As a former insurance company defense lawyer and a plaintiff’s personal injury lawyer with nearly two decades of legal experience, attorney Sanga Turnbull has handled cases involving the most severe injuries. At The Turnbull Law Firm, they understand how catastrophic injury cases require special skill and expertise. These cases frequently involve more complex questions of fact and law regarding liability for the accident, in addition to requiring significantly more work to recover the full amount of compensation a catastrophic injury victim will need.

Because these cases are more costly to the insurance company, insurers fight them much harder and spend more effort trying to avoid liability or settle them cheaply. At The Turnbull Law Firm, you’ll find a Lakeland catastrophic injury attorney who works even harder to hold negligent defendants accountable for the complete amount of money damages they owe.

The Challenges Of Proving These Claims

As a general rule, the more serious the injury, the more complex the case. When people suffer a catastrophic injury, they frequently have medical and related costs that go beyond initial treatment and recovery and instead last a lifetime. In addition to calling in medical experts to describe the patient’s diagnosis and prognosis, it may be necessary to bring in economic and rehabilitation experts to develop a comprehensive life care plan. This way, an insurance company, judge or jury can clearly see the lifetime of additional costs and daily living challenges the catastrophic injury victim will be forced to endure.

The Turnbull Law Firm helps victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice and other negligence deal with catastrophic injuries, including any of the following:

Spinal Cord Injury

Injuries to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis of the legs (paraplegia) or the legs and the arms (quadriplegia or tetraplegia). Other body systems may also be affected, including sexual function, bowel and bladder control and even vital functions such as breathing and swallowing. Depending on the location and severity of the damage, spinal injury victims may require assistance with daily living tasks, adaptations to their home and work environments or round-the-clock care at home or in a skilled nursing facility. People living with paralysis struggle to regain independence and self-care and are susceptible to infections, diabetes and other medical complications.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Concussion and brain injury victims can suffer cognitive impairments, memory loss, mood disorders, loss of mobility and motor function and countless other deficits. Some persons with TBI can relearn skills and independence through extensive therapy and rehabilitation. Others require skilled care for the remainder of their lives.

Amputations

The loss of a limb itself is a life-threatening traumatic event that may require the most complicated vascular and neurosurgical techniques to treat the wounded area appropriately. Advanced prostheses, including microprocessors, can help amputees recover some of the lost function. Still, these prosthetics have a high initial cost and must be continually maintained and replaced. A significant amount of therapy may also be necessary to adequately learn to use the prosthesis. Persons responsible for the accident owe the victim compensation for their pain and psychological damages.

Burn Injuries

Severe burns can be fatal or leave survivors scarred for life physically and emotionally. In addition to a long period of intensive care and rehabilitation, burn injury victims often face years of additional surgeries and skin grafts to reduce pain or enhance motor function or appearance. Victims may need professional help to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and other complications.

Fractures

Open or compound fractures may require surgery to heal properly, including the insertion of pins or other metal hardware. Sometimes, the bone cannot regrow correctly, leaving the broken bone victim with limited mobility or function and lingering pain. Fracture victims are also at risk of life-threatening infections if their wounds are not treated properly.