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Whether it’s playing a sport, in a car wreck, or even an on-the-job accident, everyone will be injured at some point in their life. Most of the time, these injuries are not life-changing. People recover and resume their day-to-day lives. In some instances, though, the injury may be more severe. They may have long-term impact, seriously effecting our quality of life. These are called catastrophic injuries. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation from an insurance company. This can be a difficult process. Due to the severity of catastrophic injuries, settlements can be much higher than in less severe accidents. Because of this, insurance companies may make the process of collecting more difficult than usual.
What is a Catastrophic Injury in the State of Iowa?
A catastrophic injury, also known as a life altering injury, is any injury that has a permanent, life-changing impact on a person’s life. Under Iowa law, catastrophic injuries include:
- Damage to the Neck or Spine Resulting in Partial or Total Paralysis
- Severe Burns
- Electrical Shock Resulting in Heart, Brain, and/or Nerve Damage
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Loss of Vision
- Loss of Limbs
This is only a list of the most common catastrophic injuries. If an injury permanently impacts a person’s ability to live their life, it can be classified as a catastrophic injury. These injuries can impede a person’s ability to work a job or work full-time, and can also impact interpersonal relationships, mobility, and general quality of life. In some instances, a person may never be able to work again. They may also require some form of ongoing medical care. In extreme circumstances, someone may even require permanent hospitalization or an in-home caregiver.
Catastrophic injuries can happen in any number of ways. Vehicle accidents are a common way to sustain catastrophic injuries. They can also happen as the result of an on-the-job accident, due to a faulty consumer product, or as a result of another person’s negligence. A catastrophic injury does not have to happen under any special circumstances. If your quality of life has been permanently impacted, it is a catastrophic injury.
Can I Collect Financial Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries in Iowa?
People who suffer catastrophic injuries are entitled to financial compensation. In most instances this payment will come from an insurance company. Auto insurance and most company insurance policies cover for personal injury.
Under Iowa law, if you sustain a life-altering injury, you are entitled to collect financial compensation for:
- Medical Bills, Past and Future
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Lost Wages, Including Future Wages
- Punitive Damages
Future wages refers to money you could have earned had you not suffered a life-altering injury. For example, if you suffered partial or total paralysis and are not longer able to work, you may be entitled to compensation for all the future earnings you lost as a result. Punitive damages refers to money you are owed as the result of a person, persons, or company’s negligence. Punitive comes from the word punishment. This is money not directly related to any actual expense. Instead it is awarded by the court to provide you extra financial compensation for your suffering and to punish the responsible parties.
Depending on the circumstances of the injury, settlements involving corporations can be high. These include work related injuries and injuries due to faulty consumer products. Because of the amount of money potentially involved, many businesses and their insurance companies will attempt to make collection difficult. Insurance companies will attempt to get you to settle as quickly as possible and for as small an amount as possible.
If you refuse to settle or ask for more money, insurance companies may try to prove that your injury is not as severe as you claim. They may also attempt to prove that your quality of life is not really permanently impacted. In some instances, they may attempt to prove you are faking your injury, or that you sustained your injury in some other way. This is why having an attorney is key in a catastrophic injury case.
What Should I Do if I Suffer a Catastrophic Injury in Iowa?
Regardless of how someone suffered a catastrophic injury, insurance companies will try to make collection difficult. They may try to pressure you to accept a smaller amount than you are owed. This could impact your ability to pay past and future medical bills and live a sustainable life. Remember, once you settle with an insurance company, you can no longer attempt to collect money from them.
If you or a loved one have suffered a catastrophic injury in Iowa, don’t hesitate to contact Danny Cornell at Cornell Injury Law. We’re located at 111 E Washington St
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641, Danny has over thirty years of experience as a trial lawyer and has moved through all walks of life, having served his country in the US Armed Forces, worked as a minister, and served as a mayor. Moving through all these walks of life has given him a deep compassion for each and every person. This empathy moves Danny to apply all his skills and experience to fighting for those who have suffered catastrophic injuries. He understands what it means for someone’s life to be changed in the blink of an eye. His intense dedication to his clients is matched only by his stone-cold approach to insurance companies that don’t want to pay what they owe.
If you or a loved one need help settling a catastrophic injury claim, call Cornell Injury Law today at 319-946-4019 or email us for a free consultation. Danny Cornell wants all of his clients to receive the settlements they deserve so they can put their lives back together and move forward from their injuries.
