Catastrophic injuries are debilitating. The costs of medical care can be overwhelming, even for those with health insurance. Losing an income is devastating for most families. Plus, you deal with fundamental changes to relationships. Spouses become caregivers and, at least initially, must take on all of the other household responsibilities. Many injured people and their caregivers struggle with mental health and depression. While compensation cannot undo a catastrophic injury, it can help you and your family move forward. Money means freedom, and a fair settlement can help restore some freedom and independence to you and your family after a catastrophic injury.
Regardless of the cause of your injury, a Waterbury catastrophic injury lawyer at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, will work to ensure you receive justice. Reach out today to schedule a free remote or in-person consultation with one of our compassionate injury attorneys.
No state statute specifically defines catastrophic injuries. However, federal law does. 42 U.S.C.S. § 3796b states that any injury that prevents someone from doing gainful work is a catastrophic injury. State court decisions follow similar reasoning but may provide a more expansive definition that does not require someone to be totally disabled.
Under these interpretations, catastrophic injuries are life-altering and devasting and include a wide range of serious injuries, often affecting the spine, skull, brain, and vital organs. These injuries can be permanent and often include:
The type of injury is not as important as the impact it has. An accident does not have to be dramatic or even seem particularly severe to support a catastrophic injury claim. Many catastrophic injuries are the result of seemingly minor accidents, like slips and falls. The lawyers at our firm in Waterbury have seen all types of catastrophic injury cases. We can help you pursue the compensation you need and deserve.
Many catastrophic injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence. To hold that person responsible, you have to prove that the person had a duty to you, that they breached the duty, that the breach led to the incident, and that the incident caused you harm.
Many people mistakenly believe that a duty of care requires a special relationship between the parties. However, there are several general duties to act like a reasonable person. Drivers have a duty to other people on the road, just as property owners have a duty toward people lawfully on the property and manufacturers have a duty toward purchasers of their products.
Once you establish duty, the next thing is to show that someone breached that duty. People can breach through action or inaction. A driver running a red light is an example of a breach through an action. A doctor failing to order indicated medical tests is an example of a breach through inaction.
Next, you must show that the breach led to the incident and that the incident caused the injuries. In some personal injury cases, the defense will be that you do not have the injuries you allege. A Waterbury catastrophic injury attorney at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC can help prove the necessary elements of a negligence case.
When another party is responsible for your harm, you are entitled to fair compensation for those injuries. The attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, are committed to helping you achieve the justice you deserve. Contact a Waterbury catastrophic injury lawyer at our firm to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
