Are you looking for a serious injury attorney? Contact the personal injury attorneys at ELG today.
Serious injuries can instantly change a victim’s life for an extended period of time, sometimes for the rest of their life. People who are injured due to the negligence of another party or business entity are entitled to the best legal representation possible to help maximize their compensation. Those who sustain the most serious of injuries may suffer long-term effects that will require assistance to survive. Finding appropriate legal representation is critical to support and care for these seriously injured victims. Serious injury claims are often combined with claims from accidents such as motor vehicle, semi-truck, motorcycle, or premises liability accidents.
If you or a loved one were seriously injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you believe that negligence is the cause, you’re going to need the help of an experienced Yuma serious injury attorney. At ELG, our committed team of serious injury attorneys firmly believes in holding accountable parties responsible for their actions. We are here to answer any questions you may have about your case and can help you get your serious injury claim started right away. Call us today for your free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation with one of our bilingual Spanish-speaking attorneys.
What is Considered a Serious Injury?
A serious injury is any injury that involves an internal organ, involves serious burns such as second- or third-degree, or burns that cover more than 5% of the body. Serious injuries could also cause serious hemorrhaging, nerve, tendon, or muscle damage. Some serious injuries result in bone fractures minus fingers, toes, or the nose, or they require hospitalization for more than two days as long it’s within seven days from the date of the injury. With all of that said, it can be extremely difficult at times to determine what can be considered a serious injury and what is not. In situations where it is unclear whether a personal injury could be a serious injury, getting help from a knowledgeable Yuma serious injury attorney would be in your best interest. Some examples of some injuries that can qualify as serious include but are not limited to:
- Anoxic Brain Injury- Harm to brain cells due to a lack of oxygen. After about four minutes without oxygen, brain cells will start to die. This type of injury is most common with drowning accidents.
- Severe Traumatic Brain Injury- A TBI is a disruption of the brain’s normal function caused by a sudden bump or blow to the head. Severe TBIs are the same thing but include a period of unconsciousness.
- Facial Lacerations- These involve having a cut or tear in the skin caused by blunt or sharp objects. Facial lacerations are commonly seen in car accidents, altercations with other people, or serious falls.
- Punctures to Internal Organs- Broken ribs can lead to internal organ punctures. With punctures, there is no exit wound unlike penetrating injuries, which has both an entrance wound and an exit wound.
- Third or Fourth Degree Burns- Third and fourth-degree burns require reconstructive surgery in order to even partially heal. Severe scarring from these injuries can cause disfigurement of the victim, leading to a loss of self-confidence. Victims of third or fourth-degree burns usually seek counseling in order to cope.
- Compound Fractures- A compound fracture occurs when there is a break in the skin near a broken bone. This is usually caused by a fragment of bone breaking through the skin at the time of the injury.
Serious injuries such as the ones mentioned above can lead to permanent disfiguration or leave victims in need of living assistance for the rest of their lives. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligent or reckless behaviors, don’t hesitate to call ELG. Our dedicated team of serious injury attorneys is standing by to answer any questions you may have about your situation, and we can help you determine if your personal injury case can be considered a serious injury case. Call us today for your free consultation.
How Long do I Have to File My Serious Injury Claim?
In each state, there is what is called a statute of limitations, or a set amount of time in order to file a claim, whether it be personal injury, serious injury, wrongful death, or other types of claims. The state of Arizona has a two-year statute of limitations, which means that you have up to two years from the time of your accident to file your serious injury claim. If you wait too long to file a claim, then you may lose your right to demand compensation. Things like conducting individual investigations, collecting evidence, and other important details that could benefit your case take time. Contacting a serious injury attorney immediately after your accident is one of the most important steps to make sure that your claim is filed before the two-year statute of limitations has passed.
Getting in contact with a knowledgeable and experienced serious injury attorney at ELG as soon as possible is an important aspect of ensuring that your claim is filed in time and maximizing the compensation that you deserve. We will prepare the appropriate documentation to support your claim by collecting medical records, speaking to witnesses, contacting insurance providers, and more, all with the mission of ensuring you are fully represented and supported through every step of the claim process.
Who is Responsible for Paying for Damages in Arizona?
There are two types of insurance systems in the United States, no-fault and fault-based. Each state has its own approach to these systems in terms of minimum requirements. In no-fault states such as New York, Utah, and Florida, citizens are required to have insurance that covers a minimum amount of damage. In other words, individuals in a no-fault state make claims through their own insurance company without holding the at-fault party responsible. In a fault-based state, it’s pretty self-explanatory. Those who are considered “at fault” or liable for an accident are also responsible for providing compensation to injured parties who file a claim with a personal injury attorney. Arizona, along with the majority of its surrounding states, are all fault-based states.
So what does this mean to you? This means that if you or a loved one were seriously injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, then you have the right to demand compensation. At ELG, we firmly believe in holding those who are responsible for your accident accountable for their actions. Call us today for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation with one of our bilingual Spanish-speaking Yuma attorneys to explore the legal options that are available to you.
What Kind of Damages Can I Claim in a Serious Injury Case?
Victims in serious injury cases are entitled to the maximum compensation that’s available to them. Because every Yuma serious injury claim is different, there is no such thing as an ‘average settlement’ in terms of a dollar amount. There are, however, two main factors that contribute greatly to the amount of compensation a victim can receive in a serious injury settlement.
- How much the insurance company is willing to pay
- The extent of the victim’s injuries
Damages that can be recovered in a serious injury case come in three different categories: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. Each category of damages can cover many different types of loss or can be used to punish the person who is responsible for the victim’s injuries.
- Economic damages consist of the monetary losses the victim can suffer from an accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
- Non-economic damages put a monetary value that otherwise cannot be either replaced or repaired, including pain and suffering, mental anguish, and in cases where spouses are involved, loss of consortium.
- Punitive damages are meant to punish the at-fault party for their actions, to reform them, or to try to deter them and other individuals from engaging in similar actions. Sometimes punitive damages serve one or more of these purposes.
Working With a Serious Injury Attorney
Sustaining serious injuries in an accident is added stress that you don’t deserve to endure alone. Medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care bills can stack up while you’re on the road to recovery. Our compassionate team of serious injury attorneys at ELG understands how stressful it is to be seriously injured, and we are here to help. Let us take care of the paperwork while you focus on recovering. With over 55 years of combined experience, our experienced bilingual team of Spanish-speaking attorneys is dedicated to being supportive and excelling in all aspects of the services we provide for our clients. Call us today at (623) 877-3600 for a free consultation with an attorney at your earliest convenience.