After you or a family member has been severely injured in an accident in Gary, Indiana, you may be feeling overwhelmed with medical bills and the prospect of long-term care expenses. As you grapple with your new reality and the fact that your life will never be the same again, expenses and bills pile up.
If you’re wondering how you’ll ever be able to pay for everything, it’s a good time to contact a catastrophic injury lawyer.
At Yosha Law Firm, we understand how significantly a serious accident impacts your life. We know that it’s difficult right now and that you could really use someone in your corner. We’ve been helping people just like you throughout Indiana get compensation for their severe injuries for decades. We’ll fight for the full compensation you deserve — and stand by your side every step of the way.
The Catastrophic Injuries We Represent
How is a catastrophic injury different from a regular injury? A catastrophic injury permanently alters your life. It prevents you from living and working independently ever again.
Some examples of catastrophic injuries are:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Loss of limb
- Hearing or vision loss
- Severe burns
- Internal organ damage
- Injury causing significant disfigurement or scarring
If you have a severe injury that isn’t listed above, but still prevents you from functioning on a day-to-day basis like you did before your accident, we may be able to help.
How much does a catastrophic injury lawyer in Gary, IN cost?
Personal injury lawyers usually don’t require upfront payment. Most work on contingency, meaning they will take a 33-40% cut of your final settlement money. If you lose the case and don’t get a settlement, your lawyer doesn’t earn anything.
The size of a settlement for a serious injury depends greatly on the factors of your specific case. Typically, catastrophic injury cases tend to have higher settlement amounts than other personal injury cases, where injuries are minor.
When you sustain severe injuries, your medical bills are typically higher and you usually have more long-term expenses to pay to accommodate for your injuries — so you would need a higher settlement to help cover these costs.
Does health insurance cover catastrophic injuries from accidents?
Depending on the type of coverage you have, your Indiana health insurance will pay for your medical care related to your accident injuries until you reach your policy limits. If you have catastrophic injury medical insurance, this policy will also kick in.
If you don’t have a policy specifically for catastrophic injuries and you reach your policy limits before the end of your treatment, you could be stuck with mounting medical bills. Severe injuries such as spinal cord injuries or loss of limbs can lead to long-term medical care that adds up over time.
These injuries could leave you permanently disabled, forcing you to make modifications to your home. You may have to buy special equipment or hire an aide to help you function every day. Your health insurance will only cover so much.
If you don’t think you have enough money in savings to pay for all the care you’ll need going forward, you should seriously consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you get a settlement. The settlement money will go toward paying for these new expenses.
The Hidden Costs of Serious Accidents
After being in a bad car accident, slip and fall accident, or other accident that causes catastrophic injuries, you may become permanently disabled. This may not only prevent you from working, but can also cost more in medical and care expenses:
- Households with an adult with a work-disability require an average of 28% more income to have the same standard of living as a household without a member who has a disability. That’s an additional $17,690 per year, for households at the median income level.
- It can cost between $10,000 and $35,000 to convert a vehicle for wheelchair accessibility. It will probably also cost more to insure.
- Installing a wheelchair ramp at home can cost between $1,000 and $3,200. The national average is $2,100.
The costs of immediate medical treatment aren’t the only expenses to consider following a bad accident. If your injuries were severe enough, you may have to make major modifications to your home, vehicle, and the way you live your life. These accommodations can quickly add up.
How long does a catastrophic injury case take to settle?
In Indiana, catastrophic injury cases can take anywhere from three months to several years to settle. Each case is unique, and the terms of the settlement will depend greatly on the type and severity of your injury. It also depends on the circumstances of the accident that caused the injury.
The more complex the case is, the longer it could take before it’s settled.
Also, not every catastrophic injury case ends with a settlement. You may have to take your claim to court if you and the defendant cannot agree on a settlement amount — or if the defendant refuses to accept responsibility for the accident.
The Types of Accidents Our Gary, IN Lawyers Can Help With
Catastrophic and traumatic injuries can result from several types of accidents, including:
- Car accidents
- Semi-truck accidents
- Pedestrian or cyclist accidents
- Severe slip and falls
- Work-related accidents
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Error and negligence by medical professional
- Using a faulty product
If your injuries have resulted from one of the above types of accidents, our legal team can help. If you don’t see your accident listed, you can still give us a call so we can discuss your case.
What can you use a catastrophic injury settlement to pay for?
Any medical expenses related to treating injuries you got from your accident can be included in your settlement amount. It’s not only bills you can get compensation for, however. You could recover the following damages:
- Hospital and emergency room visits
- Medical bills
- Ongoing medical care such as physical therapy or medication prescriptions
- Prosthetics
- Modifications to your car or home
- Nursing home care
- Reduced earning capacity if you can no longer do your job
- Lost wages for any time you missed at work as a result of your injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression
- Severe scarring and disfigurement
If the accident was a vehicle accident and you suffered property damage to your car, that expense may also be included in the damages you can recover in your settlement.
Our Gary catastrophic injury lawyers can go through all the details of your accident with you and help determine what your case is worth. We’ll work to ensure you get the compensation that you’re entitled to.
What If the Accident Was Partially Your Fault?
Even if the accident that caused your severe injuries was partially your fault, you still may be able to get compensation. In Indiana, you may still receive compensation for an accident if you were 50% liable. If your liability was higher than 50%, you can’t receive compensation.
Your settlement amount gets reduced by whatever percentage you’re liable for the accident. For example, if you are found 10% liable, then your settlement will be reduced by 10%.
Why Hire a Gary, IN Lawyer After a Serious Accident?
When you sustain life-changing injuries, you need someone who will advocate for your interests. Your family, medical providers, and therapists may be able to help you recover and offer the support you need but they can’t help you get compensation for your losses.
A personal injury lawyer can help ensure you have a settlement large enough to help you put your life back on track after a catastrophic injury in Gary, Indiana. They can deal with insurance companies on your behalf, negotiate with the defendant’s lawyer, gather evidence in favor of your claim, and even take your case to court if it comes to it.
A personal injury lawyer is exactly who you want by your side after your bad accident. At Yosha Law, we work tirelessly for our clients’ interests. Not only do we advocate for you but we also provide guidance, support, and answers to all of your questions whenever you ask. We’re there for you whenever you need us.
Call Yosha Law Firm in Gary, Indiana today for a free consultation.
