Bedford Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Catastrophic injury cases can have particularly destructive consequences not only on your own life but on the lives of your family members, loved ones, and caretakers. Adjusting to life after sustaining a permanent injury can feel overwhelming, and the expenses associated with proper care can seem insurmountable.
Fortunately, a Bedford catastrophic injury lawyer could stand up for your right to compensation. With many sources of compensation available, a skilled injury lawyer could help you anticipate future expenses and demand the full value of your claim from the negligent party.
What Are Catastrophic Injuries?
Catastrophic injuries are severe, long-lasting, and often life-altering. These injuries are typically associated with the spine or the brain, but common catastrophic injuries also include the following:
- Organ damage
- Severe burns
- Blunt abdominal trauma
- Disfigurement
- Amputation
- Paralysis
The nature and extent of catastrophic injuries often leave victims saddled with intensive physical therapy and ongoing expenses for medical treatment. In Bedford, a dedicated attorney could help victims collect evidence of their devastating injuries to use as evidence in their civil claims.
Damages for Catastrophic Injury
The damages in a catastrophic injury case can be substantial, given the degree of injuries sustained by the victim and the medical expenses they face. Because many debilitating injuries are permanent, victims must think not only about the immediate medical bills resulting from the injury but also about ongoing medical bills that could continue to mount throughout their lifetime.
Fortunately, several categories of damages are available to victims of catastrophic injury in Texas. Damages are generally divided into two categories: compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages can be further broken down into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the monetary damages associated with the injury, like hospital bills, physical therapy treatment expenses, and possibly even the cost of home remodeling needed to accommodate the victim’s injury. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are awarded for the intangible effects of an accident, such as the pain and suffering the victim endured.
In contrast, punitive damages punish the wrongdoer rather than compensate the victim. That said, punitive damages are only available in extreme cases involving gross negligence by the defendant. Further, Texas has implemented a cap on punitive damages regarding severe injuries, limiting the monetary award the victim can recover.
The cap for punitive damages in Texas is $200,000 or twice the amount of economic losses, whichever is greater, plus the amount of non-economic losses, up to $750,000. A hardworking lawyer in Bedford could help victims understand how the damages cap and fight to get them the maximum compensation possible for their catastrophic harm.
Contributory Negligence
Another important consideration when evaluating the amount of damages available in a catastrophic injury case is a legal theory known as contributory negligence. Contributory negligence applies in negligence claims where a victim contributes to their own injuries. For instance, if a speeding driver was hit by an oncoming truck running a red light, the court may find that both parties contributed to the accident.
Under this legal concept, Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule knowns as the “51% rule.” According to this rule, a victim can only recover damages if they are found 50% or less responsible for the accident; if they are found 51% or more responsible, they cannot recover damages. However, even when the court finds the victim less than 50% responsible for the incident, the judge will reduce their award by the percentage of liability they bear.
Call a Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Bedford Today
Catastrophic injury cases often result in devastating losses and expenses that can affect you for the rest of your life. Because of the potential ongoing effects of your injuries, it is important to seek the full extent of compensation you are entitled to at the time of your lawsuit.
A Bedford catastrophic injury lawyer could help you ensure your financial needs are taken care of long into the future and allow you to focus on adjusting to life after your injuries. Contact an attorney to schedule a consultation today.