Personal Injury Attorneys in Homewood, Alabama

Each year, thousands of Americans suffer catastrophic injuries, many of which result from serious accidents. A severe and catastrophic injury can happen because of a vehicle crash, workplace injury, premises liability accident, medical malpractice, and similar types of events. These injuries can be permanent and debilitating, disrupting the lives of victims and their families for an extended period of time.

Some common examples of catastrophic injuries that accident victims suffer include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries/paralysis
• Compound fractures
• Amputations/loss of limbs
• Severe burns, scarring, and disfigurement
• Blindness, deafness, and other sensory related injuries

Not only do catastrophic injuries leave the victim with long-term disabilities they can also leave them emotionally scarred. In addition, these injuries can have a profound emotional impact on close family members.

Many catastrophic injury victims require round-the-clock care, and others require daily care along with therapy and other types of rehabilitation. And ensuring that they receive the care they need often falls upon the spouse and children.

Some spouses become the primary caregivers for their injured spouse, which may mean having to learn how to be a caregiver very quickly if they have never done this type of work before. In other situations, the spouse may have to arrange for nurses and other health professionals to provide care and take their loved one to doctor’s appointments, all of which is very stressful.

Emotional Impact of a Catastrophic Injury

Imagine the stress that victims and their spouses are under when they have to deal with a catastrophic injury. Being thrust into a caregiving role is difficult for anyone, and many people have had to face this situation with parents or other aging loved ones. But when it happens suddenly after an accident or another type of unexpected event, it can cause an incredible amount of emotional and psychological trauma.

Consider also the changing relationship between children and parents who suffer a catastrophic injury. A parent whom the child has always seen as a strong provider and protector is now disabled and no longer able to provide. This parent can no longer drive them to and from school activities, fix things around the house, or prepare their meals. The role is suddenly reversed, and the injured parent needs assistance with every physical task.

To make matters worse, many catastrophic injuries have no clear recovery timetable. In other words, if it is a long-term debilitating injury, there is no projected “end date” for this situation. The effects of the injury could go on for years, and there may never be a return to the quality of life the family once enjoyed.

This does not mean that life is hopeless after someone suffers a catastrophic injury – far from it. Families tend to come together in the face of these types of adversities, and there are community resources and other places to get help. Although you may need to adjust to a “new normal”, you are not the only one who has ever had to face a situation like this, and you are not alone in this struggle.

Financial Impact of a Catastrophic Injury

In addition to the emotional and psychological effects of a catastrophic injury, these injuries also take a major financial toll on victims and their families. If the injured person was a primary breadwinner in the household, for example, then being without their income for the foreseeable future will make it very difficult to pay the bills.

To make up for lost income, the spouse may need to take on extra work in addition to managing the caregiving. Children who are old enough might also have to go to work and contribute to the household finances.

If a catastrophic injury is caused entirely by someone else’s negligence or reckless actions, victims and their families deserve to be financially compensated. Compensation should be given not only for direct monetary losses such as medical bills and lost earnings, but also for intangible losses such as the physical and emotional pain-and-suffering that victims and their families have to endure.

Although no amount of money can reverse the effects of a permanent and debilitating injury, obtaining full and fair compensation can at least ease the financial burden and give families a chance to adjust more smoothly to their unwelcome circumstances.

Unfortunately, recovering just compensation for a catastrophic injury is not usually an easy process. Insurance companies will do whatever they can to protect their bottom line and pay out as little as possible for the injuries caused by their insureds. For this reason, it is very important to work with attorneys who have extensive experience successfully pursuing these types of cases.

Suffered a Catastrophic Injury in Alabama? Contact Burge & Burge for Legal Help

If you or a loved one suffered a severe and catastrophic injury that was caused by someone else, you need strong legal counsel by your side advocating aggressively to get you the compensation you deserve. If the injury happened in Alabama, contact Burge & Burge for a free consultation and case assessment. We will meet with you to review your case and inform you of your legal rights and options. And if we do end up taking your case, we will not charge you any attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

To get started, message us online or call our office today at 205-251-9000. We look forward to serving you!