Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

When life changes in an instant along the I-190 or during what should have been a routine visit to Buffalo General Medical Center, you need steadfast legal support. At RK&L, our catastrophic injury lawyers understand the profound impact these life-altering events have on Buffalo families. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how our catastrophic injury lawyers can guide you through this challenging time.

How a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Can Maximize Your Compensation

At RK&L, our Buffalo-based legal team understands that catastrophic injuries create overwhelming challenges for victims and their families. From accidents on the Skyway to workplace incidents at the Larkin District, we employ proven strategies to help our clients secure the compensation they deserve. Here's how our catastrophic injury lawyers work to maximize your recovery:

• Immediate Investigation: Our personal injury attorney team rapidly deploys to gather crucial evidence, whether it's security footage from the Elmwood Village or witness statements from a construction site at the Medical Campus, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
• Medical Documentation Focus: Our personal injury lawyers collaborate with specialists at Buffalo General and ECMC to build comprehensive records of your injuries, future care needs, and long-term prognosis.
• Economic Impact Analysis: Our catastrophic injury lawyers work with financial experts to calculate lost wages, whether you're a teacher at City Honors or a factory worker at Tesla, including future earning potential and benefits.
• Life Care Planning: Our personal injury lawyers develop detailed plans covering long-term medical needs, from rehabilitation at the Buffalo VA to necessary home modifications in your North Buffalo residence.
• Insurance Coverage Maximization: Our team identifies all possible insurance policies, from personal injury protection to umbrella coverage, ensuring no source of compensation goes unexplored.
• Negotiation Strategy: We leverage our deep understanding of Western New York insurance practices to negotiate effectively, often securing settlements that reflect the true value of catastrophic injury cases.
• Trial Preparation: From day one, our catastrophic injury lawyers prepare your case as if it will go before an Erie County jury, strengthening our negotiating position.
• Expert Coordination: We work with trusted professionals throughout Buffalo-Niagara, from accident reconstructionists to medical specialists at Roswell Park, building a strong foundation for your claim.
• Documentation Management: Our team meticulously organizes all evidence, from Emergency Department records from Mercy Hospital to workplace incident reports from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
• Settlement Timing: We strategically time settlement discussions to maximize value, considering factors like medical stability and the full scope of your injuries.
• Future Needs Assessment: Our catastrophic injury lawyers calculate long-term costs, including potential medical complications and lifestyle adaptations needed for life in Western New York.
• Family Support Integration: We help coordinate family support services, from respite care options in the Elmwood Village to counseling services near Delaware Park.

Catastrophic Injuries Cases We Take

Here are the types of catastrophic injury cases our firm handles:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: We represent victims who have suffered severe brain trauma, whether from a fall at Canalside or a collision on the Kensington Expressway, helping families navigate the complex medical and legal landscape.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Our catastrophic injury attorneys work with clients who have experienced paralysis or limited mobility, often requiring ongoing care at facilities like ECMC or the Buffalo VA Medical Center.
• Severe Burn Injuries: We handle cases involving serious burns from industrial accidents at local manufacturing plants or residential fires, working closely with ECMC's renowned burn unit team.
• Multiple Trauma Cases: Our team represents victims of severe accidents involving multiple traumatic injuries, often from serious crashes on the Peace Bridge or construction incidents in the Larkin District.
• Amputation Cases: We advocate for clients who have lost limbs due to workplace accidents at sites like the Tesla Gigafactory or medical complications at Buffalo General.
• Industrial Accident Injuries: Our catastrophic injury lawyers represent workers injured in Buffalo's industrial sector, from the former Bethlehem Steel site to modern manufacturing facilities.
• Construction Site Trauma: We handle cases involving falls, equipment failures, and structural collapses at major development projects throughout Western New York.
• Vehicle Collision Injuries: Our catastrophic injury lawyer team manages cases involving severe injuries from multi-vehicle accidents, particularly during challenging winter conditions on Buffalo's major highways.
• Medical Error Outcomes: We represent clients who have suffered life-altering injuries due to serious medical mistakes at local healthcare facilities.
• Chemical Exposure Cases: Our catastrophic injury attorneys work with victims exposed to harmful substances in Buffalo's industrial and commercial settings.
• Crush Injury Cases: We handle cases involving severe crushing injuries from loading dock incidents, warehouse accidents, or heavy machinery malfunctions.
• Sports and Recreation Injuries: Our team represents clients who have suffered severe injuries at local athletic facilities or recreational venues like Delaware Park.

