If you or someone you love has been unlucky to suffer a catastrophic injury in Florida, a Hollywood Catastrophic Injury Lawyer at Klotzman Law Firm can help. We help individuals with catastrophic injury claims in Hollywood, Florida.
Our attorneys have vast legal experience representing clients in Hollywood and throughout Florida. We understand that the outcome of a catastrophic injury case has a serious impact on the life of the victim and their family.
Whether a catastrophic injury results from a slip and fall, medical malpractice, a vehicle accident, a defective product, or some other incident caused by negligence or malicious intent, navigating the legal process will be a daunting task. That’s due to many other considerations including quality of life issues, long-term care, pain, and suffering among many other issues.
Our seasoned personal injury attorneys understand the intricacies of catastrophic injury claims and are ready and willing to fight for your rights. During such trying times, we will also offer our understanding and compassion.
Like with many of the injury cases we take on, the main priority is getting our clients the best medical care available. If you need the services of a well-versed Florida catastrophic injury lawyer, contact the experienced Hollywood injury lawyers at Klotzman Law Firm today or call 954-915-7405 to meet with us for a free initial case review.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is one that has an enormous effect on someone’s life, preventing them from engaging in any gainful work in the future, or that causes lifelong injuries, illnesses, or impairments.
Generally, catastrophic injuries happen without warning and can have life-changing effects on the individual and their immediate family. This is because sustaining a catastrophic injury comes with a lifetime of medical bills, rehabilitation, and a constant need for assistance and supervision.
As such, catastrophic injuries are often devastating for the victims and their families since they require extensive treatment and other special needs creating financial hardships.
Catastrophic injuries mostly refer to injuries that cause damage to the brain and spinal cord. Examples of these injuries may include:
- Severe head trauma, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord and other neurological injuries
- Multiple broken bones
- Eye injury
- Accidental amputation
- Extensive or severe burns
What May Cause Catastrophic Injuries?
While it is unfortunate, it is a fact that catastrophic injuries may happen at any given time or place. Accidents are known to be the most common source of catastrophic injuries. Some examples of accidents that may cause lifelong debilitating injuries may include:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Premises liability
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Trip and fall accidents
- Negligent security
- Defective products
No matter the type of catastrophic injury you or your loved one has sustained, you can count on the catastrophic injury lawyers at Klotzman Law Firm to fight for you.
Catastrophic Injury Statistics
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), a non-profit organization that has been advocating for American safety for over a century, there were 48.3 million injuries in 2019 that cost a whooping 1.0979 trillion dollars to treat.
NSC also reports that 173,040 people lost their lives in preventable injury-related deaths in 2019, up 3.5% from 167,127 in 2018.
What Are The Long-Term Effects of Catastrophic Injuries?
The aftermath of an accident can be difficult to handle even more so when you sustain a catastrophic injury. This is because you are left with a mountain of medical bills that will likely last a lifetime. Here are some of the long-term effects of catastrophic injuries.
Financial Hardship
One common fact about catastrophic injuries regardless of the symptoms is the financial strain it puts on the victim and their family. Having to undergo medical care for a lifetime can get incredibly expensive especially if you cannot continue working as you used to before.
Mounting medical bills can easily attract medical debt creating a very stressful financial situation.
Physical Difficulties
The severity and type of injury determine the long-term physical effects of a catastrophic injury. For instance, severe burns can cause sensory due to nerve damage, organ damage, disfigurement, scarring, or even amputation.
Head injuries like TBI can cause chronic pain, loss of motor function, or cognitive deficits. Spinal cord injuries can cause bladder control issues, difficulty breathing, or paralysis.
No matter the type of injury, victims often struggle with coming to terms with their new reality of living with a debilitating injury.
Psychological Difficulties
On top of victims getting used to the physical changes resulting from a catastrophic injury, they must also grapple with the psychological issues that come with suffering a lifelong injury such as anxiety disorders and depression.
Due to the inability to participate in activities they once enjoyed, victims may find themselves isolated from family, friends, and coworkers.
