Virginia Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
In the blink of an eye, a serious accident can turn life upside down. From car crashes to workplace injuries, thousands of people across the country are left with catastrophic injuries every year. Not only do these catastrophic events cause extreme pain and suffering, but they also prevent many victims from going back to their jobs and enjoying the same quality of life as they did before the accident.
On This Page
- The Catastrophic Injury Lawyers at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Are Here To Help
- What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury?
- Real-World Case Illustration: How We Handle Life-Altering Injury Lawsuits
- Damages Available After a Catastrophic Accident
- Virginia’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
- You Can Count On Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers To Fight for You
If you are the victim of a catastrophic injury caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you are likely entitled to legal compensation from the at-fault party and their insurer. Do not wait to take legal action. Our skilled Virginia catastrophic injury lawyers can review your case and explain your full legal options.
Countless injured Virginians have counted on Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers to provide high-quality, individualized legal counsel and representation in their hour of need. You can count on us to provide the same unparalleled service to you and your family. Call (757) 333-3333 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation today.
The Catastrophic Injury Lawyers at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Are Here To Help
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers is a full-service personal injury law firm devoted to helping accident victims throughout Virginia seek justice, accountability, and compensation for injuries sustained due to no fault of their own. We have over 120 years of combined experience providing top-tier legal services to our clients. Learn more by exploring our glowing reviews.
The first step on the road toward compensation from your catastrophic injury case is scheduling your free consultation with a member of our legal team. Our knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys are ready to listen to your story, answer your questions, and address your concerns. We have meeting locations conveniently located throughout Hampton Roads, including in:
If you cannot travel to us because of your injuries, we can visit you at home or the hospital to learn more about your case. When you work with us, you can rest assured that your claim is in capable and experienced hands. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, we will leverage our legal expertise and extensive resources to build the strongest claim possible on your behalf.
Our Results
Over the years, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in life-changing settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. Some of the results we have secured in cases involving catastrophic injuries include:
- $7 million for a motorcycle accident victim who required a below-the-knee amputation.
- $6 million for a veteran paralyzed below the chest after falling from the second floor of a building.
- $6.5 million for a car accident victim who became paralyzed below the neck (quadriplegia) in a three-car crash.
- $4.725 million for a teenager who suffered multiple broken bones and vision impairment.
- $2.8 million for a highway worker hit by a drunk driver.
What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury refers to any severe injury that results in significant and long-term impairment or disability, often affecting a person’s ability to perform daily activities or work. These injuries can have a profound impact on an individual’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Examples of catastrophic injuries may include:
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) that lead to full or partial paralysis below the injury site.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that result in cognitive impairment or loss of motor function.
- Burn injuries covering large areas of the body, including those caused by fire, steam, chemical exposure, and electrocutions.
- Severe orthopedic injuries, such as broken bones or ruptured discs, that lead to surgery with implanting hardware and permanent disability.
- Internal bleeding and organ damage requiring long-term medical care or organ transplants.
- Injuries resulting in amputations of legs or arms with permanent disfigurement.
- Injuries that cause blindness or deafness.
Known as The Car Crash Experts, the legal team Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers is particularly renowned throughout Virginia for helping folks who suffer catastrophic injuries in auto accidents, including:
Founding partner John Cooper is also a nationally recognized leader in railroad injury cases, including those involving FELA liability, Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the railroad industry. He has helped countless railroad workers secure high-value settlements and verdicts in catastrophic injury cases stemming from hazardous work conditions on railroads.
Real-World Case Illustration: How We Handle Life-Altering Injury Lawsuits
At 41 years old, our client from Virginia was struck by a truck while driving on a narrow road. The impact of the accident was so extreme that the engine of her car dislodged and landed in her lap. She suffered truly devastating injuries, including rib fractures, pelvic fractures, liver lacerations, a fractured femur, a fractured tibia, and a traumatic brain injury. The harrowing experience also left her struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
John Cooper and Jim Hurley represented her in a lawsuit. They discovered that a construction truck driver caused the collision while distracted by his phone. By working directly with the client’s physician, Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers also determined that crash-related injuries led to 58 percent permanent bodily impairment, resulting in chronic pain that would affect her for the rest of her life.
As part of our litigation strategy, our firm conducted several focus groups in which we presented evidence to two neutral panels composed of non-lawyers. The insurance company ultimately agreed to a $5 million settlement.
Though money cannot truly make up for catastrophic injuries like those suffered by our client, it is imperative that negligent and reckless actors be held accountable. As personal injury lawyers, we are dedicated to ensuring that injured Virginians are well-represented, the law is upheld, and justice is served.
John Cooper
Damages Available After a Catastrophic Accident
Damages available for catastrophic injuries vary widely depending on the specific circumstances of each case, including the severity of the injury, the impact on the victim’s life, and the extent of the liability of the responsible party. That said, because of their extreme nature, these kinds of injuries generally result in higher-value settlements and verdicts.
Our lawyers strive to go the extra mile to ensure our clients receive full and fair compensation for their catastrophic injuries. Damages in personal injury cases may include:
Compensatory Damages
In most cases, personal injury damages fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover things that easily reduce to a monetary value. Non-economic damages cover the more subjective impact of your injuries and losses. Together, these “compensatory damages” may cover things like:
- Medical Expenses – This includes past, current, and future medical costs associated with treating your catastrophic injury, such as hospitalization, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and ongoing medical care.
- Lost Income and Earning Capacity – Catastrophic injuries often result in significant time away from work, temporary or permanent disability, and inability to return to previous employment. Damages may be awarded to compensate for lost wages, benefits, and diminished earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering – Compensation is available for the physical pain, discomfort, and emotional distress experienced as a result of your catastrophic injury. This can include both past and future pain and suffering.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life – Catastrophic injuries can profoundly impact a person’s ability to engage in activities they once enjoyed or participate in daily life as they did before the injury. Damages may be awarded to compensate for the loss of enjoyment of life.
- Disfigurement and Disability – Compensation may be available for any disfigurement, scarring, or permanent disability resulting from catastrophic injury, as well as the victim’s ability to function independently.
Punitive Damages
In cases involving extreme negligence or intentional misconduct by the responsible party, punitive damages may be awarded in Virginia to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. Though this form of damages is awarded more rarely than compensatory damages, they are more likely in cases involving catastrophic injuries, particularly with corporate bad actors.
Wrongful Death Damages
If you lost a loved one in an accident, our hearts go out to you and your family. We have families of our own, and we understand that no amount of money can make up for the loss of someone you love.
Even so, in the interest of justice and accountability, the law carves out an avenue for grieving families to have their loss recognized in court. Through a Virginia wrongful death lawsuit, estate representatives, the executor or administrator, can seek monetary compensation for a death caused by the “wrongful act, neglect, or default of any person or corporation.” The money goes to surviving family members based on statutory system. The exact statutory beneficiaries is finalized by a court from the survivors, like husband, wife, children, parents, or siblings.
Wrongful death damages are distributed to surviving loved ones and may include grief, medical expenses, lost income, loss of future wages, loss of household services, loss of advice, funeral costs, and loss of companionship. However, the law governing wrongful death lawsuits is complex, and surviving family members need expert legal representation to hold responsible parties accountable.
Virginia's Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
The Virginia statute of limitations for most personal injury cases gives accident victims two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit in court, but this may vary depending on the specific circumstances of your case. Further, though certain exceptions may apply, failure to file before the correct deadline will result in your case being dismissed forever. Therefore, do not wait to consult with an attorney.
It’s also important not to wait too long because investigating and preparing a strong claim takes time. The sooner you reach out to our skilled personal injury lawyers, the sooner they can get started preserving evidence to build the strongest case possible on your behalf. When we get a new catastrophic case, we immediately do everything to make sure we maximize the result for the clients.
You Can Count On Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers To Fight for You
Our Virginia catastrophic injury attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers are ready to handle your case from start to finish. We have extensive experience defending the rights of catastrophic injury victims. We are ready with experts to test the vehicles, inspect the site of the accident, and preserve all available evidence. Let us put our team to work for you.
Known as The Car Crash Experts, we are a leading personal injury law firm in Virginia. When you work with us, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands. Call (757) 333-3333 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation today.
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