Las Vegas Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Las Vegas Catastrophic Injury Attorney
Every day, many people suffer all types of personal injuries in the Las Vegas area. Some of these injuries happen due to unexpected accidents; others are the results of negligence and intentional misconduct. While some victims of personal injuries eventually make full recoveries, others are not so fortunate and develop long-term or permanent medical complications that make their lives exceedingly difficult. A catastrophic personal injury results in permanent harm to the victim.
Compassionate Legal Counsel for Catastrophic Injury Claims in Las Vegas
When one party injures another in Nevada, the injured party has the right to seek accountability through a personal injury claim. This civil suit aims to help the victim recover compensation for the losses the other party inflicted on them. When it comes to catastrophic injuries, these incidents cause not only tremendous financial losses to victims and their families but also long-term physical pain, psychological distress, and diminished quality of life.
If you have suffered any life-changing injury due to the actions of another party, you need a Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney to help you recover your losses as fully as the law allows. The team at Easton & Easton has decades of professional legal experience handling all types of personal injury claims in Las Vegas, and we are ready to apply this experience to your catastrophic injury case.
Why Legal Counsel Is So Crucial for Catastrophic Injury Claims
When another party has injured you, state law dictates that you have the right to seek accountability for their damaging actions with a personal injury claim. This civil suit for damages seeks repayment of all the losses you suffered, both economic and non-economic in nature. This may seem like a straightforward legal mechanism, but the reality is that any personal injury claim can be complicated by numerous factors.
If you tried to file your personal injury claim on your own, you would face the risk of making unintentional errors that jeopardize your claim, potentially even nullifying your right to seek compensation from the defendant who injured you. Furthermore, even if you managed to succeed in proving their liability for your damages, you would then face the risk of unknowingly settling for a much smaller recovery than you legally deserve.
Hiring legal counsel you can trust eliminates these risks and increases your chances of recovering as fully as possible under state law. You will be able to focus on your recovery with peace of mind knowing your case is in capable hands. When you choose Easton & Easton to represent you, we will carefully assist you in gathering the evidence needed to firmly prove fault for your catastrophic injury, and we will take time to closely examine the full scope of the effects the injury has had on your life. Our goal in every personal injury case we accept is to help our client recover as fully and efficiently as possible.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries in Las Vegas
The term “catastrophic injury” is quite broad and generally applies to any personal injury causing long-term or permanent harm to the victim. A few examples of injuries that often satisfy the definition of a catastrophic injury include the following:
- Severe burns. Any burn-related injury is not only likely to be extremely painful but also result in permanent damage to the victim. Burns are hard to treat and often cause persistent symptoms that are sometimes permanent. Scar tissue is also disfiguring, and many people who medically recover from severe burns are left with permanent scars that cause psychological distress.
- Spinal cord injuries. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerve tissue that extends from the brain down through the spinal column, extending into every area of the body. The spinal cord carries brain signals throughout the body, allowing for conscious and unconscious control of bodily functions. Any injury to the spinal cord is permanent as the spinal cord does not self-repair from injury like the rest of the body. An incomplete injury that does not fully sever the cord can cause diminished touch sensation and reduced mobility of the regions of the body connected below the injury site. A complete injury that severs the cord will usually result in complete paralysis throughout the body below the injury site.
- Traumatic brain injuries. Brain injuries are not only hard to treat but also highly unpredictable in the range of effects they can have on victims. Many brain injuries result in long-term or permanent medical complications for victims, including diminished sensory processing, memory loss, personality changes, cognitive impairment, and more. Blunt force trauma to the head, chemical exposure, and penetrating head injuries are commonly reported causes of brain injuries resulting in permanent harm.
- Amputation injuries. An amputation is the removal of a limb from the victim’s body. It’s possible for a person to suffer an amputation through an acute traumatic injury like a car accident, workplace accident, or a crushing injury. It is also possible for a person to require amputation to save their life if a limb becomes damaged beyond repair and poses a risk of infection. Amputation is not only psychologically jarring for the victim, but they will also face an extensive rehabilitation process and may be unable to perform their previous work duties after initial recovery.
Ultimately, any personal injury resulting in long-term or permanent physical disability and/or psychological distress can qualify as a catastrophic injury. When such an injury occurs due to the negligence or illegal misconduct of another party, the victim has the right to pursue accountability and compensation for their damages through a personal injury claim.
Proving Liability for Your Catastrophic Injury
The first step you must accomplish in a catastrophic injury claim is proving exactly how the injury occurred. Under state law, when another party has caused any personal injury to you or a family member through negligence or intentional misconduct of any kind, this forms the foundation of a personal injury case.
