Have you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic injury in Pensacola, FL? In a moment, a severe injury can forever alter the trajectory of your life, affecting you in ways you never imagined. You may be entitled to compensation if your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or even intentional wrongdoing. A Pensacola catastrophic injury lawyer can help.
For over four decades, Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers has represented injury victims and their families in pursuing fair compensation and justice. Contact our law office or call us at (850) 434-3333 for a free consultation with a Pensacola catastrophic injury attorney to discuss how we can help you move forward in Pensacola, Florida.
How Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Catastrophic Accident in Pensacola, FL
When a severe injury changes your life forever, you deserve an advocate who will fight for your rights and the full compensation you need to move forward. Since 1981, Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers has helped victims and their families recover millions in life-changing jury awards and settlements. We are here to give you the tireless legal representation you deserve in Pensacola, FL.
Our legal team puts 75 years of collective experience to work on every case.
Here is what our Pensacola personal injury lawyers can do to help you after your accident:
- Provide legal advice and guidance at every step
- Conduct a careful investigation into your accident
- Gather evidence and work with experts to strengthen your claim
- Handle all communications and paperwork
- Negotiate on your behalf to pursue a fair settlement agreement
- Present your case in court if needed
You do not need to battle the insurance company alone. Our Pensacola personal injury attorneys are here to help you through every step of the legal process. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with a Pensacola catastrophic injury attorney to discuss how we can help you.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is any injury that is severe and either permanent or long-lasting. These injuries are life-changing, fundamentally altering your daily life, independence, ability to work, relationships, and more.
The American Medical Association defines catastrophic injuries as severe injuries to the brain, spine, or spinal cord. The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR) has a much broader definition that includes serious injuries that cause temporary disability with a full recovery, injuries that cause permanent disability, and fatal injuries. In personal injury law, a catastrophic injury may be any serious injury that prevents you from working or significantly affects your life.
We Fight To Recover Fair Compensation for All Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are one of the most well-known examples of catastrophic injuries. There are nearly 17,500 new SCIs in the United States every year. Around 46% of SCIs are incomplete tetraplegia with weakness or paralysis in all limbs.
Brain injuries are another classic example of a catastrophic injury. About 85,000 Americans suffer disabling traumatic brain injuries each year. These life-changing injuries can cause cognitive impairment, memory problems, limited mobility, and communication problems. Victims may even experience personality changes, poor impulse control, and trouble regulating emotions.
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we understand that catastrophic injuries encompass a wide range of injuries beyond spinal cord and brain injuries. An injury from which one person may recover can be debilitating for another. We recognize the life-changing effects of your serious injury.
We are prepared to fight for maximum compensation to preserve your quality of life, get the medical care you need, and avoid financial uncertainty.
We handle cases involving catastrophic injuries such as:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Extensive burns
- Multiple, complex, or non-healing fractures
- Serious back injuries
- Joint injuries
- Organ damage
- Electrical injuries
- Crush injuries
- Nerve damage
- Vision loss
- Hearing loss
Money cannot restore the life you once lived, but it can safeguard your financial future and cover the quality medical attention you deserve. We will fight on your behalf to recover fair compensation for all the injuries you have suffered.
What Is My Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?
How much your case is worth will depend on dozens of factors unique to your case.
When assessing your case, a personal injury lawyer may consider the following factors and more to estimate what you may be entitled to recover:
- The type and severity of injuries you sustained
- Future medical care you will likely need
- Whether you are able to go back to work or any type of gainful employment
- How your injuries affect your daily life, the impact on your quality of life and independence, and the effect on your relationships
- The circumstances of the accident, including whether you share fault and the defendant’s behavior
- Whether you have strong evidence to prove liability
- How much insurance coverage is available to pay for your claim
The best way to understand what your case may be worth is by scheduling a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Contact our law office today to discuss how we can help you.
What Types of Damages Are Available To Injury Victims In Pensacola?
Catastrophic injury victims have the right to seek compensatory damages from the parties at fault for their injuries. If your case is successful, you may recover economic damages and non-economic damages. These damages are awarded to make you as whole as possible after your accident.
Economic damages compensate for financial losses. Non-economic damages cover the emotional and physical harm you suffered, which has no intrinsic financial value.
Common damages you may recover include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Out-of-pocket expenses, including needed home modifications and replacement services
- Lost wages
- Diminished or reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
In very rare cases that go before a jury, punitive damages may be awarded. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages do not compensate you for your losses. Instead, they are intended to punish the defendant for their behavior.
In Florida, punitive damages can only be awarded if the defendant’s behavior constitutes gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Gross negligence rises above normal carelessness to extreme recklessness or disregard for the safety of others.
Calculating the damages you have suffered over a lifetime, including income you would have earned if you were not hurt, can be challenging. We will work with medical, economic, and vocational experts to accurately calculate your damages and seek fair compensation.
Am I Still Entitled To Compensation If I Share Fault For My Accident In Florida?
Since 2023, Florida has used a modified comparative negligence rule. This legal doctrine allows accident victims to recover compensation when they share some fault with a 51% bar. If your share of assigned blame is 50% or less, you can recover compensation. If your share of fault rises to 51% or more, you are barred from recovering anything.
In other words, if you are mostly to blame for your accident, you cannot pursue financial compensation from other parties who share the fault.
Note that your financial recovery will be reduced according to your share of fault. If you were found 30% at fault for your accident, your damages would be automatically reduced by 30%.
What Causes Most Catastrophic Injuries In Pensacola, Florida?
Any type of accident can result in life-changing injuries, including the following:
- Car accidents and other traffic accidents are a leading cause of brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and more.
- Slip and fall accidents commonly cause broken bones, head injuries, and back injuries. These falls can happen on the same level or from a height.
- Violence, including domestic violence, stabbings, and shootings, may lead to brain injuries, organ damage, and more.
- Sports injuries are common and one of the top causes of severe injuries in children and teenagers.
A large share of catastrophic injuries involve workplace accidents. Workers may suffer life-changing injuries on construction sites and other jobs, including retail work. Work-related accidents commonly involve falls, heavy machinery or equipment, vehicles, being struck by objects, and hazardous materials.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Catastrophic Injury In Florida?
You have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit before you lose your right to compensation forever. In Florida, there is a two-year statute of limitations that applies to most personal injury cases.
If you miss this critical deadline, you will not be able to recover damages for your injuries. There are very few exceptions to the two-year deadline.
Consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Your lawyer can help you gather evidence and build your case while you focus on your medical care and recovery.
Contact Our Pensacola Catastrophic Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Has someone else’s careless behavior left you with a catastrophic injury in Pensacola, Florida? You may be entitled to money from the at-fault party. Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers is here to fight for the fair compensation you are owed. We have more than 75 years of combined experience to put to work on your behalf.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free case review with a Pensacola catastrophic injury attorney. We will listen to your story and help you explore your legal options.