San Antonio Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
If you (or a loved one) suffered a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence, our San Antonio catastrophic injury lawyers can help you get fair compensation to fully recover without financial worries.
In these situations, it’s common for victims to wonder:
- How much will it cost me to hire an injury attorney?
- Since I’m unable to work, what will happen to my lost wages?
- Can I file for compensation for my family?
- How much money can I get if I file for compensation?
- Can I still sue if my immigration status is unclear?
We’ll address all these issues on this page. To start, you should know that:
- You won’t have to pay anything out of pocket. With contingency fees, your lawyers are only paid at the end of your case. They’ll receive only a minor percentage of the compensation you get (the amount will depend on the type of accident and the severity of the injuries).
- Your claim for compensation will include several benefits, such as coverage of all medical bills, recovery of lost wages and, in case of death, compensation to the family of the deceased.
- You’re entitled to seek compensation for a catastrophic accident in San Antonio regardless of your immigration status.
How Can Our San Antonio Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Help You?
A catastrophic injury is one that permanently alters a person’s life. After suffering such an accident, victims are often unable to return to work or their job skills are drastically reduced.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, the most important thing is your recovery. Often this requires lengthy, demanding and expensive treatments. That’s why it’s so important to seek the help of experienced attorneys like us at George Salinas Injury Lawyers.
Many clients ask us if a victim can apply for compensation on their own. Unfortunately, this is nearly impossible.
Why?
- Because after suffering a catastrophic accident, a person’s life changes radically. All their energy should be directed towards recovering, not handling legal proceedings.
- Because nearly all catastrophic injury compensation claims involve confronting insurance companies that represent the interests of powerful corporations. They’ll attempt to leave you unprotected by paying as little as possible.
- Because winning a catastrophic injury compensation claim requires specialized legal knowledge and the financial, technical and technological expertise to gather the necessary evidence to present a strong case.
These are the reasons why catastrophic injury compensation claims should be pursued through an experienced law firm with a proven track record of winning these types of cases in court, such as George Salinas Injury Lawyers.
In what specific ways can our catastrophic injury lawyers help you?
While you and your loved ones channel all of your energies into recovering from your injuries and rebuilding your lives, our legal team at George Salinas Injury Lawyers will perform specific actions aimed at winning your case, such as:
- We seek and collect any information and evidence of your accident that will help us prove that it was caused by someone else’s negligence.
- We walk through the scene of the accident several times and reproduce the circumstances under which it occurred.
- To get scientific evidence to win the case, we rely on a group of specialists from different areas, such as researchers, doctors, mechanics and architects.
- We make important decisions about your case through clear and direct dialogue with you and your loved ones at all times.
- We work as long as it takes to get fair compensation for your accident, either through successful pretrial negotiations or by presenting a strong case in court.
Have you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury? You’re not alone. At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we’re ready to help you, no matter your immigration status. We speak Spanish and English, so call us at 210-225-0909 or by filling out this online form. The consultation is free and we guarantee the privacy of your personal information.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injury Accidents in San Antonio
Catastrophic injury can result from any type of accident. Even seemingly minor accidents, such as a dog bite, can result in serious injury under certain circumstances.
However, the five types of accidents that most frequently cause catastrophic injuries are the following:
Traffic accidents
This includes any types of accidents that involve cars, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians. Every year, thousands of catastrophic injuries are caused by traffic accidents. That’s why the Texas Department of Transportation has identified the leading causes in an effort to prevent them:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Reckless driving
- Extreme weather
- Poor road conditions
- Mechanical failures
- Animals crossing the road
- Driver fatigue
Catastrophic injuries resulting from slips and falls are often caused by gross negligence on the part of those
responsible for the maintenance of the facilities where the incident occurred.
On many occasions, slips and falls occur in workplaces that require strict safety protocols, such as construction sites or oil rigs. However, sometimes they can occur in common places, such as unmarked slippery stairways in a government agency or from falling heavy products that were poorly placed on the shelves of a supermarket.
This category covers accidents sustained in any work environment that have resulted in catastrophic injuries. Some of these incidents occur on workplace premises, such as accidents associated with the use of machinery. For example, this is common in the textile and food industries (where employers are required to continuously train workers to use equipment).
But any accident occurring outside the workplace involving work materials and equipment is also covered. For example, if a mover is catastrophically injured loading a piece of furniture on the street, he’s entitled to claim compensation.
Due to the frequency of catastrophic injuries in construction, these accidents are grouped under their own category. Hazards in construction are numerous: from improperly placed scaffolding to explosions, misuse of tools, fires or leaks of toxic substances. Companies are obliged to ensure that facilities are safe and properly signposted (in Spanish and English), and that employees receive ongoing training on safety protocols, emergency routes, and the use of new machinery.
