Suffering a catastrophic injury can be a life-altering experience. Attempting to recover from an injury of this nature is often a long and challenging process. If you sustained a catastrophic injury due to the negligence or purposeful actions of another party, you may be able to collect compensation to help with the associated expenses.
At White Law PLLC, we have a long history of securing favorable compensation for our clients after a catastrophic injury. Our team of catastrophic injury lawyers serving Lansing can help you get the money you need through a settlement deal or a court-ordered payout. Give us a call or fill out the contact form on this website to schedule a free consultation today.
What a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Can Do for You
After sustaining a catastrophic injury, attempting to recover compensation on your own can be difficult. Fortunately, you can get help from an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer in Lansing, MI. After you hire an attorney, one of the first steps they will take in your case will be to investigate the accident that caused your injury.
The aim of this inquiry will be to determine who is liable while gathering evidence to support your injury claim. Once their investigation is complete, your lawyer will evaluate the damages you suffered and calculate the full value of your claim. The next step will be to either file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
If seeking compensation through a lawsuit, the next action your attorney will take will be to go through the stages of the pretrial process. Once the stages of the pretrial process are complete, your attorney will argue your case in court if necessary. All along the way, your lawyer will also be engaged in negotiations with opposing counsel, attempting to reach a fair settlement deal.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Be Mindful of the Statute of Limitations When Filing a Lawsuit
If you are planning to pursue compensation through a lawsuit, it is critical that you understand the personal injury statute of limitations in the state where your injury occurred. Michigan generally grants accident victims three years to file a lawsuit against the liable party. Missing this deadline will likely mean you are out of options for claiming compensation.
However, exceptions to the statute of limitations can alter the amount of time you have to file. These alterations can either lengthen or shorten the time permitted for filing a lawsuit.
To ensure you understand the deadline that applies to your particular case, you should hire an experienced catastrophic injury attorney in Lansing, MI, as soon as possible after suffering your injury. Your lawyer can identify if any exceptions apply to your case and make sure that all deadlines are met.
We’re not just lawyers. We’re passionate advocates who will ensure that your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
Damages You Can Claim After a Catastrophic Injury
Recovering compensation can be critical if you were in an accident and suffered a catastrophic injury. There are a variety of damages you may be able to pursue after an accident, and figuring out which damages apply to your case is essential for recovering the money you need. All damages are split between three primary categories.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the most easily quantifiable. You can recover these damages for any losses you suffered that were monetary in nature. Some of the most commonly available economic damages in catastrophic injury cases include:
- Medical costs
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning ability
- Property damages
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are far more complicated. Because there is no direct monetary value associated with these losses, it can be difficult to calculate their worth. Non-economic damages are often deeply personal and can profoundly affect a victim’s life. The nature of these losses means that the money awarded for them is often substantial.
Some of the most commonly available non-economic damages in catastrophic injury cases include:
- Permanent disability
- Diminished quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages don’t apply in most cases. These damages are only assessed in extreme situations involving criminal negligence or actions taken with the deliberate purpose of causing harm to others.
Rather than covering losses suffered by the injury victim, punitive damages are used as a means of punishment for the liable party.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Contact an Attorney Before You Accept a Settlement Offer
When dealing with an insurance company after suffering an injury, you must realize that these companies will do everything they can to avoid paying the full value of your claim. Insurers will employ a wide variety of tricks to accomplish this, including offering you a settlement deal before you even file a claim.
While they will attempt to disguise this offer as a friendly gesture meant to help you in your time of need, the truth is that the amount they are offering is only a fraction of how much your claim is actually worth. If you take this offer at face value, you will likely find yourself with no options for recovering further compensation once the true value of your losses becomes apparent.
Declining to speak with the insurance adjuster until you have hired an attorney is the best way to protect yourself against these unscrupulous tactics. Once you have obtained legal counsel, the insurer will have to extend all offers through your lawyer, preventing them from employing many of the tricks they would otherwise use against you.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Pick a Law Firm Experienced in Catastrophic Injury Cases
When choosing an attorney to help you fight for compensation after a catastrophic injury, you need a law firm with a history of handling these kinds of cases and a track record of securing positive outcomes for their clients. At White Law PLLC, our team of Lansing catastrophic injury attorneys has helped countless injury victims after an accident.
You can reach us by phone or through the contact form on this website to schedule a free case review with a member of our team today.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
