Austin Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

Being injured in an accident is always painful and traumatic. But catastrophic injuries are so severe that you have lifelong complications and expenses. A catastrophic injury could limit how you work, live, and enjoy life. If your catastrophic injury was the result of someone else’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

The Austin-based catastrophic injury lawyers at Nix Patterson understand what you are experiencing and would like to help. We have years of experience helping injured victims hurt by another party’s negligence. You can talk to our attorneys today at no cost, and we aren’t compensated unless we win your case.

What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in Austin?

The Public Health and Welfare Code states that a catastrophic injury has consequences that prevent you from performing gainful employment. A catastrophic injury is so severe that it usually results in long-term disability or debilitation for most victims. The injury also may lead to deformities and loss of capacity that can be mental or physical. Catastrophic injuries often require multiple surgeries and hospital stays, as well as extensive medical care and recovery.

Types of Catastrophic Injury Claims We Handle

Our Austin catastrophic injury lawyers are experienced with cases involving many severe injuries, including:

• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Permanent disfigurement and scarring
• Organ damage to the kidneys, liver, lungs, or spleen
• Severe burns
• Amputation
• Occupational illness, such as mesothelioma
• Multiple severe fractures
• Loss of sight or hearing

Most catastrophic injuries are apparent after the accident. However, some injuries might not be clear for months or even years. You could have hundreds of thousands in medical bills and be unable to work, and making ends meet could be almost impossible.

At Nix Patterson, our personal injury attorneys understand the immense challenges accompanying such a severe injury. Our attorneys will review your Austin injury case today to determine your legal options. If we take your case, you will not face any upfront or out-of-pocket legal expenses. Personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency basis. This means you will not pay legal fees until the end of a successful case.

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Austin catastrophic accident injuries occur for many reasons. Some of them are:

• Motor vehicle crashes, including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. Pedestrian accidents are also frequently to blame for catastrophic injuries.
• Job-related accidents, such as falls and exposure to toxic substances.
• Sports accidents, such as football and hockey injuries
• Product defects
• Medical malpractice and burn injuries

Catastrophic injuries are relatively uncommon, but thousands of people are hurt every year. One study states that 17,810 people suffer spinal cord injuries each year. Care for a spinal cord injury patient can be hundreds of thousands or millions per year. The only way most victims can afford medical care is through filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.

The most common type of accidents leading to catastrophic injuries in Austin involves auto accidents. The Texas Department of Transportation reported there were 12,433 total accidents last year within city limits, with 511 serious injuries and 104 fatal accidents. Some of the most dangerous intersections where severe accidents and catastrophic injuries happen are:

• Parmer Lane and IH-35.
• East Cesar Chavez Street and Pleasant Valley Road.
• Riverside Drive and South Congress Avenue.
• Burnet Road and Research Boulevard.

Catastrophic Injury Damages

After a catastrophic injury caused by another person, you may file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas to recover compensation for your losses. The lawsuit intends to make you whole after the case is over. The case could be settled without going to court, but it also may require a court case.

When you suffer a catastrophic injury, you could have massive medical bills, be out of work, and suffer unbearable pain. Plus, you could have mental and emotional trauma from your injury, and you may not be able to work again. You may be able to receive a larger amount of money to pay for your tremendous losses.

Your severe injuries could also affect your ability to have relationships with your spouse or partner. There could be severe issues with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, too. There is potentially a lot of money on the line in a catastrophic injury claim, so retaining an experienced attorney who can maximize your compensation is essential.

Can You Recover Compensation From an Austin Catastrophic Injury?

Recovering from a catastrophic injury is a long, painful journey. Sadly, some patients never fully recover and return to how they were before the accident.

Your case’s potential for a full recovery may be unclear right after the accident. For example, if you suffer a spinal cord injury in an auto accident, your condition could be made worse by the initial spinal shock. With appropriate medical care, this condition may resolve over weeks and months, and you could regain motion and feeling in the affected areas. As your condition improves, the injury could be termed ‘stabilized,’ which could lead to a better prognosis.

Having excellent medical care immediately after a severe accident is critical for those with a catastrophic injury. Brain, spinal cord, and burn injuries may require in-depth medical treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation for best results.

Your personal injury attorney understands how vital excellent medical care is for the ideal catastrophic injury outcome. That is why Nix Patterson is devoted to fighting for the most compensation for your injuries and losses. Every dollar you receive for medical care and rehabilitation can make all the difference in maximizing your recovery.

If you don’t enjoy a full recovery, your attorney will take this into consideration when negotiating a settlement with the insurance company. The pain and impairment from the injury, even after a full recovery, could make it impossible to work, have normal relationships and hobbies, and enjoy regular life. These factors should be taken into consideration when a settlement amount is negotiated.

