Vigorously Advocating For You And Your Family After A Catastrophic Injury
Catastrophic injury claims are different than other types of injury cases. First, with potentially millions of dollars at stake, insurance companies and their attorneys are likely to fight tooth and nail to deny or minimize their potential costs. Second, when individuals sustain life-altering injuries, they will need compensation that will not only cover their current costs but their future expenses as well.
At Van Blois & Associates, our Oakland-based law firm has had the honor and privilege to help people who have suffered catastrophic injuries for more than 40 years. Our team is led by attorney R. Lewis Van Blois, who is board-certified in civil trial law by both the National Board of Trial Advocacy and The State Bar of California.
The Resources You Need To Prove Every Part Of Your Case
Our lawyers take on all types of catastrophic injury cases, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can profoundly damage a person’s ability to function. We will do everything we can to prepare a case that accounts for your loved one’s needs.
- Spinal cord injuries: Losing the ability to move one’s arms and legs (quadriplegia) or one’s legs (paraplegia) is a devastating event. Our lawyers will go the extra mile to help you recover the money you need to pay for your current and future expenses.
- Severe burns: Burns are the most physically painful thing a person can endure. If you or someone you love was severely burned in an explosion or other type of accident, we can help.
- Amputations: The loss of a limb, whether in a workplace accident, in a car accident or in some other type of accident, can prevent you from working and enjoying everything life has to offer. We can help you recover appropriate compensation.
In any personal injury claim, but especially with catastrophic injuries, it is not enough simply to show that another party was at fault. Your attorney must be able to build a case for damages that will pay for all of your expenses, both now and in the future. Our law firm works with a network of experts in many fields to demonstrate your present and future medical expenses, your lost income and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages. In addition, we prepare every case with the understanding that a trial may be required. Our intensive preparation frequently leads to positive outcomes in settlement negotiations as well. All in all, we have what it takes to be successful for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injuries In California
Below, we’ve provided answers to common questions we receive from potential clients.
What is a catastrophic injury?
The simplest way to think of a catastrophic injury is as the most severe type of injury other than those that are fatal. There is no precise legal definition of catastrophic injury in California law, but this classification usually involves several of the following elements:
- The injury alters your entire life for years or the rest of your life
- The injury causes severe and/or ongoing pain
- The injury prevents you from working a job or working enough to support yourself
- The injury will require long-term or even lifetime medical treatments, including surgeries, physical therapy and medication
- The injury results in a lost limb (or use of that limb), lost organ or lost sense (like hearing or sight)
- The injury makes it all but impossible to enjoy the same quality of life you had prior to being injured
Your injury doesn’t need to meet all of these criteria. But if several apply to you, chances are good that your injury could be considered catastrophic.
Can you recover from a catastrophic injury?
Usually, full recovery is not possible, although someone with a catastrophic injury can achieve improvement in their health and physical functioning. In some cases, it may be possible to fully recover from a catastrophic injury, but doing so would likely take years and considerable investment in medical care.
Is a concussion considered a catastrophic injury?
A concussion is one term used to describe a traumatic brain injury, and TBIs range from mild to severe. Brain injuries diagnosed as severe can certainly be considered catastrophic injuries, as they greatly or permanently impair a person’s functioning, make it very difficult or impossible to work and require years of intensive and expensive medical treatment.
Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation Today
To take advantage of a free initial consultation with our experienced and caring attorneys, call our office at 510-343-9570 or complete our email form.