What Constitutes a Catastrophic Injury in Texas

November 6, 2024 | Car Accidents

Any type of accident can create serious injury and losses for victims. Yet, some injuries are worse and longer lasting than others. Catastrophic injuries in Texas are those that create long-term impacts, often limiting quality and length of time, pain, mobility, and other permanent outcomes.

If you are involved in an accident that leaves you with permanent losses and disability, it is crucial to have an experienced Austin car accident attorney to guide you.

Examples of Catastrophic Injuries in Texas

A permanent or severely limiting type of injury that causes ongoing pain and suffering could be catastrophic. Some examples of these accidents include:

  • Spinal cord damage leading to permanent partial or full disability
  • Traumatic brain injuries causing speech, cognitive function, or mental health complications
  • Loss of vision or hearing
  • Amputation of one or more limbs
  • Chronic pain and debilitating suffering
  • Permanent disability as a result of other injuries

Consider any type of disability that alters your life and future on a long-term basis, often requiring months or years of recovery or creating permanent losses, to be catastrophic.

How Catastrophic Injuries Happen in Texas Personal Injury Cases

Numerous types of accidents can cause catastrophic injuries like these, including:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck collisions
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Workplace accidents
  • Medical malpractice cases
  • Slip and fall accidents

Even what seems to be a minor accident initially can create catastrophic injuries over time. For example, a person falls in a grocery store, striking their head on a cooler. They seem okay, but within a day, they develop symptoms of a brain bleed. That causes permanent damage to the brain’s tissues, leading to permanent cognitive decline.

As limited as this may seem, it is, in fact, more common than you realize. By working with a catastrophic injury attorney, you gain the insight you need to pursue full and fair compensation to help you continue to live your life with these challenges.

Why an Attorney Is Critical to Pursuing Catastrophic Injury Claims

Victims of catastrophic injuries benefit from having the one-on-one support of a skilled and experienced attorney. With our guidance, we can reduce the risk of not getting the financial support you need at this critical time.

Many catastrophic injury victims face ongoing losses and complications. You may be unable to work or engage in activities you enjoy. The compensation owed to you must mitigate some of these losses for you. Both proving this and valuing it can be challenging. Our attorneys have experience in this entire process, including:

  • Putting a value on your losses to the fullest allowable level under the law
  • Fully understanding the impact of your injuries on your future by speaking to medical experts
  • Considering your long-term losses, including a reduction in quality of life as well as length of time
  • Ensuring you file a claim within the two-year statute of limitations in Texas

We work with you, your doctor, and other experts to build a case to show exactly how you suffered these losses, who is to blame, and what level of compensation is necessary to help you recover fairly.

Schedule a consultation with an attorney to determine what specific steps you need to take to recover the damages owed to you after a catastrophic injury. Even if you are unsure if your condition or losses qualify, an personal injury attorney in Austin can help you navigate the legal options available to you and work to mitigate some of the impact these losses have on your future.