Did you sustain a catastrophic and life-altering injury in Oceanside, CA? If your injuries were caused by someone else’s wrongdoing, recklessness, or careless acts, you may deserve compensation.
Our experienced Oceanside catastrophic injury lawyers at Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for compensation to pay medical bills, cover lost wages, and compensate for your pain and suffering.
With over 20 years of experience, we have the skills to handle even the most complex personal injury cases. We’ve already helped our injured clients in San Diego County recover over $40 million.
If you or a loved one were seriously injured, don’t let the at-fault party off the hook. Contact our law offices in Oceanside, California. You can call (619) 344-0360 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Oceanside, CA
Money might be the last thing on your mind after suffering a catastrophic injury. In the immediate aftermath of a devastating injury, your family deserves time to focus on the victim’s physical health.
Unfortunately, the cost of treating catastrophic injuries is often staggering. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed and even panicked. Contacting an experienced Oceanside personal injury lawyer is the best thing you can do to protect yourself.
At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped countless families like yours get through tough times. We’re ready to stand up and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Hire us, and you can count on an attorney who will:
- Evaluate all legal avenues for recovering compensation
- Determine who caused your injuries
- Collect all evidence and hire experts to strengthen your case
- Work with specialists in various fields to calculate your case value
- Protect you if you’re getting blamed
- Negotiate fiercely for a full settlement
Our Oceanside personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. There’s no charge unless we recover compensation for you. To get started, give us a call today.
Overview of Catastrophic Injuries
While there is no universal definition of “catastrophic injury,” these are the types of injuries that will fundamentally change the victim’s life. Victims of catastrophic injuries often suffer significant pain and long-term disabilities. Most people who suffer catastrophic injuries find themselves completely unable to work and earn a living.
Of course, every victim responds differently to a serious injury. One thing tends to stay the same: catastrophic injuries are extremely difficult to treat.
Personal injury cases involving catastrophic injuries also tend to take longer to settle. Doctors need time to evaluate the potential future impact of these injuries. It can also take a significant amount of time before the victim reaches maximum medical improvement.
These and other factors make hiring an experienced lawyer particularly important.
Our Oceanside Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Handle All Types of Catastrophic Injury Claims
Many different types of injury can be classified as catastrophic if they’re severe enough.
Examples of injuries that most often produce catastrophic results include:
- Severe traumatic brain injuries
- Chest and thoracic injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, which can lead to paralysis
- Severe burns
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Blindness
- Significant hearing loss
- Internal bleeding
- Multiple broken bones
- Severe crushing injuries
- Loss of speech or serious speech impairment
At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of serious injury claims. If you were injured, contact our personal injury law firm in Oceanside to learn more about this area of law.
What Are Some Long-Term Consequences Experienced by Catastrophic Injury Victims?
Injuries are classified as “catastrophic” when they are likely to cause serious long-term damage. Of course, the nature of the potential long-term consequences will vary widely depending on the nature of the injury itself.
Some significant long-term consequences include:
- Cognitive disabilities
- Loss of mobility
- Personality changes
- Inability to safely live independently
- Loss of the ability to perform any gainful work
- Chronic pain
- Reduced life expectancy
- A need for nursing care in a long-term care facility
- Lifelong dependency on pain medications
- Ancillary medical conditions, including infections and blood clots
- Severe depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Loss of fertility
- Damage to personal relationships
- Sepsis
- Coma
- Wrongful death
Catastrophic injuries can also dramatically impact the victim’s family. Family members may be forced to quit work and act as caregivers. The victim could also lose the ability to meaningfully participate in child-raising, impacting both parent and child.
At Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re highly aware of the serious damage catastrophic injuries can cause. You can count on us to carefully evaluate all of the financial and personal losses caused by your injuries. By working closely with victims, their families, doctors, and other experts, we’ll gather the evidence to build the strongest claim for compensation possible.
What Causes Most Catastrophic Injuries in Oceanside?
Any type of severe trauma can cause devastating injuries.
Some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including car crashes, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, and bus accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Slip and fall accidents
- Gun violence and intentional assault
- Sexual assault
- Construction site accidents
- Defective products
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Dangerous property conditions (premises liability)
- Negligent security
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
In the aftermath of a catastrophic injury, it’s critical to focus on your physical recovery. However, keep in mind that our lawyers in Oceanside can get to work immediately. Victims of catastrophic injuries often retain legal counsel while they’re still undergoing medical treatment. That way, your lawyers can work on gathering the strongest evidence possible.
What is My Oceanside Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?
There are multiple factors that can impact the value of your personal injury case. While some personal injury claims are worth a few thousand dollars, others might be worth millions.
As a general rule, severe and catastrophic injuries will result in the highest settlements and verdicts–because, in the end, catastrophic injuries can potentially impact every aspect of your life. That said, the insurance company won’t simply hand over a fair check because your injuries were serious. You’ll have to prove your case value.
Though all cases are different, the following factors are relevant in almost every case:
- The cost of your medical care
- The value of your lost wages
- The overall severity of your injuries and your prognosis
- Whether your doctor recommends ongoing care and rehabilitation
- Whether you will need assistance with basic activities of daily living
- How the injury impacts your quality of life and your ability to enjoy life
- Your physical pain and emotional trauma
- The circumstances of the injury
- Whether you share any blame for the injury
As a catastrophic injury victim, the insurance company knows that the stakes are high. They’ll fight even harder to avoid paying a full settlement.
Our lawyers in Oceanside understand the games insurance adjusters play. They often play on victims’ emotions and exploit their need for cash. Without experienced legal representation, that can lead to a situation where you accept far less than you deserve.
What Compensation Can I Recover for My Catastrophic Injuries in Oceanside, California?
You’re entitled to seek compensation for the full value of your past and anticipated future financial costs.
These economic damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Nursing care
- Long-term care
- Medications and medical devices
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitative care
- Long-term care
- Property damage
In catastrophic injury cases, victims and their families often suffer severe emotional trauma. That trauma doesn’t go away once the victim reaches maximum medical improvement. Many families struggle for years.
You also deserve compensation for your non-economic damages, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Depression
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Anger and frustration
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of your independence
- Loss of consortium
Some catastrophic injuries eventually result in death. If you’ve lost a loved one, our wrongful death attorneys in Oceanside are here to fight for every penny you deserve.
Will I Lose My Right to Compensation if I Share Some Blame for My Own Injuries in California?
Personal injury claims can be messy. Multiple parties may share blame for the same injury–including the victim.
Because California follows a pure comparative negligence law, you can recover partial compensation even if you share some fault. However, your settlement or verdict will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
How Long Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in California?
A two-year statute of limitations applies in most California personal injury cases. Once the second anniversary of your injury passes, you lose your right to compensation. That’s true even in cases involving the most serious injuries imaginable.
You could have more or less time, depending on the facts. To protect yourself, it’s always important to speak with a lawyer sooner rather than later.
Contact an Oceanside Catastrophic Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Catastrophic injuries can fundamentally change a person’s life. They also often happen in an instant. If you’re wondering where to turn for help, contact Petrov Personal Injury Lawyers today. We offer free consultations, so there’s no risk in consulting an experienced Oceanside catastrophic injury attorney for help today.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Oceanside, CA
702 Civic Center Dr. Suite 105,
Oceanside, CA 92054
(619) 678-1016