Columbus Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Experienced Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Columbus, OH

Any unexpected injury can send a victim’s life into a tailspin, but some injuries are permanent and life-altering. If you or someone you know has experienced a catastrophic injury due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, you have the legal right to seek the financial compensation you need to move forward with your life. Reach out to an experienced Columbus catastrophic injury lawyer for help.

Gervelis Law Firm – Trusted Personal Injury Attorneys

At Gervelis Law Firm, we have been serving the people of Ohio for more than fifty years. The primary focus at our firm is personal injury cases, and we have a long and successful track record advocating for our clients in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. 

Our founding attorney, Mark S. Gervelis, earned the distinction of being a Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. This certification comes from the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification and underscores Mark’s skills in litigation.

Our Columbus office is located at 1335 Dublin Road, making it convenient for our Columbus-area clients to come in and discuss their cases. We are also always available to our clients by phone. 

What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?

Catastrophic injuries come in many forms, but what they all have in common is that they permanently impair the injured person’s ability to work or live on their own. The following are some injuries that may be considered catastrophic in the context of personal injury claims:

• Traumatic brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries involve physical damage to the brain following impact or oxygen deprivation. These injuries can be very complex, and they affect about 69 million people around the world every year. A severe traumatic brain injury may result in permanent disability and could be considered catastrophic. 
• Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries involve damage to the central bundle of nerves that runs from the brain to the body. Spinal cord injuries can result in permanent paralysis in every part of the body below the level of the injury. Approximately 18,000 Americans sustain new spinal cord injuries each year, and many of these result from motorcycle accidents in Columbus.
• Loss of limb: Sometimes, people lose limbs in accidents, or limbs are so severely injured that they must be amputated. Losing a limb is often considered a catastrophic injury because it can permanently prevent an injured person from working in their chosen field or working at all in some cases. 

Catastrophic injuries can happen in a wide variety of contexts, just like personal injury cases in general. Some of the most common scenarios include car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability accidents, and workplace accidents. 

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What Compensation Can a Person Recover for a Catastrophic Injury?

In typical personal injury cases, the goal of a compensation package is to return the injured person’s life to the way it was before the accident. In catastrophic injury cases, it is generally not possible to do that. The goal of compensation, then, shifts to minimizing the financial burden associated with the injury and the injured person’s ongoing need for assistance. General categories of compensation are as follows:

• Medical expenses: Catastrophic injuries come with mountainous medical bills, and many families begin feeling the strain on their finances immediately. A fair settlement should take care of all medical expenses, including projected future expenses for things like medical equipment, home health care, or a residential nursing facility.
• Lost wages: In catastrophic injury cases, the victim is usually permanently incapable of doing their job. Compensation should consider actualized lost wages as well as projected lost wages, which can be calculated based on the victim’s salary and likely career trajectory.
• Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering is a more subjective aspect of a personal injury settlement, but it is standard and should not be overlooked. Pain and suffering applies to both physical pain and psychological trauma. 

Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, you need an attorney with experience handling cases of this gravity. Although there are many personal injury attorneys out there, it is important to hire a catastrophic injury lawyer who knows the nuances of a case like yours. 

Your attorney can be the point of contact between you and the liable party’s insurance company, which may encourage the insurance company to offer a fair settlement. If, however, your situation requires a personal injury claim, your lawyer can file it for you and negotiate for an adequate settlement on your behalf. 

FAQs

When Should I File a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Columbus?

In Ohio, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims in Columbus is two years, regardless of the severity of the injury. This means that an injured person cannot bring a civil action against a liable person if more than two years have passed since the date of the injury, so it is imperative to act in a timely manner.

How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated?

Pain and suffering is usually calculated using the per diem method, the multiplier method, or a combination of the two. The multiplier method multiplies the victim’s total financial losses by a number reflecting the overall impact of the injury on the victim’s life. The per diem method uses the victim’s typical daily earnings. Your attorney can provide insight regarding pain and suffering in your particular case. 

How Long Will It Take for My Case to Be Finalized?

Usually, personal injury cases cannot be fully resolved until the injured person has either made a full recovery or reached a point of maximum physical recovery according to their medical team. In catastrophic injury cases, full recovery is generally not possible, so final damages can be calculated after the victim has recovered as much as medically likely. Sometimes this only takes a matter of months, and other times it takes a year or more. 

Do All Catastrophic Injury Cases Go to Court?

No, in fact, many personal injury cases, including catastrophic injury cases, do not go to court. They usually settle long before the trial phase because courtroom proceedings are both time-consuming and expensive, so most defendants would rather settle and avoid that process. If your case does go to court, your attorney will present your argument and evidence before a judge, who will make the final decision regarding the outcome of the case.

Contact Gervelis Law Firm

If you need representation regarding a catastrophic injury case, contact Gervelis Law Firm today for a free consultation. With our five decades of experience, in-depth legal knowledge, and practical support, you can take the first steps toward financial recovery with confidence.