St. Louis Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Have you or someone you love suffered a catastrophic injury? Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers has more than 20 years of experience representing clients in St. Louis County in seeking justice and maximum compensation. Contact our St. Louis law office today at (314) 400-0000 for a free consultation with a St. Louis catastrophic injury lawyer who can help you.

When a catastrophic injury forever changes your life, the responsible party should be held financially accountable. 

How Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After You Suffer a Catastrophic Injury in St. Louis

How Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After You Suffer a Catastrophic Injury in St. Louis

After a catastrophic injury, you deserve a team of experienced St. Louis injury lawyers to take on the insurance company and fight for the full compensation you deserve. At Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the tactics insurance companies use to fight high-value catastrophic injury claims. We will not rest in our pursuit of the fair compensation you need.

Principal and founding attorney E. Ryan Bradley began his law career as an insurance defense attorney and brings crucial insight into how insurance adjusters evaluate and fight claims. He is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has a 10.0 Superb AVVO rating and AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Choose Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers to represent you in your St. Louis, Missouri catastrophic injury case, and we will:

  • Conduct an exhaustive investigation into your accident to gather evidence and identify all liable parties
  • Accurately value all the damages you suffered
  • Work with experts to build a strong negligence claim and present testimony on causation, the extent of your injuries, and the cost of long-term damages
  • Handle all communications and negotiations on your behalf
  • Pursue maximum compensation through an insurance settlement or take your case to a jury 

Contact our law firm today for a free consultation with a St. Louis catastrophic injury attorney ready to give you the aggressive legal representation you need.

How Common Are Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries are more common than many believe. The following statistics shed light on just how common these life-changing injuries are in the United States.

  • There are 17,800 new spinal cord injuries every year. About 294,000 people in the U.S. are living with a spinal cord injury.
  • Approximately 1 in 50 people in the U.S. are living with some type of paralysis.
  • There are 2 million people in the U.S. living with limb loss. Of the 185,000 amputations every year in the U.S., 45% are the result of trauma.
  • About 13.5 million people in the U.S. have a disability caused by a traumatic brain injury. Over 288,000 people are hospitalized for TBI every year. 

There are thousands of people living with the effects of a catastrophic injury throughout Missouri and St. Louis. Many more each year suffer a life-changing and traumatic injury.

Overview of Catastrophic Injuries

There is no strict or legal definition of what makes an injury catastrophic. However, it is usually considered an injury that involves significant pain and suffering, long-term medical care, and years-long recovery or permanent impairment.

In Missouri, the only time a “catastrophic” injury is defined is when it comes to medical malpractice claims. These claims have two different caps on non-economic losses. The higher cap applies to a specific number of catastrophic injuries.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

The following are injuries commonly considered catastrophic.

  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Severe brain injuries
  • Traumatic amputation
  • Paralysis including paraplegia and quadriplegia
  • Major organ damage
  • Vision loss
  • Injuries that cause disfigurement and/or significant scarring 

As a general rule, any injury that causes permanent or long-term disability or impairment can be considered catastrophic, especially if it requires significant long-term medical care.

What Are the Long-Term Consequences of a Catastrophic Injury?

By definition, a catastrophic injury has a serious long-term or lifelong impact on your life. 

After a catastrophic injury, you may be left with:

  • Serious changes to your lifestyle. Your injury may affect your mobility, leave you in chronic pain, and rob you of the enjoyment of the activities you could once participate in.
  • Mental health effects. You may struggle with depression, hopelessness, PTSD, and other psychological effects.
  • Inability to work. Your career trajectory may be taken from you, and you may be unable to perform almost any type of work.
  • Significant financial impact. The long-term cost of medical care you require may be hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions. In addition, you face lost earnings and unexpected long-term financial costs.
  • Effects on your relationships. A catastrophic injury can strain relationships in many ways. 

Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers understands that a catastrophic injury can change your life forever. We will help you hold the responsible party accountable.

What Causes Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries can happen in many ways. However, they are often the result of avoidable accidents and usually caused by negligence or human error. 

