A catastrophic injury not only affects the injured party but also places a tremendous emotional and financial burden on their families. If you have suffered a life-changing injury in Buffalo, NY, you have the right to hold the at-fault party financially responsible. A Buffalo catastrophic injury lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve to get quality care and support your household.
Since 2012, O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has represented countless accident victims in the fight for justice and fair compensation in Buffalo, New York. We are here to help you with the compassion and legal expertise you need. Contact our law office at (716) 222 2222 for a free consultation with a Buffalo catastrophic injury attorney to explore your legal options today.
How O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You With Your Catastrophic Injury Case In Buffalo, NY
Facing a catastrophic injury can be one of the most challenging moments in your life. At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand the gravity of your situation and are committed to providing you with comprehensive legal support.
Our Buffalo personal injury lawyers have 84 years of combined experience handling complex cases. Since 2012, we have recovered tens of millions on behalf of our clients. Our attorneys have been recognized as WNY Legal Elite and Top 50 Upstate New York Super Lawyers.
When you hire our law firm, we will:
- Conduct a thorough investigation into your accident
- Collaborate with experts in medicine and other fields to prove your case and damages
- Gather all available evidence to support your case
- Protect you from insurance company tactics to minimize your injury or shift the blame
- Aggressively negotiate on your behalf to seek full compensation
- Present your case to a jury if necessary
At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to giving you the tireless representation you deserve in Buffalo, NY. We understand you are counting on the money you recover to get the care you need and potentially replace your earnings for the rest of your life. Contact our law office for a free consultation with a Buffalo catastrophic injury attorney to discuss how we can help you recover the money you need.
What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
Catastrophic injuries dramatically alter the life of the victim and their family. These injuries are characterized by their severity and the significant impact they have on the victim’s ability to lead a normal life. These devastating injuries often require long-term or permanent medical care, rehabilitation, and assistance. Generally, these injuries result from sudden, unexpected incidents.
How Common Are Catastrophic Injuries?
Catastrophic injuries occur with unsettling frequency. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are a common form of catastrophic injury. Every year, there are 17,800 new spinal cord injuries across the country. Nearly 10,000 catastrophic cervical spinal cord injuries alone happen every year. These injuries often cause permanent partial or complete paralysis and loss of sensory function.
One million people are treated in an ER for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year, and 230,000 are hospitalized. While many brain injuries are mild or moderate, 80,000 people are sent home every year with a TBI-related disability.
Catastrophic injuries can come in many forms. About 20,000 people every year experience severe burns that cover at least one-quarter of their body. These severe burns aren’t just incredibly painful with a long, complex healing process; they are also disabling and disfiguring.
While 55% of amputations that occur in the country are due to vascular diseases like diabetes, 45% are caused by trauma. 83,000 Americans experience a traumatic amputation per year, often in accidents involving machinery, crushing accidents, or car accidents.
What Is My Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?
Determining the value of a personal injury case is difficult, especially in the beginning. Every person and every case is unique.
A personal injury lawyer can estimate the value of your catastrophic injury case based on a number of factors:
- Your age
- Circumstances of the accident and the defendant’s behavior
- Your ability to perform any type of work
- The type of injuries
- How your injuries affect your daily life
- Shared liability
- Insurance coverage
The average lifetime medical costs alone for an amputation exceed $500,000. Prosthetics may only last up to five years and cost up to $50,000 each. Someone with paraplegia is expected to face $1.5 to $2.3 million in lifetime medical expenses.
Calculating future lost earnings and medical bills alone may require medical and economic experts. Your lawyer will work with experts throughout your case to determine the full value of your losses.
What Kind of Damages Are Available To Accident Victims?
Victims of catastrophic injuries are entitled to compensatory damages from the at-fault party. These damages are meant to compensate for both tangible and intangible losses. Compensatory damages include economic and non-economic damages.
Economic or financial damages include:
- Past or current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Home health care and other assistance
- Lost wages
- Reduced or lost earning potential
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage
Non-economic damages compensate for personal, non-monetary losses. This includes pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, mental anguish, and disfigurement.
