CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWYERS

This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.

A catastrophic injury is a severe injury, which is often life-changing in nature and is caused by damage to the spine, spinal cord, brain, or limb loss. Catastrophic injuries can lead to permanent disabilities, large medical bills, and long-term pain and suffering. The attorneys at the Brown & Crouppen Law Firm represent individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries due to an accident resulting from someone else’s negligence.

Our lawyers have helped injury victims and their families recover compensation totaling over $1 Billion as a result of verdicts and settlements for personal injury claims. We develop a strong case by understanding your unique circumstances, and fighting back against the insurance companies. Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there’s no upfront cost to hire a lawyer. We only get paid if your catastrophic injury case is won.

WHAT ARE CATASTROPHIC INJURIES?

Catastrophic injuries are some of the most complicated and heartbreaking cases our personal injury lawyers see. Motor vehicle accidents, collisions, and other events due to negligence can result in serious injuries that cause chronic physical pain and reduced quality of life, such as paraplegia and quadriplegia, severe burn injuries, and brain damage.

The main types of catastrophic injuries include:

  • Amputations: Severe injuries can result in amputation or loss of limb, which is a serious and life-altering injury.
  • Spinal cord injuries: Trauma to the spinal cord can cause paralysis, a loss of control over bodily functions, and chronic pain. Types of spinal cord injuries include partial and complete, which are detrimental to controlling bodily functions.
  • Head and brain injuries: Head trauma can result in profound damage to the brain and, with it, changes to the life and health of victims and their families. A traumatic brain injury—a catch-all term that includes concussions, brain bleeds, skull fractures, and diffuse axonal injuries—often results in long-term pain or permanent disability.
  • Back and neck injuries: Accidents resulting in back and neck injuries can lead to sprains, herniated discs, and nerve damage.
  • Severe burns: Burn victims often need routine surgery for months or years, skin grafts, and the ever-present threat of infection. They also may face a life of disfigurement.

In the United States, catastrophic injuries may be categorized as follows:

  • Fatal injury: severe injuries that result in death
  • Permanent disability: injuries that cause conditions in which an individual is permanently unable to work full-time due to a lifelong disability
  • Severe trauma: severe back, head, or neck trauma that does not result in a permanent disability

A catastrophic injury is a trauma that can result in permanent structural changes to daily life. It is not enough to simply show who was at fault. An experienced personal injury lawyer also knows how to show the full extent of emotional, mental, and economic loss.

According to the American Bar Association, a personal injury claim can help those who have suffered a severe injury recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages such as lost wages and future lost wages.

Individuals who sustain a catastrophic injury due to the negligence of another party deserve to be well compensated in economic and non-economic damages, and Brown & Crouppen specializes in ensuring that.

common types of catastrophic injuries infographic

COMMON CAUSES OF CATASTROPHIC INJURIES

Every year, millions of individuals suffer severe injuries due to auto accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 5 million citizens got into a car crash in 2020. Nearly 1.6 million of these citizens sustained injury.

In addition to car accidents, catastrophic injuries are often caused by the following:

COMMON CAUSES OF CATASTROPHIC INJURIES INFOGRAPHICS

HOW TO FILE A CATASTROPHIC INJURY LAWSUIT

You have the right to seek damages if you suffer a catastrophic injury. Our personal injury attorneys are skilled in filing well-supported claims on behalf of injury victims.

After seeking proper medical care, the process for filing a claim after a catastrophic injury is as follows:

  • Contact an attorney: At Brown & Crouppen, we will review your case for free and determine whether filing a claim is the best route. If we decide to move forward, we will notify the involved parties.
  • File the claim: We will file a claim against the responsible parties. Filing an insurance claim may also be necessary.
  • Gather evidence: We will collect sufficient evidence to prove the liable party caused the injury or the incident that led to the injury. This can include statements from witnesses, medical bills, accident reports, and estimates/invoices for property damage.
  • Negotiate a settlement: Most personal injury claims settle through negotiations. Our skilled lawyers will fight for maximum compensation.
  • Finalize settlement or go to trial: If a fair settlement cannot be agreed upon, we will take your case to trial.

HOW MUCH CAN I GET FROM A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT?

The compensation for a catastrophic injury claim will vary depending on the severity of injuries and damages. At Brown & Crouppen, our catastrophic injury lawyers fight to pursue the maximum financial compensation to help victims recover.

Personal injury lawsuits typically involve awarding economic and noneconomic damages, which may include the following:

  • Medical bills and future medical treatment
  • Forms of rehabilitation
  • Lost income and loss of future earnings
  • Emotional suffering
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Permanent disability

Punitive damages may also be awarded depending on how the injury was sustained.

WHAT IS THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR A PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUIT?

You have a limited time to file and receive compensation for a personal injury claim. This timeframe is known as the statute of limitations. If you fail to file within this designated period, you lose the right to seek compensation.

The statute of limitations varies from state to state. Illinois and Kansas have a two-year statute of limitations from the date the injury occurred. Missouri has a five-year statute of limitations from the date of the injury.

Exceptions to these statutes exist depending on what caused the injury and other circumstances. Our catastrophic injury lawyers will discuss the exceptions of your case and ensure you file within the given time.

justice statue

Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.

HOW CAN A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER HELP ME?

At Brown & Crouppen, we have the knowledge and resources to build a strong case, fight for you, and win. During your free initial consultation, we will review the facts of your case, lay out expectations, and answer your questions.

Catastrophic injury lawsuits can be complex, but we will always be prepared with the facts and evidence. When you hire our law firm, you benefit from our expertise with personal injury cases and wrongful death claims. We respect the attorney-client relationship and are committed to providing each of our clients with superior legal representation.

We have an expansive network of professionals on our side. Your personal injury attorney will consult with medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, manufacturing experts, and other specialists who can provide valuable insight into your case.

Expert testimony is crucial in a personal injury lawsuit. Our attorneys possess extensive experience in the field and will ensure you are properly represented. You can trust us to be your legal advocates.

REQUEST A FREE CASE EVALUATION FOR A CATASTROPHIC INJURY CASE

Contact Brown & Crouppen for a free consultation if you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury. A catastrophic injury attorney can help you obtain compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, and other damages. We work on a contingency basis, so you have no upfront cost. We don’t get paid until we win your case.

FREE CASE EVALUATION

Our Results

Awarded to our clients over

$1 MILLION

Boat Mechanic’s family settles
wrongful death suit

$2 MILLION

High school runner struck by utility
truck reaches settlement

$1 MILLION

Postal worker struck by commercial truck
at loading dock settles lawsuit

$1.5 MILLION

TESTIMONIALS

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andy terry and ed in suits

Have you suffered an injury?

Call Brown & Crouppen at 
(314) 501-9394
for a FREE consultation

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314-222-2222
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