Columbus Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Catastrophic injuries are typically defined as severe injuries to the spine, spinal cord, or brain, including skull and spinal fractures. A victim with this type of injury may need serious medical attention to resume the lifestyle they had before their accident.
However, there are ways to make the recovery process easier. To that end, many people who suffer catastrophic injuries choose to file a claim for compensation in civil court. However, this process may require the help of a Columbus catastrophic injury lawyer to ensure you receive fair compensation for all applicable damages. A dedicated personal injury attorney could help you or a loved one navigate the complex legalities of your personal injury case.
Why File Suit?
Individuals who suffer catastrophic injuries often need to create a life care plan to adapt to their new needs. This can include components such as:
- Home medical care
- Adapted transportation
- Assistive technology such as wheelchairs
- Hospital medical care
- Case management
Those who choose to file suit may be able to recover for the costs related to these elements of their plan under a variety of liability theories, including negligence, intentional tort, and strict liability.
Establishing Liability through Negligence and Intent
An individual may be guilty of legal negligence if they breach a legal duty and that breach becomes the cause of an injury. For example, if an individual had a duty to keep a workplace safe but failed to do so, that could be considered a breach of their legal duty of care. If another individual injures themselves because of that breached duty, the injured party may be entitled to recover damages.
Proving Intentional Torts
A Columbus catastrophic injury lawyer may also be able to help an injured party recover damages under intentional tort liability. This situation arises when the individual responsible for the catastrophic injury intentionally causes the harm. It is important to note that even if an individual did not “intend” in the traditional sense of the word to cause the harm, they could still be found to have committed an intentional act that resulted in harm.
For instance, a person may intentionally pull a chair out from under another person before the person sits as a joke. If the person gets injured, the injured party could file suit on the grounds of the other party committing an intentional tort. Overtly criminal grounds for recovery in civil court such as battery and assault fit under this definition as well.
Proving Strict Liability
Finally, some injuries may be covered by a strict liability standard. Strict liability means that because of the dangerous nature of an action or the degree of responsibility the defendant had, a claimant does not need to prove negligence or intention on the part of the defendant. Instead, because the defendant engaged in this dangerous activity or was responsible to that degree, they are automatically liable for any foreseeable harm that another person suffers as a direct result.
This theory of recovery may be significant for employees who work in inherently dangerous fields. Regardless of the industry or type of injury, a dedicated Columbus catastrophic injury lawyer could help an injured party understand which recovery theory is appropriate for their situation.
Contacting a Columbus Catastrophic Injury Attorney
Catastrophic injuries are traumatic events that no one hopes to go through. While the support of family and friends is extremely important, working with a Columbus catastrophic injury lawyer could also make a difference in your recovery process.
An experienced attorney in Columbus could help you enact justice by holding the negligent parties responsible and pursuing the financial compensation you may be entitled to. If you were involved in a catastrophic injury, call today to retain local representation and get started on your case.
