Our Experienced Catastrophic Injury Trial Attorneys at Ward Ruddock Help Injury Victims in Miami, Florida Pursue Financial Compensation and Recovery
Catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, and loss of limb injuries or injuries requiring amputations, can drastically alter lives in an instant. A catastrophic injury causes severe, long-term effects on the victim’s physical and emotional well-being. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, you may be facing overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, and long-term rehabilitation. Ward Ruddock’s experienced catastrophic injury lawyers in Miami, Florida understand these challenges. We can protect your rights and help you throughout the complex claims process after a life-changing accident in Miami.
At Ward Ruddock, our injury attorneys seek financial compensation for catastrophic injury victims by negotiating with insurance companies to seek financial compensation, accounting for the medical expenses, lost wages, and ongoing care needs in the face of long-term disabilities, extensive medical treatment, and significant financial burdens for the affected individuals and their families. Our Miami law firm handles the legal aspects and protects catastrophic injury victims’ rights and interests so they can focus on their recovery.
Contact us today through our online form or call us at (305) 390-4259(305) 390-4259 to schedule a FREE, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options. Your catastrophic injury claim can significantly affect your future, and we provide tailored guidance to seek your recovery. We want to be Your Attorneys For Life.
Key Takeaways
- Catastrophic injury lawyers handle complex catastrophic injury cases in Miami, Florida, which often involve spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, loss of limb, multiple bone fractures, or other serious or debilitating injuries
- The experienced personal injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock offer free consultations to evaluate severe injury cases and explain legal options to catastrophic injury victims
- Catastrophic injury attorneys work on behalf of injury victims to seek financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering
- The personal injury lawyers at Ward Ruddock manage insurance communications and negotiations for injury victims to protect their rights and interests and avoid common mistakes that can harm a claim
- Although the majority of claims are settled before trial, Ward Ruddock prepares cases thoroughly to be ready to go to court if it is necessary to seek fair compensation
- Spinal cord injuries often lead to paralysis and require extensive medical care and support
- Traumatic brain injuries can cause long-term cognitive impairment and significant lifestyle changes
- Severe burn injuries may require extensive treatment and can lead to physical and emotional trauma
- Loss of limb injuries or injuries leading to amputation often necessitate long-term care and can significantly impact a person’s ability to work or enjoy life
- The experienced personal injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock can help catastrophic injury victims in Miami seek compensation for medical expenses and ongoing care needs
- Catastrophic injury victims in Miami are invited to schedule a free case evaluation with Ward Ruddock to assess their injury claim and plan a sound legal strategy
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries in Miami, Florida
Catastrophic injuries often lead to severe, long-lasting physical and emotional trauma. These injuries can include:
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Severe Burns
- Loss of Limb (Injuries Requiring Amputation)
- Multiple Bone Fractures (Broken Bones)
- Severe Internal Injuries or Organ Injuries
- Loss of Vision or Hearing
Each of these severe injuries may require extensive physical therapy and ongoing medical care. Victims of catastrophic injuries may be eligible for substantial damages through a lawsuit. These damages can cover medical expenses and lost wages, as well as provide compensation for pain and suffering, reflecting the profound impact of the injury on the victim’s life.
Our experienced catastrophic injury lawyers in Miami, Florida, are prepared to help you throughout your claim, handling the complex legal processes and seeking money to support your recovery. We work diligently to build strong cases, often involving expert testimony and detailed medical evidence to support our clients’ claims.
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
Spinal cord injuries are severe catastrophic injuries to the neck, back, and spine that often lead to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries can occur due to various incidents, including car accidents, falls, trampoline accidents, or cheerleading-related and sports-related trauma. Spinal injuries frequently lead to long-term or permanent disability, such as paraplegia or tetraplegia.
Treatment for spinal cord injuries typically involves extensive medical care, including surgery, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. The recovery process can be lengthy and challenging, with many patients requiring ongoing support and adaptive equipment to manage their daily lives. In addition to paralysis, spinal cord injury victims may face complications such as respiratory issues, chronic pain, and an increased risk of secondary conditions.
Each of these losses, expenses, and impacts from a spinal cord injury caused by someone else’s carelessness or negligence represents potential monetary compensation the injury victim could pursue through a catastrophic injury claim. Our experienced personal injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock review spinal cord injury cases during free consultations to assess and strategize complex catastrophic injury claims. We pursue the financial compensation spinal cord injury victims need for medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care needs associated with these life-altering injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are severe catastrophic injuries that can occur due to accidents, falls, or medical malpractice. These injuries often lead to long-term cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality changes, significantly impacting a victim’s quality of life. These injuries are often due to blunt trauma, causing harm to the brain. These injuries may also cause skull fractures in some cases.