When negligence is responsible for your catastrophic injury, your Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney can help you gather evidence to prove that the defendant owed you some duty of care they failed to fulfill and, in doing so, directly caused your claimed damages. In the event your injury resulted from any type of intentional and illegal misconduct, the state will likely press criminal charges against the defendant, and their criminal court proceedings may impact your civil claim for damages in multiple ways.
Depending on how your injury occurred, the evidence and testimony you will need to substantiate your claim for damages will vary. A few commonly cited causes of catastrophic injuries in Las Vegas include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, which are a leading cause of accidental injury and death throughout the United States. If a driver caused your injury, you could file a claim against their auto insurance policy, but their coverage is unlikely to account for the full scope of damages you incurred if you suffered a catastrophic injury. The attorneys at Easton & Easton can guide you through the insurance claim filing process and then assist you with filing your personal injury claim if necessary.
- Premises liability claims. Nevada law requires private property owners to ensure their properties are safe for lawful guests and visitors. Therefore, if you suffered a slip and fall or other accident resulting in catastrophic injury, the property owner is liable for your damages.
- Dog attacks. The state does not enforce a strict liability rule for dog attacks, so if someone else’s dog attacked you, unless the dog has a history of aggression, the most you can typically recover is compensation for your medical expenses. However, if the dog caused a catastrophic injury, or if the dog’s owner was negligent in any way in their handling of the dog, you can file a claim against the dog owner seeking compensation for the full scope of the losses you suffered from the attack.
- Workplace injuries. Many people work in inherently dangerous industries like construction. When a catastrophic injury happens at work, the victim likely has the ability to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, but if a specific party is responsible for causing the injury, the victim can also file a personal injury claim against them.
- Interpersonal violence. Unfortunately, as a major tourist destination, Las Vegas also attracts criminal elements, and some victims of criminal activity suffer life-changing injuries. If the defendant who injured you did so through an assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery resulting in injury, or any other intentional criminal act, they likely face severe penalties once convicted alongside their liability for your damages.
The process of proving liability for a catastrophic injury will vary from case to case. However, one constant that applies to every catastrophic injury victim in Las Vegas is the value of experienced legal representation. Your Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney can help you gather evidence to firmly establish fault for the damages you suffered.
Comparative Fault in Las Vegas Catastrophic Injury Claims
Nevada is one of many states that upholds a modified comparative negligence statute. This law comes into play in any civil claim in which the defendant asserts that the plaintiff shares fault for causing the damages in question. Under the modified comparative negligence law, the plaintiff fault threshold that bars recovery of damages is 50%. This means that as long as the plaintiff is less than 50% at fault for the incident in question, they can still recover their damages minus a penalty. However, if their fault is discovered to be more than 50%, they cannot seek compensation from the defendant.
If a plaintiff bears partial liability for a personal injury in Las Vegas, the judge handling their case assigns the plaintiff a fault percentage. This percentage is then deducted from the total compensation won from the defendant. For example, bearing 10% fault in a $500,000 claim could result in the plaintiff losing $50,000 from their case award. If you are concerned in any way about bearing partial liability for your claimed damages, it is crucial to work with an experienced Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney who can help you maximize your case award.
Claimable Damages for Your Catastrophic Injury
A catastrophic injury will likely cause a host of damages to the victim and their family. Some of these damages will be economic in nature, as any personal injury will have a direct financial impact on the victim. However, catastrophic injuries also cause a host of non-economic damages, specifically pain and suffering. These are also compensable losses under the state’s personal injury statutes.
Once you have successfully proven fault for your catastrophic injury and identified the party who caused your damages, you must then prove the exact scope of those damages. Under state law, claimable economic damages in a personal injury case may include the following:
- Medical treatment costs. If the defendant in your claim caused a physical injury, they assume liability for the cost of treating your injury. Your Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney can help you calculate hospital bills, prescription medication costs, and other immediate health care expenses resulting from the incident in question and add these to your claim as economic damages.
- Long-term expenses for medical care. Catastrophic injuries almost always require extensive ongoing care. Therefore, the defendant who caused your injury is not only liable for the immediate health care expenses you face for the treatment of the injuries they caused but also for the ongoing medical expenses you will incur for rehabilitative care, future surgeries, and any and all other medical procedures necessary for helping you reach maximum medical improvement.
- Property damage. If the defendant’s actions also resulted in the loss of your personal property, you can include the value of your lost property as economic damages in your personal injury claim.
- Lost wages. Your injury may leave you without the ability to work during your recovery. The defendant who injured you is then liable for all the income you are unable to earn because of their actions.
- Lost future earning potential. Catastrophic injuries entail long-term or permanent disability and/or disfigurement that can prevent the victim from working and earning income. If you cannot go back to your previous work duties because of your catastrophic injury, or if you cannot work at all due to the seriousness of your injury, The defendant must pay for the future income you are no longer able to earn.
