CHICAGO CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYER
PRACTICE AREAS
Chicago Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
Americans suffer approximately 3 million non-fatal injuries every year according to the AAST. Catastrophic injuries aren’t common, but when they do occur, they can be extremely expensive to treat. Additionally, those who suffer severe injuries like this will have little chance of returning to a normal life. If you or a loved one is suffering from life-altering injuries, a Chicago catastrophic injury lawyer at Curcio Law Offices wants to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Injuries such as traumatic brain injury, quadriplegia, paraplegia, amputations, or severe burns can have a life-changing impact on a person and their family. Our attorneys understand that individuals and families are often overwhelmed by the circumstances created by catastrophic personal injuries.
Curcio Law Offices has been handling catastrophic personal injury cases in and around Chicago for more than 50 years. Call us today at 312-321-1111 for a free consultation.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is a personal injury that’s so serious that it will leave long-term effects and permanent damage to the injured person. As a result, victims of a Chicago catastrophic injury will often require around-the-clock care for the rest of their lives. Catastrophic injuries also tend to be life-threatening or life-altering, making the recovery process long and arduous.
Our Chicago personal injury attorneys have been fighting for injured victims in the Chicago area for decades.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are generally put into three categories: physical injuries, spinal cord injuries, and cognitive injuries.
- Physical injuries include broken bones, burns, amputations, or any soft tissue damage.
- Spinal cord injuries involve damage to the spine which can result in permanent mobility issues or paralysis.
- Cognitive injuries are generally considered to be the most expensive type of catastrophic injury. These injuries are generally the result of traumatic brain injuries which can permanently impact how a person thinks, speaks, feels, and moves.
What’s the Difference Between a Catastrophic Injury and a Personal Injury?
You may be asking yourself: what’s the difference between a catastrophic injury case and a personal injury case? The main difference is that catastrophic injuries are generally much more complicated due to the severity of the victim’s serious injuries, the extent of the victim’s damages, and the value of the claim.
Severity of Catastrophic Injury
Catastrophic injuries are incredibly severe, life-threatening injuries that not only require extensive medical treatment, but long-term rehabilitation and possibly a lifetime of severe pain, as well. Because severe injuries require so much present and future medical care, it’s more difficult to calculate appropriate compensation for the victim.
Catastrophic Injury Victim’s Damages
A catastrophic injury will generally cause complete disability, preventing the victim from ever going back to work. Meanwhile, many accident victims involved in personal injury claims have a higher chance of recovering and going back to their normal lives. Not only do catastrophic injury victims suffer intense physical pain, they’re more likely to suffer overwhelming mental anguish and emotional pain, as well. Therefore, calculating the extent of the victim’s economic and non-economic damages is often more complicated.
Catastrophic Injury Claim Value
Catastrophic injury claims are generally much higher in value, compared to personal injury claims because of the physical and mental suffering, the amount of lost income, the loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Insurance companies are more motivated to dispute and refuse catastrophic injury claims as a result of the high claim value. Their purpose is to cut expenses as much as possible, which can greatly burden the accident victims and families. However, an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer can ensure that a victim receives the proper compensation.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Illinois
Some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries in Illinois include:
Car Accident
Car accidents are the most common cause of catastrophic or severe injuries in Illinois. An auto accident can be especially devastating at high speeds. Despite increasing litigation, a high number of car accidents are still caused by drinking and driving.
A serious car accident can be responsible for:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Internal bleeding
- Burns
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
Pedestrian Accidents
Although most drivers pay careful attention to pedestrians and honor their space, unfortunately, there are still a considerable number of pedestrians that are struck by cars on a regular basis. As a result of many drivers’ inattentiveness and carelessness, pedestrians must deal with expensive cost of his or her catastrophic injury.
Bicycle Accidents
Even though most areas have installed bike lanes, bicyclists are still killed in traffic accidents. Much like pedestrians, cyclists are relatively unprotected. Many bicyclists are thrown from their bikes during a serious accident, which increases the chance of them sustaining serious neurological injuries.
