Sandusky Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

Attorneys Handling Permanent & Severe Injury Claims

After a severe or catastrophic injury, a survivor and their family can be overwhelmed by the vast quantity of new unknowns. Medical expenses, rehabilitation challenges, loss of income, and newly acquired disabilities all pose serious and complicated questions, none with a clear answer. Rather than trying to go through such a disorienting situation on your own, rely on the skilled, experienced, and compassionate Sandusky severe injury lawyers of Murray & Murray.

Since our doors were first opened in 1931, we have been helping people throughout the region get compensation and a sense of closure and justice after suffering a catastrophic, life-changing injury at no fault of their own. While we are certainly focused on taking down the opposition by securing a positive settlement or jury verdict, we are also fully aware of how difficult it is to face the new hardships caused by a catastrophic injury. That is why we take each case one step at a time and work closely with our clients, so they never feel rushed during such a trying time.

Call our team at (419) 664-3711 now to get more information about our legal services.

What is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is typically a severe injury that results in long-term or permanent disability, significant impairment, or a substantial change in the injured person's quality of life. In Ohio, these injuries often result from car or motorcycle crashes, truck wrecks, medical malpractice, boating accidents or working as a subcontractor. The lasting impact of these injuries can justify higher compensation claims to address extensive medical care, lost wages, and other damages

Types of Catastrophic Injury Claims

A personal injury is considered catastrophic if it causes immediate and/or lasting disability, or if it is never expected to fully heal. Any sort of violent accident can cause a catastrophic injury, like a car accident or a truck accident. No matter what type of accident you were in and regardless of the type of catastrophic or severe injury you suffer, know that Murray & Murray can help you manage your claim.

Four of the more common types of catastrophic injuries are:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Brain injuries are perhaps the most intense of all catastrophic injuries in terms of how they can instantly and permanently change someone’s life entirely. People living with brain injuries may experience unpredictable disabilities, like speech impediments, loss of motor control, and mood swings. After extensive hospitalization to treat a TBI, a patient will often require continued care, which might include day-to-day assistance from an in-home caretaker.
• Spinal cord injury: A mild spinal cord injury can cause severe pain and a loss of mobility. A severe spine injury can trigger paralysis, though. The higher on the spine the injury occurs, the more widespread the paralysis will be. Living with paralysis often requires significant lifestyle changes, such as relying on a wheelchair.
• Amputation: The loss of a limb or a portion of a limb is an amputation injury, which is usually permanent. Surgical procedures may be able to lessen the severity of an amputation. Even with successful surgery, though, the hardships caused by an amputation will be significant. Chronic pain may also be a lasting symptom of an amputation injury.
• Permanent disfigurement: Although permanent disfigurement might not directly cause some form of debilitation or disability, it can still be categorized as a catastrophic injury due to its permanence. People living with permanent and noticeable disfigurements often describe experiencing self-esteem difficulties that can get so severe that they experience anxiety or depression.

What To Do After a Catastrophic Injury

After a catastrophic injury, one’s first priority is seeking medical attention to ensure all injuries are properly documented. Preserve any evidence related to the incident, such as photos, witness contact information, and crash reports. One should avoid making statements to insurance companies without legal advice, as these can be used against the one giving them. Consult one of our experienced Murray & Murray personal injury attorneys as soon as possible to discuss each party’s rights and potential compensation. Acting quickly helps to ensure crucial evidence is gathered to help protect one’s claim.

How is Fault Determined in a Catastrophic Injury Case in Ohio?

Ohio follows a "modified comparative negligence" rule, meaning that compensation can be reduced by one’s percentage of fault in causing the injuries. For instance, if one is found 20% at fault, compensation will be reduced by 20%. However, if the injured party is more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover any damages. Determining fault often involves gathering evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and expert opinions. An experienced attorney can help build a strong case to prove the other party's liability.

Significant Damages, Current & Future

When working on your catastrophic injury claim, it is crucial to consider what will likely happen in the future because of your injuries. A catastrophic injury is not something that resolves quickly and painlessly. It is a complex medical issue that will most likely require treatments for months or years, and it may cause pain and complications throughout that time.

As such, calculating past and current medical bills, lost wages, and other related damages are not enough. In a catastrophic injury claim, we use our 90+ years of legal experience and connections with local medical professionals to accurately predict the hardships and damages you will likely suffer far into the future. Only then can we demand a fair amount of compensation from the liable party or parties.

Examples of future damages to calculate in a severe injury claim:

• Rehabilitative treatments: Physical therapy sessions could be part of the doctor’s orders for years after you are first treated for your catastrophic injury. Each one of those sessions will come with a price tag, of course. You should not have to continue to pay for necessary therapies for months and months when you were not the one who caused your injury.
• Lifestyle changes: Catastrophic injuries will usually force the survivor to adapt to new lifestyle changes. Being in a wheelchair will require a wheelchair ramp or stairlift to be installed in your home, for example. It may be possible to secure damages that consider the costs incurred by such lifestyle changes and modifications.
• Pain and suffering: Noneconomic damages are paid as compensation related to pain, suffering, emotional trauma, and undue hardships. In a catastrophic injury claim, you can consider what you have already experienced and what you are likely to experience in the future as you recuperate from your injuries and adjust to the permanent harm it has caused you. In some cases, noneconomic damages are easily the most significant form of damages.

What Compensation Can I Receive in a Catastrophic Injury Claim?

In Ohio, victims of catastrophic injuries can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include medical bills (both past and future), lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and necessary modifications to one’s home or vehicle. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, among other losses. In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the injury resulted from gross negligence or intentional misconduct. The amount of compensation depends on the severity of the injury, its impact on one’s life, and the responsible party's liability.

We Respect Your Time & Wellbeing

When you choose Murray & Murray to act as your legal representatives for your catastrophic injury claim in Sandusky, you will be working with a team of catastrophic injury attorneys who take your situation to heart. Whether your injuries are a result of a car accident, motorcycle accident, or something else, we act as if we are representing ourselves, seeking every available penny of compensation on your behalf. While many claims can be resolved in a settlement, catastrophic injury cases often make it to litigation due to the high value of the damages. As experienced Ohio trial attorneys, we will be ready if the opposition brings your case to court.

Call (419) 664-3711 right now to discuss the details of your claim during a free consultation.