In cases involving catastrophic injuries, there are several things that you, as the plaintiff, need for your case to get the full and fair recovery you deserve. It is important to make sure that you have all of the evidence you need to give the jury a full picture of what happened, both in terms of the accident itself and in terms of what the harm you suffered will mean to you both now and in the future. If you have suffered an accident that has left you paralyzed or otherwise a victim of massive, permanent harm, you may require a large award of damages to meet the very significant needs you’ll have going forward. To make sure you get what you deserve from your case following your catastrophic injury, make sure you have an experienced California car accident attorney on your case.
One man who suffered a catastrophic injury, and whose recent case ended in a multi-million dollar judgment for the plaintiff, was Anthony, whose case was reported in the Antelope Valley Times. With less than a week to go before Christmas 2015, Anthony, his fiancée, and his mother traveled to the Antelope Valley Mall to do some last-minute holiday shopping. Leaving the mall in the late afternoon, they approached an intersection near Lancaster. According to the lawsuit filed by Anthony’s attorneys, a Honda Civic driven by Samantha moved through the intersection and collided with the Lincoln LS in which Anthony was a passenger. According to the Times report, Anthony’s court papers asserted that Samantha admitted to police that she was texting on her cell phone when the crash occurred.
The harm Anthony, a young man in his 20s, suffered was extreme. He incurred a broken neck that left him a quadriplegic. Before the accident, Anthony was a man who had, despite his developmental disabilities, become completely self-sufficient. He had both a steady job and a fiancée.
All of these facts and details matter when it comes to presenting a case for damages. It is essential to give the jury a proper image of just how expansive your damages were. As a man in his 20s who previously held a steady job but is now permanently and totally disabled, his loss of earning capacity is enormous due in large part to the large number of years of earning potential lost. Lost earnings is one form of what’s called “economic damages.” This type of harm also includes things like medical expenses. Certainly, an accident that renders the victim a quadriplegic is one that has caused the victim to suffer harm that will require a lifetime of constant care. Again, considering Anthony’s young age, the amount of care involved in meeting his future medical needs will likely be enormous.
Beyond economic damages, there are also non-economic damages, which include things like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life. While no sum of money can fully compensate someone for being rendered a quadriplegic, especially at a young age, a sizable award does help the victim in many important ways. As Anthony’s lawyers stated to the Times regarding the $41.6 million jury verdict, the award “will go a long way toward improving his living conditions.”
Whether your auto accident caused you to suffer temporary injuries or to incur catastrophic harm, you need skilled representation to pursue the compensation you deserve. The hardworking San Mateo quadriplegia attorneys at the Law Offices of Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos have many years’ experience in helping injured people pursue what they deserve. To set up a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, contact us at 650-345-8484 or through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Injured Passenger Receives $12M in Damages Award for Injuries Suffered in Southern California Drunk Driving Accident, San Mateo Injury Lawyers Blog, published Sept. 6, 2017
California Excavation Worker Injured After Driver Hit Him Receives $56 Million Jury Verdict, San Mateo Injury Lawyers Blog, published March 7, 2017
Jury Awards Man With Disabilities More Than $41M in Damages for Massive Injuries Suffered in California Intersection Crash
