Dallas Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

As Dallas catastrophic injury lawyers, we deal with clients going through unimaginable pain and stress. Sadly, many catastrophic injuries come about because of avoidable, careless acts and omissions.

If you’ve had a serious accident because of someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for the harm you’ve suffered. A Dallas catastrophic injury lawyer will fight in your corner against an uncooperative insurance company to secure damages for you and allow you to get your life back on track.

WHY CHOOSE US?

At Crain Brogdon, LLP, we have over 20 years of experience representing Dallas accident victims. Our legal skills and compassionate service will be invaluable to you as you navigate the difficult landscape of personal injury law and fight for your rights.

If you’ve suffered a life-altering accident, you are not alone. Our work with clients in similar cases has helped them move on with their lives. While we cannot predict the outcome of your case, we will work hard to secure as much compensation for you as possible.

Since 2001, Crain Brogdon, LLP has secured more than $355 million for victims of negligence. While compensation is never guaranteed, we fight for the best possible outcome in every case.

For a free, no-obligation consultation about your case, contact Crain Brogdon, LLP today at (214) 522-9404.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Insurance companies use various tactics to deny, delay, or undervalue claims. If an insurer offers you a settlement, do not accept it before speaking with a lawyer.

Acceptance of a settlement closes your case, leaving you with no further options for additional compensation. If your medical condition gets worse after your settlement, you’ll have no way to seek additional damages to cover new medical expenses.

The Dallas catastrophic injury lawyers at Crain Brogdon, LLP can help you avoid an unfavorable outcome by building a case based on as much solid evidence as possible. We do this by:

• Visiting the accident scene
• Reviewing accident scene photographs
• Interviewing eyewitnesses
• Reading police reports.

You can help your lawyer by collecting as much information as possible about the accident. Your attorney will also need medical reports related to your injury and copies of your medical bills.

WHAT IS A CATASTROPHIC INJURY?

A catastrophic injury is one that involves bodily harm affecting a victim’s quality of life. These injuries typically result in massive medical costs and other expenses, as well as significant pain and suffering.

Accident victims who experience a catastrophic injury risk death and prolonged or permanent damage. Impaired mobility, brain function, and disfigurement are just a few examples of how such an injury can affect you.

Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Burns: These may require painful skin grafts and plastic surgery.
• Spinal cord damage: This can result in permanent paralysis.
• Traumatic brain injury: The most serious brain injuries can upend your life completely. Even milder injuries disrupt normal brain function and leave you with debilitating symptoms.
• Internal injuries: These may involve damage to organs or vital internal tissue.
• Bone fractures: The recovery from mild and moderate bone breaks is typically straightforward, if painful and potentially lengthy. However, more serious fractures can result in amputation.

Catastrophic injuries require extensive medical care that can last for the remainder of a victim’s life. For example, the lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury can reach millions of dollars. Likewise, a skilled nursing facility for a traumatic brain injury can cost thousands every month. Various forms of therapy and medication may also be necessary for you to make a full recovery.

No accident victim should go without the services they need. While compensation is never promised and is impossible to predict, fighting for what you deserve is better than settling for less.

COMMON CAUSES OF DALLAS CATASTROPHIC INJURY ACCIDENTS

Car accidents are among the most common causes of Dallas catastrophic injury accidents. Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are all at a particularly high risk of catastrophic injury due to their lack of protection.

A dangerous driver high on drugs, distracted by a smartphone, or speeding through a light can forever change your life. If a negligent individual has caused you a traumatic injury in this way, it’s crucial that you seek compensation from them.

A catastrophic injury can also occur due to one or more of the following factors:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Medical mistakes
• Defective products.

WHAT KINDS OF DAMAGES ARE AVAILABLE IN CATASTROPHIC INJURY CASES?

The damages that are available in catastrophic injury cases (and personal injury lawsuits in general) can be broken into three broad categories: economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages.

