Personal injury lawyers use the term “catastrophic injuries” to describe injuries that have had a catastrophic impact on the claimant’s life, such as a brain injury, a serious spinal injury like quadriplegia or paraplegia, or amputation.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, it is important that you engage a personal injury lawyer who has expertise in handling catastrophic injury claims to ensure that all of the consequences, both now, and for the future, are properly investigated and considered when assessing your compensation entitlements.
The catastrophic injury claims which our senior personal injury lawyers have successfully resolved include:
- Multiple birth injury claims;
- Multiple cerebral palsy claims;
- Motorbike accidents resulting in amputation of the lower leg;
- Motorbike accident resulting in paraplegia;
- Diving accident in the Murray River resulting in quadriplegia;
- Multiple brain injury claims, suffered by drivers, passengers in motor vehicles, cyclists and motorbike riders;
- Amputation of the lower leg due to mismanagement of hospital infection;
In addition to compensation for the usual categories of compensation described in ‘What are the types of compensation’ under FAQs, in catastrophic injury cases, we also give consideration to matters such as:
- the need for housing modifications to improve both the comfort and independence of our clients, or if modifications to an existing property are not feasible, purchase of a new home or construction of a purpose built home;
- assistive technology in the home to assist with controlling temperature, security, opening and closing doors and windows etc;
- a modified vehicle, to enable our clients to still be able to drive, if possible, or alternatively a vehicle upgrade to something larger so as to accommodate wheelchairs and equipment;
- the need for assistance or special arrangements on holidays. Sometimes this involves the cost of a carer accompanying our client on holidays. Sometimes our clients are no longer capable of travelling in economy class and the increased cost of business class fares can be claimed;
- the need for a Case Manager to co-ordinate carers and assist our clients with interactions with health providers, disability service providers and the like.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
