Catastrophic Injury Claims for Compensation

Catastrophic injury claims

A catastrophic injury is an injury which is classed as severe and likely to have a long term effect on your life. This type of injury may also include those which can reduce your life expectancy. This type of injury can be sustained as a result of many types of accidents, including, but not limited to, road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, medical or clinical negligence. Beacon Law deal with many types of claims in which a Claimant has suffered from catastrophic injuries. If you have been involved in an accident which has resulted in you suffering from severe injuries, speak to one of our specialist catastrophic injury solicitors to find out if you could make a compensation claim.

Catastrophic injuries

There are many types of catastrophic injuries, including disfiguring burns, multiple bone fractures, amputations, severe psychiatric harm, brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and any other type of injury which could harm your earning capacity or quality of life. Catastrophic Injuries include:

• Brain Injury – this can result in cognitive dysfunctions and can affect speech, language, emotions and your ability to move.
• Spinal cord injury – this can result in paralysis, partial or complete. It can cause difficulties in respiration, exaggerated spasms and reflexes, loss of bladder and bowel control and general severe pain.
• Amputations – this can result in a number of physical and emotional challenges.
• Serious burns – this can result in amputations, disfigurement, disability and can result in infections.
• Fatal injuries – These types of injuries are the most severe type of catastrophic injury and cause the death of an accident victim

Other examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Clinical Negligence 
• Birth injuries
• Crush injuries 
• Nerve damage 
• Organ damage 
• Paraplegia or Quadriplegia
• Chronic pain injuries

A catastrophic injury will mean that there is continuing medical care which is likely to last a long time.

Why is it a catastrophic injury different from personal injury?

The difference between the two types of injury is that a catastrophic injury has a higher value of damages due to the degree of the injuries suffered. Furthermore, a catastrophic injury will have a much longer and significant effect on your life. There is more medical information and expertise required for making catastrophic claims, and due to the high level of damages which is are at stake, the Defendant is likely to provide a more vigorous defence.

Catastrophic injury claims process

You should contact Beacon Law to have a conversation with a catastrophic injury claims Solicitor. If you decide to make a claim for your injuries, we will take formal instructions for us to act on your behalf in your case.

The next step would be to collect evidence of how the injury occurred. We will take detailed instructions from you on how the circumstances of the accident and notify the Defendant of the claim being brought forward. We will then obtain medical evidence, police evidence and evidence from the Defendant, all where applicable.

Once contact has been established with the Defendant, and we can identify whom the party at fault is through the evidence.

A settlement will be sought as early as possible on the case; however, in some cases, the Defendant will not admit fault, and we may have to proceed to Court in order to protect your best interest on the case.

Our dedicated solicitors can claim interim payments to help you pay for your needs while you wait for your claim to be completed. This could mean obtaining:

• Immediate payments to alleviate financial hardship
• Professional care and ongoing support
• Adaptations to your home; and
• Medical treatment not readily available on the NHS

Is there a time limit for making a catastrophic injury claim?

There is a general requirement that a claim must be brought within three years of the date of the accident. This time limit can be extended in certain circumstances. If the Claimant is a child, the time will not start to run until they have reached 18 years of age.

How much does it cost to make a catastrophic injury claim?

Beacon Law offer a no win, no fee service for all claims including catastrophic injury claims. “No win, no fee” refers to a type of agreement between a client and their solicitor, in which the solicitor agrees to handle the case on the understanding that they will only be paid if the client wins their case or settles it out of court. This type of agreement is often used in personal injury and medical negligence claims in the UK. If the claimant doesn’t win their case, they don’t have to pay the solicitor’s fees. This type of agreement can make it easier for individuals to pursue legal action as they don’t have to pay upfront legal fees.

If a claimant wins their case under a “no win, no fee” agreement, they may be required to pay the following fees:

1. Success fee: A percentage of the damages awarded, agreed upon between the claimant and their solicitor at the outset of the case. This fee is paid from the damages awarded and is capped by law.
2. ATE (after the event) insurance premium: This is insurance to cover the claimant’s opponent’s costs in the event that the claimant loses their case. This insurance premium can be significant, and the claimant is responsible for paying it.

All fees will be discussed with you before you agree to start your claim.

Why choose Beacon Law?

A catastrophic injury can have devastating consequences for you and your family. It is therefore essential that a solicitor specialising in catastrophic injuries is selected to represent you and your needs. These cases can be complex, and thus you will require a solicitor who is familiar with the process of these claims and has an understanding of the rehabilitation process which you will have to go through in recovering from a catastrophic injury. Furthermore, it is important that the Solicitor you select is able to assess your future needs and is able to put your best case forward.

At Beacon Law, we are specialist injury lawyers dealing daily with personal injury claims, including catastrophic injury cases and clinical negligence claims. We are a leading firm of Solicitors and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Our primary focus at Beacon Law are your needs and giving you the best legal advice in a way which will benefit you the best. We aim to maximise the compensation which you will receive and will try to obtain interim payments at the earliest opportunity.

We work on a ‘no win no fee’ basis. This means that as long as you comply throughout the case, you are unlikely to be ordered to pay any fees even if you are unsuccessful. More details can be provided around our retainer.

We will work closely with you and within the instructions you provide. We will aim to support you through a time which is already difficult for you and provide the best case management possible through the complex legal proceedings which you may face in a complicated catastrophic injury claim.

If you require advice on a potential case or assistance, please contact us on 0330 1332 857. Alternatively, you are welcome to complete our online form, and an expert will contact you to discuss your queries and case.