Catastrophic injuries often change the lives of the victim and their families. They are usually disabling and permanent, as they involve severe damage to the brain or the spine.
Not only may victims of catastrophic injuries suffer from the immediate medical problems of such an injury, but they usually also develop other medical problems related to the primary one. Respiratory and cardiac disease are commonly seen in patients with catastrophic injuries, which can further complicate their medical and financial future.
If you or a loved one cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel after a catastrophic injury, there is professional legal help available. Reach out to an Oak Lawn catastrophic injury lawyer today to explore what a seasoned personal injury attorney could do for you. En Español.
Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
A wide variety of risk factors and situations can lead to catastrophic injuries. Typically, these types of injuries stem from high-speed accidents, but dangerous property conditions and defective consumer goods can cause serious damage as well.
- Motor Vehicle Crashes
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
- Dangerous Property Conditions
- Dangerous Products
- Athletic Injuries
Motor Vehicle, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Accidents
High-speed impacts resulting from motor vehicle collisions often cause catastrophic injuries, especially if one or more drivers involved was operating a motorcycle. Victims of these accidents may suffer from a broken back, a spinal cord injury, or even a skull fracture that contributes to brain damage.
When someone is hit by a car while on a bike or on foot, they have no significant protection from the impact of the vehicle that hits them. While bike helmets are designed to protect the back of the head from skull fractures, they cannot prevent neck or back trauma or concussions that lead to brain injuries. Contact an Oak Lawn catastrophic injury lawyer for more information or for help with filing a claim.
Dangerous Property Conditions & Products
Whether it is a neighbor’s swimming pool or on a slippery sidewalk in a park, tripping or slipping and falling can lead to catastrophic injuries that involve the back, head, or the neck. By law, property owners are required to warn of or correct any dangerous conditions on their own property.
Often overlooked as potential sources of catastrophic injuries, dangerous products can and do lead to all kinds of injuries or even death. To name just two examples, infants could choke on small parts of a toy and suffer brain damage from lack of oxygen, and adults could breathe carbon monoxide from a ventilator that is not highly vented.
Athletic Injuries
Contact sports often put participants at a high risk of a catastrophic head or neck injury. To make matters worse, trainers and coaches sometimes fail to speak to their players about the risk of concussions. In fact, if a second concussion results after a first one should have been recognized, the coach or trainer can be held liable as per Section 136 of Illinois House Bill 312. If left untreated, an undiagnosed or untreated concussion increases the risk of catastrophic injury or even death.
Statute of Limitations
Under 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/13-202, catastrophic injury civil claims must be filed within two years of the date an injury occurs. Victims who fail to file their lawsuit by this deadline would likely not be able to file a claim at all, as the court could dismiss it for being time-barred. If a victim chooses to work with an Oak Lawn catastrophic injury lawyer, though, their attorney could help them file suit before the given deadline.
How an Oak Lawn Catastrophic Injury Attorney Could Help
By contacting an Oak Lawn catastrophic injury lawyer, you could learn more about your legal rights and options. Experienced and compassionate attorneys respect how difficult this path can be and have the goal of making the opposing parties respect it as well by starting with an effectively worded demand letter.
If a fair settlement cannot be reached with the defendants, your attorney could take your case before a judge or a jury to further pursue the compensation you deserve. Call today to schedule a consultation and take back control of your life.