Catastrophic injuries are life-altering, with devastating consequences for victims and their families. These injuries typically involve significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges and require a long road to recovery, if recovery is possible at all.
When negligence shatters your world, you need a Westbury personal injury lawyer who is unwavering in their commitment to providing aggressive representation to you and your family.
Each experienced Westbury catastrophic injury lawyer at Levine And Wiss, PLLC understands the profound impact a catastrophic injury can have on you and your loved ones.
Our team of attorneys has over a century of combined experience and is dedicated to helping you seek justice and obtain the compensation needed to rebuild your life.
Whether your injury resulted from a car accident, slip and fall, or another form of negligence, we are here to guide you through the legal process with compassion and proficiency.
What Constitutes a Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injuries are those that result in long-term or permanent disability, significant disfigurement, or a drastically reduced quality of life. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, long-term care, and ongoing rehabilitation. Common examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe burn injuries
- Amputations
- Multiple fractures
- Organ damage
- Vision or hearing loss
If you suffer life-changing injuries because of someone’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover compensation from the at-fault party. Contact a catastrophic injury lawyer in Westbury today. Our Westbury catastrophic injury lawyers at Levine And Wiss, PLLC, will investigate your accident, calculate your damages, identify liable parties, and determine your legal options for recovery.
For a free legal consultation with a catastrophic injury lawyer serving Westbury, call 888-468-4878
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
In Westbury, catastrophic injuries can occur in a variety of ways. Understanding the common causes of these injuries can help you and your family determine the appropriate legal steps. Some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries that we handle at Levine And Wiss, PLLC include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car, truck, motorcycle, bus, and pedestrian accidents are leading causes of catastrophic injuries, seriously injuring more than 11,000 people in New York in 2022, according to the New York State Comptroller’s Economic and Policy Insights. High-speed collisions, rollovers, and head-on crashes can result in life-threatening injuries.
- Construction accidents: Westbury’s bustling construction industry presents numerous hazards that lead to construction site accidents. Falls from heights, machinery accidents, and falling debris can all lead to catastrophic injuries.
- Slip and fall accidents: A simple slip or trip and fall can lead to catastrophic injuries, especially for older adults. Dangerous conditions such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, and poor lighting contribute to these accidents.
- Dog bites: While many dog bites result in minor injuries, others can have devastating consequences, such as severe facial injuries, amputations, infections, and neurological damage. A dog bite that leads to a catastrophic injury can irrevocably alter your life.
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The Legal Challenges of Catastrophic Injury Cases
Catastrophic injury cases are complex and require a thorough understanding of the law and medical issues. Unlike minor injury cases, which may be resolved quickly, catastrophic injury cases often involve extensive investigations, expert testimony, and the need to prove long-term damages. Some of the legal challenges include:
- Proving negligence: To obtain compensation in a catastrophic injury case, you must prove that another party’s negligence or intentional actions caused your injuries. This often involves gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and consulting with experts.
- Calculating damages: Accurately calculating the damages in a catastrophic injury case is challenging. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more; however, determining the full extent of future costs, including ongoing medical care and loss of earning capacity, requires careful analysis.
- Dealing with insurance companies: Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts in catastrophic injury cases. They may dispute the severity of the injuries or argue that the victim is partially at fault, so having an experienced catastrophic injury attorney in Westbury is crucial to ensuring that you receive fair compensation.
- Understanding medical evidence: Catastrophic injury cases often involve complex medical issues that require expert testimony. Your Westbury catastrophic injury attorney must be able to interpret medical records, consult with medical experts, and present this evidence in an understandable way to a judge or jury.
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Compensation You Can Recover in a Catastrophic Injury Case
As a victim of a catastrophic injury in Westbury, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation. This compensation depends on your case’s specifics. Damages that may be available include:
- Medical expenses: This includes compensation for past, current, and future medical bills related to the injury. It covers hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, medication, and necessary medical equipment.
- Lost wages: If the injury prevents you from working, you may be entitled to compensation for lost income. This also includes compensation for any reduction in earning capacity if you cannot return to your previous job.
- Pain and suffering: Catastrophic injuries often result in significant physical pain and emotional distress. You may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: If the injury has caused a significant reduction in your quality of life, such as the inability to engage in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed, you may be entitled to compensation for this loss.
- Permanent disability: If you suffer permanent disabilities, you may be entitled to compensation for the long-term impact on your life. This includes the cost of ongoing care, home modifications, and other expenses related to living with a disability.
- Disfigurement: Compensation may be available if you suffer disfigurement, such as severe scarring or the loss of a limb, which affects your appearance and self-esteem.
- Punitive damages: In rare cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious or reckless, the court may award punitive damages under Section 70-A of the Consolidated Laws of New York to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior.
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The Importance of Acting Quickly
In New York, there are limitations of time for filing a catastrophic injury lawsuit. You may lose your right to seek compensation if you miss these deadlines.
It is crucial to contact our Westbury catastrophic injury lawyers as soon as possible after your injury, as acting quickly allows us to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a strong case on your behalf.
Contact Levine And Wiss, PLLC Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in Westbury, do not wait to get the legal help you need. Contact our Westbury catastrophic injury attorneys at Levine And Wiss, PLLC, today for a free consultation.
Let us put our experience to work for you so you can focus on what matters most – your recovery.
Call 888-468-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form