Catastrophic Car Accident Injuries in Michigan

Key points:

• What is a catastrophic injury?
• What are examples of catastrophic injuries?
• What makes legal claims for catastrophic injuries different?
• What compensation is available for individuals who have suffered a catastrophic injury?
• How can a personal injury attorney help after a catastrophic injury?

The term “catastrophic injury” refers to severe, life-altering harm that results in permanent physical, emotional, mental, or financial consequences. Because of the gravity of the injuries involved, legal claims for accidents that cause catastrophic injuries typically involve a higher measure of damages, including compensation for future medical care, in-home assistance, mobility accommodations, lost earning capacity, and significant non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

If you or a loved one was catastrophically injured in a car accident, the personal injury attorneys at Muth Law, P.C., can help. Our law firm has decades of experience representing individuals who suffered catastrophic injuries and their families. We can provide expert legal guidance to protect your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

Catastrophic injuries are the most severe type of harm a person can suffer, short of death. These injuries forever alter a person’s life, causing permanent physical, emotional, mental, and financial harm. The lives of people who have been catastrophically injured often bear little resemblance to their lives before the accident.

What Are Examples of Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries are those that cause long-lasting or permanent physical, emotional, mental, and financial harm. Examples include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that affect an individual’s speech, personality, cognition, or motor skills
• Amputation or loss of a limb
• Severe burns that cover large portions of the body or result in permanent scarring or nerve damage
• Loss of vision or hearing
• Organ damage or loss of a body function
• Paraplegia or quadraplegia

What Makes Legal Claims for Catastrophic Injuries Different?

Legal claims for catastrophic injuries differ significantly from other personal injury matters. Individuals who experienced a catastrophic injury often require ongoing medical care and are unable to return to work. Because of the severity of the injuries involved and the life-altering nature of the harm, legal claims seeking compensation for a catastrophic injury often include novel categories of damages, such as:

• Compensation thresholds that extend beyond compensation for medical bills. Catastrophic injury claims often include financial recovery for the costs of anticipated future medical treatment, in-home care, mobility aids, and accessibility renovations.
• Loss of earning capacity. The injured person and their family may be entitled to additional compensation for the loss of what the injured person would have earned over their lifetime but cannot because of a career-ending injury.
• Significant non-economic damages. Compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress can be more substantial in catastrophic injury cases.

What Compensation Is Available for Individuals Who Have Suffered a Catastrophic Injury?

When someone experiences a catastrophic injury, there is no pre-determined amount they can recover, as each individual situation is different. However, when legal damages in a catastrophic injury claim exceed $675,000, the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association may provide additional compensation.

The MCCA is a private, nonprofit association that was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1978. It reimburses no-fault insurance companies for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical coverage claims paid in excess of a set amount under insurance policies that provide unlimited lifetime coverage. However, obtaining this additional compensation can be challenging. Our experienced attorneys can gather and present evidence to prove that the claimant’s injuries are, in fact, catastrophic.

How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help After a Catastrophic Injury?

Legal claims for catastrophic injuries are more complicated than typical personal injury claims. Seeking assistance from an experienced personal injury attorney is crucial to protecting your rights and your future. Because catastrophic injuries often involve permanent disabilities that require long-term medical care, defendants and the law firms that represent them seek to minimize payouts by aggressively defending these cases, disputing the extent or cause of the injury, and fighting to shift blame.

The catastrophic injury attorneys at Muth Law know how to counter these tactics using compelling evidence, expert testimony, and a thorough understanding of the medical and legal issues in your case. We frequently work with various experts to calculate the lifetime cost of an injury, including future medical needs, assistive care, home modifications, and lost earning potential, to ensure you receive full and fair compensation that reflects the permanent and life-altering impact of the harm you suffered. Most importantly, we will be your advocate and guide during one of the most difficult times of your life, allowing you to focus on your recovery while we focus on justice.

Contact Muth Law Today

Muth Law is based in Ann Arbor and represents injured people in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and throughout Michigan. Please contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss your hunting accident injury matter.

Call 734-481-8800 or contact us via e-mail. We would be honored to serve your family.