Key Takeaways
- A serious or catastrophic injury refers to one that significantly reduces the quality of life of a person, including, but not limited to, the loss motor or cognitive function, vision, or hearing.
- These injuries can be caused by another party’s negligence and may result from a variety of incidents like those involving vehicle collisions or medical malpractice.
- Working with an attorney in a serious injury case is critical, as it requires investigating the incident and gathering evidence to prove that a person or company’s negligence led to the injury.
What is considered a “serious” injury in Charlotte?
Injuries occur all the time in and around the Charlotte area, and they happen in a variety of ways. However, not all injuries will be considered “catastrophic” or “serious.” These descriptors are used to describe injuries that cause a victim to lose a vital part of their “person.”
But what does it mean if someone loses their part of their “person?”
In general, we can understand this to mean that one of the following has occurred:
- The loss of a limb
- The loss of cognitive function
- Hearing or vision loss
- The loss of the ability to walk
- The loss of the ability to use one or more arms
- Paralysis or partial paralysis
- Burns covering a significant portion of the body
- Traumatic brain injury
- An injury that leaves an individual unable to be employed
- Injuries requiring lifetime medical care
There are a variety of types of injuries that can occur in and around the Charlotte area that lead to major setbacks and a lessened quality of life for the injury victim. At Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC, our qualified team has a history of helping clients who have sustained the following types of serious injuries:
- Spinal cord trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation of the loss of a limb
- Catastrophic nerve damage
- Serious burn injuries
- Birth injuries caused by medical mistakes
- Major scarring and disfigurement
- …and more
Common causes of Charlotte serious injuries
Serious injuries can occur in a wide variety of ways throughout the Charlotte area. Often, we will find that these incidents are caused by the careless, negligent, or intentional actions of other individuals, companies, or entities. Our Charlotte serious injury lawyers have helped clients who have been injured in the following ways:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Workplace injuries
- Defective product cases
- Medical malpractice incidents
- Premises liability incidents
- …and more
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of the ways that victims sustain catastrophic injuries in this area. We strongly suggest that you contact one of our Charlotte personal injury attorneys so we can offer a free evaluation of your case and help you determine the best steps moving forward for your situation.
Compensation Available in a Charlotte Serious Injury Case
Serious injuries can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, and the road to recovery can be long and difficult. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in North Carolina due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the different types of compensation that may be available in a North Carolina serious injury case.
● Medical Expenses: One of the most significant expenses that can result from a serious injury is the cost of medical treatment. This can include hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and prescription medications. If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for all of your medical expenses,
both past and future.
● Lost Wages: A serious injury can also result in lost wages if the victim is unable to work. This can include both past and future lost wages, as well as any reduction in earning capacity.
● Pain and Suffering: In addition to economic losses, serious injuries can also cause significant pain and suffering. This can include physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In North Carolina, there is no cap on the amount of compensation that can be awarded for pain and suffering, except for in cases involving medical negligence.
● Wrongful Death: If a loved one has died due to someone else’s negligence, the surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for their losses. This can include funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support.
● Punitive Damages: In some cases, the defendant’s conduct may be deemed to be particularly egregious. In such cases, the court may award punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future. It is important to note that in North Carolina, there are strict time limits for filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, known as a statute of limitations. It’s crucial to seek legal advice as soon as possible after an accident to ensure that your rights are protected and to avoid missing
the deadline to file a claim.
How Does a Charlotte Serious Injury Lawyer Prove Negligence?
Proving negligence in a Charlotte serious injury case can be a complex process that requires the expertise of a skilled attorney. In order to prove negligence, the attorney must be able to demonstrate four key elements:
● Duty of care: The attorney must first show that the defendant had a duty of care to the plaintiff. This means that the defendant had a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to the plaintiff.
● Breach of duty: The attorney must then show that the defendant breached their duty of care by failing to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to the plaintiff. This can be demonstrated by showing that the defendant acted in a way that a reasonable person would not have acted, or by showing that the defendant failed to take certain precautions that were necessary to prevent harm.
● Causation: The attorney must then show that the defendant’s breach of duty was the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. This means that the attorney must show that the defendant’s actions or inaction directly caused the plaintiff’s injuries.
● Damages: The attorney must then show that the plaintiff suffered damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other forms of damages.
To prove these elements, the attorney may use various types of evidence such as witness testimony, medical reports, accident reports, photographs, surveillance footage, and expert witness testimony. Additionally, the attorney will have to be able to prove that the defendant had knowledge of the dangerous condition or should have had knowledge of it.
It’s important to note that the process of proving negligence can be complex and requires the expertise of a skilled attorney. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, it’s crucial to seek legal advice as soon as possible in order to protect your rights and to ensure that your case is presented in the strongest possible light.
Call a Charlotte serious injury attorney today
If you or somebody you love has sustained a serious injury caused by the negligent or intentional actions of someone else in the Charlotte area, reach out to the team at Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC for help as soon as possible. We have the resources necessary to conduct a complete investigation into the incident and help you obtain the compensation you need. This can include coverage of your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering damages, and more. When you need to Charlotte serious injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling us at 800-948-0577.