Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Pasadena, CA

Compassionate & Experienced Legal Representation

A serious personal injury can result in long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and recovery until the injured person can make a full recovery. On the other hand, catastrophic injuries are debilitating and permanent. Not only does such an injury forever change the victim’s life, but his/her family members may also be responsible for taking care of their loved one – perhaps for good.

If you have suffered a catastrophic injury caused by a negligent party, you want to obtain the most favorable settlement to ensure you receive the long-term or permanent care necessary to live the rest of your life as best as possible. At the Law Offices of Paul P. Cheng & Associates, we can protect your rights and best interests inside and outside the courtroom and help you maximize your entitled compensation.

Call (888) 356-4937 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case with our Pasadena catastrophic injury attorney.

What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury?

According to the United States Code (42 USC § 3796b), a catastrophic injury is defined as bodily harm that permanently prevents a person from performing gainful employment. In other words, this type of injury can be permanent and even life-threatening in nature, so much so that the victim cannot maintain his/her old job or career.  

A catastrophic injury could mean the loss of a body part—such as a limb or organ—or the loss of a body function—like the ability to walk, think critically, or even socialize. Therefore, victims can be subject to years of intensive treatment, rehabilitation and hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, and lifelong trauma and other health conditions.

Common causes of catastrophic injuries include:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Falls from heights
• Construction accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Defective products
• Sports and recreational activities
• Violent crime

What are the Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Generally, a catastrophic injury involves the brain, spinal cord, and one or more body parts or functions. While there are a wide range of catastrophic injuries, there are specific types that commonly occur.

The following are some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) – TBIs often occur when a person’s brain is struck by blunt force, penetrated by an object, or is deprived of oxygen. Common types of long-term symptoms include cognitive impairment, impaired senses, difficulty comprehending language, memory loss, vision loss, tinnitus, concentration difficulties, personality change, anxiety, and depression.
• Spinal cord injury – Spinal cord injuries are caused by impact to the back, neck, or shoulder area. A catastrophic injury to the spinal cord can result in paralysis (e.g., paraplegia and quadriplegia), which is the partial or total loss of the use of the torso and certain limbs.
• Loss of limb – Losing a hand, arm, foot, leg, or any other body part can limit mobility, require a person to relearn daily tasks, and prevent someone from living a normal life and working.
• Burn injury – Burns can be caused by fires, explosions, toxic chemical exposure, electrical wiring, radiation, and many other ways. A burn injury can lead to scarring, permanent disfigurement, and even amputations in some cases.
• Internal damage – From damaged lungs to ruptured kidneys, internal damage to organs can result in internal bleeding and other serious health issues. If such an injury is not treated in time, it can be fatal.  

What Kind of Damages Can I Recover from a Catastrophic Injury?

As we mentioned before, victims of catastrophic injuries typically incur significant medical costs. This includes hospitalization, emergency medical care immediately after injury, surgeries, therapeutic and rehabilitative services, in-home medical equipment, assistive technology, and many other long-term or lifelong medical expenses.

Catastrophic injury victims also suffer more economic/special damages, such as temporary or permanent loss of income, loss of earning power due to injury, loss of professional opportunities, and emotional and psychological treatment. Additionally, common types of non-economic/general damages for catastrophic injuries include permanent pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of quality and enjoyment of life, and other losses.

Ready to Help You Today!

Catastrophic injury cases are extremely meticulous, which is why our legal team must be thorough, tenacious, and empathetic in order to obtain the most favorable result. We can identify every loss or injury you suffered, gather and assess evidence from the scene of the accident, calculate all damages, negotiate with the at-fault party’s representatives or insurer, and secure a financial settlement that will take care of you for the rest of your life.

Contact us today at (888) 356-4937 to speak with our Pasadena catastrophic injury lawyer for more information about our compassionate and personalized legal services.