Boston Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Helping Victims Pursue Compensation
Trusted Massachusetts Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Advocating for You
Serious Legal Representation For Accident Victims In Boston
Accident victims can sometimes sustain injuries so severe that they have a long-term, or even lifetime, impact on their physical and financial wellbeing. Michael O. Smith is a Boston personal injury lawyer who understands how difficult it can be to move forward after suffering a catastrophic injury. Mr. Smith has helped victims in a number of personal injury matters pursue claims against those who caused them harm. He can provide you with compassionate legal guidance, while aggressively pursuing your rights against the parties responsible for your injuries. Contact us today to discuss your case.
Catastrophic Injuries In Accidents
Accidents can cause serious and catastrophic injuries. Whether it is a dog bite or a chain-reaction truck crash, catastrophic injuries result from a variety of circumstances. Some of the more severe injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries, which can result in tetraplegia or paraplegia
- Burns
- Loss of limb
- Disfigurement
- Death
Catastrophic injuries have a significant human and economic cost. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that TBIs account for one-third of all injury-related deaths. The National Fire Protection Association attributed a yearly average of 209 deaths, 764 injuries, and hundreds of millions in property damage to motor vehicle fires between 2006 and 2010. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, anywhere between 238,000 to 332,000 Americans live with a spinal cord injury. Their lifetime cost can be in the millions, depending on the severity of the injury and the victim’s age.
Liability For Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries are often the result of preventable accidents. If you were hurt in an accident, you can seek compensation for your injuries by filing a personal injury lawsuit against those who harmed you.
A victim of personal injury can hold a defendant accountable under several theories of liability. The nature of the accident and the defendant will help determine which theories are viable in a particular case. These theories may include:
- Negligence. If a person owed you a duty of care, you can file a claim under negligence. You would have to establish that the defendant breached his or her duty of care and that the breach caused your injuries and damages. This theory may apply to pedestrians or motorists injured in car crashes.
- Strict liability. In certain cases, a defendant will be liable regardless of whether he or she owed a duty or breached it. A plaintiff in a dog bite case, for example, can hold the dog owner strictly liable in Massachusetts without having to show the owner was negligent.
- Breach of warranty. Products in Massachusetts must be fit for safe consumption and use. A plaintiff may hold a manufacturer or seller liable in a product liability claim if a defect anywhere along the chain of a product’s design or manufacture causes injury.
If more than one party caused you harm, you can hold the parties jointly and severally liable for your injuries. Massachusetts allows a plaintiff to recover total damages from one party, regardless of its proportion of fault. It is then up to that party to seek contribution from any other person or entity responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries.
Seeking Compensation For Your Injuries
Catastrophic injuries can leave a victim with months or years of medical care, and unable to work. You may seek compensation for your injuries from those who caused you harm. You can recover for your past and future medical expenses, such as those for rehabilitative care or surgeries. You can also recover for your lost income, future wages, property damage, and any pain and suffering.
If your loved one died as a result of their injuries, you can potentially recover damages for their funeral and medical bills, loss of consortium, and more through a wrongful death claim.
Tenacious Legal Advocate
Boston personal injury attorney Smith and his team of attorneys will fight for your right to fair compensation for your injuries. Mr. Smith is a seasoned personal injury attorney with years of experience representing clients in a wide range of injury cases. He has advocated for his clients at trials, and aggressively negotiated with insurers. He handles each case personally, and will provide you with the representation that is appropriate for your case. Call our office at 617-263-0060, or fill out our online form to schedule a no-obligation consultation. We serve clients from our offices in Boston.
Boston Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Serving Seriously Injured Victims Throughout Massachusetts
A catastrophic injury can change nearly every part of a person’s life. A serious accident may result in permanent disability, extensive medical treatment, loss of independence, inability to work, and significant financial challenges for an injured person and their family. Unlike injuries that may heal within weeks or months, catastrophic injuries can require lifelong medical care, rehabilitation, assistive equipment, home modifications, personal assistance, and other forms of continuing support. Mass Injury Group Injury and Accident Attorneys represents seriously injured individuals and families in Boston and throughout Massachusetts. Our catastrophic injury attorneys investigate the circumstances of an accident, identify potentially responsible parties, evaluate current and future losses, and pursue available compensation when a viable legal claim exists.
A person with a severe TBI or spinal cord injury may need assistance with:
✓ Mobility
✓ Communication
✓ Personal care
✓ Medication
✓ Transportation
✓ Employment
✓ Household activities
Catastrophic Injury Cases Involving Brain and Spinal Injuries
Brain and spinal injuries often require particularly extensive medical and rehabilitation care. Families may also need to make long-term changes to their homes and daily routines.
