Life-Altering Injuries: What They Are and the Steps You can Take to Get Justice
Life-altering injuries cause significant disruption and hardship not only for the person injured, but also for their families, friends, and communities. People with life-altering injuries may be unable to work or participate in everyday activities they once enjoyed due to long-term rehabilitation needs and physical limitations. Many times, these types of injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence that was not your fault, which is why you may consider choosing a personal injury lawyer in Gainesville, Florida.
At Avera & Smith, we are dedicated to supporting you so that you don’t have to figure it out alone, allowing you to focus on your recovery. With more than six decades of experience helping injured individuals navigate the legal system, our goal is to provide easy-to-understand answers so that people affected by a life-altering injury don’t feel overwhelmed in unfamiliar territory.
In this blog post, we will discuss what a life-altering injury is, examples of common ways it can occur, and steps individuals can take when seeking justice for sustaining such an injury.
What are Life-Altering Injuries?
The term “life-altering injuries” is broadly used to describe physical and/or mental injuries that substantially reduce a person’s quality of life. These injuries can be caused by accidents or other traumatic events and can result in a range of disabilities, from paralysis to cognitive impairments. Some individuals who have experienced a life-altering injury will require long-term medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care to regain or maintain their independence.
Some examples* of life-altering injuries that we have represented at Avera & Smith include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Injuries to children
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Burns
- Paralysis
- Electrical injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Nursing Home Abuse
*This is not a complete list, so please reach out to us for a free consultation if you do not see your specific life-altering injury listed
How do Life-Altering Injuries Occur?
Life-altering injuries can occur from a variety of different incidents, including:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Avera & Smith handles all manners of collisions and car or truck accidents, including rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone collisions, electric bike or scooter accidents, rollovers and more.
- Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents: Both pedestrians and bicyclists have legal rights on the road. Because these accidents can result in some of the most catastrophic injuries, you deserve the best counsel.
- Dog Bites & Animal Attacks: The laws regarding dog bites vary widely depending on the geographic location where the incident occurred, often varying by city and county, so you will need experienced legal help from an animal attack lawyer to resolve your case.
- Product Liability & Defective Products: Were you injured by a defective or dangerous product? We can help. The attorneys of Avera & Smith are experts at obtaining multi-million dollar verdicts to compensate the victims of products that have harmed the consumer.
- Slip-and-Fall Accidents: We handle slip-and-fall accidents, negligent security and other cases.
In some cases, a pre-existing condition or illness may worsen, leading to a life-altering injury.
Regardless of the cause, such injuries typically result in a significant change in a person’s physical or mental abilities. In turn, the affected individual can incur financial burdens and emotional distress for both the individual and their loved ones.
However, help is available through a personal injury lawyer in Gainesville, Florida at Avera & Smith.
Steps to Getting Justice After a Life-Altering Injury
Getting justice after a life-altering injury can be a lengthy and complex process, but we are here to fight alongside you through your recovery.
- Stay Focused on Medical Attention: First things first: you need to continue seeking the medical care that you need for your specific injury. Documentation is crucial, so be sure to keep all medical records, along with personal notes about the injury and the incident that led to the injury.
- Seek Legal Representation: As soon as possible following a life-altering injury, reach out to schedule your free consultation with us at Avera & Smith so we can help you gather evidence, assess the extent of your injuries, and determine any ongoing medical costs.
- Begin the Legal Process: After we accept your case, the next step is to begin the legal process, which is ultimately what leads to justice for your specific situation. This does not automatically mean that your case will go to trial; in fact, most non-criminal cases are settled outside of court. People come first at Avera & Smith, so we will fight for justice, regardless of whether that involves negotiating with insurance companies, working to arrive at an optimal settlement, or presenting your case in court. We will maintain open communication with you so that you remain informed about the progress of the case.
Ultimately, the length of time and outcome of the legal process depends on the specific circumstances of the injury and how it occurred. The key to getting justice is to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Gainesville, Florida, like our attorneys at Avera & Smith who can provide the guidance and support needed to achieve a fair outcome.
If you or a loved one has experienced a situation that led to a life-altering injury, we understand how overwhelming it can feel to seek justice. You don’t have to figure this out on your own.
Our team is ready to help you through the entire process, from start to finish. Reach out to the experts at Avera & Smith to schedule a free consultation.