St James Parish Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Catastrophic injuries can require years of medical care, treatment, and recovery, often with permanent effects on a person’s life. When these injuries are the result of the misconduct or negligence of another party, the financial losses of medical care and other damages could be recovered. A St. James Parish catastrophic injury lawyer can help injured individuals navigate these claims and accurately assess the significant damages from these injuries.

Catastrophic Injury Attorneys in St James Parish LA

It is not easy to physically or financially recover from a catastrophic injury. Medical expenses for these injuries can be substantial, and they often require other costs like long-term at-home care, replacement services, physical therapy, mobility aids, and medical devices. These costs are even more daunting when your income is limited or nonexistent. At Gauthier Amedee, we want to help you hold negligent parties accountable and recover the damages you are entitled to.

Our attorneys have more than 40 years of combined legal experience in personal injury law. We can help you navigate these complex cases, managing the investigation and negotiation so that you can recover. Our goal is to mitigate the stress you are dealing with and fight for your justice.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A personal injury is considered catastrophic when it leads to long-term effects, including permanently affecting essential parts of the body or causing disability. These injuries are life-altering, impacting someone’s daily life and preventing them from completing gainful employment.

When making a claim for a catastrophic injury, the damages are usually much more significant than those in the average personal injury claim. These injuries have wide-reaching and long-term effects, both financially and psychologically, that have to be considered when filing a claim. Some common catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and other brain damage, which can cause memory loss, personality changes, difficulty with concentration, and limited motor function
• Spinal cord injuries, which can lead to nerve damage, muscle weakness, numbness, and partial or total paralysis
• Limb loss and amputation, which can permanently affect a person’s daily life
• Severe burns, which can cause nerve damage, permanent disfigurement, serious pain, and infection
• Internal organ or tissue damage that impacts the function of bodily systems

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment is crucial after a catastrophic injury to protect your own health and safety. Often, victims in accidents with catastrophic injuries will be taken immediately to get emergency medical treatment. Hospitals and medical facilities near Baton Rouge include:

• James Parish Hospital & ER – 1645 Lutcher Avenue, Lutcher, LA 70071
• James Urgent Care (Medical Plaza) – 1645 Lutcher Avenue, Lutcher, LA 70071
• Lutcher Family Clinic & Poche Medical Clinic – Suite 1400, 1645 Lutcher Avenue, Lutcher, LA 70071
• James West Bank Clinic – 21420 Louisiana Hwy. 20, Vacherie, LA 70090

Medical care is also important in providing documentation of the injuries and their cause.

What Causes Catastrophic Injuries?

There are many potential causes of catastrophic injuries, and not all of them will result in the basis for a personal injury claim or other claim for compensation. When the carelessness of a person or entity causes your injuries, this may mean you have the grounds for a catastrophic injury civil claim. Some of the most common accidents that result in these claims include:

• Motor vehicle accidents. While many motor vehicle accidents lead to minor injuries or only property damage, some can cause devastating injuries. There were 5,609 suspected injuries in vehicle accidents in Baton Rouge and 7,972 suspected injuries in East Baton Rouge Parish. Of the suspected injuries in the parish, 341 crashes involved suspected serious injuries.

  Vehicle collisions can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and crushing injuries that require amputation. Some accident types are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries than others. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists who are in collisions with other vehicles have a much higher risk of catastrophic injuries and death.

  Collisions that involve commercial motor vehicles may cause pile-ups and severe injuries to many people. The damages caused by these accidents could be recovered in a car insurance claim against the at-fault driver.

• Medical malpractice. When you undergo surgery or receive a diagnosis from your medical provider, you put a lot of trust in their ability to provide you with a professional level of care. Medical professionals who fail to uphold this duty of care can cause severe harm. They may fill a prescription incorrectly, make an error during surgery, or fail to diagnose you properly despite clear symptoms.

  These errors can sometimes lead to catastrophic injuries. In a medical malpractice claim, injured patients can file against providers or facilities that acted negligently to recover their damages.

• Nursing home abuse. Neglect and active abuse committed against residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can lead to catastrophic injuries. Physical abuse and sexual abuse can lead to injuries, diseases, and disability. These care facilities and employees committing these actions should be held liable.

• Workplace accidents. Catastrophic injuries are especially likely in maritime work, chemical processing plants, refineries, offshore platforms, construction, lumber work, and other industrial worksites. These injuries are more likely when employers are careless with work safety and fail to ensure safety protocols, protective gear, training, machinery maintenance, and other important measures.

  Catastrophic workplace injuries can be caused by falls, toxic exposure, fires, explosions, caught-between accidents, and vehicle accidents. Claims for damages could be addressed in a workers’ compensation claim or a civil personal injury claim.

  There were 208 severe injury reports made by Louisiana workplaces in 2023. 195 workers were hospitalized because of these severe injuries, and 38 workers had amputations. The top two events that led to these injuries were heat exposure and falls to a lower level.

  There are many other potential accidents or offenses that could lead to catastrophic injuries, such as violent crimes, hazardous premises accidents, or unreasonably dangerous products. You should find an attorney who has relevant experience in the type of accident and injuries you are dealing with.

Contact Gauthier Amedee Today for Experienced Legal Representation

Insurance companies do not operate fairly, even when you have a valid claim and significant injuries. When you are filing an insurance claim or a civil claim for damages, you need a dedicated attorney to protect your interests and deal with insurance companies. Schedule a consultation with Gauthier Amedee today and learn how we can help if you or someone you love was catastrophically injured by another’s negligence.