Suffering a catastrophic injury in an accident can completely change your life. You may face enormous medical bills, an inability to work, and a lowered quality of life. The experienced Temecula catastrophic accident attorneys at Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers fight for injury victims to get them the maximum compensation they deserve.
If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injured by someone else’s negligence in Temecula, Riverside County or San Diego County, the Zucker injury firm is your legal ally. Get a free consultation by calling (951) 699-2100 today.
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is defined as a severe, debilitating injury that permanently impacts and changes a person’s life. These life-altering injuries typically affect critical body systems and basic functions.
According to legal terminology, catastrophic injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation of limbs
- Severe burn injuries
- Loss of eyesight or hearing
- Internal organ damage
- Permanent disfigurement or scarring.
A common thread among these injuries is that they require intensive, long-term medical treatment and continuous care services. Catastrophic injury victims experience permanent disability and loss of independence.
These severe injuries are overwhelming both physically and financially. Lifetime medical bills, assistive equipment, accessibility modifications, in-home care, and loss of income quickly add up to millions of dollars.
The effects of catastrophic injuries extend far beyond just the physical trauma. They involve massive medical expenses from hospitalization, surgeries, assistive devices, at-home care, and ongoing therapies. Victims are often left unable to work for extended periods or permanently disabled. Families can experience severe financial hardships without the injured person’s income.
Catastrophic injuries most often occur in serious motor vehicle collisions with trucks, buses, and other large vehicles. High speeds and excessive forces are usually involved. Victims may get thrown from vehicles, crushed, or slammed into objects. Other causes of catastrophic injuries are:
- Defective products or drugs
- Medical malpractice
- Premises liability accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Violent crimes.
Key Steps to Take After a Catastrophic Accident
If you or someone you love suffers catastrophic injuries in an accident caused by another’s negligence, take these steps immediately:
- Seek emergency medical care – This is of top priority as injuries can worsen without prompt treatment. Ambulances should transport accident victims to the emergency room.
- Report the accident – File a report with the police department that has jurisdiction in the area the accident occurred. Provide accurate details on what happened while it’s fresh in your mind. However, stick to the facts and avoid speculating on fault.
- Document the scene and injuries – Take photos and video of the accident scene, vehicles involved, injuries, and other pertinent factors. This evidence can get destroyed or lost quickly.
- Contact an attorney – An experienced catastrophic accident attorney can start building your injury claim right away while you focus on recovery. Don’t provide any statements to insurance companies before you’ve consulted your lawyer.
- Keep detailed records – Save all hospital bills, insurance paperwork, tests results, therapy notes, disability forms, prescriptions, and the like. This documentation will be necessary to back your claim.
Proving Liability and Recovering Damages
The key to winning compensation for a catastrophic injury is proving:
- The at-fault party acted negligently and caused the accident
- The extent of the catastrophic damages suffered.
As your dedicated legal team, Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers will handle the entire catastrophic injury claim and litigation process:
Step 1: Investigation and Evidence Collection
We start by conducting a thorough investigation of your accident. Our lawyers and staff identify liable parties, interview witnesses, gather police reports, take photographs, and more. We then consult with medical experts to prove the severity of your injuries and prognosis.
Step 2: Demand Letter and Negotiation
Armed with evidence of negligence and damages, we send a demand letter to all liable insurers, seeking full compensation. The Zucker Personal Injury law firm leverages 25+ years of legal experience to fiercely negotiate a fair catastrophic injury settlement.
Step 3: File a Lawsuit
If the insurer is unwilling to agree on a fair settlement, our trial-tested injury attorneys will file a personal injury lawsuit against negligent parties. We skillfully litigate catastrophic injury claims and won’t hesitate to take your case to court if needed.
Step 4: Courtroom Advocacy
With over 40 jury trial victories, Zucker Personal Injury firm has a proven record of courtroom success. Our lead catastrophic injury lawyer, Andrew Zucker, is a former District Attorney who applies his prosecution experience to build the strongest injury claim possible. We handle all aspects of litigation – from pleadings and discovery to securing expert testimony. Our ultimate goal is presenting a compelling argument before a jury to recover maximum compensation.
Why Hire Us for Your Catastrophic Accident Case?
Catastrophic injury victims can’t afford anything less than the most dedicated, aggressive legal representation fighting for their best interests. Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers offers this to injured victims in Temecula and surrounding areas. Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:
- Laser focus on personal injury – Our firm concentrates 100% on personal injury and wrongful death cases, including catastrophic injuries. You get attorneys highly knowledgeable and experienced in these cases.
- Relentless investigation – No detail is overlooked in our investigation into accident causes and all liable parties. We have great success uncovering other defendants and avenues of compensation for clients.
- Meticulous preparation – We use meticulous organization and strategic preparation to build rock-solid claims for maximum compensation for lost wages, medical costs, pain and suffering, and other damages.
- Outstanding trial reputation – We build every case prepared for trial and won’t hesitate to take a case to court if fair compensation isn’t offered. Our proven trial success record helps garner larger settlements.
- Compassionate client relationships – We know these are very difficult times for injury victims and families. You’ll work directly with a dedicated team showing empathy and truly caring about getting you justice.
If you or someone you love suffered catastrophic injuries in a Temecula accident caused by negligence, contact us for a free consultation on your potential injury claim. Call Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers at (951) 699-2100 today.
Our dedicated catastrophic accident attorneys serve injury victims throughout Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Fallbrook, and all surrounding areas in Riverside County and San Diego County. With over 25 years fighting for injury victims, you can trust our award-winning attorneys will aggressively pursue maximum compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injury Cases
What compensation is available in catastrophic injury cases?
Every catastrophic injury case involves significant economic damages from medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, assistive devices, at-home care, and loss of income. There are also harder-to-quantify non-economic damages like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium for family members, and more. Experienced attorneys fight for full compensation.
How long do I have to file a catastrophic injury legal claim?
In California, you generally have two years from the injury date to file a personal injury lawsuit. It’s vital to contact an attorney right away to get your case filed on time, or you may be barred from compensation. Our attorney can evaluate liability and advise on deadlines.
How much does hiring a catastrophic accident attorney cost upfront?
At the Zucker injury firm, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we charge no upfront payments from injury victims. We only get paid if money is recovered in the case, taking a percentage of final compensation. Victims pay nothing out of their pocket initially.
What if an insurance settlement offer seems low for such serious injuries?
Never accept an insurance offer without having an experienced attorney review your case first. We fight hard against insurance companies to make sure clients are fully compensated for catastrophic life changes. An attorney thoroughly calculates all current and future accident-related costs and suffering.
Call Zucker Personal Injury To Help With Your Temecula Catastrophic Accident Case
For over 25 years, the accident attorneys at Zucker Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers have helped injury victims recover millions in compensation through aggressive legal representation. Our award-winning attorneys have been recognized year after year for their proven success fighting for injury victims in Riverside County and San Diego County.
We offer free case evaluations and handle cases on a contingency fee basis. Call (951) 699-2100 now to schedule your free consultation if you or a loved suffered catastrophic injuries in an accident caused by negligence. An experienced member of our legal team will be ready to take your call. Let us fight for you while you focus on recovery from your injuries.
