A Catastrophic Injury Lawyer New Orleans Can Trust

A catastrophic injury is a severe injury, which has long-term effects on the victim’s life. 

Its effects can leave the injured person with permanent damages, which prevents them from performing even the necessary activities of daily living or being able to earn a living to take care of themselves or their families. 

The injuries are emotionally damaging and may require extensive medical care, nursing care, rehabilitative treatment, and personal assistance that can last for months, years, or a lifetime. 

If the injuries arise from the negligent actions of others and could have been prevented, you have the right to pursue a catastrophic injury claim. 

The choice of a New Orleans personal injury lawyer matters. An experienced New Orleans catastrophic injury lawyer like Mike Mahone will fight on your behalf to achieve the justice you and your family deserve.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

The catastrophic injuries vary widely, but they are generally classified into three types:

1. Physical injuries

These include burn injuries, fractures, loss of limb, organ damage, and damage to bodily functions. However, even injuries that do not appear to be severe from looking at somebody can nevertheless lead to long-term and debilitating consequences. 

For example, the loss of sight in one eye can require significant vocational rehabilitation and a change of occupation that can be devastating to the accident victim. 

2. Cognitive injuries

Cognitive injuries are the direct result of brain damage. A traumatic brain injury can destroy your life. Injuries like this can make it impossible to work, communicate, interact with people, or even perform the most basic life functions like talking or caring for yourself. 

They can require around-the-clock nursing care to get through every day. The financial burden that this can put on you and your family is immeasurable. 

3. Spinal cord injuries

As the name suggests, the injuries exclusively impact the spinal cord. Injuries to the spinal cord lead to different mobility impairments, depending on the affected area. They can cause loss of function to legs, arms, and hands. They can also lead to severe lifelong pain and agony and prevent you from enjoying any of the things you used to love to do in your life. 

For people who work in labor-intensive occupations, having a spinal cord injury can prevent them from ever returning to heavy-duty work, making it impossible for them to provide for their families. 

Damages for Catastrophic Injuries 

Because catastrophic injuries can impact so many aspects of your life, the damages that can be awarded for these injuries are significant. Here are some of the key areas of damages that will be sought in a New Orleans, La catastrophic injury case: 

Lost Wages

One of the most important aspects of any catastrophic injury claim is how the victims are going to be able to provide for themselves and their families following the accident.

Expert testimony is often necessary to establish the victim’s limitations and how that will impact his or her ability to make a living after the accident. This requires a combination of vocational rehabilitation expert testimony and economic expert testimony to establish the complete scope of the wage loss. 

Future Medical Bills & Expenses/Life Care 

Catastrophic injuries often require numerous surgical procedures with the possibility of even more in the future. Understanding the full extent of what is or may be medically necessary to address the injury is vital to know the scope of the damages. In addition to future surgeries, victims may require regular medical treatment and day-to-day care following such an awful injury. 

Much like with lost wages, expert testimony from medical experts and life care planning experts helps to establish the number of medical expenses, both past, and future, that should be awarded to a catastrophic injury victim. 

Pain and Suffering 

Other than the immense economic consequences, catastrophic injuries cause debilitating pain and suffering. The most normal functions of life, such as sleeping and walking, can become insufferable. It can be so bad that just sitting down can hurt. Even with surgeries and other pain-relieving procedures, victims may still suffer from pain to some degree or another, for the rest of their lives. 

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Catastrophic injuries can also limit or end your ability to do the things that you enjoy. A common example of this is with respect to exercising. People who have spent their whole lives running or working out may find it impossible to do that after an injury. Others may play sports and then be unable to ever do that again. The mental anguish from losing this loss of enjoyment of life can cause a lifetime of consequences and depression. 

A New Orleans, La personal injury lawyer will be able to present your side of the story and how the accident has ruined your life to a judge, jury, or insurance adjuster to make them understand why you should be fully compensated for your losses. 

Different Types of Catastrophic Injury Cases That The Mahone Firm Handles

At The Mahone Firm, you will receive personalized legal representation from the first time you call until your case ultimately resolves. Our law firm is built around the philosophy that fewer cases allow for one-on-one interaction that often lacks in legal representation today. 

The Mahone Firm has represented numerous victims of catastrophic injuries. Here are just a handful of the practice areas where we have helped those victims find justice for their accidents:

Catastrophic Injuries from Car and Truck Accidents

Car accidents and truck accidents are some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries. This is because of the impact and resulting trauma from vehicle collisions. Even a relatively small car accident can cause spinal cord injuries, leading to devastating consequences for accident victims. 

Catastrophic Injuries from Bicycle Accidents

Because of the dramatic difference in size between passenger vehicles and bicycles, bicycle accidents can lead to disastrous results. When a vehicle collides with a cyclist, the cyclist is often thrown from their bike, which can result in serious neck and back issues, broken bones, and deep cuts. 

Catastrophic Injuries from Work Accidents

Louisiana workers, particularly those in the industrial and manufacturing industries, go to work every single day with the prospect of getting hurt on the job. Work accidents from something as simple as picking up a box the wrong way can lead to a catastrophic injury that can require surgery and long-term economic consequences for the injury victim. 

Catastrophic Injuries from Offshore and Maritime Accidents

Workers in the maritime industry are at a tremendously high risk of injury every time they go offshore. Weather conditions, negligent crewmembers, and employers who cut corners can cause offshore accidents and resulting catastrophic injuries.

Maritime workers are fortunate to have laws that offer them protection and avenues to get compensated for these injuries, but this does nothing to change the impact that they will have on their lives and their futures. 

Catastrophic Injuries Causing Leading to Wrongful Death

There is no question that the most catastrophic injury that can occur is death. Nothing is more horrific for a family to have to suffer through than the loss of a loved one. 

There is no amount of damages in this world that can make up for the loss of a beloved family member. But, a wrongful death claim is the only means of taking care of a family who depended on the deceased victim for support and for achieving justice against those who caused such a terrible loss. 

Statute of Limitations for Catastrophic Injuries in Louisiana 

Louisiana uses the term “prescription” rather than the more commonly used term “statute of limitations.” Regardless of the terminology used, most Louisiana catastrophic injury tort cases must be filed within one year of the date of the accident, unless it is a maritime/Jones Act case, in which case the statute of limitations is three (3) years from the date of the accident. There are shorter notification requirements required for workers’ compensation cases, both onshore and offshore, but that is beyond the scope of this post. 

Request A Free Case Evaluation By A New Orleans Personal Injury Lawyer

Suffering a catastrophic injury can wreck your life and leave you completely lost about what you should do next. The Mahone Firm is here to help you through it and work hard to get you fully compensated. 

 Call (504) 564-7342 to discuss your case with a New Orleans catastrophic injury lawyer today. There is no charge for a free consultation with Mike Mahone.