St. Amant Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Catastrophic Injury Attorney In St. Amant, LA

A St. Amant catastrophic injury lawyer represents people who have suffered life-changing injuries as a result of serious accidents or negligence. Catastrophic injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, or amputations.

Legal matters involving catastrophic injuries can be complex and often involve important long-term financial issues associated with ongoing medical treatment and the loss of future earning capacity. Injured people who are Livingston Parish residents and need legal advice and guidance with the civil justice process after catastrophic injuries should contact the law firm of Gauthier Amedee.

Hire a St. Amant Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Gauthier Amedee’s catastrophic injury lawyers have represented people with serious permanent injuries throughout Livingston Parish. Catastrophic injury cases typically involve a more detailed review of medical records, reports of the accident causing the injury, and a person’s future long-term care and treatment needs.

The legal work performed by Gauthier Amedee may involve evaluating liability, medical record collection and review, causation opinions, and insurance issues.

Characteristics of Catastrophic Injuries

Serious injury litigation experience means that Gauthier Amedee is prepared to carefully handle the unique facts and needs of catastrophic injury cases. Injuries that are life-changing can have important long-term and lifelong consequences for people who have been injured. An attorney with experience in catastrophic injuries understands and plans for the long-term consequences of severe injuries to their clients and their families.

Catastrophic injuries are characterized by their severity and long-term impact on a person’s health and quality of life. These injuries often result in permanent disability, ongoing medical care, or a significant change in a person’s ability to function in their daily life. The key characteristic is the lasting effect the injury has on the individual. Some common types of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries that affect a person’s cognitive or physical abilities
• Spinal cord injuries that result in partial or full paralysis
• Severe burns that require extensive medical treatment or reconstructive care
• Loss of limb or permanent loss of function of a body part
• Injuries that cause permanent organ damage or loss of sensory function

In 2023, there were 222,698 unintentional injury deaths in the U.S., which shows just how often injuries become deadly. Pursuing a civil claim after a catastrophic injury can also bring attention to unsafe practices and conditions, which may lead to changes that help reduce the risk of similar injuries or deaths in the future.

Medical Documentation for Catastrophic Injuries in Livingston Parish

Medical records are often relied on for both short- and long-term requirements, including those related to emergency treatment notes, operative reports, imaging, and physician assessments. Treatment plans and records of rehabilitative efforts are often used to document how a catastrophic injury impacts mobility, cognition, or activities of daily living.

Long-term care considerations are often relevant, as well, including physical therapy, assistive devices, home modifications, or ongoing medical supervision. Assessments of future requirements are generally supported by medical opinions concerning permanency and future expectations.

Common Accidents Leading to Catastrophic Injuries in Livingston Parish

Accidents that lead to catastrophic injuries are often associated with high speeds, heavy equipment, or unreasonably unsafe conditions. Major collisions on thoroughfares like I-12, Highway 16, or Highway 22 are often the source of significant bodily harm. Industrial accidents and other construction or job site-related incidents can also occur in local commercial areas or at active job sites.

Slips, trips, or falls from elevated platforms, mechanical or electrical failures, and other forms of unsafe premises may also lead to permanent injury. One in 10 falls leads to an injury that causes the older adult to restrict their activities for a day or more or to seek medical attention.

Ascertaining liability in these cases typically involves crash reports, workplace safety or environmental data, equipment maintenance records, and the testimony of other witnesses that can address what happened and what factors played a role in the accident.

FAQs

Do Catastrophic Injuries Get Higher Compensation in Personal Injury Cases?

Catastrophic injuries don’t necessarily get higher compensation in personal injury cases. The primary difference between the two is that a catastrophic injury often results in long-term impairment or functional limitations as opposed to a serious injury that can heal over time.

As a result of this long-term impact, catastrophic injuries may have longer treatment and rehabilitation periods than other types of personal injury claims, and future planning is also part of the equation.

What’s the Difference Between a Serious and Catastrophic Injury?

The main difference between a catastrophic injury and a serious injury is the duration and permanency of the injury. Catastrophic injuries tend to have long-lasting effects and can include permanent injuries, whereas serious injuries can heal over time. As a result of this long-term impact, catastrophic injuries may have longer treatment and rehabilitation periods than other types of personal injury claims, and future planning is also part of the equation.

Can Catastrophic Injuries Be Subject to Future Medical Needs?

Catastrophic injury claims can and do include consideration of future medical needs. This may include future treatment, rehabilitation services, assistive devices, or long-term care needs. When addressing future needs, a review of medical records and treatment plans is often conducted to determine how the injuries are expected to impact the individual moving forward. This can be a distinguishing factor when comparing catastrophic injuries to other types of injury claims.

Are Catastrophic Injuries Heard in City or Parish Courts?

Catastrophic injury claims are heard in the court system that has jurisdiction over the location of the incident or the parties involved. In the case of residents in St. Amant, these claims would typically fall under the jurisdiction of the Livingston Parish civil court system. Procedural rules and court schedules specific to that jurisdiction would apply to how the case moves forward once filed.

Contact a St. Amant Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Catastrophic injury cases present a host of long-term medical, financial, and legal issues that survivors and families must understand. Reviewing medical records, ongoing care needs, and incident circumstances requires the experience of a St. Amant catastrophic injury lawyer.

When you hire a catastrophic injury lawyer from Gauthier Amedee, our firm can guide you through the process. Our firm represents clients in St. Amant and throughout Livingston Parish in these types of cases, and a consultation can help clients become informed about documentation needs, procedures, and timing. Contact our office today.