Remember that when it comes to your claimable economic damages, you have the right to recover both immediate and projected future losses resulting from the defendant’s negligence or misconduct. However, you must have clear evidence showing the defendant is directly responsible for these damages and that they did not result from some other cause.
Aside from your economic damages, state law allows you to seek remuneration for the physical pain and emotional suffering the defendant inflicted on you. State law does not limit non-economic damages in personal injury claims, and the amount a plaintiff recovers is meant to reflect the seriousness of their experience. Since a catastrophic injury will likely negatively impact your quality of life in many ways, your pain and suffering compensation could be the bulk of your total case award.
Your Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney can help determine a fair amount to claim based on the seriousness of your condition and the scope of the future complications you are likely to experience because of the injury. Your attorney will likely use a multiplier method to determine appropriate pain and suffering compensation for a catastrophic injury. This method entails multiplying the plaintiff’s economic losses by one to five or more, depending on the seriousness of the plaintiff’s injury. Your Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney can advise you as to a reasonable amount of pain and suffering compensation you could feasibly obtain because of the serious nature of your condition after your injury.
When you hire Easton & Easton as your Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorneys, we will do everything we can to settle your case as quickly as possible, seeking the maximum amount of compensation allowed under state law in doing so. In addition, we know that your injury has impacted your life in many ways, and we will do everything we can to hold the at-fault party fully accountable for the entire scope of the damages you suffered from their actions.
Las Vegas Catastrophic Injury Lawyer FAQs
Q: When Does a Personal Injury Qualify as Catastrophic in Las Vegas?
A: The basic definition of a catastrophic personal injury is one that results in permanent damage to the victim. For example, a spinal cord injury will qualify as catastrophic if it leaves a victim paralyzed from the injury. Likewise, a traumatic brain injury will qualify as catastrophic if it results in any permanent cognitive or sensory impairment. Paralysis, blindness, amputation, and severely disfiguring injuries are just a few examples of what would likely qualify as catastrophic under state law.
Q: How Much Is My Catastrophic Injury Claim Worth in Las Vegas?
A: The purpose of a personal injury claim is for the victim to recover compensation they need to be as “whole” as possible again after their injury. You have the right to seek remuneration for all the economic losses you suffered, which are likely to be substantial when it comes to catastrophic physical injuries. However, the bulk of your case award will likely come from the pain and suffering compensation you receive. The defendant is accountable for the physical pain, psychological distress, and diminished quality of life they caused with their actions. There is no limit on pain and suffering compensation for personal injury claims, so it’s vital to find an attorney who can maximize this aspect of your award.
Q: How Long Will My Claim Take to Resolve?
A: The time your case will require to complete hinges mostly on the defendant’s willingness to accept their responsibility and agree to settlement negotiations. Settlement for personal injury claims filed in Las Vegas typically takes weeks, but a catastrophic injury claim is inherently more complex and will likely take longer to resolve. If your case needs to be resolved at trial for any reason, litigation can take several months to reach any sort of conclusion. Your Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney can provide an estimate of what to expect in terms of your case’s most likely timetable.
Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Attorney for a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Las Vegas?
A: The attorneys at Easton & Easton accept personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis, eliminating the need to worry about the cost of your legal representation. With a contingency fee agreement, we only take a fee once we win your case, and our fee is a percentage of the total amount recovered on your behalf. Therefore, there are no upfront or ongoing legal fees for our representation and no fee at all if we are unable to secure compensation on your behalf.
Q: Is It Really Necessary to Hire a Las Vegas Catastrophic Injury Attorney?
A: Even if the fault for your recent injury seems perfectly clear, do not make the mistake of assuming you can handle your claim proceedings unassisted by counsel. You might manage to succeed with your claim, but you would be likely to overlook important avenues of compensation that you did not realize were available. In addition, once you accept a settlement, you cannot reopen the case later if you happen to discover further damages you did not claim from the defendant at first. Hiring legal counsel you can trust not only makes it easier to manage your case proceedings but it also increases the chances of maximizing your recovery as much as state law allows.
The attorneys at Easton & Easton have decades of professional experience in personal injury law, and we know how devastating any catastrophic injury can be for the victim and their family. When you choose our firm to represent you, our goal is to guide you through your case proceedings as efficiently as possible and to help you secure as much compensation as state law allows for your damages. If you are ready to learn what an experienced Las Vegas catastrophic injury attorney can do for your recovery, contact us and set up a consultation today with our team to start building your case.
Your Story Is Important To Us.
CALL US SO WE CAN HEAR IT.
The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.
Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.
Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern Califonia, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.
Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.
Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.
Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.
Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.
Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.
Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.
Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.
Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.
Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.
“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
What Our Clients Say
Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…
I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…
Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…
What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…
I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee
Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.
I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!
They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.
Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!
I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.
I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way
The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!