Car accidents can be traumatic events that change your life forever. Some injuries are minor, but others are so severe that they affect your ability to work, enjoy life, or take care of yourself. These are called catastrophic injuries, and they require special attention and care.
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in a car accident in Georgia, you might have questions about your legal rights and options. A skilled car accident attorney can explain what a catastrophic injury is, how it differs from other injuries, and how to get the compensation you deserve.
What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is not just any serious injury. It is an injury that permanently affects your ability to work, earn income, or enjoy life. Types of catastrophic injuries include:
- Spinal cord injury that causes paralysis of an arm, a leg, or the trunk.
- Amputation of an arm, a hand, a foot, or a leg.
- Severe brain injury or closed head injury.
- Second or third-degree burns over 25% of the body or 5% of the face or hands.
- Total or industrial blindness.
If you have suffered any of these injuries in a car accident or at work, you may be entitled to special benefits and compensation under Georgia law.
What Damages Can You Recover for Catastrophic Injuries?
After a catastrophic injury, you may wonder how to pay for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Georgia law lets you seek two types of damages from the person who caused the accident: special and general. Special damages are for your out-of-pocket expenses, like medical bills and lost wages. General damages are for your non-economic losses, like pain and suffering.
Usually, you will get compensation from the other driver’s insurance company. But sometimes, the other driver may not have insurance or enough coverage. In that case, you will have to sue the other driver personally and collect from their assets.
Here are some of the damages you can claim:
- Medical Expenses: You can get reimbursed for your past and future medical costs, such as hospital bills, surgeries, therapies, and medications.
- Lost Earnings: You can get compensated for your past and future income loss, such as wages, salaries, bonuses, and benefits. If you can’t return to your previous job, you can also claim for your reduced earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: You can get paid for your physical and emotional distress, such as loss of enjoyment of life, loss of health, fear of injury, and actual pain and suffering.
- Long-Term Care: You can get covered for your future care needs, such as assistance with daily activities, nursing home, or home health care.
- Adaptation Costs: You can get funded for your future expenses to adapt to your new situation, such as home modifications, assistive devices, or prosthetics.
Knowing the damages you can recover is crucial to deciding the best way to handle your case.
Get Justice For Your Catastrophic Injury
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, you need a Georgia car accident lawyer with the compassion to listen to your story and the expertise to get you fairly compensated. Unlike most law firms, the attorneys at Flanagan Law see you—the person behind the case—and personalize a legal strategy for your unique story. Schedule a free consultation today to get started.