The following are the most common causes of catastrophic injuries in St. Louis.

  • Traffic accidents. Car accidents are responsible for 39% of spinal cord injuries alone. They also cause 17% of traumatic brain injuries. Motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of traumatic amputation in adults and 8% of all pediatric amputations.
  • Falls. The second-leading cause of spinal cord injuries, falls are also responsible for 35% of traumatic brain injuries.
  • Violence. Assault and other violent crimes can cause spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
  • Sports. About 8% of spinal cord injuries happen in sports. Brain injuries are also common in intense sports.
  • Medical malpractice. It’s estimated that 4% of spinal cord injuries occur through medical and surgical errors.
  • Work-related accidents. Such accidents are a common cause of traumatic amputation, particularly in industries like construction, industrial and factory settings, and occupations that involve heavy machinery. 

A catastrophic injury can happen anywhere: while driving, on the job, shopping, or walking down the sidewalk.

What Is My Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?

When an injury is catastrophic, it generally means the injury claim has a much higher value. Your economic and non-economic losses are likely significant. You may face life-long medical requirements, the need for intensive care, and non-economic losses for pain, suffering, reduced quality of life, and more.

However, this also increases the complexity of your claim. The higher the value of the claim, the more necessary it becomes to build an elaborate negligence claim that establishes another’s fault. Medical and financial experts are usually required to provide expert testimony on the extent of your injuries, the impact they have on your life, your future medical needs, and long-term loss of earnings.

Because non-economic losses are highly subjective and personal, a persuasive case must be built with testimony from multiple sources. This will also require demonstrating the true effect of your injuries on your life and future.

To demonstrate the potential value of your case, consider these figures of only the long-term medical expenses of common catastrophic injuries:

  • Amputation: $509,272. Prosthetic devices can cost up to $50,000 and generally last no more than five years.
  • Paraplegia: $2.3 million (25-year-old) to $1.5 million (50-year-old).
  • Quadriplegia: $4.72 million (25-year-old) to $2.59 million (50-year-old).
  • Brain injury: $85,000 (minor) to $3 million.

There is no easy way to estimate the value of your catastrophic injury claim. Contact Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a St. Louis personal injury lawyer. We will review your case and help you understand what your case may be worth.

What Compensation Can I Recover for My Catastrophic Injury in St. Louis, Missouri?

When you suffer an injury due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. 

These damages come in two primary forms: non-economic and economic damages. Economic damages compensate for financial harm, while non-economic damages compensate for physical, emotional, and psychological harm and suffering.

After a catastrophic injury, you may be entitled to damages for:

  • Medical expenses, including current medical bills and future medical expenses
  • Lost income after your accident
  • Reduced or lost earning capacity, including lifetime lost earnings and lost benefits of employment
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement
  • Emotional distress
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life 

You may be entitled to punitive damages awarded by a jury in rare cases. These may be appropriate if the defendant’s behavior was egregious, intentional, or displayed an utter disregard for human life.

Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers is committed to seeking maximum compensation for your catastrophic injury. We understand the devastating impact your injury has had on your life, and we will not rest in pursuit of fair compensation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in Missouri?

The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Missouri is five years. If your lawsuit is not filed before this deadline, you will be barred from recovering anything for your injuries.

While this statute of limitations is far longer than most states, do not make the mistake of putting off filing a claim. It’s crucial to begin investigating your case as soon as possible to gather and preserve evidence while you reach maximum medical improvement. Fast action can preserve the full value of your case.

Contact a St. Louis Catastrophic Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation

The many long-term effects of a catastrophic injury are bad enough; you should not be left with a financial burden when someone else was responsible for your accident. Bradley Law Personal Injury Lawyers is committed to fighting for maximum compensation to help you preserve your quality of life and get the care you need.

Contact our law office for a free case review with a St. Louis catastrophic injury lawyer. You owe nothing unless we win, and there are no out-of-pocket costs for the experienced legal representation you deserve!

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