A catastrophic injury is a general term for a life-altering injury. Typically, these injuries leave a victim without the ability to maintain employment or meet day-to-day needs for the rest of their life. Catastrophic accidents can cause a variety of injuries, from paralysis to brain damage.
For most, these injuries result in permanent medical requirements. The high cost of life-long medical care could be challenging to deal with, especially when you are unable to work. Fortunately, a practiced attorney could help a victim of a catastrophic injury recover compensation for these expenses.
If you have sustained a catastrophic injury, the right legal counsel could make or break your claim for damages. With the help of an Opelousas catastrophic injury lawyer, the compensation you need could become a reality.
Damages in a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit
Because of the severity of a catastrophic injury, the financial compensation available in these cases can be significant. There are two common types of damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are the measurable losses related to a catastrophic injury. They are tangible, with a value that can be determined through documentary evidence. These damages include medical bills as well as lost wages.
Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages are not tangible, often making them a challenge to evaluate. Losses like pain and suffering, for example, could differ significantly from one victim to another. An experienced catastrophic injury attorney in Opelousas could work to demonstrate the value of these damages to a jury.
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Evidence to Establish Economic Damages
Typically, economic damages allow a plaintiff to recoup out-of-pocket expenses related to their accident. Evidence used to establish economic damages includes:
- Hospital bills
- Property repair bills
- Invoices
- Physical therapy receipts
- Pay stubs
- Bank records
Compiling the evidence necessary to establish economic damages at trial is a time-consuming process. An Opelousas attorney handling a catastrophic injury case could assist with putting these records together for the victim.
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Calculating Non-Economic Damages in Opelousas
Compared to economic damages, establishing non-economic damages in catastrophic injury cases could be more of a challenge for an Opelousas lawyer. Due to the lack of documentary evidence establishing the exact value of these damages, a plaintiff must rely on other forms of evidence. Examples of evidence might include pain journals, expert witness testimony, medical records, and testimony from the injury victim.
Witness testimony may be able to illustrate the extent of non-economic damages to the jury. When a jury understands the suffering that results from a catastrophic injury, they are more likely to award the plaintiff the full value of their claim.
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Call an Opelousas Catastrophic Injury Attorney Immediately
The consequences of a catastrophic injury could result in a lifetime of medical treatment. The expenses of follow-up treatment, medical devices, and in-home care could become overwhelming for most victims. Consulting with an Opelousas catastrophic injury lawyer could help you establish the evidence you need to prevail at trial. A practiced attorney could collect the necessary evidence for your financial recovery while you focus on your physical recovery. Call today.
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