Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Serving Las Vegas and All of Nevada
At Burg Simpson, our Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyers are dedicated to helping victims who have experienced severe, life-altering injuries find justice and secure the compensation they deserve. Founded over 40 years ago, Burg Simpson is among the nation’s most respected and successful personal injury law firms. When you are injured and need sound legal advice and guidance, we are here to listen and ready to help.
If you have sustained a serious injury and would like more information about your options and rights, we encourage you to call our Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyers at 702-668-2070 to schedule a FREE case review right away. Burg Simpson proudly represents victims of severe injury throughout the state of Nevada.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
There are several degrees of injury, from minor to severe, but catastrophic injuries, sometimes called serious or traumatic injuries, are significantly different from the minor variety. While minor injuries often heal with time and require little to no medical intervention, catastrophic injuries drastically change a victim’s life, requiring extensive—often lifelong—medical care and rehabilitation.
Catastrophic injuries can lead to permanent disability, the loss of bodily functions, or significant physical and cognitive impairments. They are often life-altering, meaning that life post-injury will never be the same as it was before. They also demand the attention of an experienced and dedicated injury attorney.
The catastrophic injury lawyers at the Las Vegas office of Burg Simpson have a long and proud history of securing significant compensation for victims and their families. If you have been in an accident, contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation. We are here to help you determine the best course of action.
Examples of Catastrophic Injury
Our traumatic injury attorneys have handled all types of injury claims, including those involving:
- Traumatic Brain Injury. TBI can lead to cognitive impairment, loss of physical abilities, and emotional distress. These types of injuries often result in memory loss, an inability to pay attention, and difficulties in problem-solving. They may also result in mood swings, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, all of which can impact emotional well-being and daily life.
- Spinal Cord Injuries. SCI can lead to severe consequences, including tetraplegia and quadriplegia. Damage to the spinal cord can result in loss of sensation, motor control, and other essential functions below the point of injury, significantly altering a person’s lifestyle and independence.
- Burn Injuries. Burns can cause extreme pain, disfigurement, and functional loss. Severe burns can damage not only the skin but also deep tissue, muscles, tendons, and bones, necessitating extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. Additionally, burn survivors often experience emotional trauma due to their altered appearance and the long, painful recovery process.
- Explosion Injuries. These injuries can lead to a range of complications including burns, concussions, amputations, or even death. Explosion injuries often involve multiple systems in the body, requiring complex and multidisciplinary medical care.
- Dog Bites. Injuries from dog bites can lead to significant physical and emotional trauma. They can result in lacerations, puncture wounds, or crush injuries that may cause scarring, infection, and permanent disfigurement. Psychologically, victims of dog bites often experience heightened fear, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress, especially if the event was particularly traumatic or involved a feared or large breed of dog.
While these injuries are clearly life-altering, even those that seem minor can have catastrophic consequences. When you are injured in an accident, it’s always a good idea to talk to an attorney to learn if legal action is called for.
The Leading Causes of Traumatic Injury in Nevada
Any accident can result in injury, but the most common causes of serious and catastrophic injuries are:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic injuries in the United States. Injuries can range from minor scrapes and bruises to fractures, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and death. Leading causes of car accidents include reckless driving, speeding, driving under the influence, and unfavorable weather conditions.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are at a higher risk of serious injury when involved in accidents with cars. Common injuries in motorcycle accidents include road rash, fractures, head and neck injuries, and internal injuries. These accidents can be caused by speeding, alcohol and drug use, and low visibility, but the leading cause of motorcycle accidents is drivers of larger vehicles making left turns.
Truck Accidents
Accidents involving large trucks often result in serious or fatal injuries due to the size and weight of these vehicles. Common injuries in truck crashes include broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. These accidents are often caused by fatigue, improper vehicle maintenance, or reckless driving. Most trucking accidents are the result of driver error.
Workplace Accidents
Workplace accidents can occur in any occupational setting but are particularly common in industries like construction, manufacturing, and transportation. Common injuries include fractures, amputation, crushing injuries, burns, and even fatalities. They are often caused by unsafe work conditions, lack of proper safety training, and equipment malfunctions.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall, also known as trip and fall accidents, can cause a wide range of injuries, including sprains, fractured bones, and head injuries, depending on the circumstances of the fall. A premises liability issue, these accidents are often caused by wet or uneven surfaces, poor lighting, or tripping hazards, and they can occur anywhere, from homes and workplaces to public spaces.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians struck by vehicles can suffer serious injuries, including fractures, internal injuries, and head injuries. Tragically, accidents involving pedestrians have been on a steady rise over the last several years, often the result of distracted or reckless driving, poor infrastructure, and low visibility conditions.
Defective Products
Injuries can be caused by any product that is improperly designed, manufactured, or labeled. This can include anything from defective medical devices causing health issues to unsafe toys causing choking hazards for children. Defective products injure and kill thousands of people every year, but are often an overlooked cause of injury.
Maritime Accidents
Marine accidents involve watercraft and platforms, such as ships, jet skis, and oil rigs. They can result in a variety of serious injuries, including drowning, brain injury, decompression sickness, and physical injuries from falls or equipment malfunctions. Factors contributing to maritime accidents include poor vessel maintenance, inadequate safety measures, and human error.
A Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Can Help
No matter the cause of your injury, if you are facing medical expenses, are unable to work, or have experienced personal suffering due to your accident, we want to hear your story. Call our Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyers for a FREE case review and let us help you determine your next best steps.
Determining the Worth of Your Catastrophic Injury Claim
One of the hallmarks of a traumatic injury is its long-term consequences. These are often physical, emotional, and financial, and they can last for a lifetime. Taking a full account of the ways your injury has and will continue to impact your life will help to determine the true worth of your Nevada catastrophic injury claim.
While each severe injury has its own unique set of consequences, the lifelong expenses associated with rehabilitation and care are often astronomical. For example, the estimated lifetime cost of medical care for a patient with traumatic brain injury can exceed $3 million. Similarly, spinal cord injuries can range in cost from $350,000 to over $1 million in the first year alone, with subsequent years costing as much as $228,450. Shockingly, these expenses represent medical costs only. When lost wages and other expenses are added, a traumatic injury can quickly become financially ruinous.
When calculating the worth of your claim, the lifelong consequences of your injury must be taken into account. At Burg Simpson, our catastrophic injury lawyers take time to assess how an injury has and will continue to cause issues, and we build cases to seek compensation for every penny our clients are due.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Seek for a Traumatic Injury in Nevada?
In Nevada, you can seek both general and special damages following a serious injury. During your FREE case review, we will carefully evaluate your claim to calculate:
Special Damages/Economic Damages
These are quantifiable costs related to the injury. They include:
- Medical expenses such as hospital stays, surgeries, and emergency room visits, as well as long-term costs like rehabilitation, physical therapy, and any necessary medical devices or medications.
- Lost wages due to an inability to work during recovery
- Loss of earning capacity for a long-term or permanent disability that affects your ability to work or reduces your earning potential.
- Things made necessary by your injury, such as structural changes to make your house accessible.
General Damages/Non-Economic Damages
These refer to intangible losses and can vary greatly depending on the specifics of the case. They include:
- Emotional distress such as anxiety, depression, and heightened stress.
- Loss of enjoyment in life from an injury that impacts your ability to enjoy day-to-day activities or hobbies you previously engaged in.
- Disfigurements such as scarring or amputation that result in emotional distress and social stigmatization.
- Loss of consortium, or the impact of the injury on your relationship with your spouse or partner, including loss of companionship and physical affection.
Under most circumstances, there are no caps on the general and special damages you can seek through a personal injury claim in Nevada. However, there are some exceptions. For example, in claims, against public employees, general damages are capped at $200,000 (see Nevada Revised Statute § 42).
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Nevada?
According to Nevada Revised Statute § 41A.097, the statute of limitations for catastrophic injury claims is two years from the date it’s sustained. However, there are exceptions to this general rule.
If the injured person is a minor or is mentally ill, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until they reach the age of 18 or their mental health is restored. Known as tolling, pausing the statute of limitations gives some individuals additional time to file their claims.
Another key exception is the discovery rule. If an injury or its cause was not immediately discovered, the statute of limitations begins to run from the date when the injury was or reasonably should have been discovered. This rule often applies in cases involving exposure to harmful substances, where the injuries may not be evident until long after the initial exposure or incident.
Regardless of these exceptions, taking prompt action is best when dealing with catastrophic injury claims. This allows for the evidence to be preserved and for a thorough investigation to be conducted while the incident is still fresh in the minds of witnesses.
The statutes and laws governing personal injury claims can be complex. Seeking the guidance of a skilled Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyer is the best way to protect and preserve your rights. Our legal team, led by skilled litigation attorney, Jack F. DeGree, has the expertise to navigate the statutes of limitations and other intricacies related to your case to help ensure your claim is filed within the required timeframe.
Why Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Catastrophic injuries come with complex legal and medical issues. Our Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyers are here to guide you through these complexities, ensuring you understand your rights and legal options. We can help by:
- Gathering Evidence. A critical part of any personal injury case is substantiating the claim with solid evidence. Our catastrophic injury lawyers can help collect and organize necessary evidence, such as medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimony.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies. Insurance companies often have their own legal teams and may try to minimize payouts. Having a lawyer on your side levels the playing field and ensures your interests are well-represented during negotiations.
- Representing You in Court. If your case goes to court, our catastrophic injury attorneys are prepared to provide competent and effective representation, presenting your case in the most compelling way to maximize your chances of a favorable outcome.
- Seeking Maximum Compensation. Our deep understanding of the law and exceptional negotiation skills allow our catastrophic injury lawyers to improve your chances of receiving maximum compensation for your injuries, losses, and suffering.
Having an injury attorney on your side is one of the surest ways to protect your rights and interests. With more than 40 years of experience helping victims of catastrophic injury get justice, we know how to build solid cases, provide straightforward evidence, and fight for the total compensation our clients deserve.
Schedule a Free Case Review With an Experienced Las Vegas Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today
Have you suffered a serious injury? Burg Simpson is ready to listen to your story, explain your rights and options, and help you determine if legal action is right for your situation. Attentive, effective, and thorough, our firm is here to stand by your side, protect your best interests, and pursue every penny you are due.
Good Lawyers. Changing Lives.®
To schedule a FREE consultation with an experienced Las Vegas catastrophic injury lawyer, contact Burg Simpson online or call 702-668-2070 today. Based in Las Vegas, our injury attorneys serve North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, and all nearby areas of Nevada.