Truck Accidents
Semi-truck accidents tend to result in a higher number of catastrophic injury cases than any other type of motor vehicle accidents. We contribute the severity to the truck’s weight and size. Truck accidents often occur on highways or interstates and are frequently caused by truck driver fatigue or inexperience.
Boating Accidents
Unfortunately, a fun day on the lake can turn potentially deadly. In a turn of life altering events, boaters can be left with a catastrophic injury. Common causes of boat accidents include operating a boat while intoxicated, busy waterways, speeding, poor weather conditions, and much more. Boaters can suffer any kind of injury ranging from minor cuts and scrapes to head trauma, spinal cord injuries or amputations.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Unfortunately, slip and fall accidents can cause a catastrophic injury, especially if someone falls on their head or neck.
A slip and fall accident can happen anywhere, however catastrophic injury occur more often in these situations:
- Construction sites: Workers at construction sites are at a great risk for a slip and fall accident due to tools, wires, nails, and more. Additionally, workers can slip and fall off roofs. If they fall hard enough on their head, neck, or back, they could suffer a catastrophic injury.
- Dangerous properties: Any kind of accident on someone else’s dangerous property generally falls under the premises liability theory in Illinois personal injury law. In other words, if someone is severely injured on a property that doesn’t belong to them, the landowner is undoubtedly responsible. Slipping and falling on a dangerous property can happen due to a broken staircase, a torn carpet, exposed wires, and more.
- Black ice: During the winter months, everyone is at risk for slipping and falling on black ice. With black ice, it’s easy to hit your head and neck and suffer with anything from broken bones to a brain injury.
Fires and Explosions
Catastrophic injuries from fires and explosions are common at plants, refineries, restaurants, construction sites, and more. Fires and explosions can cause full body burns, perforation injuries, abdominal hemorrhages, traumatic brain injuries, and so much more.
Violent Crime
Generally, different types of violent crimes will result in different types of catastrophic injuries. A shooting can easily result in a traumatic brain injury while assault and battery can result in major soft tissue injuries or broken bones. No matter the injury, every victim of a violent crime deserves justice.
Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries
Victims of catastrophic injuries deserve enough compensation to cover both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Victims who have experienced monetary losses as a result of their accident can receive economic damages. Many times, catastrophic injury victims will need to undergo multiple surgeries and ongoing medical care is necessary. Common examples of monetary losses you can demand from the negligent party as a result of a catastrophic injury include:
- All medical bills, medical expenses, and any costs associated with medical treatment
- Future medical bills, rehabilitation and physical therapy, including any extensive medical treatment necessary
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
Non-Economic Damages
Meanwhile, non-economic damages are typically granted to victims who have experienced losses that can’t be measured with money. Those who have sustained serious injuries that will last a lifetime, such as permanent disabilities will need to consult with seasoned Chicago personal injury lawyers, as the value associated with future costs for this type of claim can be tricky.
The most common types of non-economic damages for injured victims include:
- General pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional pain
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
Why Do I Need a Chicago Catastrophic Injury Attorney?
Insurance companies may refuse catastrophic injury claims as a result of the high claim value. Without an experienced lawyer on your side, you or your loved one may not be able to recover compensation they deserve. This is why it’s crucial to have Chicago catastrophic injury attorneys on your side.
Experienced catastrophic injury attorneys at Curcio Law have collected millions of dollars in jury verdicts for people who have suffered catastrophic injuries. From car accidents to nursing home victims, we are committed to finding the best possible result. Our catastrophic injury lawyers have the talent, knowledge, and resources to seek compensation for our clients out of court, or prepare a case for trial and successfully present it to a jury or negotiate a just settlement.
Experienced Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Chicago
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury as a result of someone else’s careless, reckless, or intentional actions, our Chicago catastrophic injury lawyers at Curcio Law Offices want to fight for you. Call us today at 312-321-1111 to schedule a free consultation.