This category entails any catastrophic injury resulting from negligent medical interventions. This term refers primarily to situations where, after receiving medical care, patients experience ailments or illnesses that they didn’t have prior to the intervention.
For example, when a medical team leaves scissors inside the patient after surgery and those scissors end up perforating an internal organ. Or complications during childbirth that weren’t handled in time due to distraction or inaction.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Any injury can be catastrophic, depending on its severity. However, there are types of injuries that are more likely to be catastrophic because they occur in particularly vulnerable places in the body.
Here are the four most common types of catastrophic injuries:
01
Brain injuries
The brain is the most complex part of the body and the implications of brain injuries are often unpredictable. It’s impossible to establish generic treatments for brain injuries, as each one is unique. Another aspect that makes brain injuries so difficult to treat is that they involve both physical and psychological implications, with symptoms that aren’t always immediate. Sometimes damage increases gradually and spreads to areas that were initially unaffected.For this reason, it’s very important that the victim of an accident be thoroughly examined by a neurologist if there’s any suspicion that the brain has been affected. Some symptoms related to traumatic brain injuries include: nausea/vomiting, sudden confusion, continuous headache, lack of coordination and sleep disorders. These types of injuries can produce psychological disturbances as well.
02
Spinal cord injuries
The spine is the most vulnerable part of the body after the brain. It consists of 33 vertebrae and nerve networks that run down the back from the base of the brain to the waist.Due to its importance, there’s a risk of catastrophic injuries during an accident, especially when severe paralysis scenarios occur, such as paraplegia (not being able to move the lower part of the body) or quadriplegia (not being able to move any limb below the neck). Keep in mind that damage to the spine can not only cause paralysis, but also severely affect other areas, such as the lungs and urinary tract.
03
Electrocution and burns
Electrocution and burn accidents occur mainly in high-risk work areas, such as construction sites and oilfields. The most common causes of these types of injuries are fires, explosions and leaks of toxic substances that can burn internal organs when inhaled.Companies have the legal responsibility to ensure that the facilities and equipment used by workers are always in optimum condition and that all those involved in a construction site are aware of the different risks and trained to prevent accidents.
04
Severe fractures
Typically, a person will eventually recover completely from a fracture. However, if the fracture is severe, it can possibly result in catastrophic injury. This often depends on the location of the broken bone and the complications it may present (e.g. a loose piece of bone piercing an internal organ). Catastrophic injuries from these types of accidents are often caused by multiple fractures, which occur primarily from high falls and traffic accidents.
05
Eye injuries
Although not usually life-threatening, eye injuries can be catastrophic when they prevent the victim from returning to work or drastically reduce their job skills. Any workplace involving the use of tools, exposure to chemicals or high temperatures can result in eye injuries. Employers are required to provide all employees with the appropriate protective equipment (such as hard hats, face shields, face masks and goggles) free of charge.
What Should I Do after a Serious Injury?
After suffering a serious accident, the most important thing is for victims to receive medical attention and go to a hospital. For this reason, you should first call an ambulance.
Once an accident victim is under medical care, there are a number of steps that are important to follow in order to win a catastrophic injury compensation case:
- Call a catastrophic injury attorney at George Salinas Injury Lawyers (if your injuries prevent you from doing so, ask a nurse or loved one to do this for you).
- Don’t give any statements about the accident or sign any documents. It’s likely that an insurer will try to talk to you. Refuse and say you won’t say anything until your attorney has arrived.
- Take photographs documenting the circumstances of the accident from various angles (including your injuries). Get the names and phone numbers of others involved. If applicable, request a copy of the police report. If you’re unable to take these actions due to your injuries, it’s important to have a family member or loved one do so.
In almost all catastrophic injury compensation claims, you must deal with insurance companies that serve their business interests and seek to pay victims as little as possible.
Some insurers even adopt aggressive strategies towards victims, such as taking advantage of their state of shock after the accident to make them sign documents that claim they’re responsible for the accident.
All of these aspects confirm that a victim who suffered catastrophic injuries should call attorneys experienced in winning negligence compensation cases, such as us at George Salinas Injury Lawyers.
How Much Money Can I Get If I Win My Catastrophic Injury Case in San Antonio?
The amounts involved in a San Antonio catastrophic injury case vary widely. Often they depend on the type of injuries and accident, as well as on the different negotiations between the parties or the verdict of the courts.
However, the benefits of a successful compensation case fall into two main categories.
Economic damages
This refers to all bills and expenses related to the injury, such as:
- Coverage of all medical expenses (such as medicines, hospital days, intensive care hours, surgeons’ and doctors’ fees, etc.).
- Compensation for all lost wages and indemnification (sometimes for life) for loss of working capacity.
- Reimbursement of funeral expenses (if any) and compensation to loved ones who were financially dependent (such as a spouse or kids) on the person who lost their life during an accident.
