Chattanooga Catastrophic Injury Attorney

A catastrophic injury is one that is usually accompanied by long-term or permanent disability. The victim may be unable to return to work for long periods of time or may never be able to work again. Some people with catastrophic injuries are unable to handle basic daily tasks like dressing, bathing, and eating.

This could make it difficult to pay for the medical expenses and long-term treatment they need and can put a severe strain on their ability to support themselves and their loved ones.

If you or your loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you do not deserve to face a lifetime of challenges at your own expense. Quickly contact our experienced personal injury lawyers for help seeking justice.

Attorney Scott N. Davis represents clients in both Tennessee and Georgia. With 25 years of legal practice on both sides of the injury claim process, he has the experience, knowledge, and skill to pursue the compensation and justice you are owed.

Call us or contact us online now to take advantage of a free consultation.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

Each state has a specific definition of a catastrophic injury. Georgia Code § 34-9-200.1(g) defines catastrophic injury as injuries including:

• Spinal cord injury involving severe paralysis
• Amputation
• Severe brain or closed head injury
• Second or third-degree burns over 25 percent of the body as a whole, or third-degree burns to 5 percent or more of the face or hands
• Total or industrial blindness
• Any other injury of a nature and severity that prevents the victim from being able to perform their prior work

Tennessee Code § 29-39-102(d) defines catastrophic loss or injury as one or more of the following:

• Spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia
• Amputation of two hands, two feet, or one of each
• Third-degree burns over 40 percent or more of the body as a whole or third-degree burns up to 40 percent or more of the face
• Wrongful death of a parent leaving a surviving minor child or children for whom the deceased parent had lawful rights of custody or visitation.

Common Types of Catastrophic Injury Cases Our Law Firm Handles

Most injuries involving significant long-term or permanent damage may be considered catastrophic. Some of the most common kinds of catastrophic injuries include:

• Nerve Damage
• Serious Head Trauma
• Quadriplegia
• Amputation
• Paraplegia
• Multiple Bone Fracture
• Paralysis
• Eye Injury
• Neurological Disorders

• Shoulder Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Foot Injury
• Organ Damage
• Back Injury
• Burn Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Neck Injury

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Many different kinds of accidents can result in catastrophic injuries. Some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries include:

• Car Crashes
• Commercial Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents

• Workplace Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Premises Liability Accidents
• Assaults

Compensation for Losses Suffered Due to a Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury victim could be awarded compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are usually a combination of economic damages and noneconomic damages.

Economic damages are tangible losses a victim has incurred or will incur, such as:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Property damage.

Noneconomic damages are much more subjective. For example, they may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement

Under Georgia Code § 51-12-5.1, punitive damages (also known as “vindictive damages” or “exemplary damages”) can be awarded when it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a defendant’s actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences.

Tennessee Code § 29-39-104 allows punitive damages to be awarded if a victim proves by clear and convincing evidence that a defendant acted maliciously, intentionally, fraudulently or recklessly.

How Our Attorneys Can Help with Your Case

Our lawyers can help you develop a life care plan that documents all of your damages and estimates the future costs of recovery. Experts may need to be consulted in some cases to provide certain resources.

An attorney can also help by conducting an independent investigation of your accident to determine the cause, collect evidence, and identify all negligent parties.

After building a solid case, the next step is for your attorney to enter negotiations with the responsible insurance companies. In many cases, a fair settlement may be reached at the negotiation table. In some instances, though, the insurance companies simply won’t budge. In that situation, our catastrophic injury attorneys will be ready to pursue your claim in court.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim? (Tennessee and Georgia)

Tennessee Code § 28-3-104(a)(1)(B) establishes that a civil action must be commenced within one year of the date of the accident. Georgia Code § 9-3-33 gives a person two years to file a lawsuit.

You should not delay in taking legal action. Important legwork often needs to be performed in these cases. People who wait too long risk not giving attorneys enough time to fully investigate and prepare a case.

Contact Our Chattanooga Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Today

Did you or your loved one sustain a catastrophic injury as the result of someone else’s negligence in Tennessee or Georgia? Talk to a Chattanooga personal injury lawyers at Davis Firm, LLC who will treat you with the respect and compassion that you deserve while aggressively pursuing compensation from those responsible for your catastrophic injuries.

Attorney Scott N. Davis has more than a quarter-century of legal experience and has taken more than 200 cases to verdict. He can review your case as soon as you call or contact us online to set up a free consultation.