Financial Compensation You May Be Entitled To After a Catastrophic Injury

From accidents on Route 33 to incidents at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, we help clients secure comprehensive compensation that reflects both immediate and long-term needs. Here are the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive:

• Immediate Medical Coverage: This encompasses all current healthcare costs, including emergency transport, surgeries at Buffalo General, intensive care at ECMC, and ongoing treatment needs within the Western New York healthcare system.
• Long-term Healthcare Planning: Compensation addresses future medical requirements, spanning rehabilitation at the Buffalo VA Medical Center, anticipated surgeries, medication costs, and potential complications that may arise years after your catastrophic injury.
• Lost Employment Compensation: This includes recovery of all missed wages and benefits, accounting for overtime, bonuses, and career advancement opportunities you might have achieved, whether you worked at the Tesla Gigafactory or in Buffalo's growing tech sector.
• Life Adaptation Support: Your compensation should cover necessary modifications to your living environment, from installing wheelchair ramps in your North Buffalo home to acquiring specialized vehicles for transportation throughout Western New York.
• Quality of Life Impact: This encompasses the profound personal losses experienced after a catastrophic injury, including diminished ability to enjoy Buffalo's seasonal activities, from summer festivals at Canalside to winter sports at Holiday Valley.
• Family Care Considerations: Recovery includes compensation for the strain on family relationships, covering both the emotional impact and the practical challenges of adapting to new family roles and responsibilities.
• Professional Care Assistance: This category includes funding for in-home nursing care, personal assistants, and professional healthcare providers who help maintain your quality of life in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
• Vocational Rehabilitation: When your catastrophic injury prevents returning to your previous career, compensation covers job retraining programs and educational opportunities through local institutions like Erie Community College.
• Psychological Support: Recovery includes mental health treatment costs for addressing trauma, depression, anxiety, and other psychological impacts of catastrophic injuries, working with Western New York's mental health professionals.
• Incidental Expenses: This covers the many smaller but significant costs that arise during recovery, from medical supplies to transportation expenses for appointments throughout Buffalo's medical corridor.

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Through our experience serving the Western New York community, we've encountered numerous causes of life-altering injuries. Understanding these causes helps us build stronger cases and pursue maximum compensation for our clients.

• Car and Motorcycle Accidents: High-speed crashes on the I-190 and multi-vehicle pileups during lake-effect snow conditions on the Kensington Expressway frequently result in devastating injuries, particularly when commercial trucks are involved.
• Construction Site Accidents: With Buffalo's ongoing development boom, from waterfront projects to the Medical Campus expansion, falls from heights, equipment malfunctions, and structural collapses continue to cause severe injuries to workers.
• Industrial Incidents: Workers at facilities like the Tesla Gigafactory and other manufacturing plants throughout Western New York face risks from heavy machinery, chemical exposure, and equipment malfunctions that can lead to catastrophic injuries.
• Medical Errors: Serious mistakes during procedures at local hospitals like Buffalo General or ECMC can result in permanent disability, brain damage, or other life-altering conditions that require ongoing care.
• Workplace Falls: In Buffalo's industrial and commercial sectors, falls from elevations, particularly during our harsh winters, frequently cause spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
• Sports and Recreation Accidents: From boating incidents on Lake Erie to skiing accidents at nearby resorts, recreational activities can lead to severe injuries requiring extensive rehabilitation.
• Defective Products: Malfunctioning equipment, whether industrial machinery or consumer products, has caused numerous catastrophic injuries to Western New York residents.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents: Collisions involving pedestrians or cyclists, particularly in busy areas like Elmwood Village or along Delaware Avenue, often result in severe trauma due to the victim's vulnerability.
• Premises Liability Incidents: Dangerous conditions at properties throughout Buffalo, from icy walkways at apartment complexes to poorly maintained public spaces, can lead to devastating falls and injuries.
• Chemical and Toxic Exposure: Workers and residents exposed to harmful substances, whether at industrial sites or in residential settings across Western New York, may suffer severe long-term health consequences.
• Fire and Explosion Accidents: Whether at residential properties or industrial facilities in the Buffalo-Niagara region, these incidents often result in severe burns and other catastrophic injuries requiring treatment at ECMC's burn unit.
• Public Transportation Incidents: Accidents involving NFTA buses or light rail can result in serious injuries to passengers, particularly during Buffalo's challenging winter weather conditions.

