Cocoa Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

The main goal of any personal injury claim is to restore the injured person to their pre-accident condition by ensuring the liable party pays for all their medical bills, as well as any other financial and personal losses they have sustained. In practice, it is not always possible for money alone to repair all of the damage a serious injury can cause, especially if the physical effects are expected to be permanent.

Getting fair financial recovery for a “catastrophic injury” works similarly to filing suit over a temporary injury in some ways, and differently in others, as any experienced personal injury attorney could confirm. Working closely with a Cocoa catastrophic injury lawyer will dramatically improve your chances of getting the best possible results from your lawsuit or settlement demand.

What Counts as a Catastrophic Injury?

Florida state law provides a few different legal definitions for what qualifies as a “serious injury” or a “catastrophic injury.” For example, in the context of victim assistance for individuals affected by criminal acts, Florida Statutes § 960.03 defines a “catastrophic injury” to be one of the following types of “permanent impairment”:

Spinal cord damage resulting in severe paralysis of one or more limbs or the torso
Any injury resulting in the amputation of a limb, hand, or foot
Severe brain damage resulting in substantial loss of sensory or motor function, difficulty communication, loss of cerebral function, neurological disorder(s), or any other equally severe conditions
Second-degree or third-degree burns covering at least 25 percent of the whole body, or third-degree burns covering at least five percent of the hands or face
Any injury resulting in blindness
Any injury which would qualify the injured for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through the federal Social Security Administration

When it comes to filing suit over a serious injury, the main purpose of defining it as “catastrophic” is to illustrate the severity of harm the injured person has sustained and the tremendous negative impact it will have on their life moving forward. A Cocoa catastrophic injury attorney could ensure that insurance companies, defense counsel, and other parties involved negotiate in good faith and understand the losses that will be incorporated into the claim.

Recovering Fairly Within Filing Deadlines

Since catastrophic injuries are permanent and debilitating (by definition), any civil claim must account not just for losses the injured person has already suffered, but also expected future losses which may not manifest for months, years, or longer. In certain situations, this could include economic damages like lost earning ability, costs of future medical and rehabilitative care, and disability-related expenses for things like wheelchairs and home modifications; as well as various forms of non-economic “pain and suffering” which will likely include lost quality/enjoyment of life.

An update to Florida law makes it so nearly all injured people have just two years after initially getting hurt to begin civil litigation over that injury, if it occurred after March 24, 2023.

This is a big reason, among many. why it is crucial to contact a qualified lawyer quickly after a catastrophic accident in Cocoa.

Seek Help From a Cocoa Catastrophic Injury Attorney

Even when the at-fault party’s liability seems obvious, it is not always easy to get a successful settlement or jury verdict. When you are dealing with paralysis, painful burns, or cognitive impairment, you do not have the time or energy to try and get compensated on your own.

There is help available from a dedicated Cocoa catastrophic injury lawyer who knows the law and understands how to make a successful claim for damages. Call today for a free consultation from the amazing team at The Umansky Law Firm.