrophic injury claim. Recovering damages in Houston catastrophic injury cases is possible, and we have the legal expertise to handle your case from start to finish.
Schedule your free consultation today, so we can help take the financial pressure off you.
Below are just some of the more common types of cases that Benjamin Roberts represents personal injury clients.
For a full list of the cases we handle, please see the Practice Areas link at the top of the page.