A catastrophic injury can leave a person permanently unable to work, dependent on daily assistance, and facing years of medical treatment. At Freedman Law, our Fresno personal injury lawyers help people with life-changing injuries hold responsible parties accountable. Our catastrophic injury team pursues compensation that accounts for our clients’ access to care, independence, and financial future. Call (559) 447-9000 to arrange a free consultation.
Substantial recoveries for life-changing injuries: We have secured a $32 million traumatic brain injury settlement and a $4 million amputation settlement, demonstrating our experience pursuing compensation in cases involving permanent disability.
Preparation for contested claims: We bring extensive trial experience, qualified expert witnesses, and courtroom technology to cases where insurers dispute responsibility or the extent of an injury.
Representation without upfront attorney fees: We handle catastrophic injury cases on a contingency basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.
What Makes an Injury Catastrophic?
Catastrophic injuries cause lasting disability or a major loss of physical or cognitive function. They can affect earning ability, independence, communication, and basic activities such as dressing, eating, or walking. These injuries may include:
Amputations that require prosthetic care and long-term adjustments.
Severe burns that cause extensive scarring and restricted movement.
Permanent loss of vision or hearing.
Organ damage or complex fractures that leave lasting limitations.
The financial harm can also be devastating if the injured person can no longer earn a living. Families may exhaust savings, take on debt, and lose additional income when a relative leaves work to provide daily care.
How Do Catastrophic Injuries Happen in Fresno?
The most common causes of catastrophic injuries in Fresno include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
High-speed crashes and rollovers can crush vehicles or eject occupants. Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians may hit the road, a windshield, or another vehicle. A Fresno car accident lawyer can investigate the collision and help document how the resulting injuries affect your life.
Collisions involving commercial trucks may require additional investigation into the trucking company, vehicle maintenance, and driver conduct. Our Fresno truck accident attorneys can examine these factors and identify potentially responsible parties.
Serious Falls
Broken railings, unstable ladders, and missing guardrails can cause someone to fall from a height. Landing on the head or back can damage the brain or spinal cord.
Workplace and Construction Accidents
Workers may become caught in machinery, pinned beneath equipment, or struck by falling materials. These accidents can crush limbs or require an amputation.
Fires and Explosions
Gas leaks, faulty wiring, and improperly stored fuel can cause fires or explosions. Severe burns may require skin grafts and repeated surgeries.
Electrical and Chemical Exposure
Exposed wiring can cause electrical burns. Chemical spills and splashes can burn the skin or eyes, especially when workers lack gloves, face shields, or other protective equipment.
Violent Assaults
Shootings, stabbings, and blows to the head can cause paralysis, brain damage, or fatal injuries.
If your loved one died from their injuries, our Fresno wrongful death attorneys can review what happened and explain your family’s legal options during a free consultation.
Who May Be Responsible for the Injury?
You may pursue compensation when another person or business causes your catastrophic injury through negligence. California Civil Code § 1714 generally holds people responsible for injuries they cause through a lack of “ordinary care or skill.” A negligence claim requires evidence that the other party had a responsibility to take reasonable care, failed to do so, and caused your injuries and resulting losses.
Depending on what happened, you may have a claim against a driver, an employer whose employee caused harm while performing job duties, a property owner who neglected a dangerous condition, or a business that supplied unsafe equipment. If several parties contributed to your injury, you may pursue claims against each one.
What Happens If an Insurer Blames You in Fresno?
California allows you to seek compensation even when sharing some responsibility for the accident. Your award will be reduced by your percentage of the fault. For example, if a jury finds you 20% responsible and determines that your damages total $1 million, you could recover $800,000.
An attorney can challenge any unsupported allegations against you by comparing the insurer’s allegations with witness statements, video, and other evidence showing how the accident happened. Even a small percentage of the blame unfairly placed on you can significantly affect your financial security in the future.
Compensation Available After a Catastrophic Injury
Recovering enough compensation to cover the long-term effects of a catastrophic injury is critical. Potential damages include:
Medical care: Emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, equipment, and reasonably necessary future treatment.
Lost earnings: Income already lost and the reduction in future earning ability, including lost employment benefits.
Daily assistance: Reasonable costs for help with personal care, household tasks, and activities the injury prevents the person from completing.
Home and transportation changes: Necessary accessibility modifications, specialized transportation, and related expenses.
Pain and personal losses: Physical pain, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and reduced enjoyment of life.
Property damage: Repair or replacement of vehicles and other belongings damaged in the incident.
An attorney estimates your claim’s value by assessing the severity of your injuries, the strength of the case against the responsible party, and settlement or verdict results in comparable cases. They also consider available insurance coverage and will advise you of potential challenges that could affect recovery.
How Are Future Care Costs Calculated In Fresno?
A catastrophic injury may require years of treatment or lifelong assistance. To seek compensation for those needs, your attorney works with specialists to establish what care you will likely require, how often you will need it, and its expected cost.
Medical Specialists
Medical specialists evaluate your prognosis, ongoing limitations, and likely treatment needs. A life care planner uses those recommendations to develop a detailed plan covering rehabilitation, personal care, medical equipment, home modifications, and equipment replacement.
Family Members
Family members can explain the daily assistance they provide.
Economists
An economist can project these costs over your expected lifetime, accounting for factors such as inflation.
Vocational Specialists
If your injuries also affect your ability to work, a vocational specialist can assess your employment options, and an economist can estimate the resulting income losses.
Together, these assessments give your attorney a supported estimate of the losses you can expect in the future.
Plan for Life After a Catastrophic Injury
Freedman Law can review what happened, explain the available options, and discuss how a claim can account for future needs. For a free consultation with a Fresno catastrophic injury lawyer, call (559) 447-9000 or contact us online.
