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Oklahoma Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

Any injury can adversely affect life. But some injuries are so severe that they are considered “catastrophic.” A catastrophic injury usually causes permanent impairment, limitation, or disability that has a long-term effect on the victim and their family.

If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury because of another person’s negligence, contact an Oklahoma catastrophic injury lawyer at Nix Patterson. Our tenacious attorneys will defend your rights and could help you receive essential compensation for your medical bills, future care expenses, lost income, lost ability to earn a living, and pain and suffering.

Nix Patterson’s lawyers have decades of litigation experience and know how to advocate aggressively for fair compensation in catastrophic injury cases.

What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in Oklahoma?

There is no exact definition of what a catastrophic injury is. However, any injury that significantly alters your life and functional abilities could be a catastrophic injury. Some common examples of a catastrophic injury are:

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord sends signals from the brain to other body parts. When the spinal cord is damaged in a fall, car crash, or other incident, you could have a variety of life-changing symptoms, such as paralysis, breathing problems, mobility issues, loss of bladder and bowel control, and balance problems.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

It isn’t unusual to suffer a blow to the head in an auto accident, sporting event, or workplace injury. A blow to the head can cause a concussion, brain bleeding, and other brain trauma. Signs of a traumatic brain injury are memory loss, mood swings, speech problems, seizures, loss of coordination, and difficulty speaking and understanding speech.

Eye Injuries

It isn’t unusual for someone to suffer eye damage when they are in a severe accident. Eyes are sensitive organs easily damaged by flying glass, whether from a car accident or an explosion. Some injured parties lose partial vision, while others lose all of their sight.

Burns

Fires and explosions are common causes of catastrophic injuries in Oklahoma and across the nation. These devastating injuries can make it nearly impossible to handle their normal duties at home and work. Serious burn injuries may require painful skin grafts and years of recovery.

Amputations

Auto accidents and workplace accidents are common causes of amputation injuries. If the injured limb is too damaged, the surgeon may have to amputate it. Recovering from an amputation injury is complex, and you will need years of rehabilitation and mental health care.

At Nix Patterson, our catastrophic injury attorneys have successfully assisted many victims of various types of catastrophic injuries. We understand the injuries, expenses, and pain you face and have the legal experience to assist you.

How Is a Catastrophic Injury Claim Different?

In many ways, a catastrophic injury claim is similar to standard personal injury litigation. However, there are the following significant differences:

  • Injury severity. Catastrophic injuries are more serious than most personal injuries, so they have a more severe effect on the person’s life. Injury victims may have much more severe pain and emotional anguish, as well as being unable to work. You and your family could deal with a severe loss of income because of your inability to work.
  • Medical bills. Because of your injury severity, catastrophic injuries may require more expensive and longer medical care. Injury victims may need surgeries, rehabilitation, medication, and many expensive medical treatments to reach maximum medical improvement. It’s possible that treating a catastrophic injury, such as to the spinal cord, could cost hundreds of thousands initially and considerable ongoing care expenses.
  • Extent of other damages. The severity of your injuries, medical care costs, and many challenges related to the injury could trigger major emotional, physical, and financial costs. This means the extent of your damages from a catastrophic injury could be more significant than a more conventional injury claim. So, the overall value of your case could be higher, leading to the insurance company putting up a fight.
  • Case complexity. Catastrophic injury cases can be complicated. For instance, in a truck accident, there could be several liable parties, multiple insurance policies, and the defendant could be a large company. Also, determining your future economic losses could be challenging, and the insurance company is more likely to oppose a fair settlement.

Types of Catastrophic Injury Claims We Handle

At Nix Patterson, our Oklahoma catastrophic injury attorneys handle severe injury cases. Our attorneys have successfully resolved catastrophic injury cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, burns, medical malpractice, and more.

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Any severe accident can cause catastrophic injuries, but some accidents lead to more devastating injuries than others. Some of the top causes of catastrophic injuries in Oklahoma are:

  • Motor vehicle accidents, especially commercial truck crashes
  • Construction accidents
  • Falls from heights
  • Surgical mistakes, birth injuries, and medical malpractice
  • Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
  • Explosions and fires

Our catastrophic injury lawyers can review your case however it occurred and determine if it could lead to compensation. If the other party was at least partially at fault for an accident that severely injured you, compensation for your damages is possible.

