Even a moderate injury can have life-changing consequences, but when you’ve been in a severe accident resulting in catastrophic injury, the future can be uncertain. In addition to the long road to physical recovery, you will likely be without income for a long time.
Fasig | Brooks of Jacksonville, FL represents individuals who have sustained catastrophic injuries due to the negligence of another. We also represent plaintiffs in actions when their loved ones have died from an accident. Contact our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers for a free consultation.
What are Catastrophic Injuries?
As the name implies, these injuries involve severe damage to the body or mind that is either permanent or will last long into the future. For example, a catastrophic injury can result from a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall, medical malpractice, etc.
If you’ve sustained a severe injury, you need a personal injury law firm willing to go the distance to recover compensation. In Jacksonville, FL, the Fasig | Brooks personal injury law firm aggressively pursues damages for victims with catastrophic injuries.
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Damages in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Because catastrophic injury cases almost always affect the life, happiness, and incomes of the plaintiffs, damage settlements and awards can be substantial. Personal injury attorneys divide catastrophic injury damages into three categories:
Economic Damages – Economic damages include all monetary expenses that you incur as a result of your injury. Of course, this includes all medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Additionally, it consists of future lost earnings, compensation for anticipated medical expenses, modifications that must be made to the home and workplace, and more. In a wrongful death lawsuit, it can include compensation for future lost income and burial expenses.
Non-economic Damages – In personal injury cases, non-economic damages seek to reimburse victims for physical pain, emotional trauma, inconvenience, and loss of physical and mental capacity. If the victim has died as a result of their injuries, their loved one can claim loss of consortium.
Punitive Damages – These types of damages are awarded when the defendant’s negligence was egregious or they caused the injuries through an intentional act.
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What to Do if You or a Loved One has Sustained Catastrophic Injuries
In catastrophic injury cases, a third party often has to act on behalf of the plaintiff. It wouldn’t be possible for someone with a severe spinal cord injury or a traumatic brain injury to file claims or call attorneys. Insurance adjusters will often use an accident victim’s dire circumstances to get them to take a fast settlement. However, this would be an enormous mistake if you have a catastrophic injury.
There’s simply no way to know how long your recovery or the recovery of a loved one will be without a careful case analysis by medical experts. And if you accept a settlement, you will have to sign away your right to recover compensation in the future.
Our Jacksonville catastrophic injury lawyers can pursue your claim while you work on your recovery or assist your loved one in their recovery.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Personal Injury Claims
At the Jacksonville, FL Fasig | Brooks Law Offices, our catastrophic injury attorneys handle a wide range of personal injury accident cases, including catastrophic injury claims. These questions represent some of the most common questions we hear from our Jacksonville, FL clients.
Is it worth hiring a personal injury attorney?
Yes. A personal injury lawyer is essential if you want to receive the full amount you’re entitled to. The lawyers who represent insurance companies are dedicated to minimizing payments. Like our catastrophic injury attorneys, these insurance defense lawyers have extensive experience with these types of cases. In other words, they can make formidable adversaries if you don’t have the proper representation.
How much does a personal injury lawyer charge?
Although catastrophic injury lawyers typically don’t accept payment until the case is over, they do receive compensation. In Florida, the contingency fee schedule is regulated by the state bar association. Attorney fees for a catastrophic injury case in the state of Florida are as follows:
- 33⅓ percent for a recovery of up to $1 million if the case settles before “the filing of an answer or demand for appointment of arbitrators or if you settle before the time for filing the answer or demanding appointment of arbitrators expires.” 40 percent if it occurs after.
- 30 percent for any amount between $1 million and two million.
- 20 percent for any amount above $2 million.
For example, if you suffered a spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle accident that settles for $5 million before filing, your attorney would collect $333,333 for the first million, $300,000 for the second million, and $600,000 for the remaining 3 million for a total of $1,233,333.
If the defendant admits liability but doesn’t agree on the amount, the numbers change:
- 33⅓ percent for a recovery of up to $1 million.
- 20 percent for any amount between $1 million and two million.
- 15 percent for any amount above $2 million.
While these percentages may seem significant, it’s important to remember that settlement amounts tend to be much higher in catastrophic injury cases when the client is properly represented.
What types of cases do personal injury attorneys take?
Our Jacksonville, FL attorneys represent clients who have been injured due to:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Slip and Falls
- Medical issues from malpractice
- Negligent security
- Dog bites
- Product defects
- Mass transit and aviation accidents
This is by no means an exhaustive list. If you have sustained a catastrophic injury, contact our Jacksonville, FL law office today.
Work With a Jacksonville, FL Attorney Who Can Fight for Your Personal Injury Rights
If you are the victim of an accident that led to a severe injury, you are entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and more. Our attorneys will represent you on a contingency basis, which means that you will not have to pay out of pocket, and all of our consultations are free.
Contact Fasig | Brooks in Jacksonville, FL for diligent and immediate representation.
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