TBI victims may experience persistent headaches, dizziness, and chronic pain, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. In cases of severe TBI, victims may be unable to work or live independently, necessitating lifelong care and support. These injuries and their effects can significantly impact a victim’s mental health and emotional well-being, with additional social ramifications. Significant brain injury conditions can also contribute to premature death.
If the traumatic brain injury in Miami was caused by someone else’s carelessness, our skilled catastrophic injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock can help you and your family seek financial compensation for each of these losses to cover the substantial costs associated with long-term TBI management and care. We can review and evaluate your case during a free consultation.
Severe Burn Injuries
Severe burn injuries often occur in accidents involving fire, chemicals, or electricity and can lead to devastating physical and emotional trauma. Severe burn injuries can occur in various settings, including workplace accidents, defective product incidents, or slip and fall accidents involving hot surfaces or liquids. These catastrophic injuries may require extensive medical treatment, including skin grafts, surgeries, and long-term rehabilitation.
Insurance companies may attempt to minimize payouts for severe burn injury claims, but our personal injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock are familiar with their tactics. Proving negligence in these cases often requires a thorough investigation and expert testimony to strengthen the victim’s claim. Our law firm handles complex insurance negotiations and pursues fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We can identify the right path forward for your severe burn claim during your free consultation.
Injuries Leading to Amputation or Loss of Limb
Injuries leading to amputation are severe catastrophic injuries that can occur due to various accidents, including workplace incidents, car crashes, and medical malpractice in Florida. These life-altering injuries often require extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term nursing support to help victims adapt to their new circumstances.
If the loss of limb injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, each negative impact could be a chance to seek additional monetary compensation to account for your losses and support your recovery. At Ward Ruddock, we can assess the validity and value of your catastrophic injury case during a free consultation.
Our Miami, Florida personal injury law firm helps victims throughout the complex legal process to help injury victims seek compensation for their losses. An amputation injury lawyer at our firm can help you pursue coverage for medical expenses, prosthetics, ongoing care, and lost wages due to the injury’s impact on a victim’s ability to work. We coordinate with medical experts to properly document and account for each of the relevant aspects of a loss of limb injury, seeking the maximum potential compensation under the law for our clients.
Internal Injuries or Organ Damage
Internal injuries and organ damage can be just as serious, if not more so, than external injuries that are visible to the naked eye. Internal injuries occur when organs or tissues inside the body are damaged due to trauma.
In some cases, internal injuries may not present obvious symptoms right away, underscoring the need to pay attention to any unusual signs such as persistent pain, nausea, dizziness, or changes in mental status. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing further complications and pursuing a full recovery.
Organ damage can range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the injury. Common examples of internal injuries include:
- Bruised organs
- Internal bleeding
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Damage to the brain or spinal cord
You need to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect you have sustained an internal injury, as prompt treatment can make a significant difference in your recovery.
A skilled attorney for catastrophic injury at Ward Ruddock can assess the validity of a catastrophic injury claim and guide you to seek appropriate care to support your recovery, starting with a free consultation.
Multiple Fractures & Orthopedic Injuries
When a patient experiences orthopedic injuries, such as those involving multiple fractures, it means that there are two or more breaks in a single bone or in different bones throughout the body. This type of injury often requires immediate medical attention to properly assess the extent of the damage and develop a treatment plan that will promote healing and prevent long-term complications.
Multiple fractures can occur due to high-impact trauma. These injuries can be accompanied by soft tissue damage, nerve damage, and potential complications like infection or delayed healing.
Treatment for multiple fractures may involve surgery to realign the bones and stabilize them with internal or external fixation devices, as well as rehabilitation to restore function and strength. Patients with multiple fractures need to follow their orthopedic specialist’s recommendations closely to minimize the risk of future complications.
Our personal injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock seek compensation for orthopedic injury victims, accounting for the scope of medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses like lost wages or additional services required due to relative incapacity during recovery. We can review your unique case and build a tailored strategy during a free consultation.