Non-economic damages
This involves compensation for all psychological injuries resulting from the accident, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Anguish and depression
- Loss of companionship and/or consortium
How Long Do I Have to File for Compensation after Suffering Serious Injuries in San Antonio?
The time you have to file for compensation after a serious injury varies depending on the type of accident. On average, Texas law allows for one to six years.
However, it’s advisable to call a catastrophic injury attorney immediately after your accident. The sooner you do so, the more likely you are to win your case, as it’s easier to gather evidence and talk to eyewitnesses.
If for some reason you suffered serious injuries, treated them on your own and want to pursue compensation after several months or years, don’t worry. Call our catastrophic injury attorneys at George Salinas and we’ll reconstruct the circumstances of your accident with our expert legal team.
How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Catastrophic Injury Case?
Once the filing for compensation is officially issued, the parties involved begin to negotiate. If both parties reach a mutually beneficial agreement, a catastrophic injury case can be resolved in a matter of weeks. However, this rarely happens.
Most commonly, insurance companies will attempt to pay insufficient amounts and catastrophic injury attorneys will do their best to defend the rights of the victims. Sometimes, if a satisfactory settlement isn’t reached, the case goes to trial and its resolution is decided in court. In these cases, the process of getting a verdict can last several months or even years.
Yet, even if the case drags on for several years, victims aren’t left unprotected. It’s possible to apply for compensation schemes that provide partial economic benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages.
In order to enjoy these types of benefits, it’s essential that victims have the help of a legal team specialized in catastrophic injury accident cases such as us at George Salinas Injury Lawyers.
Contact Our San Antonio Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
Did you or a loved one suffer a catastrophic injury due to someone else’s negligence? At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we’re ready to help you. We speak Spanish and English, so go ahead and contact us at 210-225-0909. Our team of San Antonio catastrophic injury lawyers will fight to win your case, regardless of your immigration status.
FAQs
If you hire our catastrophic injury attorneys at George Salinas Injury Lawyers, you won’t pay anything out of pocket. Our legal team is paid through contingency fees, which means they don’t charge you anything directly for handling your case. We only receive a small percentage of the final amount if we win your case.
Yes! Texas law protects you regardless of your immigration status. Even if you’re undocumented, you can receive compensation if you were involved in an accident due to someone else’s negligence. Our catastrophic injury attorneys at George Salinas Injury Lawyers will handle your case, advise you at all times and guarantee the protection of your personal information.
In catastrophic injury cases, it’s not uncommon for victims to be unable to leave their homes or hospital rooms. That’s why our catastrophic injury attorneys at George Salinas Injury Lawyers will visit you wherever you are. Also, if necessary, our first meeting can be scheduled via video conference.
We’ve won millions of dollars in compensation for our clients and specialize in personal injury cases caused by negligent parties. George Salinas’ career as a San Antonio personal injury lawyer is impressive. He was selected in the top 100 best lawyers in the U.S. by The National Trial Lawyers (2019) and in 2020 he was named a “Texas Super Lawyer.” Our firm’s staff is fully bilingual (we speak both Spanish and English) and we offer free consultations to evaluate each case.
There are two methods to calculate non-economic damages. One is known as the multiplier method and it consists of multiplying economic damages (such as medical expenses) by a figure set between 1.5 and 5 (depending on the severity of the injuries, where 5 is the most serious). The other involves a per diem monetary allowance for the victim during the period of their physical recovery until they’re able to return to work.
In the case of catastrophic injuries, where often victims can’t go back to work, there are lifetime per diem schemes to receive a fixed monthly amount for the rest of their life.
Having eyewitnesses of an accident can be helpful in proving negligence in cases that have resulted in catastrophic injuries. However, if there were no eyewitnesses, our team of experts at George Salinas Injury Lawyers has a number of specialists from different areas (such as investigation, medicine, or road and construction experts) who are responsible for gathering the evidence necessary to present legally sound arguments to win your case.
Negligence is directly related to a concept called “duty of care” which states the responsibility of a person for the safety of another in a variety of settings – the most common one being the workplace.
For example, a building company is responsible for the safety of all workers engaged in construction. Its duty of care consists of ensuring that the facilities are safe, the machinery is in good condition, the workers have the proper protective equipment, and that they are trained both to perform tasks and follow safety protocols regarding accident prevention and emergency scenarios.
If a worker suffers an accident because of a loose pallet, a poorly placed platform, a mechanical failure, or a lack of training to handle a certain tool, this would be considered negligence on the part of the company. This means that the employer would be obligated to compensate the injured worker.
However, negligence also occurs in areas other than the workplace, such as the medical industry, where a doctor has a duty of care to the patient. If after an operation or treatment, a patient suffers pain or illness that they didn’t have previously, the doctor or hospital could be liable for negligence and obligated to compensate the victim.
