Houston Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Experience You Can Trust When It Matters Most
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
Baumgartner Law Firm is committed to providing you the support you need while we fight for the compensation you deserve. Our clients always come first.
Hiring the best Houston catastrophic injury attorney is the first step in protecting your rights and options. Our top-rated Houston personal injury attorneys have been trusted to protect the financial futures of Texas families for over three decades.
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Why Choose Our Houston Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
Greg Baumgartner, the founder of Baumgartner Law Firm, has spent the last 40 years helping accident victims. Greg is top-rated in personal injury and wrongful death cases, with a perfect 10 AVVO rating, and is widely recognized as one of the best personal injury lawyers in Texas. He has won millions for accident victims in Houston and across Texas. You will not find a more experienced serious injury attorney. Greg holds dual law degrees (less than 1% of all attorneys) and is also a graduate of the estemmed Trial Lawyers College.
You will not be a case number to us. Our legal team will treat you like family. We will use our personal injury law experience and winning record to maximize your compensation, We have the expertise and resources to handle the most difficult cases. Contact our law firm and let us fight for your financial compensation.
Call us 24/7. Let’s start fighting for justice together,
Preeminent Rated Injury Lawyer at Baumgartner Law Firm
Types of Catastrophic Injuries Our Lawyers Handle
Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain injuries can harm many parts of a person’s life. They can affect memory and how people control their feelings. People with brain injuries often have trouble focusing. They may struggle with their mood and self-control.
These injuries can also make it hard to think creatively and solve problems.
Even minor traumatic brain injuries like concussions can leave the victim with symptoms that linger more than a year after the initial accident. More serious injuries can cause lifelong deficits.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Not only can spinal cord injuries cost more than a million dollars for treatment in the first year after the injury alone, but they can also result in substantial loss of independence, leading to a permanent loss of function below the injury site.
While incomplete spinal cord injury or back injury may show some signs of healing over time, paralysis resulting from complete spinal cord injury usually means permanent loss for the victim.
Our Houston lawyers handle cases across Texas. We have won severe injury and wrongful death cases in Houston, TX. We also work in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Conroe, The Woodlands, and other cities. Our skilled personal injury lawyers in Houston can help you.
Amputation
When an accident causes severe crushing damage or cuts a limb from the body, it can result in permanent limb amputation. Amputees may have a long road ahead as they learn to adapt to life with the missing limb.
While prosthetic devices can make it easier for many people to get around despite their losses, they may not completely restore lost function. Amputees may also incur ongoing costs because they must replace their prosthetic devices at least every three to five years.
Disfigurement
Disfigurement can create all kinds of mental issues and emotional trauma. People may avoid social functions and become very self-conscious of their scars. Added to the high cost of plastic surgery and other medical bills, the fact that accident victims face disfigurement often is a significant portion of a jury award in Harris County, Texas.
Loss Of Hearing Or Sight
Loss of hearing or sight can result from a variety of accidents. From explosions to car accidents. Learning how to cope with loss of eyesight, hearing, or even a closed head injury can be especially difficult for victims.
Burn Injury
Burn injuries is one of the most traumatic injuries that a person can suffer. 3rd degree burns require extensive medical treatment and can leave lifelong scars. Suffering from a serious burn can be one of the most severe injuries. Texas juries tend to value burn injury cases with the seriousness that the injury demands
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Did You Suffer Catastrophic Injuries in Houston, Texas?
If you got badly hurt in Houston, Texas, you might be able to file a claim against whoever caused your accident. These major injuries can happen in many types of accidents. These include car crashes, construction site accidents, unsafe property conditions, and medical mistakes.
Baumgartner Law Firm can help. Our experienced catastrophic injury lawyer in Houston can help you understand your right to compensation and aid you in filing a personal injury claim against the liable party. You need the best local Houston attorney to help with serious injuries! We have acted as lead counsel for many other law firms.
Get a free consultation by calling (281) 587-1111.
Who Is Liable for Catastrophic Injuries?
Who owed you a duty of care at the time of the accident?
