What Is An Example Of Catastrophic Damages?

One moment you are happily driving to work. The next, your world has been turned upside down. Catastrophic injuries can happen in seconds, are usually life-changing, and often affect your ability to work and enjoy the activities you did in the past. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,764 people lost their lives at work in 2020. A further 38,680 died on US roads that same year. Thousands more suffered catastrophic injuries from which they will never fully recover.

Compensation cannot turn back the clock or repair the damage. However, a financial settlement can help you face the future with greater confidence, relieving the financial burden caused by medical bills and lost earnings. If you have lost a loved one in an accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to secure compensation.

Damages can also compensate you for the non-economic effects of your accident. These can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and changes in how you interact with your family members. 

If you or your loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries, Phillips Law Group can assist you in pursuing the compensation you deserve. Call us at (602) 222-2222 or contact us online to schedule a free, personalized case evaluation.

What Are Catastrophic Damages?

Catastrophic damages are the compensation received when a person suffers a catastrophic injury. A catastrophic injury can:

• Cause extreme, short-term pain and suffering, or;
• Cause long-term disability, pain, or disfigurement

Catastrophic injury damages fall under two categories: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages

After your accident, no doubt the first thing you did was seek medical help. While your insurance may cover most of these costs, copays and deductions can quickly add up. Unfortunately, it’s common for people who have suffered a catastrophic injury to face high levels of medical debt.

There will be further expenses as you recover and adapt to your new situation. You may require the following:

• Medical devices and equipment
• Adaptations to your home
• Caretaker support
• Drugs and therapies

Your catastrophic injuries may mean that you require medical and caretaker assistance for the rest of your life. Calculating the cost of these ongoing expenses can be very challenging without the help of an experienced lawyer.

Catastrophic injuries may also impact your ability to provide for your family. In addition, while you were making your initial recovery, you will likely have lost earnings.

You may have to quit your former employment due to your physical or mental health. You may no longer be able to work or may need support to retrain in a new profession.

Phillips Law Group’s catastrophic injury lawyers can listen to learn what you are going through. Our entire legal team is ready to work on many fronts to gather evidence of the impact of your injuries, such as:

• Medical bills
• Financial records
• Expert witness testimony
• Medical assessments

We can use this information to help you to arrive at a fair settlement figure. In addition, we can calculate a number that represents the non-economic impact of your accident.

Non-economic damages

Catastrophic injuries cause harm that can be hard to show on paper, such as pain and suffering. This term can include:

• Physical pain
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment in life
• Disfigurement
• Loss of love, care, affection in the family, and intimacy in marriage

After a catastrophic injury, the non-economic losses are often the most distressing. You may experience pain when carrying out everyday tasks like picking up your kids, cooking, or driving. If your injuries are very severe, these everyday tasks may not be possible, causing daily stress.

The challenge of calculating damages

Every case is different, with its own unique circumstances and aftereffects. This makes estimating catastrophic damages very challenging.

During your free case review with Phillips & Associates, our attorney will decide whether you have a good chance of success. It is not possible, though, for the attorney to guarantee the damages you may receive. We can compare other cases similar to yours, but no situation will be exactly the same in scope or value.

If your case goes to trial, the judge or jury will decide the level of damages you receive. This will vary from case to case, so it is impossible to provide an accurate estimate.

However, if you work with an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer among Phillips & Associates, he or she will fight to protect your legal and financial interests. Our legal team will examine all relevant documentation and help you to pursue total compensation for the suffering you have experienced.

Don’t wonder about whether or not you’re entitled to receive catastrophic damages. Call Phillips Law Group today at (602) 222-2222 or contact us online for a free, personalized case evaluation.

Examples of Catastrophic Injury Damages

Over the last 26 years, Phillips Law Group has represented more than 155,000 clients. We have handled many catastrophic injury cases over the years, helping clients secure fair compensation for the pain and suffering they have endured and continue to experience.

It is important to remember that, since each case is different, you may not obtain the same or similar results as someone else. The figures quoted do not include deductions for attorney fees and costs.

For example, Phillips Law Group was able to secure a settlement of over $2.1 million for a client who had suffered catastrophic injuries in an auto accident. This client’s injuries included a broken neck and a brain injury.

In another case, medical malpractice resulted in brain damage to our client. Phillips Law Group attorneys helped this client to achieve a settlement of $3 million. 

We also helped to secure a significant payout in a wrongful death case stemming from a mining accident. The family of the deceased received a settlement of $1.4 million. 

Click here to review examples of other verdicts and settlements that our injury lawyers have helped our clients to obtain.

The Role of a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

The catastrophic injury lawyers at Phillips Law Group are compassionate, experienced, and tenacious. Our team members are familiar with the complexities of catastrophic injuries and understand the pain and suffering people go through. Together, we can analyze your case to find the best route to pursue your compensation.

Our attorneys will take the entire impact of your injuries into account when calculating a settlement figure. Throughout the process, our people will negotiate hard with the insurance company to get you a fair settlement. You will have little to no contact with the insurance company; our attorneys will handle everything.

There are no upfront costs for you to pay for our services. If our lawyers are unsuccessful, you will not have to pay a cent.

How Phillips Law Group Can Help

Calculating catastrophic damages and pursuing them from your insurance company can be daunting when you’re also recovering from your injuries. A catastrophic injury lawyer could mean the difference between accepting a lowball settlement and achieving fair compensation.

If we take on your case, your Phillips Law Group attorney will make sure all damages are considered – not just monetary ones. We will pursue total compensation for the injuries you have suffered. Overall, our lawyers will do whatever is needed to see your case through the legal system.

We want to hear your story. Call Phillips Law Group at (602) 222-2222 or fill out our online form to speak to one of our attorneys.