Wilmington Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Helping People Recover From Serious & Catastrophic Injuries in Wilmington, NC

A serious injury typically has a strong negative impact on many aspects of life simultaneously. Someone with a serious injury may ultimately recover a nearly normal state of well-being, but the road to recovery is typically lengthy and challenging. Serious injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Burn injuries
• Puncture wounds
• Lacerations
• Ligament damage
• Hip injuries
• Knee injuries
• Hand and wrist injuries
• Concussions
• Broken nose
• Broken jaw
• Broken orbital bones

When these injuries occur due to the negligence of others, it’s natural for the victim and their family to feel uncertain, frustrated, and distressed by their circumstances. In addition, the victim likely faces a challenging future, and their catastrophic injury can pose significant economic challenges to the family. A Wilmington catastrophic injury attorney is the best asset to have in this situation. Your legal team can not only help you hold the party responsible for the injury accountable for their actions but also assist you in maximizing your recovery as much as North Carolina state law allows.

Christina Rivenbark & Associates offers years of experience handling complex personal injury claims, including those pertaining to permanently disabling injuries. We understand the stress and hardship catastrophic injuries cause to victims and their families, and our goal is to help you approach your civil case with greater confidence and peace of mind.

Why Do I Need A Wilmington Catastrophic Injury Attorney?

If another party is clearly responsible for the catastrophic injury you recently suffered, you might wonder why you should invest in legal representation if their fault is apparent. While your case may seem straightforward at first, any personal injury case can potentially escalate into a very complex legal battle. A client without legal counsel would not only need to meet their case’s procedural requirements with the civil court but do so while managing their recovery and their household.

Legal representation is vital in any personal injury claim, but it is especially crucial for catastrophic injury claims when plaintiffs face uncertain futures and substantial damages. You need legal counsel you can trust to accurately calculate your damages and navigate the complex legal proceedings ahead of you. Ultimately, you are not only more likely to succeed with your claim when you have an experienced Wilmington catastrophic injury lawyer representing you but also more likely to secure as much compensation as state law permits.

A Medical Emergency, Follow-Up Medical Care, Therapy And Rehabilitation

A catastrophic injury of any kind is likely to lead to an arduous and time-consuming medical treatment process. First, there is the medical emergency at the time of the accident. Timely, high-quality medical care in the critical early hours and days after an accidental injury can make a great difference in the injured person’s recovery overall. Stopping the loss of blood, preventing stress to nerves, and preventing infection are often critical pieces of the initial medical treatment needed after a serious injury.

After the initial trauma is past, an injured person will likely need a long period of rest and recuperation to encourage healing. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and any other recommended types of therapy and rehabilitation all require time, effort, and commitment. Ultimately, many people with serious injuries do recover well, but the road to recovery is full of challenges and special needs.

Your recent catastrophic injury will likely incur substantial short and long-term medical expenses. If another party is responsible for your catastrophic injury, you have the right to hold them accountable for all the medical care you require. This includes any permanent medical supervision or in-home care for managing your symptoms and enabling the best possible quality of life following the injury. You can also hold them accountable for ongoing prescription costs, the cost of rehabilitation and therapy, and the cost of any mental health treatment you require after your injury.

Sources Of Financial Stress For Injured People And Their Families

Extensive and complex medical treatment is just one of the problems most catastrophic injury victims face. In addition, there is nearly always a great deal of financial stress accompanying a serious injury. Experts have found that personal injury lawyers also help injured people recover higher settlements, more quickly. Furthermore, a personal injury attorney has experience proving negligence and recovering compensation from negligent parties such as property owners, manufacturers, service providers, and motorists. If necessary, a skilled attorney can take a case to trial.

When you have sustained a catastrophic injury, you might be unable to work for an extended time. Even if you reach maximum medical recovery, any permanent disability or medical complications you develop could prevent you from returning to work. You may be unable to resume your previous job, or you could be unable to work at all due to the severity of your injury. Your Wilmington catastrophic injury lawyer can help you hold the defendant in your case accountable for lost income and lost future earning capacity. Your legal team will calculate the income you would have reasonably expected to earn in the future if your injury had not occurred and add this lost future income to your claimed damages.