In rare cases, a jury may award punitive damages.
Punitive damages in New York may be awarded with clear, convincing evidence that the defendant’s behavior showed:
- Significant moral turpitude, or
- Willful, wanton disregard for your safety
These damages are meant to punish the defendant for their behavior, not compensate for losses.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?
At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay any upfront costs or hourly rates for the legal representation you need. Instead, your lawyer’s fee is contingent upon winning your case. If a settlement is reached or a verdict is won in court, the lawyer’s fee is then taken as a percentage of the compensation awarded to you.
This arrangement allows victims of catastrophic injuries to pursue justice and compensation without the burden of financial risk.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for My Injury In New York?
In New York, even if you’re partially to blame for your injury, you may still be entitled to recover compensation due to the state’s comparative negligence law.
New York is one of the few states that use a pure comparative negligence system. Under this rule, your compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. You can still recover compensation for your losses even if you are 99% to blame.
For example, if you are found to be 30% at fault for the accident that caused the $50,000 in damages you suffered, you would be limited to recovering 70% of your damages ($35,000).
Insurance companies often try to shift blame to minimize the amount they are liable to pay. This is particularly true with high-value catastrophic injury cases. Every percentage of fault that’s shifted to you may reduce their liability by $10,000 or more. An experienced lawyer will defend you against unfair blame-shifting tactics to ensure you receive the full compensation you are owed.
We Fight To Recover Compensation for All Types of Catastrophic Injuries
At O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, we have experience handling all types of cases involving catastrophic injuries, including:
- Amputation
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Complex or multiple fractures
- Severe burns
- Loss of hearing or vision
- Electric shock
- Organ damage
- Significant nerve damage
- Wrongful death
We recognize the impact your injury has on every aspect of your life. Our Buffalo personal injury lawyers will put 84 years of combined experience to work to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
What Causes Catastrophic Injuries In Buffalo, New York?
Life-changing injuries usually happen due to avoidable accidents when someone is careless. They can also be the result of intentional, criminal behavior.
Catastrophic injuries are often caused by:
- Car accidents and other motor vehicle collisions
- Falls
- Workplace accidents include construction site accidents
- Sports and recreation
- Assault and gun violence
The personal injury lawyers at O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, will carefully investigate your accident. We will identify any parties who may be at fault for your severe injuries so they can be held accountable.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit In New York?
The New York statute of limitations gives you just three years to file a personal injury lawsuit after your accident. Certain types of cases have a shorter deadline for filing your case.
Catastrophic injuries caused by assault or intentional tort have a one-year statute of limitations. For medical malpractice, the deadline is two-and-a-half years after the malpractice or the end of continuous treatment by the provider.
If you miss your deadline to file a lawsuit, you will be barred from holding the at-fault party financially responsible. It’s critical to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to preserve your claim and valuable evidence.
Contact Our Buffalo Catastrophic Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Have you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in Buffalo, New York? You may be entitled to money for the devastating losses you have experienced. O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you. We proudly serve al throughout Erie County and surrounding areas.
Our Personal Injury law firm in Buffalo also provides:
- Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Buffalo, NY
- Brain Injury Lawyer in Buffalo, NY
- Buffalo Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
- Buffalo Dog Bites Lawyers
- Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyers
- Car Accident Lawyers in Buffalo, NY
- Child Injury Attorneys in Buffalo, NY
- Construction Accident Attorneys in Buffalo, NY
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Buffalo, NY
- Pedestrian Accidents Lawyer in Buffalo, NY
- Premises Liability Lawyers in Buffalo, NY
- Product Liability Attorneys in Buffalo, NY
- Slip And Fall Accident Lawyers in Buffalo
- Truck Accident Attorney in Buffalo
- Uber Accident Attorneys in Buffalo
- Wrongful Death Attorney in Buffalo, NY
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Buffalo, NY
O’Brien & Ford Buffalo Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
4549 Main St Suite 201 Buffalo, NY 14226
Phone: (716) 222-2222
Opening Hours: From 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
7 days a week
