Recovery From Catastrophic Injuries In Jacksonville And Your Rights In Filing A Claim

Personal injuries can happen for a variety of reasons, but negligence on the part of others is often ultimately to blame. It is important for victims and their families to be aware that the at-fault party can be accountable for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages suffered as a result. Our Jacksonville personal injury attorney explains more about catastrophic injuries and your rights in filing a claim.

How Catastrophic Injuries Happen

Under Section 960.03 of the Florida Statutes, catastrophic injuries are those that leave victims suffering permanent impairments. Second or third-degree burns, amputations, and serious head or spinal cord injuries are among those that can cause catastrophic harm. They can have major impacts on your health, resulting in long-term disabilities and potentially hastening an otherwise untimely death. Meanwhile, they prevent victims from working, engaging in their favorite activities, and performing simple household or personal tasks.

Catastrophic personal injuries typically happen due to the negligence of others involved. This means the at-fault party either took actions that put others at risk or failed to take reasonable safety precautions. Common causes of catastrophic injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents, impacting drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians;
• Recreation accidents, such as swimming or drowning injuries and those that occur while engaging in sports or other activities;
• Slips and falls, or other accidents that occur due to negligence on the part of property owners;
• Accidents due to dangerous or defective products, for which manufacturers or distributors may be held accountable.

Your Rights In Filing A Personal Injury Claim

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accidental injuries are a leading cause of death and disability, impacting more than 24 million people each year. When these cause catastrophic injuries, it can leave victims and their families facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses and other costs.

The at-fault party in these cases can be held accountable in a claim. Insurance policies they have in place may offset financial losses. If insurance fails to cover your costs, you have the right to take them to court. In cases of catastrophic injuries in Jacksonville or Georgia, compensation available in a personal injury lawsuit includes:

• Current and future medical expenses, including at-home nursing care;
• The cost of wheelchairs or other medical devices and modifications to your home;
• Lost income and future losses in wages or benefits the victim would otherwise have earned;
• Additional amounts designed to compensate victims for pain, suffering, and lost enjoyment in life, as well as for any scarring or disfigurement. 

Get The Comprehensive Legal Service You Need From Our Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney 

At Gillette Law, P.A., our Jacksonville personal injury attorney provides caring support and comprehensive legal service to victims of catastrophic injuries and their families. We serve clients throughout Duval County and in Brunswick, Georgia. To protect your rights to compensation, reach out and call or contact our office online and request a consultation today.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0900-0999/0960/Sections/0960.03.html

cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm