A car accident in New Orleans can cause debilitating injuries and conditions for accident victims. A victim who sustains a catastrophic injury might be out of work for many months. In some cases, the victim may never work after the car crash because of a permanent disability or impairment. It is crucial to seek legal advice regarding a car injury claim to recover compensation for damages.
Types of Car Accident Injuries That Can Result in Permanent Impairments
Catastrophic injuries often result in permanent impairments. The impairment may be minor or it could be life-changing. However, other injuries can also result in impairments. What appears to be a minor injury after a car crash could result in complications that result in more severe conditions.
Examples of car accident injuries that could result in impairments or disabilities include, but are not limited to:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries and whiplash
- Back injuries and broken vertebrae
- Fractures and broken bones
- Damage to internal organs
- Chest injuries
- Blunt force trauma
- Severe burns
- Amputations and loss of limbs
Until you complete medical treatment, it is impossible to know whether you might have an impairment or disability from a car accident. For that reason, it is never a good idea to settle a car injury claim until your doctor releases you and prepares a report outlining your prognosis.
However, the deadlines to file car injury lawsuits in Louisiana are short. In most cases, you have just one year from the date of the car wreck to file a lawsuit.
Therefore, you must speak with a New Orleans car accident attorney as soon as possible. For car injury claims involving catastrophic injuries, you might not complete your medical care until close to the deadline for filing a lawsuit. Your lawyer can monitor the deadline to ensure that you do not give up your right to pursue a claim by missing the deadline.
Compensation for Car Injury Claims
Damages for a car injury claim generally include:
- Cost of medical treatment
- Cost of personal care
- Loss of income and benefits
- Physical pain and suffering
- Impairments and disabilities
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
In addition to the above damages, a person with permanent impairments and disabilities may seek compensation for future damages. Future damages may include the cost of 24/7 personal care and medical care. It may also include decreases in earning potential or future loss of income.
In many cases, medical experts and financial experts are retained to estimate future losses and financial expenses related to permanent impairments or disabilities.
Contact a New Orleans Car Accident Lawyer for Help
Sustaining permanent disabilities and impairments because of a car wreck can be a traumatic event. Obtaining fair and just compensation for your injuries and damages can help you pay living expenses and bills. The compensation can help increase your quality of life as you learn to live with the disabling condition.
Attorney Fred Olinde and the other lawyers at The Olinde Firm aggressively fight for accident victims’ rights. Call (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 now to schedule your free consultation with a New Orleans car accident lawyer.