Loss of Vision or Loss of Hearing
Loss of vision or loss of hearing from an eye injury or an ear injury can often qualify as a catastrophic injury in Miami, Florida, due to these injuries’ permanent impact on daily life and earning capacity. Loss of vision or hearing can profoundly affect an individual and their family across multiple facets of life:
- Capacity to Perform Tasks: Everyday activities like driving, reading, or communicating become challenging and require adaptations or assistance.
- Ability to Work: Many jobs may become inaccessible, leading to career changes or unemployment.
- Family Impacts: Family members often take on caregiving roles, altering dynamics and increasing stress.
- Social Experience: Isolation may occur due to communication barriers or reduced mobility.
- Emotional Impact: Individuals may experience depression, anxiety, or frustration from their limitations.
- Financial Impact: Medical expenses, assistive devices, and lost income create significant financial strain.
This ripple effect underscores the far-reaching consequences of such injuries. Our attorneys at Ward Ruddock account for the range of expenses and losses among damages in a Miami, Florida catastrophic injury claim. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your injuries and identify the right legal path to pursue compensation.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injury in Miami, Florida
In Miami and South Florida, catastrophic injuries often occur due to the following types of scenarios:
- Severe Auto Accidents
- Drunk Driving Traffic Collisions
- Medical Malpractice
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Negligent Security Incidents (a form of premises liability claim)
- Work Accidents
- Violence (Perhaps involving Assault and Battery or Gunshot wounds)
Motor vehicle collisions involving large vehicles like trucks or drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs are especially likely to lead to serious injuries. Your car accident attorney can help you assess whether the injury you have suffered in a motor vehicle accident qualifies as catastrophic, and truck accidents may involve multiple parties, such as the truck driver, the trucking company, and others responsible for loading or maintaining the truck.
Liable parties causing these severe injuries may be negligent drivers, individuals engaging in drunk driving, healthcare providers, property owners, dog owners, or other parties. Our catastrophic accident attorneys at Ward Ruddock provide legal attention to victims of these accidents, helping them through complex personal injury claims and seeking appropriate compensation on their behalf.
Types of Damages in a Miami Catastrophic Injury Case
Our Miami catastrophic injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock seek compensation for various losses and expenses suffered by victims of severe accidents in order to help compensate for the physical, emotional, and financial toll. Some injuries require additional costs for accessibility accommodations. The specific expenses and losses listed are called damages, and they typically fall into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages for Catastrophic Injury
Economic damages cover tangible losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, future earnings, property damage, and future health care costs. These damages can often be substantial due to the extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation often required. Economic damages can reimburse the victim for specific monetary losses incurred due to the injury, helping them to rebuild their lives.
Non-Economic Damages for Catastrophic Injury
Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Non-economic damages can compensate for intangible losses such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. These damages acknowledge the significant impact that a catastrophic injury can have on a person’s overall well-being and quality of life.
Listing Examples of Damages You Can Seek to Recover If You’ve Suffered a Catastrophic Injury in Miami
Our skilled Miami catastrophic injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock will seek to maximize the settlement value by thoroughly documenting these impacts on the catastrophic injury victim’s life.
Types of damages you may be able to seek in a catastrophic injury case can include:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages (in cases of extreme negligence)
Catastrophic injuries can have a devastating impact on individuals and their families. By seeking both economic and non-economic damages, individuals can receive a more comprehensive level of compensation that reflects the full extent of their injuries and associated losses.
Determining the Value of a Catastrophic Injury Case in Miami
To determine the value of a catastrophic injury case in Miami, our catastrophic accident lawyers at Ward Ruddock assess various factors, including the severity of injuries, the extent to which the victim may have contributed to their injury, and the combination of economic damages (monetary expenses due to the injury) and noneconomic damages (subjective or emotional losses due to the injury).
Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule, an injury victim’s potential compensation would be reduced by their degree of fault for the accident that caused their injury. Furthermore, an injury victim who was over 50% at fault for their injury would be ineligible to claim compensation.
Our experienced attorneys consider medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care needs among the list of damages to establish a comprehensive claim value. We also evaluate the impact on the victim’s family, future earning potential, and accessibility issues like necessary home modifications when calculating damages. We can review the details surrounding your injury and estimate the value of your unique case during a free consultation.
The Statute of Limitations for a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Miami, Florida
In Miami, Florida, the statute of limitations for catastrophic injury claims is generally two years from the date of the incident. Exceptions to this rule may exist in cases where the full extent of the injury, particularly those affecting long-term health, is not immediately apparent. In such instances, the discovery rule may apply, potentially extending the time limit for filing a claim.
