Catastrophic injuries can change your entire life in a second. These injuries lead to long recoveries or permanent disabilities. These injuries are typically caused by car accidents, which means that fault can get in the way of receiving compensation.
These injuries bring more than just physical pain; they also bring medical bills, time away from work, and even render you unable to go back to work. Without proper representation, you could be stuck with thousands of dollars in debt with no way to pay it off.
The personal injury lawyers at Bowers Law can assist you in your catastrophic injury claim and can get you the compensation you need. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury in Maryland?
Catastrophic injuries are typically life-altering injuries that result in permanent disability, long-term recovery, or significant loss of quality of life. People who suffer a catastrophic injury often cannot return to work and require lifelong medical care and assistance.
These types of injuries cause tremendous physical, emotional, or financial consequences for the victim. Examples of injuries Maryland considers to be catastrophic include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Severe burn injuries
- Loss of senses
- Internal organ damage
How Do Catastrophic Injuries Differ From Others?
Catastrophic injuries differ from other types of injuries because of their more extreme nature. Common damages that usually accompany a catastrophic injury include:
- Long-term disability: Victims cannot return to their normal lives due to the injury, which usually lasts for an extended period or is permanent.
- Medical expenses: Treatment for catastrophic injuries is usually costly, involving hospital or rehabilitative stays, surgeries, medications, assistive devices (e.g., wheelchairs), and therapies.
- Lost wages/lost earning potential: Individuals are out of work for a long time, if not permanently; family members often need to limit their work to become caregivers for their loved one.
- Pain and suffering: Catastrophic injuries lead to immense physical and mental pain, which can be traumatic.
All of the above create a significant emotional and financial toll for the victims and their families. No amount of money can ever erase the suffering from a catastrophic injury, but compensation can help make life a little bit easier.
What Damages Can Be Recovered for a Catastrophic Injury in Maryland?
Injury victims in Maryland are eligible to pursue both economic and non-economic damages from various types of catastrophic injuries.
Economic damages are tangible losses that you are reimbursed for and include items such as medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and property damage. Gathering evidence for these circumstances is something an experienced attorney can assist you with.
Non-economic damages are intangible damages that do not have a receipt, including, but not limited to:
- Pain and suffering
- PTSD
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
- Wrongful death
It is important to note that Maryland caps the amount of non-economic damages individuals can receive, so contact our lawyers for help understanding the complexities of non-economic damages.
How Can a Maryland Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Help?
An experienced attorney can offer substantial assistance in catastrophic injury cases. In the aftermath of this type of injury, it can be difficult to focus beyond the initial day-to-day needs, and it might be difficult to envision what the future might look like. A lawyer can advocate for your rights to be protected, keep track of deadlines, and those responsible are held accountable.
Trying to navigate the legal system while facing recovery from a catastrophic injury can also be challenging. Insurance companies usually are not looking out for the interests of the injured and their families. An attorney can look at the full picture and put an accurate value on a case, considering current and future needs, along with suffering and other impacts on the victim’s life.
In cases where injuries irreversibly change your life, you can’t afford to fight for compensation on your own. You only get one chance at receiving compensation for your case, and having an experienced and knowledgeable attorney on your side will help.
Catastrophic Injuries Can Change Your Life in an Instant
The caring and compassionate attorneys at Bowers Law understand the challenges accompanying catastrophic injuries. Our law office is prepared to provide you and your family with full legal representation and aggressively pursue compensation from the at-fault parties who caused your injury.
Not only will we help you obtain the maximum compensation available, but we will also help you properly allocate your settlement money to help secure your financial future. It is our goal to deliver personalized legal services and help Maryland families move forward after suffering a devastating experience.
Why Clients Partner With Bowers Law
Clients select Bowers Law to represent them in their personal injury cases because of our experience and credibility. Our legal team is deeply connected to and involved with our community.
With our client-first approach, our compassionate attorneys will actively listen to your story and understand the challenges you are facing. Our accident attorneys will meticulously and strategically create a unique legal solution after compiling all the relevant data for your case.
Bowers Law proudly serves clients from Elkton and Baltimore, along with other areas of Maryland. Should you choose us to represent you in your personal injury case, you can rest assured that our accident lawyers will do all they can to help you get the compensation you need to recover and secure your financial future. The attorney-client relationship is essential to us, and we will stand by your side through every step of the legal process.
Our Client Testimonials
“This team is awesome. I was lost with knowing what to do when I was in my first major car accident, but luckily I had met Marc. The first thing he told me to do was to focus on getting better. He helped me to get in physical therapy for my injuries. He also helped me [navigate] the process for me. I knew I didn’t need to worry about anything. I even ended up getting more money for my injuries than I expected. In all he made everything easy for me. Marc will definitely be my first call if anything happens to me in the future.” — Brian D.
“Great job. Accident with injuries and had no idea what to do. These guys took charge and before you know it I got to come back for a big fat check! Would recommend if you get in a car crash!” — Jack H.
“Best Law Firm in MD. Kind, patient, thinks outside the box, and ready to take on any case. They know life happens and you shouldn’t have to suffer as a result. There’s no one better to have on your side in court.” — Charlotte F.
If You Have Suffered A Catastrophic Injury, Bowers Law Injury Attorneys Are Here to Help
To schedule a free consultation with a catastrophic injury attorney at Bowers Law, call our law firm at 410-885-6200 or fill out our online contact form. We also accept and will reply to text messages if this is your preferred method of contact.
Frequent Answered Questions
Motor vehicle accidents cause the most catastrophic injuries. Because of this, correctly determining fault is important in these cases. Work accidents and other personal injuries can be other types of incidents that can lead to catastrophic injuries.
In cases where an injury victim is in a coma or otherwise incapacitated and has difficulty communicating, the process changes. Under these circumstances, specific individuals can pursue compensation on behalf of the injury victim. These individuals include spouses, children, parents, siblings, court-appointed guardians, and legal representatives, such as someone who has power of attorney or a lawyer.
Yes, you can pursue non-economic damages in Maryland for your injuries.
Strong evidence is essential to prove liability in catastrophic injury cases. Important evidence includes medical records, eyewitness statements, expert testimony, medical treatment receipts, police reports, and financial records. Victims must also prove the four elements of negligence in any personal injury claim.
The state of Maryland follows contributory negligence law. Therefore, if you are at fault for the accident, you cannot pursue damages. There may be other ways to receive compensation or prove that you were not at fault in your case — always consult with an attorney to discuss the particulars of your case. Even if you think you or a loved one is to blame, there may be other factors.
Maryland has a three year statute of limitations, but it is important to note that there are some circumstances where the deadline is earlier than three years. If proper notice is not given, you may be ineligible for recovery. Contact a lawyer immediately to determine if this type of notice is required for your circumstances.
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