A catastrophic injury is defined as any injury that causes significant and life-changing impairments. This type of harm can be extremely painful and disrupt your life in several important ways. In these situations, you deserve fair compensation for the injuries that you suffered.
At Bashein & Bashein Company, L.P.A., our attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of catastrophic injuries seek justice. With the support of our Cleveland catastrophic injury lawyer, you can hold the person who caused your injuries accountable for your losses or make a successful case to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) for your benefits. Trust our firm to advocate for your right to compensation. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Cleveland catastrophic injury attorney.
Why Choose the Cleveland Catastrophic Injury Attorneys at Bashein & Bashein?
- Our firm has extensive experience handling complex injury claims, including cases involving catastrophic injuries. With an over 99% case success rate, you can trust our injury lawyers to craft a compelling case in your favor.
- We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts. Our attorneys will not rest until you have secured adequate compensation for your injuries and will fight for your right to maximum recovery.
- Our lawyers understand how painful and devastating a catastrophic injury can be. We will handle all legal affairs on your behalf so you can focus your time on matters outside of litigation.
When Does An Injury Qualify As Catastrophic?
In the world of civil suits, there are minor injury cases and major injury cases. Minor injuries are the kinds that you readily recover from, though you may miss work and incur medical costs. Soft-tissue injuries — bruises, strains, sprains and easily healed fractures — account for many of these cases.
Major injuries — often described as catastrophic — are the injuries one does not readily recover from. Serious injuries change your life permanently, wrecking your ability to return to work and often requiring medical assistance as long as you live. Since the damages are so much worse, the dollar amount recovered is much greater.
These are examples of catastrophic injuries we have obtained compensation for:
- Severe burns, arising from a motor vehicle crash, a building fire, a water heater failure, an exploding product or some other source
- Spinal cord injuries, including severed and disrupted spinal cords, resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia
- Brain injuries, occurring when the brain is jarred within the skull — a frequent result of car collisions, falls, falling objects and explosions; this category also includes severe concussion and serious injury resulting in coma
- Lung injuries, including COPD, often caused by breathing bad air or toxic fumes
- Broken and crushed bones, from which full recovery does not occur
- Asbestos exposure, often from work sites, often resulting in cancer or mesothelioma
- Amputations, particularly of the limbs
The level of disability for all these catastrophic conditions varies from case to case. Most broken bone cases eventually heal, but may result in chronic pain for life. The worst injuries, short of fatal injuries, are those like traumatic brain injury that alter both physical and mental functioning, and may require a personal attendant for the rest of one’s life.
At Bashein & Bashein Company, L.P.A., our attorneys represent both major and minor injury cases. Our reputation for large settlements comes mainly from the successes we have had for clients and their families, who must deal for the rest of their lives with the effects of catastrophic injury,
Your Legal Options After a Catastrophic Injury
As a victim of a catastrophic injury in Cleveland, there are multiple legal pathways available to you. Depending on your situation, you could pursue a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit. You may also pursue an insurance claim, but keep in mind that your damages may exceed the policy limits.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
Many catastrophic injuries happen at work, especially in high-risk industries like construction, mining, forestry, and agriculture. If you were injured at work, you may be eligible for a workers’ compensation claim.
In Ohio, workers’ compensation insurance will pay for medical expenses, vocational rehabilitation, and even travel to and from medical appointments. You could also receive temporary disability benefits in the first few weeks following your injury, and permanent disability benefits for any permanent impairments. You will need to prove that your injury occurred at work in order to recover these benefits.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
If your catastrophic injury was caused by the negligent actions of another person or entity, you could pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. Personal injury claims allow you to recover damages for medical care, pain and suffering, and other losses. In Ohio, you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of your catastrophic injury.
To successfully prove a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to prove:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- The defendant breached the duty of care through a negligent act or omission
- The defendant’s breach of duty caused your catastrophic injury
Insurance Claims
In some cases, you may be able to pursue an insurance claim after a catastrophic injury. For example, if you are paralyzed in a car accident, you do have the option to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. However, damages in catastrophic injury cases can be significant, and the driver’s insurance may not be able to pay for the full extent of your losses. Consult with your attorney from Bashein & Bashein about which option is right for you.
What to Do After a Serious Accident in Cleveland, OH
If you are injured in a serious, catastrophic accident, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Go to the hospital and receive treatment for your injuries. Do not worry about collecting evidence or speaking to witnesses—your health and safety should be your first priority.
After you seek medical care and your condition is stabilized, you can begin seeking help and gathering evidence for your future injury claim. Save all of your medical records, bills, correspondence with your employer, and other documents about the accident. Start writing in a daily journal about how the injuries are impacting your life.
Try to obtain the police report of the incident if one was taken; this document will contain several important details about your accident. If your accident happened at work, write down the names of any coworkers who may have witnessed the event.
In the aftermath of a catastrophic accident, the most important step that you could take is to contact a Cleveland personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will evaluate all pieces of evidence and help you understand your options for compensation. Then, your attorney will help you take your first steps toward securing the settlement that you deserve.
Why You Need an Attorney for Your Catastrophic Injury Claim
When you suffer a life-changing injury, you need as much support as you can get. In these situations, it is common to wonder whether you should hire a catastrophic injury attorney. The answer is yes: by hiring a lawyer to represent your case, you can gain access to critical benefits that can strengthen your workers’ compensation claim or lawsuit.
- A Deep Understanding of the Law: Your lawyer will understand the complexities of the claim that you intend to file. Your attorney can guide you through each stage of your claim and understand which process to use in order to protect your best interests and increase your chances of a successful claim.
- The Ability to Calculate Compensation: Settlements in catastrophic injury cases can range in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Your attorney will be able to identify all potential options for compensation and accurately calculate your potential award.
- Strong Negotiation Skills: During a catastrophic injury claim, you may need to negotiate with defense attorneys, insurance companies, or BWC representatives. In these situations, your lawyer will handle these negotiations on your behalf and will work tirelessly to protect your best interests.
- The Ability to Handle All Aspects of Your Case: As a catastrophic injury victim, you want to focus on your healing and treatment—not litigation. Your attorney will take care of all legal matters on your behalf, reducing the stress and complexity of this process.
Contact a Cleveland Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today
If you suffered a catastrophic injury in Cleveland, OH, you deserve justice. By filing a workers’ compensation claim or lawsuit, you can secure the compensation that you need to pay for medical care, lost wages, and other critical losses. In these situations, the attorneys at Bashein & Bashein can fight for your right to justice.
Our Cleveland catastrophic injury attorneys have the skills and experience necessary to pursue maximum recovery on your behalf. To learn more, talk to one of our lawyers at Bashein & Bashein Company, L.P.A., in Cleveland, Ohio, at 216-771-3239.