ECONOMIC DAMAGES

Economic damages are those with an easily calculable monetary value, such as:

• Medical bills: These include ambulance rides, emergency room visits, diagnostic tests, X-rays, surgeries, amputations, intensive care unit stays, hospital stays, and any other expenses related to your treatment or rehabilitation.
• Loss of earnings: Your insurance claim should reimburse you for earnings you’ve missed out on due to your injury, as well as the estimated future earning capacity your condition has cost you. Many catastrophic injury victims never return to work after their accidents.
• Alterations to your home: You may need to make your home more easily maneuverable following a catastrophic injury. This might involve the addition of ramps, wider doorways, roll-in showers, handrails, and grab bars.
• Medical devices and equipment: You may require canes, crutches, wheelchairs, hospital beds, prosthetic limbs, or other devices to live more comfortably with your injury.
• Travel costs: The expense of traveling to and from doctor appointments, hospital visits, and therapy should be covered by economic damages.

NONECONOMIC DAMAGES

Noneconomic damages do not have an exact monetary value, and so are much more difficult to calculate. There are a number of non-economic damages that your attorney may advise you to seek, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of reputation
• Permanent impairments
• Emotional anguish
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PUNITIVE DAMAGES

If your catastrophic injury occurred because of extreme misconduct by the liable party, you may be entitled to punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are not designed to make up for a loss suffered by a plaintiff; instead, they act as a punishment for the defendant. Punitive damages also serve to discourage those who might act in a similar way in the future.

BEATING THE DEADLINE: THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN TEXAS

Texas’ statute of limitations allows two years for filing a civil lawsuit. This deadline applies to both personal injury and wrongful death cases.

The clock begins to tick toward this deadline the moment you suffer a catastrophic injury (in wrongful death cases, it starts when the accident victim passes away). If you don’t submit your filing in time, you may lose your right to pursue compensation.

HOW THE MODIFIED COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE RULE MAY AFFECT YOUR CASE

In Texas, the doctrine of “modified comparative negligence” applies, meaning that you can seek compensation if you were partially at fault for your catastrophic injury. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you, as long as you were not more than 50% at fault for what happened. If your degree of responsibility is greater than this, you will be barred from recovering any compensation.

For example, if you were found to be 30% at fault for your accident, your compensation would be reduced by 30%. So, if you were entitled to $100,000 in economic and noneconomic damages, based on the harm your accident caused you and the costs related to this harm, your compensation entitlement will be capped at $70,000.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What should I do if my insurance company contacts me directly?

If your insurance company contacts you directly, you should not discuss your case or agree to any settlements without first consulting your attorney. Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts, and any details you give them may be useful to them in their attempts to do this. Your attorney will be best positioned to negotiate on your behalf, so you should let them handle interactions like this wherever possible.

How do catastrophic injury lawyers charge for their services?

At Crain Brogdon, LLP, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case or reach a settlement on your behalf. This means there’s no risk for you in pursuing a catastrophic injury lawsuit with us.

Will my catastrophic injury case go to trial, or can it be settled out of court?

Our lawyers try to settle most catastrophic injury cases before they reach the courtroom. This means you get paid quicker and avoid the stress and uncertainty of a jury trial. In some cases, though, going to court is the only way to get a fair resolution. If the defendant in your case is unwilling to agree to a fair settlement, we won’t hesitate to fight for you in front of a judge and jury.

How long does it typically take to resolve a catastrophic injury case?

The time it takes to resolve a catastrophic injury case varies widely based on the complexity of the case, the willingness of parties to negotiate, and court schedules. It can range from several months to several years.

How soon should I contact an attorney after suffering a catastrophic injury?

It’s crucial to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a catastrophic injury. Early legal guidance can help preserve essential evidence, deal with insurance companies, and ensure that you are taking the right steps toward potential compensation. Also, the statute of limitations in these cases imposes a two-year time limit for lawsuit filings, so it’s important to make sure you don’t let this deadline pass.

CONTACT CRAIN BROGDON TODAY FOR HELP WITH YOUR DALLAS CATASTROPHIC INJURY CASE

Compensation cannot fix your situation, but it can provide access to the services you need to get your life back on track. Don’t let someone else’s negligence go unpunished while you suffer in silence.

You deserve justice. Crain Brogdon can help you pursue it, along with compensation for your considerable damages. Call us today at (214) 522-9404 to learn how we can help you move forward.

Attorney Robert D. Crain

Robert D. Crain is a nationally renowned personal injury attorney who has been included in lists such as U.S. News’ Best Lawyers in America. Additional publications often include Rob on their “Best Lawyers” lists, including Texas Monthly and D Magazine. As a testament to his excellence, he is AV® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. [ Attorney Bio ]