Employment Difficulties
Many victims of catastrophic injuries soon realize that they are unable to perform their job duties like they once did, and no amount of rehabilitation can fix it. This may prevent the victim from finding and maintaining meaningful employment to allow them to live comfortably.
They may be forced to make a career change which in most cases means undertaking a job that pays less.
Hiring a Hollywood catastrophic injury lawyer soon after suffering a catastrophic injury may help you cope better with the aftermath of your injury. A successful injury claim can get you enough compensation to pay for your medical bills, lost income, and any lifestyle changes related to your injury like installing a wheelchair ramp in your home.
Can I Sue for a Catastrophic Injury?
Before you sue for a catastrophic injury in Hollywood, Florida, you may need to clearly establish the party responsible for those injuries. If you can show that another person was negligent, you may have a shot at recovering damages. The catastrophic injury lawyers at Klotzman Law Firm can help you build a strong case on the baseline of the four elements of negligence:
Duty of Care
First, you need to prove that the at-fault party bore a duty of care to you at the time of the accident i.e. The defendant had an obligation to act in a reasonably safe manner. For instance, following traffic laws.
Breach of Duty
Next, you will need to show how the liable party failed to uphold their duty of care. i.e. the defendant failed to follow traffic rules.
Causation
You also need to demonstrate how the at-fault party’s breach of duty directly led to your injuries and damages. i.e. The defendant’s failure to follow traffic rules caused the accident that resulted in your catastrophic injuries.
Damages
Finally, you need to prove that your catastrophic injuries caused you pain and suffering and economic damages.
Once our lawyers can establish all four elements of negligence, we will construct your case by launching an inquiry into your accident. Our catastrophic injury lawyers will obtain and analyze evidence including accident and police reports, video surveillance, medical records, photographs, witness statements, etc.
Finding evidence isn’t always a walk in the park. That’s why we will involve professional accident reconstruction specialists to recreate the scene to get solid proof of how your accident happened.
We know the types of evidence that come in handy when determining liability. Our lawyers also know to obtain the evidence you need. If you’re ready to learn more about how we can help you prove liability in a Hollywood catastrophic injury case and pursue the responsible parties, give us a call today.
The Role of Shared Fault in Florida Catastrophic Injury Cases
Victims of catastrophic injuries can recover compensation even if they were partly at fault as per Florida’s shared responsibility rules. Provided that at least one other person was liable for your catastrophic injuries, you can sue for damages.
When the comparative fault rule is at play, your compensation can be reduced to account for the role you played in the accident. Accident victims often think they can’t sue anyone else if they were responsible for the accident. That’s not entirely true. In Florida, if another person was at least 1% liable, the law allows you to recover compensation.
Determining each party’s share of fault in a catastrophic injury case can be very challenging. That’s why you need a lawyer in your corner to fight to minimize your share of the blame. Get in touch with our skilled attorneys at Klotzman Law Firm to get help.
How Long Should I Wait To Pursue A Catastrophic Injury Claim in Florida?
Victims of catastrophic injuries in Florida have four years to file a personal injury claim. If the injuries result in death, the victim’s surviving family members have two years from the date of the victim’s demise to file a wrongful death claim.
While four years might seem like a long time, do not hesitate to speak with a catastrophic injury attorney. If you wait too long to pursue compensation, you may be left with no options for recovering damages.
Why Do I Need A Hollywood Catastrophic Injury Lawyer to File a Claim?
Do not underestimate the importance of a catastrophic injury lawyer when making a catastrophic injury claim. Since you may be dealing with your injuries we know you may have enough on your plate already. An Hollywood catastrophic injury lawyer will ensure the process of seeking compensation is as smooth as possible by:
Gathering Evidence
A lawyer will investigate the cause of your catastrophic injuries to determine liability and gather supporting evidence. We will involve experts and specialists throughout the entire process to collect strong and reliable evidence that supports your claim. To build up your case, we will gather evidence that may include:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Expert testimony
- Cell phone footage
- Surveillance footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Photos of your injuries
- Data from the accident scene
- Bills, paystubs, receipts, and other proof of losses
Negotiating For Out of Court Settlement
Insurers may try to downplay your catastrophic injury through their company claims adjusters in a bid to keep your financial recovery as little as possible. You may also be at risk of accepting a lowball offer that undervalues your lifelong losses significantly if you try to handle your insurance claim on your own. But, a Hollywood catastrophic injury lawyer will strive to get you maximum compensation and ensure the insurance company doesn’t take advantage of you.
