Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Raleigh, NC

Some of the catastrophic injuries we handle include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – A traumatic brain injury can have a devastating impact on a person’s physical and mental well-being. Depending on the specific injury and its severity, an individual may lose some or all of their ability to move. The person may be limited in the kinds of activities they can undertake, such as eating, speaking, or reading. A person also may experience mental changes, including personality changes, impaired cognition, and memory loss. Traumatic brain injuries are especially catastrophic because the damage to the brain is sometimes permanent.
• Spinal cord injuries – As part of the body’s central nervous system, the spinal cord relays nerve signals from the brain to the rest of the body, as well as from the body to the brain. Any injury to the spinal cord can have major effects on bodily functions, including breathing, circulation, and the patient’s ability to move. Severe spinal cord injuries can lead to paraplegia (paralysis of the legs) or quadriplegia (paralysis from the neck down).
• Partial or total paralysis – Partial or complete paralysis can completely change the way a patient interacts with the world, from how they care for themselves to how they earn a living. A patient’s prognosis depends in part on the extent of the paralysis.
• Loss of limbs – Losing a limb in a traumatic accident can change how a person lives their life. Many people living with limb loss lead productive lives, but the loss of a limb can reduce earning potential and affect the quality of life if the patient can no longer take part in the hobbies and activities they once did.
• Serious burns – Second- or third-degree burns can permanently damage skin and muscle tissue, leading to significant scarring and the need for skin grafts. Facial burns can cause disfigurement and require extensive cosmetic surgery to address. Burns can also cause nerve damage, affecting bodily functions. Serious burns are among the most painful of all injuries.
• Internal organ damage – An injury to an internal organ can affect basic bodily functions in addition to being painful. For example, an injury to the heart or lungs can severely impair the circulatory or respiratory systems, limiting mobility and endurance. While some organs can be removed with minimal side effects, such as the spleen or appendix, in most cases an injury to an organ will have permanent, significant effects on a patient’s life.
• Loss of hearing or sight – Sight and hearing are the two senses most people rely on to navigate the world around us. An injury that affects a patient’s ability to see or hear can be especially catastrophic. The effects of these injuries can be even more difficult to adjust to later in life and can have a serious impact on a victim’s ability to care for themselves, earn a living, and lead an active life.

Types of Catastrophic Injury Accidents

Many circumstances can result in a catastrophic injury. The most common types of catastrophic injury accidents include:

• Motor-Vehicle Accidents – Motor-vehicle accidents can lead to broken bones, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, internal organ injuries, and more.
• Workplace Accidents – A fall at work can cause a catastrophic head or spinal cord injury. Other workplace accidents that can lead to catastrophic injuries include fires, electrical shocks, becoming entrapped in machinery, exposure to toxic chemicals, and being struck by falling objects.
• Defective Products – Defective products can lead to any number of accidents, from car crashes to explosions and fires to side effects of prescription medications. If you have been injured because a product had a design or manufacturing defect, or the product lacked an adequate warning of risks posed by the product, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit.
• Physical Assaults – While many catastrophic injuries are caused by accidents, others are caused by deliberate misconduct or violent attacks. Victims of physical assaults can be left with serious injuries and emotional trauma that makes it difficult to conduct their daily lives. In some cases, the owner of the premises where the assault occurred may be held liable for the injuries because of inadequate and negligent security.
• Premises Liability Injuries – Slip-and-falls caused by untended spills, loose flooring, collapsing structures, and broken stairs are a common cause of premises liability accidents.

Statute of Limitations in North Carolina

You have three years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Carolina. It is generally a good idea to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Waiting too long to get started on your case could make it harder to gather evidence and find witnesses to support your claim. If you wait too close to the statute of limitations you may have a hard time finding a lawyer to take your case. A lawyer cannot ethically file a lawsuit in North Carolina without adequate investigation of the case.