Life will never be the same after a catastrophic injury such as serious burn injury or spinal cord injury. Daily tasks that we take for granted become major ordeals for a person who is incapacitated or suffering from ongoing, chronic pain after a motorcycle accident or industrial accident. Our job as

personal injury attorneys is to help ensure that the victim receives a fair settlement or verdict — namely, financial means necessary to live a life of dignity despite overwhelming odds.

Contact an attorney at Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks, in Hawaii, to schedule a free initial consultation after a helicopter crash or a tramway accident.

Catastrophic Injuries - An Overview

A catastrophic injury or illness usually occurs suddenly and without warning. Injuries that are considered catastrophic (due to the enormous impact they have on the lives of the individuals who experience them) include brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, severe burns, multiple fractures and neurological disorders. If you or your loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries as the result of an accident, consult an attorney to learn your rights to compensation. A lawyer experienced in catastrophic injury litigation, like those at Cronin Fried Sekiya Kekina & Fairbanks in Honolulu, Hawaii, can help you learn what your rights are.

A catastrophic injury or illness very often causes severe disruption to the central nervous system, which in turn affects many other systems of the body. In addition to possible loss of movement, sensation, and communicative and cognitive abilities, the injury or illness may impact respiration, circulation, skin, the urinary system, the gastrointestinal system, and other body systems. Management of such an injury is complex and requires the expertise of a team of health professionals including physicians, consultants, nurses, therapists, and counselors. Clearly, the long-term needs of someone who has experienced this type of injury far surpass those of individuals with less severe injuries. Individuals may recover from some catastrophic injuries if they receive proper, early medical treatment; however, others may experience permanent disability, significant suffering, and reduced life spans.

If a catastrophic injury was caused by the negligent or intentional act of another, or by a dangerous or defective product, a personal injury claim by the victim will be an integral factor in his or her future quality of life, including the quality of the medical care and other support he or she will receive. Because of the huge financial impact a catastrophic injury has, one of the most important aspects of bringing a personal injury claim is the determination of the value of such a claim. A person whose earning capacity has been substantially reduced and who is likely facing a lifetime of care requires an experienced attorney, with specialized knowledge of his or her particular type of injury, to ensure that the injured person obtains all of the financial support he or she will need, possibly for decades to come.

The long-term implications of many catastrophic injuries do not surface or become apparent until years after the original injury. For example, individuals who are injured as children may experience changes in their abilities/disabilities as they grow, requiring surgeries or other medical intervention to accommodate their growth. Similarly, a burn victim might continue to undergo reconstructive surgeries for many years after the original injury. Thus, an attorney who understands the long-term implications of such injuries will be better able to ensure that victims receive just compensation and sufficient resources for the future.

Compensation Issues

Often only a small amount of insurance is available to compensate a catastrophically injured person, and it becomes necessary to seek alternative compensation or government assistance. This is one of the most important reasons for retaining an attorney with significant experience handling catastrophic injury claims. For instance, some of the worst, most dangerous drivers often carry the least amount of insurance allowed by law, or carry no insurance at all. In such cases, an injured party might be limited to recovering only up to the limits of his or her uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage benefits, which typically will fall far below the losses sustained. Also, contrary to popular belief, huge jury verdicts are rare, and most injury victims are under-compensated for their injuries. For these reasons, it is important to seek the assistance of an attorney who has experience with catastrophic injury cases; he or she will consider and know how to reach every possible source of recovery in a personal injury claim. Additionally, even if your attorney determines you do not have a legal cause of action against a responsible party, he or she might assist you in obtaining government benefits, which can be a daunting task for those not trained in the law. The following are examples of how an experienced attorney can help locate and pursue recovery from responsible individuals.

Determining Future Costs of Care & the Damages to Which a Catastrophically Injured Person is Entitled

Whether a person falls from a construction platform and injures his spine, catches her hand in a piece of machinery, or is born with a birth defect that impairs his or her mobility, he or she will likely need financial assistance in treating the injury and continuing on with life. In today's society, within the systems established to provide for injured individuals, the medical evaluation of the degree of an individual's impairment can have a huge impact on the level of compensation the individual will receive, from all sources. Other issues such a medical evaluation will evaluate include:

• The injured person's ability to work;
• The right to receive different kinds of economic compensation;
• Eligibility for protection against discrimination;
• Whether independent living is possible;
• What type of physical therapy might improve his/her health.

Significantly, such an evaluation should include the significant changes an individual will undergo as he/she progresses through acute hospitalization, then returns to the home and community. An individual will likely experience the best possible outcome with rehabilitation that offers an interdisciplinary approach and coordinated care.

Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer

In the unfortunate event you or a loved one fall victim to a life-altering, catastrophic injury, you should not have to worry about proper compensation or your attorney's expertise. Therefore, it is highly advisable to seek out an attorney experienced in handling catastrophic injury claims, who will exhaust all possible avenues of financial and medical recovery on your behalf. An attorney experienced in handling catastrophic injury cases from Cronin Fried Sekiya Kekina & Fairbanks in Honolulu, Hawaii, will work to identify all of the parties who may be responsible for your injuries.

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