New York Catastrophic Injury Lawyers: Guiding You Through Complex Legal Battles

Fighting for Catastrophic Injury Victims and Their Families for 30-Plus Years

The New York personal injury lawyers at Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Firm have been fighting for victims of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death for more than three decades. Founded by renowned trial lawyer Jacob D. Fuchsberg, our firm has recovered hundreds of millions for injured clients and families.

Our dedicated team of attorneys has a proven record of success litigating complex injury and malpractice cases. We handle cases involving spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, construction accidents, medical errors, and other debilitating injuries caused by carelessness and negligence.

Contact our NYC firm online or by phone at (212) 869-3500 for a free consultation on your catastrophic injury case.

Meet Our Attorneys

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is any severe, debilitating injury that permanently affects a person's ability to function and live independently. These life-changing injuries typically involve damage to the brain, spinal cord, or vital organs, leading to long-term or permanent impairment of mobility, cognition, or physiological processes.

Catastrophic injuries require intensive, ongoing medical care and rehabilitation and profoundly impact the sufferer's quality of life.

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries often happen in the blink of an eye, but they can leave victims facing a lifetime of consequences.

From car crashes to construction mishaps, several common types of accidents can produce these devastating injuries:

• Motor vehicle accidents: Head-on collisions, rollover crashes, and high-speed impacts can cause spinal cord and brain injuries;
• Construction accidents: Falls from heights, electrocution, and heavy equipment accidents often lead to disabling traumatic injuries;
• Medical malpractice: Surgical errors, medication mistakes, and delayed diagnosis can result in severe harm;
• Pedestrian accidents: Unprotected collisions with vehicles frequently cause brain and orthopedic injuries;
• Burns: Burns from heat, chemicals, or electricity may cover large surface areas of the body, leading to loss of function;
• Workplace accidents: Industrial machine accidents, falls, and electrical accidents are among the leading types of accidents in the workplace;
• Sports/recreation injuries: Football, snowboarding, ATV riding, and other activities can result in brain, organ, and/or spinal cord injuries;
• Violent crimes: Gunshot wounds, stabbings, and physical assaults often produce catastrophic harm.

The common thread in these accidents and injuries is that they typically involve significant blunt force trauma, penetrating trauma, or prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain. The result is damage to critical anatomical structures that profoundly impairs the victim's ability to function.

Types of Catastrophic Injury Cases We Take on in New York

hen bad things happen to good people in New York, our NYC personal injury lawyers take action. We're fully committed to helping accident victims and their families get the compensation they desperately need.

From brain trauma to paralysis, here are some of the serious injury cases we take on in New York City and beyond.

Birth Injuries

We pursue cases where poor medical care before, during, or after birth causes birth injuries like cerebral palsy, paralysis, and other catastrophic impairments for the baby.

Our accomplished trial lawyers know how to get results in these complex catastrophic injury claims and are committed to holding negligent parties accountable.

Brain Injuries

Our firm litigates traumatic brain injury cases, including those caused by falls, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice. We fight tenaciously for clients left with cognitive, behavioral, and physical impairments through no fault of their own.

Amputation

We represent clients in catastrophic injury cases who lose limbs as a result of vehicular accidents, machinery accidents, or medical negligence, seeking fair compensation for medical costs, prosthetic devices, and disability.

Burns

Our attorneys handle claims for clients who suffer disfiguring burns in explosions, electrocutions, chemical spills, and other incidents. We can help you obtain the resources you need to cover necessary medical treatments, including surgeries and skin grafts.

What to Do If You've Been Severely Injured in NYC

In the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic injury, it's crucial that you take the appropriate steps to protect your rights. While such experiences can be overwhelming, staying focused on the following key actions will help your case down the road:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Go to the emergency room to get evaluated and treated for any injuries as soon as possible after the incident. Prompt medical care can make all the difference when it comes to your prognosis for recovery.

2. Document the Scene

When you're able, take photos or video footage of the accident site, including any hazardous conditions that contributed to the incident. This evidence will be crucial once you begin your claim.

3. Gather Witness Information

Get the names and contact details of anyone who saw the accident occur. Their testimony may be valuable for proving liability later on.

4. Report the Incident

File an official report with the appropriate authorities, like the police or OSHA. These reports will also serve as vital evidence in your case.

5. Contact an Attorney

When you're ready to pursue justice, reach out to a qualified personal injury attorney. An experienced attorney can handle the insurance claims process and formulate effective arguments to support your claim.

6. Keep Meticulous Records

Maintain detailed records of all medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, and any other losses stemming from the injury. Your attorney will use these records to determine the amount of compensation you're eligible to receive.

7. Focus on Recovery

Once you've hired a personal injury lawyer and given them all the information they need, concentrate on following your doctor's orders regarding treatment and rehabilitation. Adhering to the medical advice you're given is the key to a speedy recovery.

Damages You Can Recover for a Catastrophic Injury in New York

Catastrophic injuries can have severe financial consequences. Lost income, medical bills, daily assistance — these and other costs can quickly skyrocket. While no amount of money can undo what's been done, fair compensation is critical for helping you move on and improve your quality of life.

In New York, some of the types of damages you stand to recover for catastrophic injuries include:

• Medical expenses: Including hospital bills, physician's fees, surgery, medications, and ongoing rehabilitative care;
• Lost income: If the injury prevents you from working, you can recover wages lost during recovery, as well as those intended to cover lost future earning capacity;
• Disability and disfigurement: Permanent disability or severe disfigurement or scarring warrants compensation for emotional distress and loss of lifestyle;
• Rehabilitation and assistive devices: You can seek compensation for the costs of physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, wheelchairs, prosthetics, and other rehab needs;
• Home healthcare: If home care is required for activities of daily living, these expenses can be factored into the damages;
• Pain and suffering: Damages can also be sought for physical pain and emotional distress resulting from injury and impairment;
• Loss of consortium: The spouse of an injured person can potentially recover damages for loss of marital relations.

In order to document your losses and pursue fair compensation through settlement negotiations or trials, it's crucial to work with a skilled catastrophic injury attorney. The damages you recover can go toward your recovery and help you support your loved ones.

How a New York Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Can Help

A catastrophic injury can upend your life, but effective legal advocacy can help right it.

Here's an overview of how a dedicated New York injury lawyer can assist you in your case:

• Investigating the accident: Your lawyer will gather evidence to determine liability and identify all potentially responsible parties;
• Assessing damages: Next, your attorney will add up your current and future medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other injury-related expenses;
• Negotiating with insurance companies: Your attorney can handle negotiations with any implicated insurers to fight for fair compensation;
• Filing a lawsuit: If a satisfactory settlement can't be reached, your lawyer can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf and construct a winning argument;
• Navigating the legal system: Seasoned lawyers know how to successfully move through the legal system and leverage its processes to your benefit;
• Proving liability: Attorneys can use evidence and expert testimony to prove that negligence was the cause of your accident and resulting injuries;
• Maximizing compensation: Your lawyer will work to secure the maximum amount of damages possible from the defendant and their insurer;
• Avoiding delays: A capable attorney can prevent potential hang-ups in resolving a claim and getting compensation.

The legal guidance and advocacy an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer can provide are indispensable after a serious accident in New York. Having such an ally on your side can mean the difference between a paltry payout and significant compensation that reflects the seriousness of your situation.