Also with an attorney by your side, insurance companies will not fancy the prospect of going to court since a trial can be time-consuming and costly for defendants. When you get an attorney, the insurance company recognizes the possibility of the case advancing to court. In the insurance company’s efforts to avoid going to court, they may offer a higher settlement fee.
Representing You In Trial
Hiring a lawyer allows you to take your case to court if need be. Even though personal injury claims often settle out of court, you cannot rule out the possibility of your case going to trial. In the eventuality that your case goes to trial, an attorney can represent you and give you the confidence of getting the most for your catastrophic injuries before a judge or jury.
At Klotzman Law Firm, we understand that you may have your hands full. That’s why we will handle all case-related communications so you don’t have to endure the burden of dealing with tons of phone calls and emails from the opposing legal counsel and insurance agents. With an attorney, you can be sure of getting regular updates about the status of your case.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover in a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
Catastrophic injuries cause permanent or long-term physical impairments that affect your daily life. Consequently, you may have huge medical bills and other expenses related to your injury and treatment. Our catastrophic injury lawyers can pursue the following types of damages:
Economic Damages
This refers to all the damages that can be quantified in monetary terms including:
Medical expenses. Catastrophic injuries have astronomical medical costs owing to the fact that you may need to spend a significant amount of time in the hospital, all while accumulating bills for medication, diagnostic imaging, doctor visits, and specialists. You may also need to undergo one or more surgeries to keep you alive or to correct a medical issue or two.
You may also need physical therapy and rehabilitation to help you improve as much as possible by building muscle, regaining strength, and possibly some lost function. You may also need the services of an occupational therapist and a speech pathologist depending on the nature of your injury.
Lost earning capacity. With a catastrophic injury, you may be unable to work and earn a paycheck. We can help you recover lost future wages through a catastrophic injury claim.
Home modification services. If you are lucky enough to return home after a catastrophic injury, you may need to make a few home modifications here and there for better accessibility if your mobility has been compromised. Depending on your needs, you may need to install grab bars and handrails throughout your home, especially the toilet and bathroom, or construct a wheelchair ramp. These home improvements can prove to be a costly endeavor.
Various out-of-pocket expenses. We all also seek other awards such as compensation for property damage, rental car fees, travel expenses, household services, and vehicle modification expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
This refers to damages that cannot be quantified in monetary terms such as physical, emotional, and mental suffering. A catastrophic injury can deny you the ability to achieve life goals, engage in enjoyable activities, and have a fulfilling relationship with friends and loved ones. We can help you pursue financial compensation for these and other non-economical damages such as depression, anxiety, stress, physical pain, and disabling injuries.
Punitive Damages
Although rarely awarded in Florida, we may be able to recover punitive damages if we prove that the defendant’s conduct was reckless. These damages are awarded to punish reckless or malicious conduct and are meant to deter others from partaking in similar actions.
Wrongful Death Damages
If your loved one sustained a fatal injury, our attorneys can help with a wrongful death case. Florida laws allow the victim’s surviving family members to recover compensation for medical expenses, funeral, and burial expenses, lost support and services, and lost income.
Contact The Catastrophic Injury Lawyers at Klotzman Law Firm Today!
If you are a Hollywood resident and you or somebody close to you has suffered a catastrophic injury, contact an experienced Hollywood Catastrophic Injury Lawyer at Klotzman Law Firm online or at 954-915-7405 for a free consultation to determine the best approach.
The seasoned legal team of personal injury lawyers at Klotzman Law Firm understands the difficult situation you are facing in the wake of a catastrophic injury. We can help get you through this difficult moment by fighting for your rights and assisting with every stage of the process.