What To Do If You Have Been Catastrophically Injured By Someone Else's Negligence

As catastrophic injury lawyers serving Western New York, we understand the overwhelming nature of serious injuries. Whether your injury occurred at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus or on the Skyway, taking the right steps immediately after can significantly impact your legal recovery. Here's what you should do:

• Seek Emergency Medical Care: Get immediate treatment at the nearest emergency facility, whether it's ECMC, Buffalo General, or Mercy Hospital, even if you think your injuries might not be severe – documentation starts with your first medical visit.
• Document Everything: Keep records of all medical visits, take photos of visible injuries, and save any evidence from the accident scene, whether it's from a workplace incident in the Larkin District or a collision on the Peace Bridge.
• Report the Incident: Notify appropriate authorities about your injury, whether it's filing a police report for a vehicle accident on the I-190 or submitting an incident report at your Buffalo workplace.
• Avoid Insurance Discussions: Don't provide statements to insurance companies or accept any settlement offers until you've consulted with a catastrophic injury lawyer who understands Buffalo's legal landscape.
• Preserve Evidence: Keep all items related to your injury, from damaged personal belongings to workplace equipment, as they may prove crucial for your catastrophic injury case.
• Track Your Expenses: Save all receipts and bills related to your injury, including parking fees at Buffalo medical facilities, prescription costs, and medical equipment purchases.
• Document Lost Work: Keep detailed records of missed workdays and lost wages, whether you're employed at the Tesla Gigafactory or a downtown Buffalo office.
• Maintain a Daily Journal: Record how your injuries affect your daily life, from inability to enjoy Delaware Park activities to difficulties with basic household tasks.
• Gather Witness Information: Collect contact details from anyone who witnessed your injury, whether coworkers at the Medical Campus or bystanders on Elmwood Avenue.
• Monitor Social Media: Avoid posting about your injury on social media platforms, as insurance companies often monitor these accounts for information they can use against your claim.
• Contact Family Support: Reach out to family members who can help document your recovery journey and provide necessary support during medical visits to Western New York healthcare facilities.
• Consult a Legal Professional: Contact a catastrophic injury lawyer who knows Buffalo's medical and legal communities to protect your rights and begin building your personal injury lawsuit.

Get the Support You Deserve. Contact RK&L Today.

Your future matters to us. When you're ready to take the next step after a catastrophic injury, RK&L's dedicated Buffalo legal team is here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how our catastrophic injury lawyers can guide you through this challenging time.

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Catastrophic Injury Lawyer FAQs

How long will my catastrophic injury case take to resolve?

Each case is unique, particularly in Western New York's legal system. While some cases settle within months, complex catastrophic injury cases involving multiple parties or requiring extensive medical documentation from facilities like ECMC or Buffalo General may take one to two years to reach a favorable resolution.

Can I still pursue a claim if I was partially at fault?

Under New York State's comparative negligence laws, you can still seek compensation even if you were partially responsible for the incident. Our catastrophic injury lawyers will help determine how Buffalo courts may view liability in your specific situation.

What happens if the responsible party lacks adequate insurance?

Our catastrophic injury lawyer investigates all potential sources of compensation, including multiple insurance policies, third-party liability, and underinsured motorist coverage. For instance, if you're injured at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, there may be multiple entities sharing responsibility.

Will I have to testify in court?

While many catastrophic injury cases settle through negotiation, some require court appearances. If your case goes to trial at the Erie County Courthouse, we thoroughly prepare you for testimony and stand beside you throughout the process.

How does my pre-existing condition affect my case?

Pre-existing conditions don't prevent you from seeking compensation. If an accident worsens your condition or creates new complications, our catastrophic injury lawyers work with Western New York medical professionals to document the specific impact of the incident.

What if my loved one is incapacitated and cannot file a claim?

Family members can pursue legal action on behalf of an incapacitated person through proper legal channels. Our catastrophic injury lawyer guide families through guardianship proceedings in Erie County courts when necessary.

How are future medical costs calculated?

We work with medical professionals throughout Buffalo's healthcare network to project future care needs, consulting with specialists at facilities like the Buffalo VA Medical Center or Roswell Park to ensure all potential long-term medical requirements are considered.

What makes a catastrophic injury case different from other personal injury claims?

Catastrophic injury cases involve life-altering conditions requiring extensive medical care and often permanent lifestyle changes. These cases typically involve higher compensation amounts and require more detailed documentation from Buffalo's medical community to prove long-term impact.

Can I switch lawyers if I'm unhappy with my current representation?

Yes, you have the right to change legal representation at any time. Our catastrophic injury lawyers can seamlessly transition your case while ensuring no deadlines or important details are overlooked in the Western New York court system.

How do I know if an insurance settlement offer is fair?

Insurance companies often undervalue catastrophic injuries. Our team evaluates all settlement offers against detailed assessments of your current and future needs, considering factors specific to living and receiving care in the Buffalo-Niagara region.