Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Catastrophic Injury Attorneys in NC, SC & GA
A catastrophic injury is one that permanently prevents a person from performing gainful work or living independently. These injuries fundamentally alter every aspect of a victim's life — their physical abilities, their relationships, their career, their independence, and their sense of self. At Dr. Ted Injury Law, our catastrophic injury lawyers have the experience, resources, and determination to fight for the substantial compensation these devastating cases demand.
Catastrophic injury cases are among the most complex in personal injury law. They involve enormous past and future damages, require expert testimony from multiple specialists, and often pit our clients against well-funded corporations and insurance companies. Our firm has the financial resources to invest in these cases and the track record to take them to trial when necessary.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries — Severe TBIs causing cognitive impairment, personality changes, and loss of independence.
- Spinal cord injuries — Paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis.
- Amputations — Loss of limbs or digits requiring prosthetics and lifelong medical care.
- Severe burns — Third and fourth-degree burns requiring extensive surgery and leaving permanent scarring.
- Multiple organ injuries — Damage to multiple internal organs from blunt force trauma.
- Loss of sight or hearing — Permanent sensory loss affecting independence and quality of life.
- Severe orthopedic injuries — Complex fractures requiring multiple surgeries and resulting in chronic pain and limited mobility.
- Crush injuries — Injuries from being caught between heavy objects, often resulting in amputation or organ failure.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
- Tractor-trailer and commercial vehicle accidents
- Construction site accidents and falls from heights
- Industrial and manufacturing accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products
- Explosions and fires
- Motorcycle and pedestrian accidents
- Workplace violence and criminal acts
Building a Catastrophic Injury Case
Our attorneys assemble a team of experts for every catastrophic injury case:
- Medical specialists — To document the injury, treatment, and prognosis.
- Life care planners — To project the full lifetime cost of medical care, equipment, and support.
- Economists — To calculate lost earning capacity and the present value of future damages.
- Vocational experts — To assess the impact on the victim's ability to work.
- Accident reconstructionists — To establish how the injury occurred.
- Mental health professionals — To document psychological and emotional impacts.
State Laws
The statute of limitations is 3 years in NC and SC, and 2 years in GA. North Carolina's contributory negligence rule makes establishing clear liability essential. South Carolina and Georgia apply comparative negligence.
Compensation
Catastrophic injury cases can result in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Compensation includes all past and future medical care, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of independence and quality of life, home and vehicle modifications, assistive technology and equipment, and full-time caregiving costs. Our attorneys fight for every dollar our clients need for the rest of their lives.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, contact Dr. Ted Injury Law for a free consultation. We have the resources and determination to take on the most complex injury cases.
Related Case Results
Our client was driving home from work on Interstate 85 near Charlotte when an 18-wheeler whose driver had exceeded federal hours-of-service limits ran a red light at a highway interchange, causing a devastating multi-vehicle collision. Our client suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, and required months of intensive rehabilitation. Through exhaustive investigation, we uncovered falsified driver logs and a pattern of safety violations by the trucking company. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $12.5 million, one of the largest trucking accident verdicts in North Carolina history.
A 42-year-old mother of three went to a Charlotte-area hospital for a routine gallbladder removal. Due to the surgeon's negligence, her bile duct was severed during the procedure, leading to a life-threatening infection, multiple corrective surgeries, and permanent digestive complications. Our team retained leading surgical experts who testified that the surgeon deviated from the standard of care. The case was resolved through mediation for $9.2 million, providing our client with the resources to cover her ongoing medical needs and compensate her family for the profound impact on their lives.
A commercial truck driver lost control of his vehicle on a steep descent near Asheville when the truck's brakes failed due to inadequate maintenance. The truck struck our client's vehicle head-on, killing the 38-year-old father of two. Our investigation revealed that the trucking company had repeatedly deferred required brake inspections and that the driver had reported brake issues weeks before the accident. We settled with the trucking company and the maintenance provider for a combined $8.7 million for the surviving family.
A construction worker at a high-rise project in downtown Charlotte fell 40 feet when his safety harness, manufactured by a major equipment company, failed due to a defective buckle mechanism. He suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury resulting in permanent paralysis from the waist down. We pursued claims against both the equipment manufacturer and the general contractor, ultimately recovering $7.8 million through settlement. The case led to a voluntary recall of the defective harness model.