Philadelphia Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Your Advocate After a Catastrophic Injury in Philadelphia

Accidents happen every day. Of course, any injury stemming from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence has practical impacts on a victim’s life. Injury victims must seek expensive medical treatment, deal with time off work, meaning lost wages, and often must navigate emotional distress following the accident. As you likely know, in these cases, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys can help you recover compensation for your injuries through a personal injury lawsuit.

$32 Million Wrongful Death

$26 Million Truck Accident

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$12 Million Product Liability

$9 Million Truck Accident

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$7.5 Million Auto Accident

$6.9 Million Garbage Truck Accident

$6.5 Million Traumatic Brain Injury

$5 Million Medical Malpractice

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But if you or a loved one suffered permanent, severe injuries because of someone else’s negligent actions, for example, a spinal cord injury, severe burn, or traumatic brain injury, your life is turned upside down. Because of that, your response to those injuries is all the more critical. This is because while a catastrophic injury victim’s life is permanently changed, the victim should not, and does not, have to bear the financial and emotional cost. Injury victims are entitled to recover compensation from the responsible party.

This means that you are entitled to financial recovery for all the ways that the responsible party permanently affected your life. But recovering the money you deserve is easier said than done. An experienced catastrophic injury attorney is key to ensuring that you get the compensation necessary to help you and your family move forward after a catastrophic injury.

Attorneys Marion Munley, Caroline Munley, Robert Munley, and Chris Munley Catastrophic injury cases are as complex as they are heartbreaking. But you don’t have to go through them alone. If you or a loved one were injured in Philadelphia, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our Philadelphia catastrophic injury attorneys have experience not only bringing catastrophic injury lawsuits, we have experience winning. Not only that, but we’re committed to our clients. You’re not just another case to us. Our Philadelphia catastrophic injury attorneys know that the time after an accident is the most difficult for catastrophic injury victims and their families, and we are here to support you.

Those suffering from catastrophic injuries, understandably, have many questions. The best way for us to answer those questions is through a free consultation. But below, you’ll find some more information about what to do after a catastrophic injury, and how a Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyer can help you.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury Claim?

There is no universal legal definition for a catastrophic injury. Generally speaking, when personal injury lawyers discuss catastrophic injury claims, they mean lawsuits arising out of severe injuries that cause long-term or permanent impacts on a person’s life. This could mean permanent disability or disfigurement, or a severe injury that requires repeated medical treatment, including multiple surgical procedures, extended recovery time and significant medical expenses.

A catastrophic injury victim usually cannot return to work for the foreseeable future, if ever. If victims can work after their recovery, they often cannot perform the same types of work or perform at the same level.

A personal injury claim after a catastrophic injury is unique because of the broad scope of damages the accident victim is entitled to recover because of the defendant‘s negligence.

Common examples of catastrophic injuries:

spinal cord injuries or neck injuries
paralysis
traumatic brain injuries
severe burns and permanent burn injuries
physical trauma and/or accidental amputation
severe disfigurement
chronic debilitating pain
blindness or other sensory loss

Common causes of catastrophic injuries:

A catastrophic injury can occur from any kind of accident. Be it a freak accident or the result of a defective product, catastrophic injuries happen all the time. While the causes are diverse, we frequently see catastrophic injuries as a result of these kinds of accidents:

motor vehicle accidents
severe medical mistakes and medical malpractice
construction accidents
sports injuries
bicycle, motorcycle, or ATV/UTV accidents
falling from signficant heights
defective drugs or medical equipment

If you or a loved one have experienced an accident like any of those listed above, you should seek medical treatment immediately. While sometimes a catastrophic injury is obvious, some occur only internally or may not be immediately apparent without a medical examination. Not only can seeing a doctor after an accident potentially save your life, but an experienced Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyer will use these medical records to help you recover compensation.

What Types of Damages Can I Recover?

Damages under the law are meant to make the injury victim “whole.” That generally means the responsible party, the defendant in a lawsuit, has to pay you for all the different ways that their negligent actions affected your life. For that reason, if you have suffered a catastrophic injury, the right Philadelphia catastrophic injury attorney can help you recover substantial compensation.

Economic Damages

One form of compensation you may be eligible to recover is known as economic damages. These are damages that have a clear and concise monetary value that can be calculated through bills, receipts, and other concrete documentation. Economic damages include things like compensation for medical expenses and ongoing/future medical treatment. This includes any necessary therapy, rehabilitation, medical devices, and/or at-home long term care.

After a catastrophic injury, you will be unable to work for a period of time, if ever. You can also recover compensation for lost wages resulting from time missed from work, as well as compensation for lost earning capacity going forward.

Non-Economic Damages

Additionally, you and your catastrophic injury lawyer can seek non-economic damages. If you sustain catastrophic injuries, the harm goes far beyond the physical. Especially after a catastrophic injury, you and your family will experience a great deal of emotional pain and suffering. This could include anxiety, depression, or even PTSD. This means that the severe injury victim may no longer be able to participate in the parts of life that previously brought them joy or engage with their loved ones the same way.

