Mendez and Sanchez - Catastrophic Injury Attorneys in Pasadena, California

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Simple accidents occur daily. In some cases the outcomes aren't that simple, however. People may slip and fall down a single step or an entire flight of stairs, particularly when railings are inadequate or faulty. Reckless drivers cause injuries when they crash into someone else's vehicle. Simple accidents aren't a major concern as long as individuals leave with only minor bumps and bruises. If you suffer serious or catastrophic injuries, however, you might struggle with pain, disabilities, and financial losses for the rest of your life.

Seemingly everyday accidents occasionally lead to long-lasting medical care, recurring medical bills, lost income, and unexpected disabilities. When another person causes or contributes to your injury, that individual should pay for your damages. However, negligent individuals or entities do not always step up and take responsibility for their actions. Therefore, it's up to you and a Pasadena catastrophic injury lawyer to do what's necessary to make them pay.

What Are Common Catastrophic Injuries?

Federal law considers any long-lasting injury preventing a person from working as catastrophic. Yet, some injuries occur more than others. Some common kinds of catastrophic injuries include:

• Severe burns are not only acutely painful, but they can also be traumatic and create life-long physical and psychological pain. Burns are classified as catastrophic when they cover much of the body and require reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, and in some cases a medically induced coma to heal. Even with medical care, the risk of infection due to wide, deep burns is significant.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are caused by an outside force striking or penetrating the skull. These injuries are generally caused by a violent blow to the head or by an object penetrating the skull. Traumatic brain injuries commonly occur in serious car accidents, slips and falls, and workplace injuries. Brain injuries that are categorized as catastrophic often mean that a victim experiences cognitive problems, like loss of memory and ability to concentrate; physical problems, like impaired coordination and balance and loss of motor functioning; hearing problems; vision problems; and behavioral problems, like depression, anxiety, and aggression. In situations with severe brain injuries, victims might experience a coma, a vegetative state, or death.
• Spinal cord injuries can be catastrophic because of how essential the spine is to the human body's operation. A traumatic spinal cord injury can occur due to a sudden blow to the spine during a car crash or slip and fall. A catastrophic spinal cord injury often causes long-term loss of strength, sensation, and function below the site of the injury. This might cause temporary paralysis or even lifelong paraplegia or quadriplegia. In these cases, the injured victim will likely require extensive rehabilitation and assistive devices to get back some movement and independence.
• Serious orthopedic injuries such as crushed bones and fractures requiring several surgical procedures are also categorized as catastrophic. A crushed bone or several fractures most often occurs when force or pressure is placed on a body part. Oftentimes these kinds of injuries are due to being caught between two heavy objects in a car crash or a workplace accident. Crushed bone injuries are extremely painful, can require multiple surgeries, and run the risk of long-term issues.
• Amputation, meaning the loss of a limb or an extremity, is commonly a result of a serious accident. An amputation often can not be repaired and may put the person's life at risk. Amputations are less common than most other catastrophic injuries, however when they do occur it usually means a permanent disability for those whose amputations were a result of an accident.
• Permanent vision or hearing loss clearly creates a significant burden for those that experience these kinds of injuries. For this reason, vision and hearing loss are classified as catastrophic. When someone no longer has the ability to hear or see, they face a lifetime of hardship, financial difficulties, pain and suffering, lost income potential, and independence.

What Kinds of Damages Can I Recover?

If the court rules in your favor or you reach a settlement before litigation, you can receive damages for losses you (or your loved one) have incurred as a result of the catastrophic injury.

Examples of types of damages you can recover include:

• Current and future estimated medical treatment costs, including ambulance service, emergency room visit, hospitalization, surgery, medication, ongoing treatment, and continued nursing care in a long-term care facility
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity to compensate catastrophic injury victims who can not go back to work or pursue future employment
• Home modification costs to make a house more accessible for an individual with a catastrophic injury by adding things like wheelchair ramps, handrails, as well as creating a main floor living area for those that can not use stairs
• Expenses for replacement services a household must use for tasks and labor the accident victim did before their injuries, such as a lawn care service, snow removal service, childcare, and a cleaning service
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional pain and suffering
• Decreased quality of life
• Loss of consortium with a spouse
• Punitive damages in extreme cases of gross negligence or intentional harm

How Can an Experienced Lawyer Help My Case?

Catastrophic injuries are life-altering events that leave victims economically devastated. Recovering damages for catastrophic injuries is more than receiving compensation for negligence, it is an essential source of financing for future costs related to the injury. Adding insult to injury, insurance providers use every tactic in their playbook to protect their bottom line and avoid paying claims.

Catastrophic injury claims are high-value claims that need extra resources and experienced attorneys. Experienced catastrophic injury attorneys do not only file paperwork, they advocate for you and your loved one every step of the way.

Examples of how catastrophic injury attorneys assist their clients include:

• Investigating a case to identify all the facts
• Developing a solid case against the other side
• Consulting with professionals who help raise value to a claim
• Obtaining valuable witness testimony
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Bringing a case to trial when settlement is not a solution
• Negotiating to lower medical bills once a top settlement offer is received

Catastrophic injuries devastate victims and their loved ones physically, psychologically, and economically. Contact our skilled Pasadena catastrophic injury attorneys to see if we can help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

If a negligent person or company causes catastrophic injuries to you or a loved one, you need to take immediate actions to protect your legal rights. At Mendez & Sanchez, we constantly fight hard to recover damages for our clients, and we 'd like to determine if we can assist you.

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OUR PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY TO TAKE YOUR CALL. FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, CALL US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.