Accidents can happen at home, at work or anywhere in between. The resulting injuries can be minor or severe. Severe or major injuries are often referred to as catastrophic because they have the potential to cause problems that can affect a victim’s employment, health, and lifestyle. They can cause short-term or long-term disabilities that make a person dependent on wheelchairs, crutches, or walkers to get around. Catastrophic injuries can be a result of a slip and fall accident, automobile crash, medical malpractice, or another unfortunate incident that results from another’s negligence or recklessness. When you sustain a catastrophic injury in New Jersey, you need to contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer with offices in Howell, Oakhurst, and Toms River.
Workplace Accidents and Catastrophic Injuries
Job-related accidents contribute to a large percentage of catastrophic injuries, especially those that occur on construction sites, where injuries can take place almost three times higher than other workplaces.
When a catastrophic injury occurs on the job, an injured worker is entitled to workers’ compensation, which will provide compensation for medical expenses and lost wages and death benefits to family survivors or dependents. A New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyer serving the entire state can help you navigate the complex workers’ compensation process, so you can receive the benefits you deserve.
The Importance of Proving Who is at Fault in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Often in catastrophic injury cases, the plaintiff may be accused of causing his or her own injury. When a defendant can prove that the plaintiff was partially responsible for the injury, the case will be viewed as a shared fault case, and the New Jersey modified comparative negligence rule will be introduced. In other words, if your personal injury lawsuit goes to trial, the amount of compensation awarded to you will be reduced by the amount that is equal to your portion of fault in the accident.
A New Jersey personal injury lawyer with offices in Howell, Oakhurst, and Toms River will comb through all the evidence to find the parties at fault for your injury so you can receive the highest amount of compensation for your injuries.
Types of Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries
Injured persons can seek many different types of damages for catastrophic injuries. When it can be proven that another person caused someone else’s injuries, the injured person may receive the following compensation from those responsible, which may include:
- Medical costs and treatment
- Lost wages (current and future)
- Damage to property
- Rehabilitation services
- Housing modifications to accommodate a permanent disability
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium (companionship)
- Punitive damages (if the defendant’s behavior was extremely egregious or intentional)
Injury Claims Against the State of the New Jersey
If you suffered an injury caused by the negligence of a New Jersey state government employee, you will need to follow different protocols to get compensated for your losses.
The injured person needs to file a formal claim with the state within 90 days of the injury. A person will need to wait a period of six months before he or she can file a lawsuit if the state has not contacted him or her to settle the claim.
Injury claims against the state can be intimidating and complex. Allow a New Jersey personal injury lawyer serving all of New Jersey to help you better understand the process of suing the state and how to file a claim.
Contact, Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Howell, Oakhurst, and Toms River
Catastrophic injuries cannot only leave lasting scars and permanent disability, they also can cause financial, emotional, and legal problems that can be stressful and unbearable to most people. The personal injury lawyers at Schibell Law can lessen the burden and eliminate some of the devastating consequences of a catastrophic injury. Their compassionate team with offices in Howell, Oakhurst, and Toms River will make sure you obtain full and fair compensation for your catastrophic injuries. Call 732-774-1000 for more information or to set up a free case evaluation.