Catastrophic injuries are sudden onset injuries that leave an injured person permanently disabled, impairing their ability to do the things they once enjoyed. Unfortunately, these injuries have tremendous personal and financial implications for victims and their loved ones.
If you were in an accident and suffered severe injuries, you could file a claim for damages against at-fault parties. These parties could be liable for your medical care, lost income, diminished future earning capacity, and reduced quality of life.
Seeking immediate legal help is critical. A dedicated injury attorney could ensure that potentially responsible parties do not take advantage of you or your family members by persuading you to settle your claim for less than its work. A Denver catastrophic injury lawyer will work to ensure you receive the maximum settlement to help you get back on your feet.
When a person, company, or local government endangers others through senseless acts, they are legally negligent. Negligence could arise from either acts or omissions.
Catastrophic injuries can include severe burns, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, significant impairment to a bodily system, and injuries causing disfigurement, blindness, or deafness. Catastrophic injuries could occur due to the following:
Failing to take reasonable care could lead to any of these accidents and result in a life-changing injury. Fortunately, a knowledgeable attorney could investigate the circumstances of a debilitating injury and identify all parties whose conduct might have contributed to the accident. In addition, bringing claims against multiple defendants could provide injury victims with more reasonable settlements.
Damages in personal injury cases should compensate injured people for their losses because of another party’s negligence. These payments could provide enough funds to get the care and support they need and offer their family financial security. However, Colorado law has a complicated system of caps on some damages, often depending on the nature of the claim. A hardworking attorney in Denver could explain which caps on damages might apply in a specific case.
Economic damages include an injured person’s out-of-pocket losses resulting from the accident and injury. These losses include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and future damages related to the injury, such as ongoing medical treatment or lost earning capacity. The responsible parties are potentially liable for the total amount of an injured person’s economic damages.
A negligent party pays non-economic damages to compensate an injured person for their diminished quality of life. Colorado law limits non-economic damages in many cases. For example, if medical malpractice leads to an injury, the victim can collect no more than $300,000 on the malpractice claim, regardless of the injury’s severity. In other civil claims, non-economic damages are limited to $250,000 adjusted for inflation.
However, if a legal professional can prove that an individual’s injuries merit a higher amount, an award of $500,000 adjusted for inflation is possible. The law requires injured people to prove by clear and convincing evidence that they should receive the higher amount.
Economic and non-economic damages are compensatory damages because they compensate a plaintiff for their losses. However, courts may also award punitive damages to victims to punish defendants for egregious conduct.
Plaintiffs can seek punitive damages if they can prove that one of the responsible parties acted intentionally to harm them or demonstrated malice or willful disregard for their actions. Colorado Revised Statute §13-21-102 limits punitive damages to the amount of the plaintiff’s compensatory damages. However, a judge could increase punitive damage awards to three times the plaintiff’s compensatory damages under certain circumstances.
If you suffered a life-changing injury and another party was at fault, you could file a claim for compensation. With the help of a Denver catastrophic injury lawyer, you could collect damages to pay for the care you require and ensure your family has security.
Do not delay contacting an experienced legal professional. Instead, call Roberts Markland LLP today to get an aggressive attorney working on your case.
