Injuries can happen anytime and anywhere- on the road, at work, in a hospital, while shopping, or at the amusement park. When they happen due to someone else’s negligence, you can claim compensation under personal injury law.
The compensation value, however, depends on the seriousness of the accident and the severity of the injuries.
Obviously, serious injuries entitle you to a bigger claim because the repercussions are always greater. Hence, it becomes important to know your rights if you have such grave injuries so that you may get the settlement you deserve. Let us explain some key facts in this context.
The Nature of Serious Injuries
Also known as catastrophic injuries, these are the ones that can leave you incapacitated permanently and have a lasting impact on your family as well. Spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputation, paralysis, paraplegia/quadriplegia, severe burns, multiple broken bones, and severe nerve or ligament damage are some examples of such injuries. These differ from the conventional ones because of the nature of damages they cause, the higher potential for complications, and also a greater need to get full financial compensation.
Lasting Impact on the Victim and Families
The physical harm caused by serious injuries is always severe, while there are major and life-long repercussions for the victims and their families as well. Apart from the physical impairment, there are financial and emotional losses they have to deal with too. So it makes sense to hire an expert serious injury lawyer who can get you proper compensation for the significant losses. Here are some expenses and losses they would expect the claim value to cover:
- Medical care and treatment expenses including surgery, repeat procedures, medications, rehabilitation, and more
- Future medical needs such as medical monitoring, daily living assistance, accommodative changes or devices, and more
- Lost income due to temporary or permanent disability
- Lost future wages due to inability to work or diminished earning capacity
- Financial expenses for the family in terms of injury-related expenses and time off work to look after the victim
- Non-economic losses in terms of pain and suffering, psychological injuries, lost quality of life, lost companionship, and consortium
- Long-term repercussions like temporary partial or total disability, permanent disfigurement, loss of sensory/ bodily function, and physical or cognitive deficits
Evaluation of Injuries and Claim Calculation
Considering the number and complexity of the elements involved, the calculation of claim value in serious injury cases can be challenging. Still, evaluating their nature and long-term impact on victims and families is crucial to an accurate and fair assessment.
Often, this requires the involvement of relevant experts who not only help with the estimates but can also support the claim during negotiation or litigation. These could be medical experts who assess the severity of injuries and economic experts who can calculate the financial impact they may have at present and in the future.
Getting your life and finances back on track after a catastrophic mishap is not easy but fair compensation can go a long way in making things smoother for you and your family.
Hiring an expert increases your chances to get the claim settled fairly and quickly, so this is something you must absolutely do.