Salt Lake City Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Salt Lake City, UT

With its high elevation, major roadways like I-80 and I-15, and high-speed feeder routes 500 South and 600 South, Salt Lake City can be a magnet for catastrophic injuries. Visitors and residents alike may find themselves dealing with a devastating car, truck, or skiing accident. If it happens as a result of someone else’s negligence, it’s important to consult a Salt Lake City catastrophic injury lawyer.

When you suffer a catastrophic injury, it can be life-altering. Physical disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, or debilitating mental health issues can all result from these horrific incidents. When another person is the cause of your accident, it can feel doubly traumatic. At The Garner Law Firm, our skilled and experienced attorneys can listen with an empathetic ear and help seek the justice and care you deserve.

Over 80,000 catastrophic injuries were recorded in Utah’s trauma registry (UTR) between 2018 and 2022. Twelve percent of the victims of those injuries were from out of state. Whether you reside in the state or not, catastrophic injuries can cost a fortune in medical expenses, in-home care, equipment, and lifestyle adjustments.

A catastrophic injury lawyer from The Garner Law Firm can present your case with all of your specific needs, including future costs of care and pain and suffering, in mind. In Salt Lake City, the case may be heard in Utah’s Third District Court, located in the Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street.

Three Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Common types of catastrophic injuries include traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord damage, and burns. These injuries often require extensive medical care, long-term rehabilitation, and can permanently affect a person’s ability to work and live independently.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Annually, one million Americans are treated in the emergency room for traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can be the result of a jolt or blow to the head or body, causing many kinds of cognitive, social, emotional, or physical damage that may be permanent or temporary.

50% of traumatic brain injuries are attributed to motor vehicle accidents, including cars, trucks, bicycles, and pedestrians hit by a vehicle. When a traumatic brain injury is the result of a motor vehicle accident caused by another person’s negligence or carelessness, hiring a Salt Lake City catastrophic injury lawyer can help obtain justice for the injured party, but more importantly, recover medical expenses and future care expenses.

Spinal Cord Damage

The annual occurrence of spinal cord injuries (SCI) is about 18,000 new cases per year. As with TBIs, car crashes are a common cause of an SCI, but sports/recreation activities and gunshot wounds are also common causes.

SCIs look different depending on the type of SCI and where on the spinal cord the injury occurs. In general, the higher on the spinal cord the injury occurs, the more functions it affects. A partial spinal cord injury is called paraplegia, whereas a complete spinal cord injury is referred to as tetraplegia.

Whether you sustain a complete or partial SCI, it can change your life drastically. In addition to physical changes, secondary conditions that affect your mental health, like depression or anxiety, can be complicated and distressing. When one sustains an SCI due to another person’s negligence, they are entitled to seek justice from that person, company, or entity. Our Salt Lake City catastrophic injury lawyers believe you shouldn’t have to seek it alone.

Burn Injuries

Faulty wiring, chemicals, workplace incidents, car accidents, open flames, and other emergencies may cause burn injuries. Burn injuries can be catastrophic in nature, depending on how deep they penetrate the skin.

Burn injuries, once classified by degrees, are now classified by thickness. A partial-thickness burn may or may not be a catastrophic injury, depending on the length of healing time, whether the victim needs surgery, and how it has affected them. A full-thickness burn is always a catastrophic injury.

Full-thickness burns damage every layer of your skin, and they always need surgery to help heal the damaged skin. In general, patients do not feel pain with full-thickness burns as the nerves are damaged. Skin grafts, burn therapy, and in-hospital stays are typical with this type of burn.

Other Common Catastrophic Injuries

While TBIs, SCIs, and burn injuries are three common types of catastrophic injury, they are not the only injuries classified that way. Other common catastrophic injuries include:

• Multiple fracture injuries
• Amputation
• Internal organ damage
• An injury that leads to permanent disability

No matter the type of catastrophic injury, a catastrophic injury lawyer can help hold the negligent party responsible and advocate for the cost of the care you need. You need the time to heal. Let The Garner Law Firm handle the rest.

Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Salt Lake City

At The Garner Law Firm, our empathetic catastrophic injury attorneys can provide trusted counsel during this very difficult time. Our team understands that you may be out of work due to your injury, which is why we don’t collect a fee unless you do. Suffering a catastrophic injury can leave you feeling lost or as if no one cares about your pain. Our attorneys care, and we strive to help you feel less alone.

We are dedicated to providing compassionate legal advice, and we can come to you at your home or even in the hospital to accommodate your needs. Your catastrophic injury lawyer can take a detailed history of your injury, gather medical records and witness statements, and put together the facts to prove negligence.

Our client-oriented, results-driven firm includes founder and attorney Dan Garner, who has been recognized by Super Lawyers and Utah Business Magazine several years in a row. Mr. Garner can translate for Spanish-speaking clients, and another member of his team is also proficient in several languages.

More importantly, The Garner Law Firm has a reputation for strategic negotiations and strong trial skills when necessary. Our team helps clients understand the complex legal avenues available to them and provides a strong barrier between them and insurance companies that may not always want to pay out.

When you hire a catastrophic injury lawyer from The Garner Law Firm, you can feel safe in the assertion that you have a partner who has your specific needs in mind. Whether you need to avoid a lengthy trial or prefer to have your day in court, our strategy involves building a robust case to secure a strong settlement or litigation outcome.

FAQs

Is There a Statute of Limitations for Catastrophic Injury Claims in Salt Lake City?

There is a statute of limitations for catastrophic injury claims in Salt Lake City. For most personal injury cases, the statute of limitations is four years. In some cases, such as in medical malpractice, Utah’s Judicial Code Title 78B states the statute of limitations is two years. Consulting a Salt Lake City catastrophic injury attorney who understands the complexities of Utah laws and codes is essential for meeting these deadlines while you concentrate on healing.

Can I Claim a Catastrophic Injury in Salt Lake City if I Was Partially At-Fault?

Salt Lake City, like all of Utah, has comparative fault laws that state that you may file a claim even if you were partially at fault for an accident, as long as you were less than 50% at fault. Insurance companies may try to exaggerate your at-fault percentage to refrain from paying you the damages you deserve.

Should I Talk to an Insurance Company Directly After a Catastrophic Injury Accident?

When you are in the hospital recovering from a catastrophic injury, insurance companies may try to call to take advantage of your delicate state. Some companies may attempt to entice you to admit to being at fault because they can lower the amount of money they pay out. This is why solid personal injury representation is important, even early in the process, to field questions while you are in an emotional state of mind.

What Long-Term Damages Can Be Recovered in a Catastrophic Injury Case in Utah?

There are many long-term damages that can be recovered in a catastrophic injury case in Utah. Some examples are:

• Expected surgeries
• In-home care
• Medications
• Lost wages
• Career change costs
• Home or vehicle modifications for accessibility

Other non-economic damages may be:

• Loss of quality of life
• Permanent disfigurement
• Chronic pain
• Emotional distress

Hiring a creative catastrophic injury lawyer who can identify what your future expenses may be can help you recover not only lost damages but also future financial needs.

How Can a Salt Lake City Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Help Secure Compensation for Lifelong Medical Care and Lost Earning Capacity?

A Salt Lake City catastrophic injury lawyer can help secure compensation for lifelong medical care and lost earning capacity by consulting with medical professionals to create an accurate picture of what your continuity of care may look like, analyzing your former working capacity to identify future needs, and collecting evidence to prove the other party’s negligence. At The Garner Law Firm, we are thorough in our assessment of your case to secure your financial future.

The Garner Law Firm: If You Don’t Succeed, We Don’t Succeed

At The Garner Law Firm, we are so confident in our ability to help our clients that we don’t collect our fees until we are successful in the case, whether that’s through a high-budget settlement or in the Third District Court of Utah. Our lawyers are litigators as well as negotiators, and we are prepared for either eventuality. If you have been the victim of a catastrophic injury caused by someone else’s negligence, contact us today to see if you have a case.