Florida Catastrophic Injury Lawyer for Serious Accidents

A Catastrophic Injury Can Change Your Life Forever. Our Lawyers Can Help You Recover.

When you are involved in a serious accident, the physical toll on your body can be severe. Serious accidents can result in various types of traumatic injuries; and, while recovery will be possible in some cases, many victims will experience lifelong consequences. If your life has been forever altered as a result of someone else’s negligence or a product failure, you deserve to have your losses covered, and you should speak with a Florida catastrophic injury lawyer about your legal rights promptly.

At Searcy Denney, we have recovered billions of dollars in financial compensation for catastrophic injury victims throughout Florida and nationwide. As a client of our firm, you will work directly with an experienced Florida catastrophic injury lawyer throughout your case, and your lawyer will make sure you have the information you need to make smart decisions every step of the way.

Florida Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Team Representing Victims Who Have Suffered Severe, Life-Altering Injuries

There is no single, precise definition of a “catastrophic injury.” Rather, this term is used to encompass any and all injuries that result in physical impairment (temporary or permanent) and that have a direct and substantial impact on your day-to-day life. With this definition in mind, some of the most-common examples of catastrophic injuries resulting from vehicle collisions and other accidents include:

• Bone fractures
• Injuries resulting in full or partial paralysis
• Injuries resulting in permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of limbs and digits
• Organ damage
• Severe burns
• Soft tissue (muscle, ligament and tendon) tears
• Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

For many accident victims, these types of injuries will require invasive surgery (and perhaps multiple surgical procedures), and the recovery process will be slow and difficult. Additionally, a full recovery may not be possible. Many individuals who suffer catastrophic injuries will live with chronic pain and physical limitations for the rest of their lives, and they will experience significant psychological effects as well.

Understanding Paralysis Injury Claims

One of the most traumatic injuries a person can experience after an accident is paralysis. There are three leading causes of paralysis. Understanding the cause of your paralysis is important to identifying both your treatment options and any potential grounds for financial recovery. Paralysis may result from:

• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) – Damage to the spinal cord is the most common cause of paralysis. The location and severity of the damage to the spine will determine which parts of the body are affected and the available treatment options.
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – Traumatic brain injuries can lead to nerve damage that prevents the brain from sending signals to different parts of the body. Without these signals, the parts of the body that are affected are no longer able to function.
• Other Catastrophic Injury – Nerve damage in other parts of the body can also lead to paralysis. Severe lacerations, bone fractures and various other catastrophic injuries can cause the level of damage required for paralysis.

Paralysis can affect different parts of the body depending on the location and severity of a person’s injury. We help accident victims and their loved ones seek just compensation for all forms of paralysis:

Quadriplegia

Quadriplegia (also known as tetraplegia) affects all four limbs. The most severe form of quadriplegia, pentaplegia, affects the entire body from the neck down.

Paraplegia

Paraplegia affects the lower half of the body, resulting in loss of muscle control and motor function in the hips and legs.

Diplegia

Diplegia affects corresponding body parts on the left and right sides. Paraplegia is a form of diplegia, but it is possible to experience diplegia in the arms and torso as well.

Hemiplegia

Hemiplegia affects one side of the body. It can either involve a single limb (referred to as monoplegia) or affect both the arm and the leg on the left or right side. While there are different forms of paralysis, all forms are serious injuries that require intensive medical treatment, leading to high financial and non-financial costs. 

Catastrophic Injury Victims Will Often be Entitled to Significant Financial Recoveries

Due to the severe physical, psychological and financial effects of catastrophic injuries, accident victims who have been diagnosed with these injuries will often be entitled to significant financial recoveries. Your Florida catastrophic injury lawyer at our firm will work closely with you and your doctors to seek maximum compensation for all of your injury-related losses. This includes seeking maximum compensation for your:

• Medical and non-medical expenses
• Loss of income and benefits
• Loss of earning capacity
• Emotional trauma
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Physical impairment
• Loss of companionship, consortium, services and support
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Understanding Organ Damage Injury Claims

Many different forms of trauma can lead to organ damage. Blunt force trauma, penetrating injuries and violent shaking or twisting can damage organs throughout the body. While some forms of organ damage can be relatively minor, many accidents result in catastrophic damage that can require surgery, lead to permanent complications or lead to organ failure. Due to the financial and non-financial costs involved, accident victims who suffer catastrophic organ damages should engage an experienced Florida catastrophic injury attorney to represent them.

Following any type of serious accident, it is crucial to seek a comprehensive diagnosis and continue monitoring for any signs of organ damage. Pain, failure of bodily functions, difficulty thinking or breathing, and various other symptoms can be indicative of damage to organs, including:

• Brain
• Heart
• Intestines
• Kidneys
• Liver
• Lungs
• Spleen
• Stomach

When Does Soft Tissue Damage Qualify as a Catastrophic Injury?

