If you have been injured because of someone else's negligence, you need Guster Law Firm on your team.
Birmingham Catastrophic Injury Attorney
Fighting For Catastrophic injury Victims in Alabama Since 2002
Catastrophic injuries can be life-altering for individuals and their families. Injuries such as brain damage, paralysis, severe burns, loss of vision, or loss of limbs can seriously affect a financial future. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident, you may be able to pursue compensation for your damages and losses. Hiring a Birmingham accident lawyer who is experienced in catastrophic injury cases is essential.
What is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is a personal injury that is long-term or permanent. The American Medical Association has defined a catastrophic injury as one which causes severe damage to the brain, spine, or spinal cord. This may also include fractures to the skull or spine. The injuries can keep victims from performing work to support themselves or their families.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries
- Spinal cord injuries are injuries resulting in paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia). These injuries may require medical procedures, long-term care, and accommodation such as ramps and lifts in a person's car or house as well as in-home care needs.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are injuries to the head that can cause brain damage resulting in loss of speech, hearing and vision issues, problems with motor skills, and memory problems. People who suffer TBI often need long-term rehabilitation to relearn basic functions. Unfortunately, some TBI are serious enough that victims never fully recover.
- Severe Burn Injuries can create long-term damages. While most burn injuries are not fatal, they can cause serious pain and health complications such as facial scarring and loss of limbs. These disfiguring injuries often make painful surgeries and skin grafts necessary. The scarring can cause negative psychological consequences for burn victims.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Various types of accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. The most common ones include:
- Automobile Accidents: Automobile accidents are the number one cause of spinal injuries. In 2014 they resulted in 2,402 injuries in women and 7,205 injuries in men nationwide.
- Motorcycle Accidents: Although there are far fewer motorcyclists on the road than car drivers, they are at a greater risk of catastrophic injury because they do not have the external protection that vehicle drivers have.
- Bicycle Accidents: Bicycle accidents can cause severe trauma, particularly when the cyclist is involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. This is why it is important to always wear a helmet.
- Pedestrian Injuries: We are all aware that distracted drivers and drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol put pedestrians at risk, but you may be surprised to know that pedestrians often put themselves at risk when distracted by their phone or other device.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: You can suffer a fall no matter what your age or agility. A fall may occur in the workplace, as a result of a medical event, such as fainting, or simply due to misnavigation.
- Diving and Swimming Pool Injuries: A cervical spine injury is the most common catastrophic injury caused by diving into a swimming pool.
- Gunshot Wound Trauma: Every year, thousands of Americans suffer gunshot wounds. While not all gunshot wounds are fatal, many can cause a catastrophic injury.
- Injuries from Falling Objects: It’s not uncommon to be injured by a falling object while you are at work, particularly if you work in a dangerous environment such as a construction site.
- Medical and Surgical Complications: Medical errors, surgical complications, such as infection, and incorrect post-surgical care can result in catastrophic injuries.
- Contact Sports and Physical Altercations: In most cases this type of catastrophic injury involves an altercation with another individual, though it may also be a result of playing contact sports.
How Much Can I Expect from a Lawsuit?
In Alabama, there are no limits on compensation for personal catastrophic injury cases against private individuals. Your ability to recover compensation may be limited if you have contributory negligence. If a judge decides you have contributory negligence, then your compensation can be smaller or be denied entirely. In the example of the homeowner who leaves the pool gate open and the intoxicated guest, a judge or jury may decide the guest was 25% responsible for contributory negligence and give the guest a lower settlement.
There are also limits to personal injury cases in Alabama if the defendant is a municipality such as a city, town, or county. The limitation in these situations is $100,000.
Additional Information
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Eric Guster is an exceptionally professional and skilled attorney. He is motivated to resolve the issue at hand and is also a wonderful person.- Stacey L.
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Eric is an extremely smart and sought after attorney. He always takes the time out to answer whatever legal questions I have. I would recommend him to anyone that asks me who would represent them well.- Former Client
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Attorney Eric Guster and his staff are some amazing and compassionate people. Thanks for having patience. I well highly recommend Guster Law Firm.- Sujeyya O.
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I highly recommend Guster Law Firm to anyone in search of a highly dedicated, community invested attorney group.- M K Scott
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Whenever I have needed legal advice, I have contacted this firm for an official consultation. The attorneys always provided sound advice, sharing the pros and cons of the matter so that decision making or acting taking could occur.- Taneisha Y.
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Very personable, professional and proficient attorneys!- April
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Eric Guster and his team are some of the best attorneys in Birmingham. Mr. Guster and his team are knowledgeable, caring, and respected by other lawyers and the courts.- Falen C.
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Excellent Law Firm, with fearless legal representation from Lawyers such as Eric Guster and Michael Marable. I highly recommend them!!- Ves
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Mr. Guster and his staff are some of the most compassionate and capable professionals I’ve ever met. We saw them at one of our worst times and they were competent, caring, and reassuring.- Olivia K.
When you or a loved one has been injured by someone else's negligence, you need Alabama's Premier Personal Injury Law Firm on your side.