Catastrophic Injury Lawyers in Austin, Texas
Has a catastrophic injury turned your world upside down? The pain and anguish, the ever-increasing medical expenses, and the time you have to miss at work can leave you feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. But if someone else caused your injury, they could owe you compensation for these and other losses. And at Fletcher Law Office, our Austin catastrophic injury lawyers can pursue that compensation for you.
We know how devastating catastrophic injuries are for your physical health, emotional well-being, and financial stability. You already have enough on your plate without the added frustrations of insurance negotiations or a lawsuit. Instead of taking that on yourself, just get Gage! Let us handle all the legal work on your case while you focus on your health. Contact Fletcher Law Office today to get started with your free initial case evaluation.
- Why Choose Fletcher Law Office?
- Compensation for Catastrophic Injury Claims
- Catastrophic Injury Facts and Statistics
- Types and Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
- Filing an Insurance Claim After a Catastrophic Injury
- What to Do If You Suffer a Catastrophic Injury
- Catastrophic Injury FAQs
- Contact a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Austin, TX
- Fletcher Law Office, LLC
Why Choose Fletcher Law Office?
When a catastrophic injury upends your life, you need a personal injury lawyer who understands your struggles and how to pursue the money you need to rebuild your life. You need help from Fletcher Law Office.
Our attorneys have years of experience handling many complex injury cases, including those stemming from catastrophic injuries. We have recovered millions of dollars for injured people like you through our hard work and dedication. We know how overwhelming it is to take on the legal system yourself, especially while recovering from a painful injury. That’s why we’re here to provide the determined, experienced help you need.
If you choose us to handle your case, we will never treat you like another case number. We will listen to your story, understand your needs and concerns, and build a case strategy around them. And we will handle the complex and time-consuming aspects of your case while you focus on your health.
We have an office in the heart of downtown Austin, so it’s easy for you to meet with us in person. During your free consultation, our attorneys can review the specifics of your case and provide an honest assessment of your legal options. That way, you can feel confident in your decision to work with us.
Are you ready to demand the money you deserve for injuries that weren’t your fault? Just Get Gage! Our Austin catastrophic injury attorneys are eager to learn more about your situation and how we can help.
Compensation for Catastrophic Injury Claims
Catastrophic injuries are, by nature, severe and life-changing. Many such injuries result in long-term or permanent disabilities that affect every aspect of the victim’s life. In addition to astronomical medical expenses, catastrophic injury victims often deal with setbacks like losing the ability to work, participate in daily activities, or enjoy time with their loved ones.
As a result of these wide-ranging losses, catastrophic injury claims are often worth more than other types of injury claims.
Depending on your particular circumstances, a catastrophic injury claim could provide you with compensation for:
- Medical expenses from any emergency care, hospitalizations, surgeries, or medications
- Medical expenses you will likely need in the future as you recover, such as the costs of physical therapy, mental health counseling, or occupational therapy
- Incidental expenses you incur because of the catastrophic injury, such as travel costs for medical appointments, the costs of assistive devices like wheelchairs, and the costs of home modifications like ramps or lifts
- Lost income due to any time you miss at work, including lost benefits, commission, and bonuses
- Losses in your earning potential due to long-term or permanent injuries that prevent you from working or otherwise affect your future income
- Subjective losses like physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and diminished quality or enjoyment of life due to your catastrophic injuries
- Loss of consortium for catastrophic injuries that prevent you from enjoying a normal relationship with your spouse or partner
While a catastrophic injury claim might be worth more than the average case, getting the full compensation you deserve is another matter entirely, especially if you try to go it alone. Instead, work with a catastrophic injury lawyer who can determine the true value of your case, negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf, and take your case to court if the liable parties refuse to cooperate.
Catastrophic Injury Facts and Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the top ten leading causes of nonfatal injuries resulting in emergency department (ED) visits were:
- Unintentional falls were the leading cause of nonfatal injuries resulting in ED visits among all age groups, with 6,841,044 of these injuries nationwide.
- The second-leading causes of nonfatal injuries resulting in ED visits in 2020 were unintentional struck-by and struck-against accidents (2,252,101 cases).
- Another leading cause of nonfatal injuries resulting in ED visits that year was unintentional poisoning, which affected 1,796,671 Americans.
- Other top causes of nonfatal injuries resulting in ED visits in the U.S. that year included motor vehicle accidents (1,696,165 cases), unintentional cutting or piercing accidents (1,542,027 cases), overexertion accidents (1,512,124), and animal bites or stings (552,495 cases).
Austin’s large and growing population, constant construction work, and many out-of-town visitors mean plenty of opportunities for serious accidents. Widespread traffic congestion, poor infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, and active nightlife also present risks.
If you suffer a catastrophic injury in Austin, Texas, remember that state law gives you just two years from your injury to take legal action. Two years might sound like plenty of time to file a personal injury claim, but two years can go by quickly, especially when you have other important concerns to address.