Often, the party that caused your injuries is someone who was in charge of you when the accident happened. This means someone who had a duty to keep you safe. It could be a construction company that should ensure safety at its site. It might be a company that owns a building where you were doing business. Or it could be a doctor who was taking care of you.
If you suffered injuries in a car accident, every driver on the road bears a duty of care to every other driver and every pedestrian who shares the road. Texas is an at-fault car accident state, so if you suffered catastrophic injuries in a car accident, you might have grounds to file a claim against the party that caused that accident.
How did that violation lead to your injuries?
If someone else’s violation of their duty of care to you led to catastrophic injuries, you have the right to compensation for those injuries. An attorney can evaluate your claim to determine how you suffered your injuries and how each entity contributing to your accident may share liability.
By identifying the individuals or entities that share liability for your injuries, an attorney can help you file a personal injury claim and seek the compensation you deserve for those injuries, including compensation for your medical expenses, wages lost because of your injuries, and pain and suffering related to your accident.
How did the person violate their duty of care to you?
The duty of care that a person owes depends on the situation that caused the injury. If you were injured in a car accident, a duty of care could involve violating a traffic law, such as speeding or failing to yield the right of way. In extreme cases, such as drunk driving, punitive damages may be available.
Do You Need a Compassionate Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Houston Trusts?
Catastrophic injuries resulting from negligence by another require the expertise of an experienced and reputable attorney, one with a track record of success and the time and resources to dedicate to your case.
Before hiring an attorney, consider their reputation and expertise in your specific type of case. Before filing a catastrophic injury lawsuit, you may want to know how much your case is worth. This will help you plan and ensure all bills are settled. However, each case is unique; your serious injury lawyer will consider several aspects when calculating the claim’s value.
How Much Compensation Can I Get for a Catastrophic Injury Case?
There are different types of catastrophic injuries. Considering their permanent nature, these injuries can be costly to treat. In addition, you may also suffer other types of losses. Ultimately, no two catastrophic injury cases are alike. Therefore, the amount of compensation you get will depend on the circumstances of your case. Below is what you can expect.
Head Or Brain Injury
Settlement amounts for these lawsuits vary widely depending on the severity and long-term impact of the injury.
In terms of treatment alone, a mild head injury costs about $85,000, while a severe one costs approximately $3 million. In addition, you can seek non-economic and punitive damages. We have handled numerous multi-million dollar cases with brain injuries.
Spinal Cord Injury With Surgery
The effects of a spinal cord injury are often far-reaching. As such, compensation must cover the full breadth of the losses suffered.
When calculating the settlement, several factors are considered, including your specific circumstances and the extent to which the injury has impacted your life. According to The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average lifetime medical costs for severe spinal cord injuries are more than $5 million.
Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be placed into several categories. These include first-degree, second-degree, third-degree, and fourth-degree burns. Generally, anything beyond a third-degree burn is considered a catastrophic injury.
Several factors will be considered regarding the amount of compensation for burn injuries. They include the nature of the accident, the severity of the burns, and whether the victim was partially at fault. A third-degree burn may be worth millions.
Disfiguring Injury
Some accidents can result in injuries that affect your appearance. Such injuries include lacerations, abrasions, nerve damage, and loss of limbs. Apart from the physical effects, disfiguring injuries can also cause emotional distress and affect your social life.
A few factors will influence the compensation you receive for these injuries. They include the location of the scar or disfigurement, the size and severity of the injury, and how the injury has affected your quality of life.
What Happens Legally in Texas When a Seriously Injured Victim Dies?
In many catastrophic injury cases, the victim initially survives but later dies from their injuries. When this occurs, Texas law offers a specific process for surviving family members to seek justice and compensation. The shift from a personal injury case to a wrongful death and survival action involves important legal distinctions that families should understand.
