Catastrophic injuries have a profound impact on your life. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wilson Kehoe Winingham Injury Lawyers can help. Call 3179206400 to learn how an experienced Indianapolis catastrophic injury lawyer can help you maximize your financial award. Your first consultation is free.
Our team understands the enormous burdens these cases place on victims and their families. We are committed to holding negligent parties accountable and helping you secure the resources necessary for medical care, lost income, rehabilitation, and long-term support.
Why Choose Wilson Kehoe Winingham Injury Lawyers for Help With a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Indianapolis, IN?
When you’re facing the aftermath of a catastrophic injury, choosing the right law firm can make all the difference. At Wilson Kehoe Winingham Injury Lawyers, we bring experience and a proven track record of success in high-stakes personal injury cases. Our team has the resources, knowledge, and determination to take on powerful insurance companies and corporations, ensuring that your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
What sets us apart is our client-centered approach. We understand the overwhelming toll catastrophic injuries take on victims and their families. That’s why we provide personalized attention, clear communication, and aggressive advocacy from start to finish.
Whether through skilled negotiation or trial litigation, our goal is to maximize your recovery so you can focus on healing and rebuilding your life. Contact our law office today for a free consultation with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer.
What Makes an Injury Catastrophic?
Injuries are classified as catastrophic when they fundamentally change the way a person lives their life. Every aspect of your life may be impacted. Catastrophic injuries often have the potential to be fatal.
Catastrophic injury victims often face significant physical, mental, and financial challenges, including:
- Loss of your ability to work
- Cognitive disabilities
- Loss of motor function and limited mobility
- Loss of independence
- A need for around-the-clock care and support
- Permanent disfigurement
- Permanent reliance on prostheses, medical devices, and medications
- Chronic pain
- Respiratory failures
- Cardiovascular failures
- Stroke
- Damage to family relationships
- Severe depression
Not all catastrophic injuries are permanent. Some victims go on to live relatively normal lives. That said, your life may never be the same again–and you’ll have endured a substantial amount of suffering on your road to recovery.
How Common Are Catastrophic Injuries in Indiana?
Catastrophic injuries can occur in any type of accident. That makes it tough to know precisely how many victims sustain these life-changing injuries each year.
Here are some statistics to shed light on the issue:
- Approximately 83,000 traumatic amputations are performed each year in the U.S.
- Over five million Americans are living with permanent disabilities caused by brain injuries
- Roughly 17,700 new spinal cord injuries are reported annually
If you’re struggling with the impacts of a catastrophic injury, you aren’t alone.
What is My Indianapolis Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?
A careful analysis of your unique situation is the only way to really know how much your personal injury case is worth.
Every case is different, and facts that will be relevant when determining how much you deserve include:
- The type of injuries
- The nature of your medical treatment
- Your current expenses
- How your earnings have been impacted to date
- Long-term impacts on your earning capacity
- Your age and life expectancy at the time of injury
- Projected costs for ongoing medical care, nursing assistance, in-home care, long-term care, and other injury-related needs
- The circumstances of the accident
- How your life has, and will, change due to the injuries
Insurance is almost always an issue when you file a personal injury claim. When catastrophic injuries are involved, insurers work even harder to avoid paying the full amount a victim deserves. They might even offer a quick settlement that seems generous. That’s usually a tactic designed to get you to take less than you deserve.
Remember that the insurance company doesn’t want you to hire a lawyer. The primary reason is that experienced lawyers can help you understand how much you really deserve. The insurance companies already know. When you have a lawyer in your corner, you’ll be prepared to reject lowball offers.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Catastrophic Injury Victims in Indianapolis?
Two types of compensatory damages are available in Indiana: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the financial costs stemming from the injury, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Specialized therapies
- Skilled nursing care
- Long-term care in a facility
- In-home support services
- Property damage
By pursuing economic damages, you can recover the financial resources needed to cover both your immediate expenses and the long-term costs of living with a catastrophic injury.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate pain, suffering, and other intangible losses, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Chronic pain
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues
Non-economic damages recognize the profound human cost of a catastrophic injury, compensating you for the lasting physical, emotional, and psychological toll it takes on your life.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Indianapolis?
At Wilson Kehoe Winingham Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs and no attorneys’ fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
When we do win your case, our fee is collected as a percentage of your settlement or verdict. This structure ensures that our interests are fully aligned with yours—we only succeed when you do.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for an Accident that Caused a Catastrophic Injury in Indiana?
Yes. Even if you share some responsibility for the accident, you may still be eligible to recover compensation under Indiana’s modified comparative negligence law. This rule allows injury victims to pursue damages as long as they are not more than 50% at fault for the accident.
Here’s how it works: if you’re assigned a percentage of fault, your compensation will be reduced by that same percentage. For example, if your damages total $1,000,000 but you’re found to be 20% responsible, you can still recover $800,000.
However, if your share of fault is determined to be greater than 50%, Indiana law bars you from receiving any compensation. This makes it critical to have a skilled lawyer who can challenge unfair blame-shifting tactics and fight to minimize your percentage of fault.
Our Attorneys in Indianapolis Handle All Types of Catastrophic Injury Claims
While a range of injuries have the potential to be life-changing, those that are most commonly classified as catastrophic include:
- Severe traumatic brain injuries
- Paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis
- Other types of severe spinal cord damage
- Blindness and serious vision loss
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Chest and thoracic injuries
- Electric shock injuries
- Multiple complex broken bones and non-healing fractures
We’re committed to providing the skilled legal representation you deserve during this difficult time. Reach out today to schedule a free case review to learn more about our skills and experience.
What Causes Most Catastrophic Injuries in Indianapolis?
At Wilson Kehoe Winingham Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience handling a wide range of personal injury claims.
We often represent clients who have suffered injuries due to:
- Car accidents
- Firearm violence
- Medical malpractice, including birth injuries
- Slip and fall accidents caused by dangerous property conditions
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Bus accidents
- Uber or Lyft accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Premises liability matters
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Intentional criminal assault
If someone else was responsible for your injuries, you can count on us to work tirelessly to hold them accountable.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury in Indiana?
Most personal injury victims have the burden of proving negligence.
The elements of a negligence case are:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care
- They breached that duty through some act or omission
- The breach of duty caused your injuries
- You can identify specific losses or damages that you’ve suffered as a result
More detailed requirements may apply, depending on how you were injured. Entirely different legal theories may be relevant. Regardless of your circumstances, our lawyers have the tools to locate the strong evidence you’ll need to prove you deserve compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury in Indiana?
Most Indiana accident victims have two years to file a lawsuit. Once the two-year statute of limitations expires, you’ll be barred from pursuing compensation.
For most victims, the two-year period begins on the date the injury occurred. That said, different rules may apply depending on how your injuries happened.
Contact an Experienced Indianapolis Catastrophic Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Let our team at Wilson Kehoe Winingham Injury Lawyers handle the fight for compensation while you fight to recover. Contact us today to learn more about how an Indianapolis catastrophic injury attorney can help you fight for justice.