Catastrophic injuries are life-changing events that cause permanent harm and sometimes death, leaving victims and their families facing lifelong medical needs, financial strain and emotional hardship. Catastrophic injuries, such as amputations, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe burns, prevent victims from returning to work, living independently, or able to enjoy their lives as they did before the catastrophic accident. In Florida, victims of catastrophic injuries may be compensated for medical bills, lost income and earning capacity, long-term medical needs, and pain and suffering.
At Dannheisser Injury Law, we have handled catastrophic injury cases in Sarasota for over 30 years. Our founder Dan Dannheisser has been licensed in Florida for nearly 50 years handling devastating auto accidents, medical malpractice, and other personal injury cases. One such case was a $9,750,000 settlement for a Sarasota mother and child severely injured in a bus crash. This crash required extensive medical care and evidence to prove permanent impact to their lives. This case highlights our ability to secure the needed money for our clients in complex, high-stakes injury cases.
Catastrophic injuries are devastating. Due to their costs and lifelong consequences, they demand strong legal advocacy from experienced catastrophic injury lawyers.
Motor Vehicle Accidents.
Car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents are one of the leading causes of catastrophic injuries. High-speed collisions, in particular, frequently cause spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, multiple broken bones, and more. Mounting medical bills, inability to work, and lifelong medical needs requires an experienced injury lawyer to handle your case and ensure you receive a fair recovery.
Boating Accidents.
Sarasota’s proximity to the ocean and thriving tourism industry mean boating accidents happen all too often. Accidents on the water frequently result in devastating injuries due to reckless boating, lack of safety equipment, speed and weight of the watercraft, and hazardous water conditions. One common catastrophic injury resulting from boating accidents are amputations that happen when someone comes in contact with a propeller. Sarasota boating accidents are complex with regards to determining potential defendants, liability, and available insurance.
Workplace and Construction Accidents.
Sarasota County has outpaced population growth in each of the past 2 census years, growing 14.4% from 2010 to 2020. This growth has spurred a rise in residential and commercial real estate development, and with it workplace and construction accidents. Exposure to heavy machinery, electrical hazards, falls from heights, and more create a high risk of catastrophic injuries for workers. Employers, contractors, and potentially third parties can and should be held accountable if safety regulations are ignored or the injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence.
Medical Malpractice.
Catastrophic injuries are very prevalent in cases of medical malpractice. Surgical errors, birth injuries, anesthesia errors, and facility errors in hospital and emergency rooms tend to lead to lifelong injuries and catastrophic outcomes. Medical malpractice cases are extremely difficult to prove and almost always require retaining experienced legal representation to litigate your case.
Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect.
Elderly residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are some of our most vulnerable populations. Plagued by chronic understaffing, injuries suffered from falls, untreated infections, and bed sores tend to have catastrophic consequences. When trust is broken between elder care facilities, patients, and their families, the facilities must be held accountable.
Defective Products.
Defective products include unsafe consumer products, faulty medical devices, malfunctioning machinery, and more. When these products cause catastrophic harm, manufacturers and distributors can be held legally responsible under Florida’s product liability laws such as Florida Stat. § 768.1256 and Florida Stat. § 768.81.
Determining who is responsible for a catastrophic injury is the first step in building a strong claim. Because these cases involve significant damages, a thorough investigation is needed to uncover all liable parties, of which there may be multiple. Just some potentially liable parties for catastrophic injuries include:
Catastrophic injury claims seek to provide long-term financial support for victims and families. Because the consequences are permanent, compensation must cover both immediate expenses and future costs that may last a lifetime. We use experts in life care planning and economics to help determine future costs to ensure maximum compensation.
Victims of catastrophic injuries may be entitled to compensation for damages such as:
A catastrophic injury can alter the court of your life, but you do not have to face the challenges and aftermath alone. At Dannheisser Injury Law, we have decades of experience fighting insurance companies to get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a confidential, no strings attached, free consultation by calling our office at 941-365-7600, completing our contact form online, or using the live chat feature on our website.
SARASOTA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
Although there is no legal definition, a catastrophic injury is one that results in permanent disability, disfigurement or loss of bodily function. Typical examples include amputation or limb loss, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage and paralysis, and severe burns.
Catastrophic injuries are long-term or permanent and often require lifelong medical care, while other personal injuries fully health with time and treatment.
Some of the leading causes of catastrophic injuries in Sarasota are car crashes, truck accidents, motorcycle wrecks, boating accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, and nursing home neglect and elder abuse.
At Dannheisser Injury Law, we collect medical records and medical bills, accident reports, evidence from the accident scene (photos, videos, traffic and dash cam footage, and witness testimony), and expert witnesses.
We use multiple expert witnesses in catastrophic injury cases. To prove liability and determine all defendants, we use accident reconstructionists. To prove the total damages and compensation required, we use medical experts, economics experts, and life care planning experts.
Catastrophic injury claims often take longer than typical personal injury cases due to the severity of the injuries, medical treatment required, and investigation and experts needed. Most catastrophic injury cases take anywhere from two to four years.
The value of your catastrophic injury claim depends on the severity of the injuries, medical treatment required, defendant insurance available, and recklessness of the at-fault parties. When injuries require lifelong care and medical treatment, the value of your case increases greatly.
We are a small law firm with big results and experience. We handle every case with compassion and a client-first approach. Unlike many law firms, every client of ours gets direct access to their attorney.
