An injury caused by someone else’s misconduct can have painful and debilitating short-term and long-term consequences, from missed time at work to expensive medical bills and the simple day-to-day struggles involved with slowly recovering from serious physical harm. When an injury is so severe that complete recovery is impossible, many of the consequences that come with it will last for the rest of the injured person’s life.
In this kind of situation, proactively seeking civil compensation through aggressive representation from a personal injury attorney is even more important to obtaining a just result. Founding Partner Jon Ostroff has won thousands of civil cases on behalf of injured clients. Managing Partner Rich Godshall has 18 years of experience successfully handling multi-million dollar catastrophic injury cases. In one case, Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers recovered $5.7 million on behalf of a client who broadsided a truck and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
While a financial award cannot restore you or your loved one back to your pre-accident physical or emotional status, a Reading catastrophic injury lawyer can help you pursue a case result that will allow you to maximize you or your loved one’s quality of life despite disfigurement or disability. Our personal injury attorneys are here to help.
What Sets Catastrophic Injury Claims Apart from Other Civil Cases?
There is no legal difference between a catastrophic injury claim and any other type of civil claim. In either scenario, you can only hold another person or entity financially liable for your damages if you are able to prove that they directly caused your injury through negligent or reckless conduct. The value of your claim is based on the extent of you financial losses, as well as the degree to which you were physically and emotionally injured.
Since catastrophic injuries are permanent and cause debilitating losses of cognitive, sensory, and/or motor function, the consequences associated with them tend to be much more encompassing. For this reason, catastrophic injury claims are particularly valuable, especially those based on conditions like traumatic brain damage or paralysis, that leave injured individuals completely unable to provide for themselves.
It is also important to note that catastrophic injuries qualify as “serious injuries” in the context of car accident litigation, which means the restrictions on car accident lawsuits established under Pennsylvania’s limited tort restrictions on pursuing damages do not apply. An attorney will explain these aspects of catastrophic accident cases during your initial consultation.
Filing Deadlines for Catastrophic Injury Cases in Reading
There are various procedural mistakes that can lead to a catastrophic injury victim missing out on much-needed compensation. One example is the two-year filing deadline established in 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §5524 applies to all civil cases regardless of how serious or long-lasting a particular injury is.
Because of this deadline and the permanent nature of many catastrophic injuries, it is essential to seek out a medical professional who can properly diagnose and treat your accident-related injuries. A seasoned personal injury lawyer will properly build and account for your recoverable losses, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income, including lost future earnings
- Loss of life’s pleasures
An experienced catastrophic injury lawyer in Reading will know the procedure for properly filing and serving your lawsuit in a way that satisfies this statute.
Consider Working with a Reading Catastrophic Injury Attorney
When an injury is serious enough to be considered “catastrophic,” you should think twice before entrusting your case to a legal representative who has not handled catastrophic injury claims before. Experience is essential in these cases, as many of the long-term damages that stem from severe injuries can be difficult to identify and prove.
A Reading catastrophic injury lawyer’s guidance is invaluable to protecting your or your loved one’s interests after a serious incident. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to discuss your situation with an attorney.