Soft tissue injuries are common. They can result from all types of accidents, and they can also result from repetitive stress. These injuries will often heal with a relatively short period of rest, and individuals who suffer these injuries will soon be able to resume their normal lives.

But, this is not always the case. While some soft tissue injuries (i.e., sprains and strains) can heal on their own, others can require intensive medical treatment—and they can often lead to long-term effects. They can lead to substantial costs as well, and many people who suffer serious soft tissue injuries will need to hire a Florida catastrophic injury lawyer to help them recover just compensation.

Ligament, Muscle and Tendon Tears

The human body has three types of soft tissue—ligaments, muscles and tendons. Each of these forms of soft tissue connects to another part of the body (either muscle, bone or cartilage). In serious traumatic accidents, ligaments, muscles and tendons can tear at these connection points or any point in between.

A tear is a much more serious issue than a sprain or strain. In the case of a “complete tear,” the soft tissue separates completely. Since soft tissue must stretch to function, a complete tear can cause each torn part of the ligament, muscle or tendon to “snap back” to its resting state. When this occurs, the torn pieces are far apart (relatively speaking within the context of the human body), and they cannot grow back together on their own.

As a result, surgery will often be required to repair soft tissue tears. Not only can the surgical procedure itself be expensive, but so can the recovery process. Accident victims who experience ligament, muscle and tendon tears will typically need to undergo weeks or months of physical therapy, and they may be unable to work while their injuries heal. Additionally, in many cases, even a successful surgery will not prevent long-term physical limitations. Adding up all of these costs, it is not hard to see why hiring a Florida catastrophic injury attorney is essential for many accident victims who experience soft tissue tears.

Open Soft Tissue Injuries

Another category of catastrophic soft tissue injuries is what is known as an “open” soft tissue injury. These are injuries that involve a cut or penetration of the skin deep enough to damage the underlying soft tissue. There are three main types of open soft tissue injuries:

• Avulsions – An avulsion occurs when an external force results in removing a section of skin and often a section of the soft tissue below it. Avulsions can result from slicing, cutting and other forms of trauma common in vehicle collisions, equipment and machinery accidents, and various other types of catastrophic accidents.
• Burns – Severe burns can go beyond the skin and impact the soft tissue beneath. These are catastrophic injuries that will typically require substantial emergency medical treatment, one or more surgeries, and a prolonged recovery period.
• Lacerations – Lacerations or cuts from broken glass, shards of debris and other sharp objects can pierce the skin and sever ligaments, muscles and tendons. These injuries will often require treatment similar to tears, with the extent of rehabilitation and recovery required depending on the laceration’s location, depth, and size.

Frequently, when a person suffers a severe soft tissue injury in an accident, he or she will suffer other traumatic injuries as well. For example, it is not uncommon for bones to fracture when ligaments and tendons tear away. Avulsions, burns and lacerations can require varying levels of treatment as well. When going through the recovery process, it is important to work with an experienced Florida catastrophic injury lawyer to ensure that you are seeking just compensation for the current and future costs of all of the injuries you sustained in the accident.

FAQs: Recovering Your Losses With the Help of a Florida Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

When Can You Seek Financial Compensation for a Catastrophic Injury?

You can seek financial compensation for a catastrophic injury if someone else (or a company) was at fault in the accident in which you were injured. For example, if you suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident caused by a speeding truck driver, a Florida catastrophic injury lawyer can help you seek financial compensation from the trucking company. Or, if you suffered catastrophic injuries in a fall or other premises-related accident, a lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation from the property owner.

How Do You Seek Financial Compensation for a Catastrophic Injury?

The process of recovering financial compensation for a catastrophic injury depends on how you got injured and who (or what company) is liable. For example, if you were injured in a car accident, recovering your losses may involve filing an auto insurance claim. On the other hand, if you suffered a catastrophic injury due to an unsafe medical device, you may need to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

How Much Can You Recover for a Catastrophic Injury in Florida?

The amount you can recover for a catastrophic injury also depends on your individual circumstances. You will need to work with a Florida catastrophic injury attorney to calculate your losses in each of the categories listed above. Your attorney will also need to determine what sources of financial compensation are available. With this information in hand, your attorney can pursue all available claims on your behalf; and, if you receive a settlement offer, your attorney can help you decide whether to accept or keep fighting for more.

Do You Need to Hire a Florida Catastrophic Injury Attorney?

After suffering catastrophic injuries in any type of accident, hiring a Florida catastrophic injury attorney is the best way to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation available. You need to do everything you can to recover your losses, and this starts with having an experienced attorney on your side.

Speak with a Florida Catastrophic Injury Lawyer About Your Case for Free

If you would like more information about recovering your losses after suffering a catastrophic accident-related injury in Florida, we invite you to get in touch with our personal injury lawyers. To schedule a free consultation at your convenience, give us a call at 800-780-8607 or tell us how we can help online today.