Any injury suffered in an accident can dramatically change your life in the short term, but long-term and permanent injuries have much more devastating outcomes. Following a catastrophic injury, you may be dealing with increased medical expenses, physical pain, newfound disabilities, and loss of opportunities for the rest of your life.
Civil litigation may help mitigate some of the effects of such an injury, but you may struggle to recover compensation without assistance from a East Hartford personal injury lawyer. With a compassionate East Hartford catastrophic injury lawyer by your side, you could be better equipped to take care of your family not just in the near future, but for years to come.
What Makes an Injury Catastrophic?
In legal terms, a catastrophic injury is one that results in permanent and debilitating physical damage. Some of the most common types of catastrophic injury cases that East Hartford attorneys may handle include traumatic brain damage, paralyzing spinal cord injuries, and loss of limb.
More important than this specific definition, though, is identifying what damages those suffering from a catastrophic injury could recover through civil action. Unlike many less severe injuries, catastrophic injuries result in long-term damages which necessitate financial support for many years after the initial accident occurred.
Types of Damages to Purse
Damages may include but are not strictly limited to:
- Bills for in-home medical care, physical therapy, prescription medications, and other long-term in- and outpatient treatments
- Modifications needed to the person’s home and/or property so they can maintain mobility, especially after paralysis
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium with family members
- Loss of ability to earn a living, both in terms of short-term wages and long-term earning capacity
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The Importance of Filing on Time in East Hartford
The statute of limitations restricts all personal injury lawsuits in the state, and catastrophic injury cases are no exception. Under Connecticut General Statutes §52-584, a person must bring any civil action based on someone else’s negligence within two years of the discovery of their injury, and/or within three years of when the injury occurred.
Are There Exceptions to the Two-Year Statute of Limitations?
While failure to abide by this statutory deadline usually results in a case being time-barred and a plaintiff recovering no compensation, it should be noted that there are exceptions to the usual statute of limitations under certain circumstances. For example, if the prospective defendant in a civil case leaves the state during the prescribed statutory period, the deadline may be extended by up to seven years, with any time this person spent out of state not counting toward the original statute of limitations. A seasoned lawyer in East Hartford could offer further clarification about how this and other statutes may affect an individual plaintiff’s catastrophic injury case.
Discuss Legal Options with an East Hartford Catastrophic Injury Attorney
After suffering catastrophic damage in an accident, it is understandable to be unsure about who to turn to or what to do next. While prompt legal action is often critical in these situations, it is usually unproductive to file a civil case without knowing exactly how much compensation you need for your damages and establishing a comprehensive plan for how to pursue them.
An East Hartford catastrophic injury lawyer could help you prepare your case and stand by your side every step of the way. Call today to schedule a confidential consultation about your case.
