A catastrophic injury is a severe medical condition that causes long-term or permanent damage, resulting in life-altering consequences for the victim. These injuries happen in various situations, often due to another party's negligence or wrongdoing.
As a Texas catastrophic injury firm with offices in Plano, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Bryan, the skilled professionals at Dortch Lindstrom Livingston Law Group have seen firsthand the devastating impact these circumstances have on individuals and families. Understanding the common causes of these injuries is the first step in protecting your rights and working with us to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car, commercial semi-truck, and motorcycle crashes are a leading cause of catastrophic injuries in Texas. These collisions often occur due to reckless behaviors such as speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving. When a collision happens at high speeds or involves a large vehicle striking a smaller one, the results can be disastrous.
Catastrophic injuries are especially common in motor vehicle accidents involving:
- Commercial trucks. The massive size and weight of 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, tankers, and other large vehicles range between 40,000 and 80,000 pounds, which can crush smaller passenger vehicles.
- Motorcycles. Riders have minimal protection and are easily ejected from their machine.
- Pedestrians and bicyclists. There’s no barrier to shield a person's body from the force of an impact.
- Rollovers. These dangerous accidents present a high risk of passengers being thrown from the vehicle or crushed by a collapsed roof.
- Head-on collisions. The combined speed of both vehicles multiplies the collision forces.
Even the most safety-conscious motorist can’t control the actions of others on the road. If you were catastrophically injured by a negligent driver, our experienced legal team will gather evidence to show how the other driver's carelessness led to your injuries.
Workplace Accidents
Many jobs involve hazardous working conditions that put employees at risk of life-changing circumstances. Catastrophic injuries are especially common in the construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas industries. They include:
- Falls from heights
- Struck-by incidents involving falling objects or equipment
- Crush injuries from being pinned or caught between objects
- Electrocution
- Fires and explosions
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Overexertion
Employers have a responsibility to maintain a safe work environment, provide adequate training and safety gear, and follow state and federal regulations. When they fail in these duties, workers pay the price. As former insurance company defense attorneys, the professionals at Dortch Lindstrom Livingston Law Group understand how both sides of the docket approach litigation—enabling us to anticipate opposing counsel’s tactics regarding employer liability.
Medical Malpractice
We trust health care professionals to heal us, not harm us. However, medical mistakes are often the cause of catastrophic injuries that impact patients for the rest of their lives. Examples of medical negligence include:
- Birth injuries, including cerebral palsy or brachial plexus damage
- Surgical errors such as damaging a nerve or operating on the wrong body part
- Anesthesia mistakes that lead to brain damage
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of a serious condition
- Medication errors involving improper dosage or dangerous drug interactions
Doctors, hospitals, and other medical providers must follow established standards of care. When they are negligent, our medical malpractice lawyers help investigate what went wrong and pursue a settlement that accounts for your immediate and future needs.
Defective Products
We use countless products every day with the assumption they’re safe when used properly. Unfortunately, defective consumer products, vehicles, industrial equipment, and medical devices cause thousands of catastrophic injuries each year. These incidents are often the result of:
- Design flaws that make a product inherently dangerous.
- Manufacturing defects introduced on the assembly line.
- Inadequate safety features or guards.
- Insufficient warning labels about potential hazards.
- Toxic materials or dangerous chemicals in the product.
If a faulty product has left you or a loved one with life-altering trauma, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. Product liability cases are highly complex and often involve taking on large corporations. A skilled legal team like ours analyzes all aspects of these cases to identify all potentially liable parties.
Get the Legal Advocacy You Deserve From Our Dallas Catastrophic Injury Attorneys
Let us handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on healing. We know the challenges you face, as catastrophic injury recovery is costly, lengthy, and often frustrating. With decades of combined experience and a track record of successful results, you can trust our team to fight for the financial recovery you need to rebuild your life.