In addition to economic damages, plaintiffs in catastrophic injury claims also have the right to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. This can sound difficult to calculate, especially in a case involving painful injuries that cause permanent disability, but your Wilmington catastrophic injury attorney can use various methods to calculate appropriate pain and suffering damages to include in your claim. In most cases, attorneys multiply a client’s medical expense claims; for instance, they could multiply expenses by up to five times, depending on how severe the injury is. For example, if your catastrophic injury results in $200,000 in medical bills and you developed a significant permanent disability from the injury, your attorney could seek $400,000 or even more than $1 million in compensation for pain and suffering to reflect the seriousness of your condition.

Wilmington Serious and Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Typical personal injuries can cause weeks or months of suffering, expensive medical bills, and other economic losses. However, most common personal injuries will recover completely with time and appropriate treatment. Catastrophic injuries, on the other hand, typically leave a person with significant disabilities or permanent injuries to cope with long term. Catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injury
• Amputations
• Loss of vision
• Loss of hearing
• Very serious burn injuries
• Toxic exposure injuries that may leave a person with lifelong immune system disorders
• Neurological impairments
• Scarring
• Vision damage

If you are now paralyzed or incapacitated due to a catastrophic injury, you need aggressive advocacy. You may require the assistance of social workers and medical specialists. You should seek out a skilled and attentive personal injury lawyer to fight for the help you need, perhaps including durable medical equipment, personal care, ongoing top-notch therapy, and vocational rehabilitation and/or replacement of lost wages.

FAQs About Wilmington, NC Catastrophic Injury Law

What Does It Mean When Injuries Are “Catastrophic?”

A “catastrophic” injury is any injury that results in a permanent disability or medical complication. The victim is likely to experience long-term pain and suffering from this type of injury. They could be unable to work or live independently due to the severity of their condition. Ultimately, if an injury results in permanent damage of any kind, it likely qualifies as a catastrophic injury.

What Is An Example Of A Catastrophic Injury?

A commonly reported catastrophic injury in the U.S. is spinal cord injury. The spinal cord carries brain signals throughout the body, allowing for conscious movement and control of bodily functions. The spinal cord cannot repair itself once damaged, so these injuries are permanent. A spinal cord injury can easily result in permanent paralysis in the regions of the body connected to the spine below the injury site.

What Type Of Case Is A Catastrophic Injury Claim?

Catastrophic injury claims fall within the scope of personal injury law. If another party caused a catastrophic injury to you or a loved one, you have the right to file a personal injury claim against them to recover compensation for your losses. Success with a personal injury claim requires identifying the party responsible for the injury, proving the full scope of damages, and establishing a clear causal link between the defendant’s actions and the plaintiff’s claimed damages.

What Percentage Do Most Wilmington Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Take?

Most North Carolina personal injury attorneys offer contingency fee billing to clients. This means a client pays nothing upfront for legal representation and only parts with a percentage of their case award once their attorney wins their case. An attorney’s contingency fee percentage can fluctuate based on the complexity of the case and the scope of the client’s claimed damages. Still, most contingency fees fall between 25% and 40% of the total case award. While this may seem like a large percentage, remember that the attorney receives nothing if they lose the case.

Free Case Evaluation, And No Fees Until You Recover Compensation

Our personal injury law firm is a valuable resource for North Carolina residents dealing with paralysis, loss of limbs or other challenging outcomes of serious accidents. Our law offices are located in Wilmington. Serious injuries? Lawyers at Christina Rivenbark & Associates offer free initial consultations. If we represent you, you will not owe attorneys’ fees until and unless we recover compensation for you.

Whether your injury was the result of a car accident, a slip-and-fall accident, a recreation accident, or a dog bite, we are prepared to give your case priority. Take the first step by emailing us online or calling us at 910-251-8080 to request a free consultation.

Other Wilmington Catastrophic Injury Law Resources

• Back Injuries
• Broken Bones Injuries
• Loss of Limb/Amputation
• Neck Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Whiplash