New Jersey Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

FIGHTING FOR NEW JERSEY CATASTROPHIC INJURY VICTIMS

Catastrophic accidents can happen at anytime without warning and can lead to permanent, life-altering injuries. A catastrophic injury is a severe injury to the spine, spinal cord or brain, sometimes including fractures to the skull or spine.

In general, these types of injuries result in permanent impairment, loss of quality of life or the inability to work. These cases are complex legal matters and you need an attorney who will be by your side every step of the way.

Contact us today at 800-681-3550 for a free consultation.

What Is A Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is defined by law as an injury that “permanently prevents an individual from performing any gainful work.” Severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries dramatically alter the mental or physical capacity of a person. The quality of life, expenses, and emotional burdens left to handle are hard on loved ones. The experts at Richard J. Hollawell & Associates can help you get compensated if you have been the victim of a catastrophic injury and suspect someone is at fault.

What Are The Common Causes of a Catastrophic Injury?

The most common cause of a catastrophic injury in the U.S. is car accidents. Whether caused by a distracted driver, driving under the influence, negligent driving, or defective car parts, a motor vehicle accident can result in a number of catastrophic injuries. If your injuries were caused as a direct result of another drivers negligence, or manufacturer error, you may be entitled to a catastrophic injury claim and fair compensation.

Workplace accidents can also contribute to catastrophic injuries, particularly on construction sites, where the chance of being injured on the job is nearly three times higher than average. The pressure to keep costs low and projects on schedule causes those in charge to cut corners and neglect important safety requirements, leading to serious and catastrophic injuries. If you were injured on the job and can no longer work you are most likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This no-fault program is designed to compensate injured workers for medical expenses and lost wages, as well as provide death benefits to the workers’ dependents. One of our experienced New Jersey personal injury attorneys can guide you through workers’ compensation, as well as help you pursue a civil case against a negligent third party.

Types of Injuries

There are numerous ways one can sustain a catastrophic injury. By definition, catastrophic injuries often require long-term medical care, prolonged absence from work, huge medical bills, and serious mental or emotional effects.
A number of injuries can qualify as catastrophic injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Severe burns
• Spinal cord injuries
• Wrongful death
• Amputations
• Vision /Hearing loss
• Paralysis
• Broken bones

What can be covered?

There are countless costs being involved in a catastrophic injury, it is important to know what can be covered and compensated. There are two types of compensation in New Jersey personal injury cases: compensatory damages and punitive damages. The majority of personal injury cases deal with compensatory damages. This includes compensation for:

• Medical treatment, including the cost of ambulatory services, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation. Including treatment, you have already received as well as future estimated medical costs,
• Income, including lost wages due to the injury and money the victim would have made in the future
• Property damage, including damage to your vehicle, personal items etc.
• Pain and suffering, physical pain and discomfort caused by the accident.
• Emotional distress, mental pain and suffering caused by the accident. Emotional distress can include fear, loss of sleep, and anxiety.
• Loss of enjoyment or consortium, including the inability to enjoy day-to-day activities, inability to pursue hobbies, inability to enjoy recreational activities, loss of companionship, and inability to maintain an intimate relationship with your spouse.

Punitive damages are awarded when the defendant’s actions were particularly negligent or caused the damages on purpose. Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant for outrageous conduct and act as a deterrent for similar actions in the future. In the state of New Jersey, punitive damages are limited to $350,000 or five times the amount of compensatory damages, whichever is more.

Contact an Expert

If you or a loved one has sustained a catastrophic injury and need compensation, our hard working New Jersey Law team at Richard J. Hollawell & Associates can help. We will work to prove the negligence that has left you with a lifelong injury and the emotional weight that comes with it. Set up a consultation with us at 1-800-681-3550 or on our website at and let us help you get what you need.