The Case Shifts to a Wrongful Death and Survival Case
Under the Texas Wrongful Death Act (Section §71.001), certain surviving family members have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party responsible for the death. Eligible claimants include the deceased’s spouse, children, and parents. These individuals can pursue compensation for their own losses, including:
- Loss of financial support and inheritance
- Loss of companionship, care, and guidance
- Mental anguish and grief
- Medical expenses incurred prior to death
- Funeral and burial costs
If no eligible family member files a claim within three months of the death, the executor or administrator of the estate may bring the lawsuit on behalf of the beneficiaries.
The Survival Action Carries on the Original Injury Claim
In addition to the wrongful death claim, Texas law allows for a survival action under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §71.021. The personal injury claim the victim held while alive continues after death and passes to the estate. The estate’s representative may pursue damages the deceased would have been entitled to, including:
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish that were suffered before death.
- Medical expenses from the time of injury to death
- Lost wages and earning capacity during that period
Most of the time both a wrongful death claim and a survival action are complementary claims in one lawsuit.
The Statute of Limitations
In Texas, the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of the accident. (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003(b) Missing this deadline can permanently bar recovery, so acting quickly is critical. If a personal injury case has been filed before the statute expires, and the victim dies later, a “suggestion of death” is filed by your attorney, and the case continues.
Probate May Be Required
If no estate has been opened, surviving family members may need to initiate probate proceedings to appoint a legal representative to manage the estate.
In some cases, a family member may serve as the estate’s representative without a probate proceeding.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Handling both a wrongful death claim and a survival action is legally complex. Insurance companies may attempt to settle for less during this difficult time. An experienced Texas wrongful death attorney can ensure all eligible claims are filed correctly, deadlines are met, and the family’s full range of losses is properly documented and pursued.
The loss of an injured loved one is devastating, but Texas law is designed to hold negligent parties accountable and provide meaningful relief to surviving family members.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries have life-changing consequences for victims and their families. They often result from preventable accidents or negligence. Below is a concise guide to the most common causes of these severe injuries.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, and even motorcycle collisions often cause severe injury, such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage. Big rigs cause catastrophic injuries mainly due to the sheer size and weight of the vehicle. Motorcycle crashes often result in severe injury because of the lack of protection for the rider.
Fires and Explosions
Fires and explosions are a common accident that frequently results in severe injury or death. Burn injury cases are known for substantial verdict potential.
Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcycle crashes have a very high rate of severe injury, mainly because the motorcyclist does not have the same protection as the other vehicle. Traumatic brain injury, broken bones, and fractures are common injury types from a motorcycle collision.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrians and bike riders are very vulnerable to severe injury, as you may expect.
Rideshare Accidents
With the rise of rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, the number of catastrophic crashes is growing rapidly. Complicated insurance issues are often involved in rideshare accident cases.
Train and Bus Accidents
Boating Accidents
Boat and jet ski accidents are common on busy lakes such as Lake Conroe in Montgomery County. Accidental drowning and traumatic injuries are common. Common causes include the operator’s lack of training or intoxication.
Construction Accidents
Given Houston’s growing urban areas, construction site accidents are a major source of serious injuries or wrongful death. Falls from heights are the most common construction accident that results in severe injuries or a fatality.
Oil Field Accidents
Equipment failures, exposure to toxic chemicals, and other causes for oil-filled workers lead to many workers being severely injured. Personal injury attorneys look hard for safety violations, as OSHA rule violations are almost always present when there’s a severe injury or death.
Workplace Accidents
On-the-job injuries are another source of severe injuries in the greater Houston area. Employers or third parties may be liable for failing to protect the worker or violating safety rules.
Dangerous Products
Defective and unreasonably dangerous products can lead to any number of severe injuries. Electrocutions, burns from fires, and many other injuries can be attributed to a dangerous or defective product. Given the state of Texas’s personal injury law, it takes a very serious injury or a fatal accident to justify the litigation expenses for pursuing a product liability case.
Get Experienced Legal Representation
A common saying is true with catastrophic injury cases. “There is no substitute for experience.”
If you have suffered A catastrophic injury, call Baumgartner Law Firm for a free case evaluation. We have four decades of experience. Our personal injury lawyers in Houston do not handle minor injury cases and focus solely on helping the severely injured or families who have lost a loved one. We intentionally limit the number of cases we accept to provide the best possible service and achieve exceptional results.
