What are
Catastrophic Injuries?
The term "catastrophic” can be used to describe a number of
different serious injuries from loss of limbs to spinal cord injuries. This
leads to confusion for many people as to what constitutes a catastrophic injury
as well as what benefits are available in the case that a catastrophic injury
is sustained. Catastrophic personal injury lawyers will help you to understand
catastrophic injuries and file a claim if necessary.
Catastrophic personal injuries have many negative effects
that will impact the injured party’s quality of life. The typical types of
catastrophic personal injuries include the following:
· A full or partial loss of a limb
- Paraplegia – the impairment of the lower extremities that
results in reduced motor or sensory function.
- Quadriplegia – paralysis or loss of use of all four limbs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Loss of vision
- Mental and behavioural impairments
A licensed doctor must diagnose the patient with a serious
injury, then complete and submit an Application for Determination of
Catastrophic Impairment. This particular form contains specific legal language
and terminology that can be confusing for legal professionals, let alone
doctors with no legal training. Many of the tests used to diagnose catastrophic
injuries are either neuropsychological or orthopedic, which often require a
visit with a specialist. These circumstances can make it very difficult to be
properly diagnosed and acquire the required forms to file a catastrophic
personal injury claim.
The Value
of an Experienced Catastrophic Injuries Lawyer
Experienced
personal injury lawyers understand the severity of catastrophic personal
injuries and the impact these injuries have not only on the life of the injured
person, but also on the lives of family members and loved ones surrounding the
victim.
In
addition to being empathetic to the needs and concerns of the victim, experienced
personal injury lawyers have the knowledge to advise victims of their rights
based on Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), and expedite the process of
preparing all paperwork necessary to submit an applicable claim with the
insurance company.
It
is common for insurance companies to challenge the validity of a catastrophic
personal injury claim and to draw out the process over a long period of time.
An experienced personal catastrophic personal injury lawyer will have the knowledge
to ensure the victim is able to receive the proper diagnosis by licensed
medical professionals as soon as possible and all the proper paperwork is filed
in order to pursue the claim.
The Sokoloff Advantage
Sokoloff
Lawyers is a boutique law firm made up of highly experienced lawyers. These
lawyers have a proven track record and experience necessary to help clients
pursue successful catastrophic personal injury claims with access to the required
medical referrals and treatment providers.
Sokoloff
Lawyers is a respected name in personal injury law with a reputation of
negotiating fair settlements for clients and taking cases to court if
necessary. This reputation is extremely beneficial when dealing with insurance
companies.
As
a true multi-ethnic law firm, Sokoloff Lawyers is proud to offer an extensive
array of personal injury law services in over 30 different languages.
If you or
someone you know has been involved in a serious accident, contact a
catastrophic injuries lawyer today to discuss the seriousness of the
injuries and the options that are available to negotiate your fair settlement.