Victims of catastrophic injuries need to consult an experienced Miami catastrophic injury attorney promptly to protect their rights within the legal timeframe.
The Elements Required To Prove a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Miami, Florida
To prove a catastrophic injury claim in Miami, Florida, victims must establish four key elements:
- Duty of Care: The defendant must have a legal obligation to act reasonably to prevent harm, such as safe driving or maintaining safe premises.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to meet the expected standard of care through careless or reckless actions.
- Causation: The plaintiff must prove that the breach directly caused their injury.
- Damages: The plaintiff must show tangible losses (medical bills, lost wages) and intangible losses (pain, suffering) due to the injury.
Evidence is central to demonstrating the presence of elements in your injury case. Our attorneys at Ward Ruddock may use hospital records, expert testimony, and surveillance footage to establish the extent of your injuries and the defendant’s legal liability. We carefully gather and present compelling evidence that supports our clients’ claims. We can assess the validity of your case and begin identifying and collecting the evidence you will need during your free consultation.
Your Attorney Can Handle Insurance Claims and Communications Following a Catastrophic Injury in Miami
Our experienced catastrophic injury attorneys at Ward Ruddock handle insurance claims, negotiations, and other communications with insurance companies on behalf of our clients. The insurance companies seek to minimize the amounts they pay out on policies, but our lawyers at Ward Ruddock know and anticipate the tactics they utilize. We will fight for your interests and seek appropriate compensation on your behalf.
Entrusting communication to our skilled attorneys at Ward Ruddock can prevent you from accidentally making statements to insurers that could damage their claims. We take care of the negotiations and legal aspects, allowing you to focus on recovery without the stress of legal proceedings.
How a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer at Ward Ruddock Can Help You Throughout Your Case
Our catastrophic injury lawyers at Ward Ruddock can guide you through the complex legal processes of a catastrophic injury claim in Miami, Florida, seeking the compensation you need for your recovery and your future. We handle negotiations and other communications with health insurance providers, seeking money to help you cover treatments and expenses due to the serious injury you have suffered.
Our Miami catastrophic injury lawyers at Ward Ruddock help you throughout your case by:
- Assessing the validity and monetary value of your case during a free consultation
- Working on a contingency fee basis, which means no upfront costs to pursue the financial compensation you need
- Coordinating with expert witnesses to support your claim
- Gathering and presenting evidence to support your case
- Proving fault and legal liability under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rules
- Evaluating the full scope of your injuries, loss and expenses to develop a complete and accurate list of damages due to the incident
- Managing your case and handling the complex legal processes on your behalf
- Accurately filing claims and documentation ahead of the statute of limitations
- Seeking fair and appropriate financial compensation through settlement negotiations
- Pursuing your case in court, if necessary
Our attorneys meticulously investigate accidents, gathering powerful evidence to build strong cases and seek justice. We work with medical experts to document the full extent of injuries and losses in the past, present, and future. We account for the long-term financial, physical, and emotional impacts on our clients’ lives and their future health needs.
Ward Ruddock’s legal team negotiates aggressively with insurance companies to pursue fair settlements for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A catastrophic injury can affect the rest of your life in a multitude of ways. Our law firm is here to help you avoid mistakes and fight for your interests while seeking the financial compensation you need to support your recovery. We start with a free consultation.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Ward Ruddock to Discuss Your Catastrophic Injury Claim in Miami Florida and Protect Your Case
Our catastrophic injury lawyers at Ward Ruddock in Miami, Florida offer free consultations for victims of severe and catastrophic injuries, from spinal cord damage to traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, or loss of limb accidents. We review case details and build a tailored strategy to seek appropriate monetary compensation for the injury’s impacts on medical expenses, rehabilitation and therapy, pain and suffering quality of life, lost wages, and other expenses or losses. This free consultation is an opportunity to explore your legal options to seek recovery without financial obligation.
At Ward Ruddock, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning our clients only pay us if we win money for them in their case. This makes our professional legal representation accessible to injured Miami residents without upfront costs. We are committed to guiding catastrophic injury victims in the Miami community to seek the money they need for their recovery.
At no cost to you, schedule your free case evaluation with Ward Ruddock today by calling (305) 390-4259(305) 390-4259 or filling out our online form. This initial meeting lays the foundation for a strong attorney-client relationship and an effective legal strategy. We keep you well-informed about your legal options throughout your case. At Ward Ruddock, we personalize our services for each client and every type of claim because we want to be Your Attorneys For Life.
