Personal Injury

Damages in a medical malpractice or personal injury case include costs that are sustained or will be acquired in the future, such as medical expenses and lost income. Other damages include compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress or loss in quality of life. When a case involves a catastrophic injury, all of these damages are much higher and longer-lasting, making these the most expensive cases for an insurance company to pay. Because of that, they are likely to fight harder against being held liable. They are more likely to claim the injury victim was partially at fault, or that the injuries and damages aren’t as severe as the victim is making them out to be. They might also be more likely to quickly make a low settlement offer before the victim has spoken to an attorney. They do all of these things with much greater intensity than other cases where the stakes are not so high.

It is at times like these that it is especially important to bring on board a team of skilled and experienced medical malpractice or personal injury attorneys to represent you. MichieHamlett has been fighting for injury victims in Virginia for more than 75 years and has achieved major successes along the way, setting records for the number and size of verdicts obtained by Virginia injury law firms. When you or a family member have suffered an injury, your compensation needs will be significant for the near-term and times to come. Call MichieHamlett for zealous representation geared to making sure you are cared for and compensated to the full extent of your needs.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is defined in different ways by different people or groups. A doctor might define a catastrophic injury as one that causes serious injury to the head, neck, spine, brain or spinal cord. A legal expert might define a catastrophic injury as one that results in permanent disability, is permanently life-changing, or requires a lifetime of additional care and challenges. The average person might define a catastrophic injury as a terrible injury that is severe and painful as a consequence of a horrific accident, such as a violent car crash or negligent surgical mistake. However it is defined, the important thing to know in a personal injury claim is that a catastrophic injury will be very expensive, and insurance companies will fight hard to keep from paying all that they should. An experienced personal injury plaintiff’s lawyer can help make sure you or your family member gets the care and compensation they need after suffering a catastrophic injury at the hands of another. The Virginia injury lawyers at MichieHamlett are experienced across the spectrum of catastrophic injuries and can help with any of the following:

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be short-term or permanent. It can happen from a blow to the head (blunt force trauma), such as in a car or truck accident when the victim’s head impacts the interior of the vehicle or an object or road surface outside the vehicle. TBI can also result from a rapid or violent shaking of the head that tears blood vessels, nerves or connective tissue inside the skull or causes the brain to impact the inside of the skull. This type of TBI can also occur in a car or truck accident, such as a rear-end collision or head-on collision causing whiplash or acceleration-deceleration injury. Finally, TBI can result from oxygen deprivation due to medical malpractice, such as a prolonged surgery, anesthesia error, or birth injury where delivery takes an unreasonably long time to complete.

TBI can affect a person’s memory, mood or personality. TBI can cause significant deficits in speaking, motor function and cognition, requiring months or years of occupational therapy to relearn or regain lost skills. TBI can also cause coma, death or a persistent vegetative state.

Spinal Injury

An injury to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis to the area of the body controlled by all the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord below the point of injury. Injuries may include loss of feeling and motor function, loss of bowel or bladder control, loss of sexual function, paraplegia or quadriplegia (tetraplegia). Injuries get more serious and extensive when they occur higher up on the spine. Neck injuries to the cervical spine can be life-threatening, and victims might need artificial respiration and mechanical assistance with vital functions such as eating and swallowing.

Spinal cord injuries occur in high-impact car or truck accidents, including where the seatback collapses due to a product defect in the automobile. Spinal injuries can also occur due to surgical errors, birth injuries and other forms of medical malpractice.

Amputation

The loss of a limb can present a lifetime of challenges adapting to life without the limb as well as the prospect of medical complications such as infections or falls. Amputations can occur in car and truck accidents or as a life-saving measure following a crash. They may also stem from medical malpractice such as a post-operative infection or wrong-site surgery.

Fractures

Compound fractures can be challenging to heal properly and require expert skill and medical care. Victims of broken bones risk serious infections including osteomyelitis. Skull fractures and neck or back fractures may require extensive medical care to stabilize critical areas.

Burns

Burn victims are at risk of shock, sepsis and death following a severe burn injury. Treatment for a severe burn may include multiple surgeries and skin grafts over a period of years. Even with the best of care, burn victims might still have to live with scarring, disfigurement, loss in mobility or limb function, organ damage and nerve damage.

How Can MichieHamlett Help With Personal Injury Cases?

We take a comprehensive look at the lifetime of additional costs and challenges a catastrophic injury victim might be facing, including years of medical care and rehabilitation, nursing care in an inpatient facility, as an outpatient or with a home health aide, modifications required to the home or vehicle, and the pain, emotional trauma and loss of quality of life. We engage with experts as necessary to develop a complete life care plan that takes all of these costs into account for a full and fair settlement or jury verdict. We also put in the time and effort necessary to build a strong case that proves the defendant’s liability and pushes back against any allegations of contributory negligence that could defeat the victim’s claim for compensation.

Call for Help After an Injury in Virginia

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in a Virginia car or truck accident or because of medical malpractice in a Virginia hospital, get the care and compensation you need by calling MichieHamlett at 434-951-7200. Our dedicated Virginia personal injury attorneys are devoted to helping accident victims recover to the fullest extent.