Catastrophic Injury Damages

Compensation for catastrophic injuries covers the same categories as other personal injury claims, but the damages involved tend to be far higher. For instance, your medical costs in a tractor-trailer accident could easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars if extensive hospital stays and surgeries are needed.

You could also have lost income for the foreseeable future, possibly permanently, if you can no longer work. The increased lost wages and inability to earn a living could increase your compensation dramatically.

Catastrophic injuries often involve severe pain and suffering, as well. For instance, severe burn injuries in a truck accident can be incredibly painful, as can the necessary skin graft surgeries.

Finally, out-of-pocket expenses can be immense in these cases, especially legal costs and many out-of-pocket expenses related to medical care. Here is more information about the damages our attorneys could help you obtain:

Medical Costs

Catastrophic injury treatments can be expensive. However, if your lawsuit is successful, you should have the money to pay for the treatments needed today and in the future. Our lawyers will work with your medical team to determine the compensation needed to pay for your medical care in the future.

Lost Earnings

Catastrophic injury victims usually need to take months off from work. You also may be permanently out of work or unable to do the job you had before. Our catastrophic injury attorney will ensure that you get your lost wages covered.

Decreased Ability to Earn a Living

It’s common for a catastrophic injury victim to have a decrease in earning ability. If your injury forces you to stop working or take a lower-paying position, these financial damages can make a huge difference in your future.

Property Damage

Your vehicle may have been totaled if you were in a car accident. In that case, the compensation in your claim could also be used to replace your vehicle.

Pain and Suffering

Catastrophic injuries are usually excruciating. Modern medical care can provide some pain relief, but you still get money for the pain you have gone through.

Emotional Anguish

Severe injuries can cost you money but also can devastate your quality of life and mental state. If you are severely depressed, anxious, or upset about your condition, you can use the money in a lawsuit to get the mental health care you need.

Wrongful Death

If your loved one died because of a catastrophic injury, our attorneys are deeply sympathetic. Our legal team understands how challenging it is to lose a loved one in a catastrophic accident, and we are here to assist you. If we take your case, our wrongful death attorneys will fight for the most compensation for these losses:

  • The deceased’s medical expenses
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Loss of inheritance
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of financial support
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of services

Oklahoma Comparative Negligence for Catastrophic Injuries

An important part of catastrophic injury claims in Oklahoma is the state’s comparative negligence laws. These state that you can recover damages if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as your share was not greater than that of another party. If your percentage of fault is more significant than another party’s, you will be barred from receiving compensation.

Hiring an experienced catastrophic injury attorney is essential to prove that another party was at fault for your injuries. If you were partially responsible for the accident, your ability to receive compensation may depend on your attorney’s negotiating skills.

Securing Medical Treatments for Seriously Injured Clients

In addition to obtaining compensation for your economic and non-economic losses, your Nix Patterson attorney may help you obtain the treatment needed to cope with a catastrophic injury. Our attorneys have strong relationships with healthcare professionals in Oklahoma, and we will rely on them to connect you with the best medical providers in your community.

If your health insurance is limited and won’t cover all of your needed medical care, we may be able to help you get the care you need until you obtain compensation from a settlement or lawsuit.

These are only a few ways our catastrophic injury attorneys will go beyond the call of duty to help you obtain the necessary resources and care. You can expect our legal team to do all we can to help your situation.

Speak to Nix Patterson’s Oklahoma Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today

Suffering a catastrophic injury can be devastating to your life and future. The Oklahoma catastrophic injury lawyers at Nix Patterson are ready to assist if someone’s negligence or intentional act caused your injury. Contact our Oklahoma catastrophic injury attorneys today for more information and to file a claim.

CONTACT US

Nix Patterson only works on a contingency fee basis. Our clients pay us nothing unless we win. Schedule a free consultation today. Call 512.328.5333 or complete the form below. 

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