A life-changing injury, also called a catastrophic injury, is any injury that is so serious that it results in some form of permanent disability, long-term health problem, or a reduction in the individual’s life expectancy. These injuries impact your daily life and may affect your ability to walk, talk, hear, and see. It often prevents you from returning to your job, continuing your education, or doing things you used to do before the injury. Furthermore, life-changing injuries often require intense, ongoing medical care.
Sugar Land Texas attorney, Adam Capetillo is a leading personal injury lawyer serving the Sugar Land area and Fort Bend County. He is familiar with this type of injury and is prepared to help you or a loved one get the compensation needed to address the current and future financial burdens.
The Most Common Life-Changing Injuries
There are various types of life-changing injuries. Five of the most common life-changing injuries in Sugar Land are listed below.
1. Traumatic Brain Injuries. The CDC defines traumatic brain injuries as a sudden bump, blow, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts normal brain function. Although some brain injuries are mild, others can be life-changing.
If you experience a severe brain injury, you could suffer long-term symptoms such as memory loss, motor loss, balance problems, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, vision loss, and changes in your personality. Individuals with severe traumatic brain injuries may need extensive physical and occupational therapy.
2. Spinal Injuries. A spinal cord injury refers to damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal. They are often the result of an impact on the back, neck, or shoulders. There are two types of spinal cord injury—complete and incomplete. A complete injury means all feelings and the ability to control movement are lost below the spinal cord injury.
If your spinal cord is fully severed, you may never regain motor function and be required to rely on mobility assistance, physical therapy, and medical care to cope with your condition.
3. Amputation. Amputations can be surgical or traumatic. In surgical amputation, a doctor removes the limb because of a medical condition, like infection, cancer, or tissue damage. A traumatic amputation occurs when an accident severs a person’s limb. Either type of amputation is devastating and leads to permanent disability. Furthermore, individuals who have lost a limb are at risk for anxiety, depression, isolation, and suicide.
4. Loss of Sight or Hearing. Losing your vision or hearing as a result of a catastrophic injury is an extremely frightening experience. Many patients who suffer a life-changing injury that resulted in hearing or vision loss will experience chronic pain. Some common causes of vision or hearing loss include blunt head trauma, traumatic brain injuries, motor vehicle accidents, blast injuries, and surgery malpractice.
5. Burn Injuries. Serious burn injuries can impact a person’s muscles, tendons, nerves, and deep tissue. They usually require skin grafts and plastic surgery. Burns can result in permanent disfigurement, which can lead to depression and other mental health issues. Additionally, burn victims are at high risk for secondary health concerns, such as infection, organ failure, and pneumonia.
What Type of Accidents Lead to Life-Changing Injuries in Sugar Land?
The causes of a life-changing injury are numerous. However, the most common causes of catastrophic injuries in Sugar Land include:
• Car accidents,
• Work accidents,
• Slip and falls,
• Medical malpractice,
• Sports accidents, and
• Assaults.
What Should I Do If I Have Suffered a Life-Changing Injury in Sugar Land?
If you have suffered a life-changing injury, it is critical to reaching out to experienced Sugar Land personal injury attorney, Adam Capetillo. If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you may be entitled to damages. These types of injuries often result in constant medical expenses and affect your ability to return to work, so you and your family lose that source of income.
If you work with a qualified attorney, you can ensure that you receive the maximum compensation available, including damages for loss of past and future earnings and past and future medical expenses, and pain and suffering. A good attorney will make sure you do not jeopardize your future by agreeing to a low settlement amount offered by the insurance company or the party who caused the accident that led to your life-altering injury.
Your attorney will investigate your case, calculate the amount to request, and negotiate with the insurance company and other responsible parties. If necessary, your lawyer will take your case to trial and aggressively fight on your behalf.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit for Catastrophic Injuries in Sugar Land?
In general, you must file your catastrophic injury claim within two years of the accident. If you miss the statute of limitations, your case will be disqualified, regardless of the strength of your claim. So do not wait – talk with Adam Capetillo and find out what your rights are.
Your Sugar Land Personal Injury Attorney
Adam Capetillo is an experienced Sugar Land attorney passionate about protecting the rights of his clients. If you have suffered a life-changing injury, we encourage you to call our office today at (346) 249-5544 to schedule a free consultation.