Any injury from a severe accident can seriously impact your life, from substantial physical pain to the hassle of paying for medical treatment and stress of caring for yourself and your family members. Even if you successfully sue the person that harmed you and recover money to make up for your short-term losses, you may still struggle with the long-term repercussions of the accident.
If another person’s actions have left you with a permanent disability or disfigurement, consult a seasoned personal injury attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. We know how to fight—and win—on behalf of people who suffer life-altering harm in accidents. With one of our well-known Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyers by your side, you will have the best chances of securing the payments you need to move forward with your life.
Founding Partner Jon Ostroff has over 30 years of experience fighting for severely injured victims. Managing Partner Rich Godshall has spent the past 18 years focusing on multi-million dollar catastrophic injury cases. Our team has a strong track record of success in these cases, including settlements totaling over $21 million for victims of a highway bus crash, and $10 million for a catastrophically injured victim of a highway truck crash.
Getting Paid Fairly for Severe Injuries
A catastrophic injury case follows many of the same rules that apply to other personal injury claims. You and your Philadelphia attorney still need to prove someone else is legally at fault for causing your catastrophic injuries to make them pay for your damages. This means proving they were “negligent” by showing that the following are true:
- They owed you a “duty” under the law to act responsibly in a particular situation—for example, the responsibility drivers have to obey traffic laws
- They did something reckless, careless, and/or illegal that “breached” their duty
- Their breach of duty was the main and direct cause of an accident
- That accident was the main and direct cause of every loss you’re suing to get compensation for
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
What makes catastrophic injury cases different is the scope of the losses you are suing for and the fact that many of those losses will last for the rest of your life. Common examples of injuries that might be considered “catastrophic” include:
- Paralysis from spinal cord damage
- Severe brain damage
- Third-degree burns, fourth-degree burns, or other substantial bodily scarring
- Blindness or deafness
- Loss of feeling due to nerve damage
- Crushing injuries
- Lost or amputated limbs
Help from a skilled Philadelphia catastrophic accident attorney is crucial to getting paid fairly for all your long-term losses, including lost employment opportunities and earning potential, future medical and nursing costs, physical and emotional trauma, and loss of life’s pleasures.
Time Limits for Philadelphia Catastrophic Injury Cases
Although catastrophic injuries will impact you for the rest of your life, you have limited time to file a lawsuit. This is because of the statute of limitations set out by Pennsylvania law that applies to all personal injury claims—including claims built around catastrophic injuries.
Under 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §5524, you typically have two years after the date of your injury to file a claim. There are some exceptions to this rule under specific circumstances, which a catastrophic injury lawyer at our firm can explain in more detail.
Talk to a Philadelphia Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today
A severe accident is devastating, especially knowing that it could have been avoided if not for another person’s negligent behavior. If you suffered a life-changing injury, guidance from an experienced legal professional at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers is crucial to holding the person who caused your accident accountable for your losses.
A Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyer from our team will fight for you and pursue the case result you deserve. Call today to learn more in a free consultation.