The financial consequences of a catastrophic injury without a full recovery can be tremendous. Medical bills could be in the six or seven figures, but other expenditures must be accounted for. You may require ongoing therapy, modifications to your vehicle or home, and not be able to earn a living.

Your Nix Patterson attorney will work with economists and other financial professionals to determine your future costs and lost earnings so you get everything you need financially.

Texas Comparative Negligence for Catastrophic Injuries

Many Austin accidents have a straightforward process to determine who was at fault. If someone runs a red light and hits your car at high speed, it’s probably obvious they are liable for your catastrophic injuries. But sometimes, more than one person is at fault for an accident. In that case, the insurance company or court must decide who is at fault, how much, and what the damages will be.

Texas has a comparative negligence rule that applies to personal injury claims. Under this standard, the court will assign a percentage of blame to each party for the accident. If you are found partially at fault for your injuries, you will receive less compensation in a verdict or settlement. So, if you are 20% at fault for a car accident and have $100,000 in damages, you would receive $80,000. You are barred from recovering damages if you are more than 50% at fault for an accident.

A catastrophic injury claim has a lot at stake, so it is vital to have an outstanding attorney in your corner to prove liability in the case. Your Nix Patterson catastrophic injury attorney will review the accident carefully and hold the person accountable so you get the most money.

Why You Need an Austin Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Now

Did you suffer a catastrophic injury in Austin that wasn’t your fault? You probably have massive medical bills, auto repairs, missed work time, and great emotional distress from the ordeal.

Some minor accidents can sometimes be handled without an attorney’s assistance. But a catastrophic injury case is another matter. The insurance company for the liable party may offer you a settlement after the accident if fault is apparent. However, this offer will vastly underestimate your future medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more.

The sooner you hire a Nix Patterson catastrophic injury attorney, the faster you may get money in your hands. Our attorneys will immediately conduct an exhaustive investigation of the accident and determine who was at fault.

Insurance companies almost always prioritize their profits over injury victims. Accepting a small settlement could undermine your ability to recover, and you may have bills you cannot pay. That is why you should always speak to an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer in Austin after a devastating accident.

Catastrophic injury victims almost always receive more money with an attorney than they do without one. A recent estimate found that catastrophic injury victims received three times the amount of money with a lawyer than settling the case on their own. Our attorneys will make sure you get the maximum compensation for your losses.

How Can You Help Your Catastrophic Injury Case?

When you hire an attorney, they will immediately take over the case so you can focus on your recovery. But you can do things to increase your catastrophic injury settlement potentially.

First, you should seek immediate medical attention after the accident. Anyone with a severe injury should immediately call 911 and go to the ER. While most severe injuries are apparent initially, that is not always so.

For example, let’s say a car bumps into you while you’re crossing a crosswalk. You fall and hit your head, but you don’t immediately notice anything amiss and, though rattled, you go on with your day. However, in the following weeks, you notice serious headaches that won’t go away. This means you could have had a brain injury that wasn’t apparent at first. If you delay medical care, the injury could get much worse and even be fatal.

Delaying medical treatment could also complicate your personal injury claim or lawsuit. The insurance company will probably argue that their client wasn’t at fault because you didn’t get immediate medical help.

Second, you should not talk to the other party’s insurance company, especially for a severe or catastrophic injury. The insurance adjuster’s goal is to reduce what they pay you, and they will seek any reason to do so. The adjuster will use your words against you to pay a lower settlement amount. This could be disastrous if you have a severe injury and need months of care.

Third, after getting medical treatment for a catastrophic injury, retain an attorney immediately. Some accident victims call an attorney when they first arrive at the hospital, which is wise thinking. The sooner your attorney gets involved, the less chance that something will go wrong with the case and the better the outcome.

Fourth, you should not talk to anyone other than your lawyer and close family about your injuries. As long as the case is pending, do not write anything on social media about your catastrophic injury case. The insurance company may monitor your social media feeds and attempt to pay you less if you look too healthy and happy.

Last, always follow your doctor’s instructions for follow-up care for catastrophic injuries. Go to all doctor and specialist appointments to get better. If you don’t, the insurance company may deny the claim.

Speak to an Austin Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today

Catastrophic injuries can leave you severely injured for life. You may need lifelong medical care and physical therapy and be unable to work. You also could suffer from chronic pain and mental and emotional anguish from your condition.

If you suffered a catastrophic injury through no fault of your own, our Austin catastrophic injury attorneys would like to speak to you today. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost earnings, etc. Contact Nix Patterson’s personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation.