Catastrophic Injury Attorney in New Orleans, LA
Catastrophic injuries are unique among other personal injuries because of the long-term effects they have on a person and their life. If you or someone you love suffered a debilitating injury, a skilled New Orleans catastrophic injury lawyer can help you file a claim against a negligent or reckless party that caused the injury. If you hire a catastrophic injury lawyer, they can help you financially recover certain losses and make it easier to move forward with your life. For broader guidance across serious injury cases, you can also speak with a New Orleans personal injury lawyer on our team.
The team at Murphy Law Firm has spent over 150 collective years navigating complex personal injury claims and has been able to secure millions for individuals and families in our community. We focus on your unique case and take the time to understand the daily struggles your catastrophic injury has caused you. We work with medical providers to determine the full cost of your injuries, both immediately and in the long term.
The New Orleans catastrophic injury attorneys on our team can fight for your interests and for the financial support you are entitled to. n tragic cases involving loss of life, families can coordinate with our New Orleans wrongful death lawyer to pursue accountability.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury in New Orleans?
Catastrophic injuries are injuries with permanent and lasting damage. They require long-term treatment and medical care, and may affect someone for the rest of their life. Some of these injuries are permanently disabling. Injuries that are often considered catastrophic include:
- Serious traumatic brain injuries, which can cause motor and cognitive limitations
- Limb loss and amputations, which can permanently affect someone’s daily life, independence, and movement
- Internal organ damage, which can lead to loss of organ functions and other chronic issues
- Severe burns, which can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, can lead to long-term pain and mental trauma
- Spinal cord injuries, which can cause permanent nerve damage or lead to full or partial paralysis
Recovering compensation for these injuries is often more complicated, but a successful claim can recover significant financial support for individuals and their families.
What Commonly Causes Catastrophic Injury Claims?
There are some personal injury cases that are more likely to result in catastrophic injuries than others, including:
- Vehicle accidents. Many motor vehicle accidents have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries, and this is especially true in certain types of accidents like pile-ups, head-on collisions, rollovers, and T-bone accidents. Accidents involving commercial trucks, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians are also especially likely to result in life-altering injuries for the more vulnerable individuals in those crashes. Negligent drivers can be held liable in a claim.
- Medical malpractice. Negligence of medical providers can result in wrong-site surgery, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed conditions, objects left at the surgery site, prescription errors, and other forms of improper care. The injuries and illnesses from these errors can permanently change someone’s life. A claim can help patients recover.In 2024, there were a total of 230 medical malpractice payment reports in Louisiana. Five of these payments were for amounts of over $2 million and totaled over $30 million. All the payment reports in the state totaled more than $80 million.
- Workplace accidents. Injuries in the workplace can be caused by vehicle accidents, slip and falls, malfunctioning machinery, exposure to dangerous substances, falling objects, structure collapses, and even explosions.Catastrophic injuries are especially likely in more dangerous forms of employment, such as construction, mining, logging, and longshore and harbor work. Injured employees can recover through workers’ compensation insurance, and in uncommon cases through a civil claim.
- Maritime injuries. The Port of New Orleans, or Port NOLA, is an essential driver of the economy, infrastructure, and trade, and it is fueled by its employees. Unfortunately, these employees also face unique dangers.The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that maritime employees suffer fatal injuries at five times the rate of other employees, and suffer nonfatal injuries and illnesses at nearly twice the rate. Maritime employees have unique benefits in a claim, including the ability to file a civil claim when their injuries were caused by employer negligence.
- Dog attacks. Dog bites and attacks are likely to result in catastrophic injuries when the injured party is elderly, a child, or disabled. These attacks can lead to infections, crushing injuries, nerve damage, disfigurement, and other long-term catastrophic injuries.
At Murphy Law Firm, we have experience with each of these types of personal injury cases, as well as many others.
Meet Our Attorney
Peyton Murphy
Peyton Murphy, a Louisiana lawyer with 30+ years of experience, specializes in personal injury cases. He founded Murphy Law Firm in Baton Rouge in 1993 and fights for his clients’ compensation.
Contact Peyton
FAQs
A catastrophic injury is an injury that is incredibly severe and is expected to have a permanent impact on the individual who sustained it. This may include limb loss, disfigurement, brain damage, paralysis, and other disabling injuries.
These catastrophic injuries tend to require long-term medical treatment, physical therapy, and mobility aids. They affect a person’s daily life and can prevent them from being employed. These factors increase the impact of the injury and the cost of a personal injury settlement.
Yes, you could file a claim for pain and suffering after a catastrophic injury in Louisiana, as these are some of the damages available in a personal injury claim. These damages are associated with the physical and emotional damages of an injury, and may be calculated based on the value of your financial losses. More serious injuries result in higher medical costs and lost income, and also tend to correlate with more severe pain and emotional trauma.
The time it takes to resolve a catastrophic personal injury claim in New Orleans, Louisiana is generally longer than other personal injury claims. This is partially because it’s useful to wait until maximum medical improvement before settling a claim. This helps professionals more accurately determine the consequences the injury has on your life. In catastrophic injury cases, it takes longer for injuries to reach this point. Also, be sure you understand Louisiana’s filing deadlines so you don’t miss your window to sue.
Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in New Orleans
Dealing with a painful and unexpected injury is never easy. It can be even more frustrating when it was caused by the carelessness of another individual or entity. At Murphy Law Firm, we can help you hold that party responsible. Contact our firm today.
New Orleans, Louisiana Catastrophic Injury Resources
Your Path to Legal Resolution Starts with Murphy Law Firm.
When you choose Murphy Law Firm, you gain access to a team of experienced attorneys with a proven track record of success. We understand the importance of trust, and we strive to build lasting relationships with our clients by delivering exceptional results.
