Spokane Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Serious & Catastrophic Injuries
You probably never imagined you would ever need a catastrophic injury attorney. You are probably feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted. We know that right now you only want to put your case in good hands. You need a firm you can trust. We have walked this path with many other families, and we have a great reputation in the community here. We earn our clients’ trust by doing hard work with expertise. Give us a call at (509) 444-4444. Together, we can decide if this firm is a good fit for your case, so you can focus on healing, and we can make sure your voice is heard and that those responsible are held accountable for the damage done.
We know the effects of a very serious injury to a family member go beyond physical pain. Victims of catastrophic injury in Spokane may be temporarily or permanently disabled, which can wreak havoc on everything in their lives: jobs and marriage, plans for the future, and even their independence. It is not an exaggeration when people say this type of loss is emotionally devastating, as much as it is physically painful. Unfortunately, catastrophic injuries are almost always financially devastating as well. Even with medical insurance, the cost of hospitalization, surgeries, and other treatment costs quickly skyrocket into the tens or hundreds of thousands. Victims often are unable to go back to work for months or years, and may not have a job waiting when they return — if they can ever go back to work at all.
If another person’s bad decisions or bad behavior has caused you or a loved one to be catastrophically injured, you have the legal right to hold that person responsible for all the damage done.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophe comes from the Latin terms “cata” (meaning down) and“strophe” (meaning sudden turn). Put together, the words literally mean “when everything suddenly overturns.” Catastrophic injuries are not defined by the amount of damage or pain, or where the bodily injury took place. They are defined by how drastically they change our lives. From needing specialized medical equipment to altering our relationship to our own bodies, catastrophic injuries are life-altering to the core. And the people or organizations responsible for causing them deserve to called to account for the damage done.
A catastrophic injury is an injury with consequences serious enough to leave the victim with permanent damage. Usually, catastrophic injuries are caused by physical damage to the brain, limbs, eyes, or spinal cord which may have severe short- or long-term impacts on an individual’s functional capability. A serious disfigurement, deformity, scar or burn would be other examples of catastrophic injuries.
No matter what, if you or a loved one has suffered a serious catastrophic injury resulting in long-term and debilitating effects as a result of preventable neglect, you are entitled to justice.
The True Cost of a Catastrophic Injury
Understanding the Long-Term Impact It Can Have
Suffering a catastrophic injury cannot just be categorized by physical damage. Because a catastrophic injury means to lose a core part of your existence as a human being, whether it is losing a limb, the ability to independently walk, or even the capacity to form a whole thought. Victims of these types of traumatic and severe injuries often never work again and usually require extensive or life-long care and medical treatment.
A catastrophic injury impacts the survivor, and their entire family or support structure. Taking care of someone with cognitive or mobility limitations is emotionally taxing, and can force a working spouse to quit their job to devote themselves to around-the-clock full-time care. In a situation where a spouse cannot leave their job, a caretaker has to be paid for, and this can amount from hundreds of thousands to even millions over a lifetime. That is one of the reasons victims and their families are not expected to bear the burden without any accountability from those responsible, because a catastrophic injury will mean a restricted future for the survivor and their family.
Management of a debilitating injury is complex and life care planning is an essential component of any catastrophic injury case. A life care plan is a medical assessment of an individual’s future medical costs and healthcare needs. It requires the expertise of a team of health professionals including physicians, consultants, nurses, therapists, and counselors.
Sweetser Law Office employs professional life care planners to develop these plans in consultation with medical and therapeutic specialists. All past medical, social, psychological, vocational, educational, and rehabilitation data is taken into consideration to create a comprehensive plan for you or your loved one. The plan serves as a guide for your family about what to expect and also sets expectations about medical costs for your future treatment. The life care planner can be a compelling witness if the case proceeds all the way to a jury trial.
These injuries are horrific, but our team is here to help when you need us. Call us today at (509) 444-4444.
Compassionate, Trusting Legal Counsel Every Step of the Way
When we at Sweetser Law Office work with clients who have suffered a catastrophic injury or their family members, we know you are going through one of the worst moments of your life. This is stressful. There are a lot of fears and uncertainty, and there are a lot of unanswered questions. We take our responsibility to our clients very seriously. It is our job to provide a light in a dark time through security and guidance from a law firm you know that you can trust.
While we wish you or your loved were never injured at all, or that we had the power to turn back time as if this had never happened at all, we know that accountability and justice matters now more than ever. Although no one can change what has happened to leave you with a catastrophic injury to deal with for the rest of your life, we can hold those who are responsible accountable for the damage done. Only with accountability can we prevent the same dangerous choices from being repeated, and we will be with you every step of the way.