Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Serving Communities in Atlanta & Duluth, GA

Unfortunately, there are some catastrophic injuries from which a personal injury victim can never fully recover. A catastrophic injury is one that permanently prevents a person from performing any gainful work. Catastrophic injuries are so serious that they leave the victim with permanent physical, and emotional damage. 

Typically, catastrophic injuries involve the spinal cord or brain. When a person’s brain or spinal cord becomes damaged, the victim can suffer a long-term impact on their functional capabilities. Serious burns are often considered catastrophic injuries.

Our Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Will Fight for Your Rights

If you have suffered a serious catastrophic injury in Atlanta that is long-term and debilitating or one that caused you a deformity, you might be entitled to compensation under Georgia law. At the law firm of James A Rice, PC, we understand the challenges that our clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries face. In many cases, our clients who have suffered serious catastrophic injuries require long-term care and extensive medical treatment and therapy. 

The cost of treatment, along with the inability to work, puts extensive pressure on our clients. If another person’s intentional actions or negligence caused your catastrophic injuries, you might have a right to bring an Atlanta personal injury lawsuit against them and recover compensation. Contact our Atlanta catastrophic injury law firm as soon as possible to schedule your free initial consultation to learn how we can fight for your rights.

Physical Catastrophic Injuries in Atlanta

Typically, catastrophic injuries fall into three different categories — spinal cord injuries, physical injuries, and cognitive injuries. Physical catastrophic injuries include all of the following:

• Severe burn injuries
• Organ damage
• Amputation
• Severe damage to the body that impedes orthopedic function or tissue
• Physical deformity 

Every physical catastrophic injury affects the survivor and his or her family differently. For example, when a person suffers a limb amputation due to an accident, and the victim is a carpenter, he or she will likely lose the ability to make a living. When a person experiences severe burns, he or she will likely need to stop working. Severe burn injuries often require months, if not years of rehabilitation as well as multiple, painful reconstructive surgeries. 

Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Spinal Cord Damage

Spinal cords are extremely sensitive and prone to injuries. Those who experience a catastrophic spinal cord injury often experience serious negative consequences. Every spinal cord injury is unique and impacts the victim differently. Those who suffer a catastrophic spinal cord injury often lose their independence and need frequent or around-the-clock caregiving. Spinal cord injuries can cause all of the following complications:

• A loss of movement in the arms or legs
• A loss of movement in the trunk, chest, arms or hands
• A loss of bowel and bladder control
• A loss of feeling in some of the regions of the body
• Pain, spasms, and stinging sensations
• Difficulty breathing, especially when the upper neck suffers the spinal cord injury
• Changes to fertility, sexual function, and sexual sensitivity
• The inability to feed oneself

Medical Complications from Catastrophic Spinal Cord Injuries

Living with a catastrophic spinal cord injury is difficult enough. Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries often bring about the following serious medical complications. These complications can result in negative health consequences, and even death in some cases:

• Depression and anxiety
• Chronic pain
• Pneumonia
• Muscle spasms
• Bowel incontinence
• Urinary tract infections (UTI)
• Blood clots
• Pressure sores

While it is possible to improve the symptoms of a patient who has suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury, doctors cannot heal spinal cord injuries completely. There is no cure-all that will ensure patients can resume their normal activities and health. 

Each patient is different. Sometimes, patients recover much of their motor function. In other cases, a patient that becomes paralyzed is paralyzed for life. When another person’s negligence causes a catastrophic spinal cord injury, it is important to speak with a skilled personal injury lawyer. The injured individual might have a right to a legal claim for compensation for their injuries that could help them survive financially. 

Catastrophic Injuries that Cause Cognitive Injuries 

Traumatic brain injuries can cause catastrophic injuries. Many people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries experience debilitating consequences. Severe traumatic brain injuries can have serious negative consequences on a person’s physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities. Even when a person recovers physically from a traumatic brain injury, he or she might still experience serious cognitive delays, such as:

• An inability to speak
• An inability to dress himself
• An inability to engage in personal hygiene
• An inability to return to work
• The need for around-the-clock nursing care
• Temporary or permanent amnesia
• Disorientation and confusion
• Neuropsychological or neurological problems
• Poor concentration
• Loss of vision
• Irritability 
• Personality changes

Additionally, when a traumatic brain injury remains untreated, the symptoms can get worse. Treatment for catastrophic brain injuries is often extremely expensive. Those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury often need to spend significant time in expensive rehabilitation facilities. If you have suffered a catastrophic brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you might have a claim to compensation. 

Seeking Compensation for Your Catastrophic Injury in Atlanta

If you have suffered a catastrophic injury caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you might have a legal claim to compensation. In Georgia, injured people need to file a claim within two years of the accident that caused their catastrophic injury or they will lose their ability to bring a lawsuit. 

During the legal process, you will need to prove that the defendant’s negligence or recklessness caused your catastrophic injury. You will also need to request damages to include economic and non-economic damages caused by your catastrophic injury. You can seek to recover payment for your past and future medical bills and lost wages as well as compensation for the emotional pain and suffering caused by your catastrophic injury. 

Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today

If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, time is of the essence. Contact the law firm of James A Rice, PC, today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can fight for your right to compensation.