Midland Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

Understanding Catastrophic Injuries

At Hanna Allen, PLLC, we recognize that any injury can change a person’s life. However, some injuries are so severe and so life-altering that they are classified as “catastrophic.” These types of injuries nearly always require emergency medical attention, as well as ongoing treatment and even lifelong care. Victims and their families may struggle to deal with the immense physical, mental, and financial consequences of a catastrophic injury—but our firm can help.

If someone else was at fault for the incident that caused your or your loved one’s catastrophic injury, you are likely entitled to financial compensation. Our Midland catastrophic injury lawyers can review the details of your situation during a free initial consultation. During this time, we will get to know you and your story, answer any questions you may have, and share how we can help you navigate the legal process. There is no risk and no obligation to you; if you hire our firm, you do not owe any attorney fees unless we recover a settlement or verdict on your behalf.

Learn more when you call (432) 220-3331. You can also reach us online using our free and secure online contact form.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

Generally speaking, catastrophic injuries are defined as those that lead to permanent injury and/or significant, long-lasting, or permanent disability, impairment, or limitation of a bodily organ, member, or function. That being said, there is no set definition of what makes an injury catastrophic; any injury that is severe and has long-lasting effects can be considered “catastrophic.”

Common catastrophic injuries include:

• Birth injuries
• Severe burns
• Amputation
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Hearing loss
• Eye injuries
• Chronic illnesses
• Back injuries

These and other catastrophic injuries are different from other, less-serious injuries for a variety of reasons. The severity and complexity of catastrophic injuries typically necessitates extensive medical attention, meaning victims may face tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and related expenses. Additionally, catastrophic injuries’ lasting effects may prevent victims from returning to work or obtaining any form of gainful employment. This means that, on top of expensive medical costs, victims will likely struggle financially due to lost wages, income, and employment benefits.

To make matters worse, insurance companies and other liable parties are heavily invested in denying catastrophic injury claims. Most insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and, like any other for-profit business, they are primarily concerned with increasing profits. One way they try to do this is by devaluing and denying claims, especially those that are high in value, like catastrophic injury claims.

If you or someone you love has sustained any type of catastrophic injury, it is extremely important that you reach out to a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who can protect your rights and fight back against the insurance company’s efforts to avoid paying you a fair settlement. If necessary, our Midland catastrophic injury lawyers at Hanna Allen, PLLC are fully prepared to represent you at trial.

How Do Catastrophic Injuries Happen?

Some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Collisions between pedestrians/bicyclists and motor vehicles
• Falls, including both slip and fall accidents and falls from heights
• Sports and recreation accidents, including boating accidents
• Workplace accidents, including construction site accidents
• Medical malpractice and negligence, leading to birth trauma and other injuries
• Acts of violence, including assault, battery, and other criminal offenses

Identifying the exact cause of a catastrophic injury is important, as it allows us to determine who is liable for the victim’s damages. At Hanna Allen, PLLC, we conduct exhaustive investigations and often work alongside accident reconstructionists, medical experts, and other industry professionals to uncover exactly what happened and who was at fault.

Who Is Liable for a Catastrophic Injury?

In most cases, the person or party that caused the incident that led to the catastrophic injury is the one responsible for the victim’s damages. In other words, if a negligent motorist caused an accident because they were texting while driving, and the driver of the other involved vehicle suffered a traumatic brain injury, the texting driver would be legally liable for the injured victim’s medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

In some cases, multiple parties may be at fault. Sometimes, the victim may even share some of the blame. Because Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, being partly at fault for an accident does not bar you from seeking compensation from your damages—as long as you were less at fault than the other party. If you are found to be 50 percent or less at fault, you can file a claim or lawsuit against the other party, but the amount you can recover in damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, using the example of the texting driver, if the insurance company finds that the injured driver of the other vehicle failed to come to a complete stop at a stop sign right before they were hit, the insurance adjuster may assign 40 percent of the blame to the injured driver. If the injured driver is seeking $100,000 in damages from the texting driver, they would only be able to recover up to 60 percent of that amount, or $60,000. As you can see, being found partly at faut can greatly impact your recovery, sometimes by as much as tens of thousands of dollars. We strongly recommend that you consult an experienced attorney who can review the insurance adjuster’s assessment of blame and, if appropriate, challenge this determination.

How Our Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Can Help

For decades, our firm has stood up for the rights of individuals and families in and around Midland County, Texas. We have what it takes to effectively advocate for you, and we are prepared to handle every detail of your case so that you can focus on what matters most: healing.

When you trust your recovery to our Midland catastrophic injury attorneys, you can trust that we will do everything possible to secure the best possible outcome on your behalf. We are available 24/7 and always provide consistent communication and updates on the status of your case. We guide each client through the complexities of the legal system and work tirelessly to ensure their rights are protected.

Get in touch with us today by calling (432) 220-3331 or by contacting us online. Hablamos español.