Cheyenne, WY Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

What Is Considered A Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is an injury you can never fully recover from that will have lifelong impacts on your life. In some cases, catastrophic injuries can leave a person with permanent mental and physical disabilities. Some people may also require constant care from a caregiver. 

Some common catastrophic injuries include:

• Amputation: The loss of a limb can have long-term impacts affecting a person’s ability to perform specific tasks and functions, work, or drive. 
• Traumatic brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries from a severe accident can cause memory loss, personality changes, difficulty comprehending or understanding, and other cognitive impairments. Some people also lose their knowledge and never fully recover. 
• Burns: While minor burns do heal, in catastrophic cases, the person has to live with disfigurement and ongoing emotional and physical pain. 
• Loss of hearing or sight: Losing one’s hearing or sight from a catastrophic injury makes it impossible to recover fully. Special accommodations are often needed at home and work.
• Spinal cord injuries: Some people could experience partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation in the arms, legs, hands, or feet, or ongoing muscle weakness that they will never fully recover from.

As you can imagine, catastrophic injuries can create many uncertainties, not just for the victim but their loved ones. They may never fully recover and be unable to return to work. They may also be unable to care for their children and spouse like they were before the accident. 

What Types Of Accidents Cause Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries can be caused by:

• Semi-truck, motorcycle, and car accidents
• Workplace and factory accidents
• Pedestrian and bicyclist accidents
• Diving, swimming, skiing, and snowboarding accidents
• Severe slips, trips, and falls

What Is The Most Common Cause Of Catastrophic Injuries In Wyoming?

The top causes of catastrophic injuries in Wyoming are auto accidents. According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, for 2023, there were:

• 121 fatal crashes
• 144 fatalities
• 468 critical crashes
• 2,039 serious crashes
• 2,386 injury crashes
• 3,218 injuries
• 10,985 damage crashes

The second top cause is slips, trips, and falls, and the third top cause is burns. 

What Is Needed To Prove A Catastrophic Injury In Cheyenne, Wyoming?

The primary and most important aspect of proving a catastrophic injury claim in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is establishing that one party was negligent. You must show their negligence resulted in catastrophic injuries, and if they had not been negligent, then the accident would not have occurred, or the injuries would not have been as severe. 

Proving negligence can be rather complex and time-consuming because you will need to:

• Gather evidence to support your claim
• Establish the other party was at fault
• Obtain witness statements when witnesses were present
• Obtain police, accident, and medical records to support the severity of the injuries
• Demonstrate you experienced financial and personal losses due to the injuries

Our experienced Wyoming catastrophic injury attorneys handle all aspects of proving negligence on your behalf. Attorney Kyle Bachus went through a tragic loss and catastrophic event when his mother was run over by a cement truck being operated negligently. So, he has first-hand experience dealing with catastrophic injuries and losses and understands what you are going through. 

What Damages Can Be Recovered From A Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit In Cheyenne?

The types of damages that can be recovered will vary from case to case and the specific circumstances. Keeping that in mind, you may be qualified to recover economic damages (damage with an actual dollar value) and non-economic damages (damages without a set value), which can include:

• Present and future medical bills
• Present and future rehabilitation costs
• Special medical equipment
• Cost of home accommodations and modifications
• Cost of any special vehicle modifications
• Present and future lost wages and benefits
• Cost of in-home caregivers
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Mental and physical impairments
• Loss of consortium/loss of enjoyment

Why Are Wyoming Catastrophic Injury Cases Unique?

Catastrophic injury cases in Wyoming are unique because they require special considerations and other factors for long-term needs, as most people never recover from their injuries. Some of these considerations and factors include:

• Ongoing medical needs and expenses
• Ongoing rehab services
• Alterations to work, transportation, and home environments
• Whether the person can care for themselves
• Prosthetic and assistive devices needed

Due to the long-term effects of catastrophic injuries, the compensation received needs to ensure the victim is financially sound for the rest of their life. 

Get Help After A Catastrophic Injury From Our Cheyenne, Wyoming, Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

At Bachus & Schnaker, we understand the impacts catastrophic injuries will have on you and your loved ones. We provide the support and guidance you need to give you time to figure out what you will do next while helping ensure your future is financially secure. 

Our Elite Litigation Group also provides access to our Victims Advocates Group of professionals who provide additional support for you and your family during this challenging time. Our dedicated team of catastrophic injury attorneys from Cheyenne, Wyoming, works tirelessly on your behalf to ensure maximum compensation while allowing you to focus on recovery and healing. 

Sources:

Proving Fault and Damages in Personal Injury Lawsuits. (2023).

Total Crashes by Year. (2024).

What Types of Injuries Can Form the Basis for a Lawsuit? (2023).