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Types of Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries
Serious injuries can change your life in many ways. If someone else caused your accident through neglect, you can file a claim or lawsuit with our injury law firm. Here are some common types of payment you might get in a serious injury case.
Medical Expenses
Catastrophic injuries are enormously expensive to treat. In addition to the initial cost of diagnosis and treatment, patients usually require ongoing care. Similarly, the severity of the injuries may also require specialized or extensive treatment.
The cost of treating catastrophic injuries can be much higher than that of less severe injuries. Ultimately, this will affect the total amount of damages awarded.
Loss Of Earning Capacity
A catastrophic injury can affect your ability to make a living. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be unable to work for the rest of your life. This will result in lost wages and loss of earning capacity.
When pursuing compensation for lost income, you must consider how much you would have earned in the future had you not suffered the injury.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
The period after a serious accident can be characterized by emotional turmoil, often addressed by personal injury lawyers in Houston. This can make it challenging to record all your expenses accurately after the accident.
As a victim, you have a right to seek compensation for any out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident. It is essential to keep track of all these expenses to ensure you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.
Pain And Suffering
Damages in a catastrophic injury claim go beyond financial losses. Indeed, injuries can have long-term physical, mental, and emotional effects on the victim. As such, these damages should be part of your claim.
Determining the value of pain and suffering in a lawsuit can be challenging. However, working with an experienced Houston catastrophic injury attorney will make it easier to place a monetary value on non-economic damages, especially under Texas law.
Disability
One of the legal damages in Texas is a disability or the inability to perform tasks that you were previously able to accomplish. Many catastrophic injury victims have some form of disability damages. Attorney Greg Baumgartner has represented individuals with disabilities resulting from accidents for over four decades.
Loss Of Enjoyment Of Life
The physical and emotional harm associated with severe injuries is bound to affect your quality of life. This may make it difficult or impossible for you to do certain things that you could do before the accident. They include daily activities, engaging in hobbies, or taking part in entertaining activities.
To be compensated for the loss of enjoyment of life, you have to prove that the injury sustained in the accident affected your ability to perform these functions.
Disfigurement
Cost Of Future Medical Care
Depending on the nature and severity of the injuries, patients may require ongoing treatment or therapy to achieve a full recovery. In some cases, living modifications and in-home care will be necessary.
Remember to include the cost of future medical care when calculating your settlement amount. This will ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, enabling you to access quality medical care and lead a comfortable life.
Life Care Plan Often Needed
Many people who have been seriously injured have ongoing medical needs. Some individuals have lifelong issues that require treatment and ongoing expenses, which can be covered in a personal injury case. Calculating your damages is part of what a catastrophic injury lawyer will do for you. Life care planner services are crucial in evaluating long-term needs in personal injury cases.
Punitive Damages
If your injury resulted from the defendant being grossly reckless or malicious, you could seek punitive damages on top of the above compensatory damages. Punitive damages punish the at-fault party and discourage others from behaving similarly.
Texas Statute of Limitations for Catastrophic Injury Claims
Why Expert Testimony is Needed to Win Your Case
To get the just compensation you deserve, you may have to secure expert testimony from doctors, surgeons, physical therapists, life care planners, and other professionals with the requisite knowledge and experience to investigate and communicate the specifics of your case. Our attorneys at Baumgartner Law Firm can help you secure testimony and other evidence required to prove your case.
Talk with a PREEMINENT RATED SEVERE INJURY ATTORNEY—call (281) 587-1111. There is no charge for a case consultation!
Here’s What Our Catastrophic Injury Clients are Saying
Contact an Award-Winning Houston Catastrophic Injury Lawyer For a Free Case Evaluation
Contact our Houston injury attorney for a free, no-obligation initial consultation. Our Houston law firm represents crash victims in Harris County and Southeast Texas. We have won millions for Catastrophic Injury victims and can help you, too!
Baumgartner Law Firm
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy
Houston, Texas 77069
(281) 587-1111
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