Sandy Springs Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Sandy Springs, GA

A Sandy Springs catastrophic injury lawyer from Hall & Lampros, LLP can advocate for the rights of those whose lives have been permanently altered due to serious injury. Severe injuries, often referred to as catastrophic, can result in lasting disabilities, brain damage, paralysis, and other impairments that hinder a person’s capacity to function and earn a living.

Sandy Springs is a bustling city with its share of accident risks, from busy highways to hazardous construction sites and unsafe properties. When injuries are permanent, the legal and financial stakes are higher.

Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Hall & Lampros, LLP’s team of attorneys has over 60 years of legal experience handling catastrophic injury legal claims in Georgia. Many of these cases involve life care planning consultants, economists, medical professionals, and calculations regarding your future damages.

We represent clients throughout Georgia, including in Sandy Springs, who have sustained permanent impairment and have extensive future care needs. Our approach is tailored around presenting well-researched, factually supported claims, and preparing to pursue the claim through thorough insurance evaluation and, when necessary, litigation.

What Makes an Injury Catastrophic Under Georgia Law?

A catastrophic injury is one that inflicts significant, long-term damage on an individual’s life. This may include, but is not limited to, an injury that leaves a victim with permanent limitations on mobility, brain function, speech, or the ability to work. Georgia law allows recovery of damages such as pain and suffering under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-4, which may be significant in cases involving permanent physical or mental impairment.

Injuries frequently arise from spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, serious burns, or amputation. The common element to these injuries is that they are permanent. Injuries may be considered catastrophic if a medical provider concludes that the victim is not expected to recover to their pre-injury state.

Long-Term Care and Life-Care Planning After Severe Trauma

Catastrophic injury cases often require forward-looking financial planning. Expenses may include continuing medical care like rehabilitation, mobility devices, medication management, in-home assistance, or even home modifications. For instance, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that each year in the US, approximately 18,000 traumatic spinal cord injuries are reported. 

Serious injuries are often permanent. If so, medical costs and other considerations may need to be estimated out to several decades in the future. Frequently, economists and life care planners get involved to make sure the proposed settlement covers all future care needs. 

In some cases, an attempt may be made to make these estimates take into account expected future inflation, as well as the potential for evolving medical technology, and expected future changes in long-term care needs.

Severe Injury Risks on Sandy Springs Roadways

Sandy Springs is home to heavily traveled roadways, including I-285, SR 400, Roswell Road, and several other major city-owned corridors, where the volume and flow of traffic often result in conditions ripe for high-impact crashes. From 2018 through 2022, there were an estimated 27,500 crashes on Sandy Springs roadways, which include interstate highways, state routes, and municipal streets. In more than 50 of these crashes, at least one person died, and in more than 200, at least one person suffered a serious injury.

In 2023, there were 1,615 traffic fatalities statewide reported to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. At high speeds and with the prevalence of commercial traffic and heavy commuter flow on local roadways, these crashes often have the potential to result in catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, loss of limb, or permanent disability.

FAQs

Can More Than One Party Be Responsible for a Catastrophic Injury?

Yes, more than one party can be held legally responsible in cases where multiple people or entities played a role in causing the injury. For example, a driver, an employer, a property owner, or a contractor may each share some of the blame. Georgia law permits fault to be allocated among multiple responsible parties under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, meaning each party may be held liable for their assigned percentage of responsibility.

How Is Liability Determined in a Catastrophic Injury Case?

In catastrophic injury cases, liability typically requires proof that a party violated a duty of care and that the breach caused the injury. That could involve examining contracts, safety policies, property maintenance records, or corporate procedures, depending on the circumstances of the injury. A professional witness may be called upon to explain how the conduct fell short of the accepted standard.

How Long Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Legal Claim in Georgia?

In Georgia, most personal injury claims must be brought within two years per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. The limitation period usually accrues on the date of the injury. Keep in mind that certain exceptions may apply depending on the specifics. Therefore, it is important to have your case evaluated as soon as possible in order to protect your legal rights.

What If the Insurance Company Offers a Quick Settlement?

Insurance companies may also attempt to settle early, before the full extent of an injury has been discovered. Receiving compensation too early can mean giving up the ability to recover more later on. Catastrophic injuries have lifelong implications that may not be fully understood for some time, so it is important to hire a catastrophic injury lawyer who can fully evaluate any offer before agreeing to a settlement.

Contact a Sandy Springs Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Serious injuries can dramatically change every part of a person’s life, from day-to-day physical abilities to long-term financial security. If someone else’s negligence caused a permanent, life-changing injury, Georgia law provides a civil remedy to hold them responsible and recover compensation. 

Residents of Sandy Springs who become permanently disabled or incur extensive medical bills, future medical care needs, or other long-term needs as a result of someone’s negligence may have legal recourse. Throughout Georgia, Hall & Lampros, LLP’s attorneys have a strong record of personal injury litigation. Book a consultation to better understand your legal rights and the most effective ways to protect your future.