Florida Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
An accident that leaves victims with catastrophic injuries can effectively end the life that victims had been living before they were injured. Victims and their families are often left with overwhelming costs, not to mention a deep emotional and physical toll. Our Florida lawyers want to help you rebuild your life after such an accident.
When you hire Meldon Law, you hire a dedicated legal team that won’t back down in the face of a challenge. Call us today to learn, at no cost to you, about the services provided by our Florida personal injury lawyers.
Work With Our Compassionate and Determined Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
Accidents causing catastrophic injuries are frequently the result of negligent, or even reckless, behavior. Those who cause catastrophic injuries have a moral and legal duty to compensate victims, and the Florida catastrophic injury lawyers at Meldon Law are here to help.
Our professional, compassionate, and trial-ready attorneys are ready to fight on your behalf to get you the compensation you need after a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other catastrophic injury caused by a serious accident. Here is how we do it:
We Identify the Negligent Parties in Your Catastrophic Injury Case
Almost any individual or organization can cause a catastrophic injury if they choose to behave negligently. Our team can find who you should sue for your injuries by:
- Listening carefully as you tell us your story
- Visiting the accident scene for ourselves
- Collecting and analyzing documentary evidence from the at-fault party, experts, and witnesses
We Fight for the Catastrophic Injury Damages That You Deserve
An injury like yours can make it difficult to focus on anything except the injury. You might be experiencing significant physical pain, mental confusion, and emotional trauma following your accident.
Rest assured that our attorneys can handle everything related to your catastrophic personal injury claim. That includes filing paperwork, communicating with other parties, negotiating for a fair settlement, and even representing you in the courtroom.
We Confront Florida Insurance Companies
We know the financial burdens you face after an accident. We have witnessed the ways that insurers take advantage of this vulnerability to pressure you into a quick, lowball settlement. These offers are almost never an accurate representation of the value of the claim.
Our aggressive team of litigators can go to bat for you, ensuring that you ask for the full amount you deserve. Contact Meldon Law’s team of Florida catastrophic personal injury attorneys today for a free evaluation of your claim.
Catastrophic Injury Damages Improve Lives in Florida
Catastrophic injuries can be physically, mentally, and financially devastating for both you and your entire family. If your injury was the result of an accident caused by negligent, reckless, or willful behavior by another person, you may have the right to money damages through a Florida personal injury lawsuit against that person.
Compensation for Expenses Related to the Catastrophic Injury
The money you get from a personal injury lawsuit can help you pay for everything you need for as long as your injuries affect your life, including:
- Medical care from any Florida facility, such as the trauma centers listed by the Florida Department of Health
- Property damage, such as the loss of a vehicle or other valuable object, that happened during the same accident that led to your injury
- Compensation for past and future lost wages for as long as your injury prevents you from earning the same amount of money as you did pre-accident
Your Catastrophic Injury Is Itself a Compensable Damage
In addition to compensation for material losses like those described above, the catastrophic injury lawyers at Meldon Law can pursue money based on your physical and emotional suffering. That includes categories such as:
- Emotional distress stemming from the violent nature of the accident or the severity of your injuries
- Short- and long-term pain and suffering related to your injury symptoms
- Physical disabilities, such as the loss of a limb or paralysis
- Intellectual disabilities, such as those caused by traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Reduced quality of life, or all of the ways your life has changed because of your debilitating injury
Catastrophic Injury Victims May Be Able to Seek Punitive Damages
In rare cases, Florida courts award punitive damages to accident victims. Punitive damages are intended as a punishment to the at-fault party and a message to society at large that this sort of behavior will not be tolerated.
Our Florida personal injury lawyers may be able to pursue punitive damages when there is ample evidence that the liable party committed either of the following:
- Intentional misconduct is an action that the defendant knew was wrong and knew that there was a strong likelihood that injury would result.
- Gross negligence describes behavior that was so careless that it amounts to the defendant knowingly ignoring or not caring about the safety and lives of those nearby.
What Damages Does Your Florida Case Entitle You to Recover?
Every client’s situation is unique. There is no “average” settlement amount for you to shoot for, nor is there a standard legal strategy that we can apply to all of our cases. The only fair way to handle your case is to ask for an amount that reflects everything you lost or stand to lose in the years ahead.
Our personal injury lawyers can make sure that you understand the true value of your case and fight for the right amount of financial compensation based on your circumstances.
What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury in Florida?
Catastrophic injuries leave their victims with lifelong effects. An injury is generally considered “catastrophic” when it results in permanent disability, disfigurement, or death for the victim of the injury. Victims of catastrophic injuries are often unable to return to work, and many need round-the-clock care due to the severity of their physical limitations.
Examples of Catastrophic Injuries Under Florida Law
The state of Florida categorizes all of the following injuries as catastrophic:
- Traumatic brain injury: A serious brain injury can leave victims with limited mobility, reduced cognitive function, or memory problems, or even put them in a vegetative state. Victims of the most severe traumatic brain injuries may need in-home care by a medical professional or full-time care at a residential care facility.
- Spinal cord injury: Damage to the spinal cord will have differing effects based upon the location of the injury, but it often leaves victims unable to control some or all of their limbs.
- Burn injury: Burns can cause extensive disfiguring scars, as well as damage to the nerve endings in the skin. Serious burn victims are often required to spend prolonged periods in the hospital and undergo skin grafts to remove areas damaged by the burn.
- Amputation: If an injury to your hand, arm, leg, or foot is so severe that your doctor cannot save it, they will have to amputate the injured area. While amputation may be necessary to save the patient’s life, it is physically and emotionally traumatic, resulting in chronic pain and a lengthy rehabilitation period.
These are not the only severe injuries that could qualify you for catastrophic injury damages. When we evaluate your case, our personal injury law firm can let you know if your injuries meet this legal threshold.
What Are Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Florida?
Catastrophic injuries often stem from the following types of accidents:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Accidents involving big rig trucks or semis
- Boating accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Premises liability accidents
These events can occur anywhere at any time, from busy highways like I-4 to your weekly trip to the supermarket. Our catastrophic injury attorneys in Florida can fight for the right compensation based on your circumstances.
How Do Severe Injury Accidents Happen?
All too often, these and other types of accidents are caused by negligence. Common examples of negligence include:
- A driver who chooses to disobey traffic laws or to get behind the wheel when they are clearly compromised (e.g., drunk)
- A manufacturer who sold a product despite knowing that it was defective and could do serious harm
- An employer, such as a trucking company, that pressures employees to take unsafe actions in order to increase profits or productivity
You can help prevent accidents by staying alert and behaving responsibly whenever you are around other people, but unfortunately, you cannot stop others from exhibiting reckless behavior. When the unthinkable happens, our catastrophic injury law firm in Florida can advocate for you.
What to Do About Catastrophic Injury Accidents
The first thing you should do after any accident is to see a doctor and get whatever emergency care you need. After that, you can safely start to think about your legal options.
At Meldon Law, our team of attorneys has worked with countless accident victims. We understand the true extent of the costs that families should expect to face throughout the victim’s lifetime. We know what our clients deserve, and we won’t back down in the face of an insurer’s bullying tactics.
Get Help From Our Florida Catastrophic Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a catastrophic accident, choose a law firm you can trust to fight hard on your behalf. Contact the Florida catastrophic injury lawyers at Meldon Law for a free consultation on your case. We can take the time to teach you about your options before we get started.