To help compensate for this, personal injury law allows victims of catastrophic injuries to seek non-monetary damages. This means the victim and their family can recover compensation for diminished quality of life, as well as pain and suffering endured as a result of the injury. The goal of this compensation is to, as much as possible, restore the victim to the quality of life they knew before the injury.

Can I Recover Punitive Damages?

You may have heard about punitive damages; awards of punitive damages often make the news given their sometimes staggering value. Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer for their actions.

That being said, punitive damages are incredibly difficult to get in personal injury claims, including in a catastrophic injury claim. Punitive damages are reserved for cases in which the wrongdoer’s actions were knowing, intentional, or grossly negligent, or when the defendant has acted the same way in the past.

No one can say whether you will actually recover punitive damages in your case. Every case, every judge, and every jury will be different. But, you should discuss that possibility with a Philadelphia catastrophic injury attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys during a free initial consultation. We will listen to the facts of your situation and give you our best prediction, based on our experience with similar cases, whether your situation might permit an award of punitive damages.

To receive maximum compensation, you’ll need the representation of a serious catastrophic injury lawyer with a strong track record. You or your loved ones have experienced life altering harm, and you deserve both justice and compensation. Don’t hesitate to contact a Philadelphia catastrophic injury lawyer to learn how we can fight on your behalf.

Why Do I Need A Philadelphia Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?

The time following any catastrophic injury is incredibly difficult. You and your loved ones are focused on recovery and life after your injury. Sometimes, it’s hard to think, let alone consider your options for financial recovery after an accident caused by someone else. While it may seem like finding a lawyer is just another task, you should, personal injury lawyers can help make life after an injury easier. Personal injury lawyers are used to operating in the chaotic time after a devastating injury, and can help you understand what your options are and what you might be able to recover.

On top of helping you understand your options, personal injury lawyers are there to be your advocate at every step. You and your family should be able to focus on moving forward, not arguing with the person who caused your injury or their insurance company.

Even if you think, or someone told you, that you could resolve the matter informally without involving lawyers, you should always talk to an attorney first. Why? Because you almost always are entitled to more money than you’re being offered. The legal process is confusing, and the party who caused your injury is counting on you not knowing the full extent of your rights. This is especially true if you’re discussing the matter with a company who is used to litigation or an insurance company, who sees claims like yours every day.

An experienced attorney knows not only how to deal with these companies, and to make sure you’re asking for everything to which you are entitled, but they also know how to make sure you actually get it. Be it by representing your interests in negotiations, going to court, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses, or otherwise, an attorney can help.

Going at it alone is risky. Beyond missing out on money, you could accidentally waive your right to recover for future damages (like future medical expenses), waive your ability to sue other parties who may be at fault (for example, a trucking company that could be responsible for the catastrophic injuries caused by their driver), or even accidentally open yourself up to liability by admitting facts that you don’t mean to.

What’s more, an attorney may be able to resolve your claim faster than you could alone. Our attorneys are used to dealing with insurance companies and other companies that are frequently involved in litigation. We know who to talk to, and perhaps more importantly, how to talk to them. Because of that, we can present your claim directly and efficiently, using the language of the insurance policy or the law, to help convince the responsible party to pay you what you’re owed. Sometimes, that is all it takes, and if we can resolve your case quickly through an informal process, that’s what we want to do. After all, that’s what is in your best interest.

You might also think that, if it comes to it, you can just litigate the case yourself. While it is certainly possible to litigate on your own behalf, catastrophic injury cases are tricky. For inexperienced attorneys, let alone for people untrained in the law, these cases are filled with landmines that could keep you from recovering from the responsible parties.

Here are some other ways we can help with a catastrophic injury claim in Philadelphia:

Discover who is at fault for your injury: Many serious accidents involve multiple parties who can be held responsible for your accident. It’s completely understandable if you don’t fully know–or understand–what (or who) caused your injury. Our attorneys are experienced navigating these thorny issues and identifying not only what happened, but who is ultimately responsible. We can identify the unreasonable actor and help hold them accountable.
Estimate how much your claim is worth: Unless you’ve been through a traumatic injury before, it’s likely that you don’t really know what damages you can seek. The initial settlement you receive from the at fault party, or their insurance company, generally does not cover all your expenses following an accident. While you may feel inclined to accept the first, and quickest, offer, at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we’re happy to help explain what your claim is actually worth before you decide. This is especially important in a catastrophic injury claim, as measuring your damages can be quite complex. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help you understand what is on the table.
Gather Evidence: The last thing you’re thinking about after your accident or injury is what evidence you will need to prove your catastrophic injury claim. You might not even know or understand what happened yourself, so how are you supposed to convince someone else? A lawyer can not only help find out what happened, but an experienced one can start gathering evidence from the start. This can mean gathering physical evidence from the scene of an accident, locating critical documents and records, identifying witnesses and interviewing them, and preparing expert witnesses who can explain more technical elements of what happened and what damages you suffered. Lawyers know where, and how, to find evidence that will become necessary to your negligence claim. That’s why it’s imperative that you work with a lawyer early in your catastrophic injury case.
Represent you in court: If a settlement cannot be reached, you’ll need an aggressive trial team to represent you in the courtroom. All our attorneys have experience in the courtroom, not only will we represent you in court, but we do some of our best work there.

Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injuries in Philadelphia

Q: What If I Received a Catastrophic Injury At Work?

A. Typically, workers are prevented from suing their employers if they sustain an injury at the workplace, or while performing work tasks. Injured parties are usually advised to instead seek benefits through workers compensation. The same is true when you suffer a catastrophic injury. The workers’ compensation system varies state by state. In the city of Philadelphia, it can be overwhelming to try to qualify for coverage. We can help with that.

Experiencing a catastrophic injury most likely means that the victim is unable to work for some period of time, whether that’s a few weeks, several years, or even indefinitely. Depending on the extent of the injury, the victim may have a lowered earning capacity, and may have to enter a different line of work, if they are able to work at all.

Through workers’ comp benefits, victims of a workplace catastrophic injury can receive weekly checks that help to combat the financial burden of lost wages. The maximum amount that can be contained in these weekly checks changes each year; in the state of Pennsylvania for the calendar year of 2022, the maximum weekly amount for lost wages that anyone can receive through workers’ comp is $1205. However, not everyone receives the same amount; rather, how much you can receive in lost wages depends on your pre-injury salary. These specifics vary state to state, so it’s important to look into worker’s compensation benefits where you live.

In addition to this lost wage compensation, injured parties can also receive medical benefits through workers’ comp. This includes things like health care expenses, ongoing treatment such as physical therapy or rehabilitation work, disability payments, and more.

If you experienced a catastrophic injury at work and are interested in seeking benefits through worker’s comp, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the catastrophic injury attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. We are here to answer any questions you may have, and are happy to assist you in obtaining–or maintaining–your workers’ compensation benefits.

Q: Is There a Time Limit for Catastrophic Injury Cases in Philadelphia?

A. Yes. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations is two years. Although many might think this a long time, the case will need to be investigated thoroughly. This can take longer than you may think and with evidence disappearing quickly, the sooner you file a personal injury lawsuit, the better your case will be.

Q: Why Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys?

A. We understand that choosing a Philadelphia catastrophic injury attorney is a difficult decision. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of personal injury lawyers in the city. However, before choosing an attorney to handle your catastrophic injury claim, it is important that you hire an experienced attorney that can handle the factual and legal complexities of a catastrophic injury case. What’s more, each court system is unique and involves different players. You should ensure that your lawyer is familiar with the state and federal courts in Philadelphia to make sure that you are getting the best representation possible. So why us?

Experience with catastrophic injuries and in Philadelphia

For more than 60 years, the personal injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have built a reputation as national leaders in personal injury law in Philadelphia, throughout Pennsylvania, and even throughout the United States. Our results speak for themselves; we have won millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We advocate on behalf of our clients throughout Pennsylvania and beyond, and are ready and willing to fight for you too.

Our extensive experience and record of success have earned us the highest possible ratings, from peer personal injury lawyers and clients alike. All partners are board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and are consistently named Best Lawyers of America. With offices throughout Pennsylvania, we are prepared to help anyone with their personal injury needs, no matter how complex the case, or who the opponent, may be.

Catastrophic injury claims are challenging, both physically and emotionally. If you or someone you love have suffered an injury, be it after an automobile accident, a sporting injury, a workplace injury, an injury on someone else’s property, or that occurred because a faulty product, you have options.

There are many attorneys that claim to specialize in personal injury law. However, at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our Philadelphia catastrophic injury only are we qualified for the job. We are a smaller law firm, so we can work quickly and meet your needs whenever and wherever they occur. But, even still, we have the resources to match any opponent, no matter how big.

You don’t pay a dime

At bottom, we’re here for you and your loved ones. You’re not just another client; we’re dedicated to your cause and are ready to fight to get you the compensation you deserve. For that reason, you don’t pay anything out of pocket.

We only collect a fee if we win, and that fee comes from the amount of money that we recover for you. You aren’t on the hook for anything. Contacting us is completely free, and won’t obligate you to do anything. We’re here to give you your options, and let you decide how to proceed. If you decide to go forward with a claim for your catastrophic injury, you pay nothing upfront, and you never pay anything out of pocket.

Your choice of legal representation matters. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, you can be sure that your case is in the best possible hands. Call us, or fill out our contact form and someone from our law firm will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Personal Injury Claims We Handle in Philadelphia, PA:

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Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

1617 John F Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1690,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 515-7747