These considerations should be incorporated into a comprehensive assessment of the injury and its consequences.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Boston
Catastrophic injuries can result from many different types of accidents and dangerous circumstances.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
High-impact car, truck, motorcycle, and other vehicle crashes can cause severe brain, spinal, orthopedic, and internal injuries.
Commercial Truck Accidents
The size and weight of commercial trucks can result in devastating injuries when a collision occurs. Investigating a trucking accident may involve the driver, and other potential factors.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists have considerably less physical protection than occupants of passenger vehicles. A collision can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, amputations, and other catastrophic conditions.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrians and bicyclists can suffer severe injuries when struck by motor vehicles because they have little physical protection against the force of a collision.
Construction and Workplace Accidents
Falls, machinery incidents, explosions, electrocutions, structural failures, and other workplace hazards can cause catastrophic injuries.
Defective Products
Dangerous or defective products can cause serious burns, amputations, brain injuries, and other permanent injuries.
Premises Liability Accidents
Unsafe property conditions, dangerous stairs, inadequate maintenance, inadequate security, and other hazards may contribute to catastrophic injuries.
Other Serious Accidents
Catastrophic injuries can also result from fires, recreational accidents, medical negligence, and other circumstances depending on the facts of the individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
A Boston catastrophic injury lawyer can investigate the accident, identify potentially responsible parties, preserve evidence, evaluate current and future losses, work with appropriate experts, communicate with insurance companies, and pursue compensation when a viable legal claim exists.
It is generally beneficial to seek legal guidance as soon as reasonably possible after a catastrophic injury. Early involvement can help preserve evidence, document the accident, identify witnesses, and begin evaluating the long-term effects of the injury.
Catastrophic injuries can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, amputations, severe burns, permanent disfigurement, severe orthopedic injuries, and other conditions that cause significant or permanent impairment. The precise legal treatment of an injury depends on the circumstances and applicable law.
An attorney may investigate accident reports, photographs, surveillance footage, vehicle or equipment records, witness statements, medical records, and other evidence. Depending on the accident, potentially responsible parties could include drivers, employers, property owners, manufacturers, contractors, or other entities.
Depending on the circumstances and applicable Massachusetts law, a claim may potentially include medical expenses, rehabilitation, future medical care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent impairment, disfigurement, and other legally recognized losses. The value of each claim depends on its specific facts.
Yes. Catastrophic injuries may require years or lifelong treatment, rehabilitation, assistive equipment, home modifications, or personal care. An attorney may work with medical professionals, life-care planners, economists, or other qualified experts to evaluate reasonably anticipated future needs.
Yes. A personal injury lawyer in Boston who handles serious and catastrophic injury cases can investigate the underlying accident, evaluate liability and damages, communicate with insurers, and pursue available legal remedies. Catastrophic cases may require particularly detailed analysis because of their long-term consequences.
A permanent or long-term injury can affect both current income and future earning capacity. Depending on the circumstances, these losses may be considered as part of a personal injury claim. Employment history, earnings, medical limitations, vocational evidence, and future work capacity may all be relevant.
Catastrophic injury claims often involve permanent disabilities, extensive medical treatment, long-term rehabilitation, significant changes in earning capacity, and continuing care needs. Because future losses can be substantial, these cases may require detailed medical, financial, and vocational evidence.
Catastrophic injury attorneys in Massachusetts can help investigate the accident, preserve evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, evaluate the injured person’s current and future needs, communicate with insurers, and pursue appropriate compensation. Each claim must be evaluated according to its specific facts and applicable Massachusetts law.
Boston Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Serving Massachusetts
✓ Mass Injury Group Injury and Accident Attorneys represents seriously injured individuals and families in Boston and throughout Massachusetts.
✓ The firm’s listed service area includes Suffolk County and communities such as Boston, Chelsea, and Revere, as well as communities throughout Essex, Norfolk, Middlesex, Plymouth, and Worcester counties.
✓ If you or a family member has suffered a catastrophic injury, an experienced Boston catastrophic injury lawyer can review the circumstances and explain your potential legal options.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Real Stories from Real People
I got in an accident and Tyler took care of me. He was quick to respond when I had questions. He didn’t let the insurance company take vantage of me.Tyler got me what I deserved. I definitely recommend him.
– Brian Derosier
Tyler Langlais esq., quickly litigated and settled my case. He was extremely professional, down to earth, and very smart. I would recommend Tyler and his team of law professionals to all family and friends of mine.
– Jim DeStefano
This Law office is great, Tyler A. Langlais was able to help me each step of the way after my car accident. Very responsive, professional, and outstanding support. Process was quick and simple, and same goes to the rest of the Attorneys. I strongly recommend it 🙂
– Alex Ventura
Attorney Michael Smith was very accommodating. I hate traveling into the city dealing with traffic, so he met me locally. He negotiated a fair settlement and I’m satisfied with his counsel.
– Myrienne