By the time you recover enough to think about taking action, find the right lawyer to handle your case, and prepare to go to court, you might be uncomfortably close to the deadline. Furthermore, some catastrophic injury cases involve exceptions that affect this time limit, so it’s best to consult with an experienced injury lawyer as soon as possible after getting hurt.
Types and Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are severe wounds with profound effects on victims’ lives.
Many different injuries can qualify as catastrophic, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe burn injuries
- Amputation or loss of limb
- Severe bone fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Eye injuries causing blindness
- Hearing loss and deafness
- Severe dental injuries
- Severe scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent nerve damage
- Respiratory or lung injuries
- Severe infections or sepsis
- Reproductive injuries
Catastrophic injuries can occur for various reasons, many entirely preventable.
Common causes of catastrophic injuries in the U.S. include:
- Traffic collisions, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and rideshare accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents, especially falls from heights and falls onto hard surfaces
- Sports and recreation accidents, especially in high-speed or high-impact sports like football, skiing, skateboarding, or motocross
- Assault or acts of violence, such as gunshot wounds and physical assaults
- Unsafe properties, such as those with unattended and dangerous animals, inadequate lighting or security, or slip-and-fall hazards
Filing an Insurance Claim After a Catastrophic Injury
As a catastrophic injury victim, you might struggle to get fair compensation from an insurance claim. These injuries cause significant losses, including medical costs, lost income, and ongoing healthcare needs.
As a result, determining the full value of a catastrophic injury claim is an involved process. Additionally, proving liability in a catastrophic injury claim often requires extensive investigation and working with medical experts, further complicating matters.
Furthermore, insurance companies are more concerned with protecting their bottom lines than helping victims recover, and they commonly use aggressive tactics to deny claims and reduce payouts. One common tactic is to pressure a claimant to settle their case quickly and for far less than they deserve, before they realize the full extent of their losses.
At Fletcher Law Office, we know these tactics well, and we know how to overcome them. We can handle negotiations on your behalf, so you don’t have to deal with unnecessary stress. And if the insurance companies refuse to make you the fair offer you deserve, we’re ready to take your case to trial and fight for the compensation you deserve in court.
What to Do If You Suffer a Catastrophic Injury
A catastrophic injury can leave you in pain, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next.
However, you can take charge of your situation and lay the groundwork for a strong injury claim if you:
- Follow your doctor’s care plan and attend all follow-up appointments as scheduled.
- Let your insurance provider know about the injury accident, if relevant.
- Document the details of your recovery in a pain journal.
- Gather evidence, such as photos of the accident scene and witness statements. Don’t worry if you could not collect this evidence already, as a good attorney can take charge of this step.
- Keep copies of important documents, such as medical records, and collect proof of wage losses, such as bank statements.
- Don’t provide any statements without speaking to a lawyer first, and watch what you say to others about your case. Don’t post to social media, as insurance adjusters and defense attorneys can use whatever you say against you.
- Document out-of-pocket costs you incur because of your injuries.
- Contact Fletcher Law Office for a free initial consultation session and bring us any evidence or documentation you have gathered so far.
Catastrophic Injury FAQs
Here are the straightforward answers to some of the questions we frequently hear about catastrophic injury cases in Austin.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Catastrophic Injury Case?
Yes. Personal injury cases are highly complex, and those involving catastrophic injuries are especially challenging, both legally and emotionally. The last thing you need as you’re trying to recover from a severe injury is the headache of putting together a legal claim by yourself. You will save yourself considerable time and stress by working with a knowledgeable attorney, and you are far likelier to get a settlement that fairly compensates you for all of your losses.
What Evidence Can I Use to Prove My Catastrophic Injury Claim?
The stronger your evidence of the other party’s liability and the extent of your compensable losses, the stronger your catastrophic injury claim will be.
To build your case, our attorneys can identify, gather, and present:
- Photos of the location where you got hurt
- Photos of visible injuries from the incident
- Video footage of the accident unfolding
- Statements from witnesses who saw you get hurt
- Testimony from experts, such as physicians
- Police crash reports and other incident reports
Are There Time Limits Involved in Pursuing a Claim?
Yes. In most cases, Texas’s statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits gives you two years from the date of an injury to file a lawsuit against the at-fault parties. Different circumstances could extend or shorten this timeline, though, so you should discuss your case with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
There are also practical reasons beyond those posed by the statute of limitations that necessitate timely action. Evidence can go missing, memories will fade, and insurance companies will work on their defense plan. Furthermore, strong cases take time to build. The sooner you get in touch with a lawyer, the more they can do for you.
Contact a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Austin, TX
Have you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in Austin? Then just get Gage!
At Fletcher Law Office, we want to help you get the compensation you need to rebuild your life. Gage Fletcher founded the firm with the goal of providing his clients with unmatched legal advocacy. We are ready to investigate your case thoroughly, gather evidence to establish liability and available compensation, and fight hard for the financial security you deserve. We firmly believe you should not have to pay the price of someone else’s careless, reckless, or simply negligent behavior. Let us put that belief to the test.
Call us now at (512) 619-4006 or contact us online for your free consultation with our personal injury lawyers in Austin.