In an instant, a severe injury can completely change your life. The physical trauma and emotional suffering that follow can feel overwhelming and affect every area of your life. On top of that, if your injury was the result of someone else’s carelessness or negligence, you may be dealing with extensive treatments, endless paperwork, and insurance adjusters that can add to your stress.
If you suffered a serious or long-term injury in an accident, our team understands the difficulties you’re facing and can help you navigate this challenging time. We have decades of experience representing individuals with life-altering injuries and handling claims on their behalf, taking the legal burden off their shoulders.
We’re here to support you when you need us. Call us at (403) 273-8580 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Get answers to the following topics and questions:
- How Litco Law Supports People With Catastrophic Injuries
- What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in Alberta?
- Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
- Your Rights After a Catastrophic Injury in Alberta
- What Compensation May Be Available After a Serious Injury?
- What To Expect When You Contact Litco Law’s Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
- Contact Our Calgary Legal Team
- Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injury Claims
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Learn more about what to expect from our free consultation or speak with our legal team to book a free consultation today.
How Litco Law Supports People With Catastrophic Injuries
When you work with Litco Law, you don’t just get a lawyer. You get your own personal team of skilled legal professionals, what we call a “pod,” who are with you for the entire process. Together, they’ll handle every step of your claim, including:
- Gathering documents
- Communicating with insurance companies on your behalf
- Keeping you informed with regular communication
- Calculating the full value of your losses
As a family-owned, people-first organization, thousands of Calgarians have trusted us to handle their legal claims since 1976. We’ve assisted hundreds of clients with catastrophic injuries, seeing first-hand how it affects them, and are committed to helping injured Albertans.
We fight the legal battle so you can focus on your health and recovery. This means we’ll handle all communication and negotiations with the at-fault insurance companies, work closely with your doctors to understand how your injuries will affect your daily life, and be by your side through every step of the process.
What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in Alberta?
Catastrophic injuries are generally defined as serious physical or cognitive impairment that results in a substantial inability to perform normal activities of daily living, work duties, or tasks related to pursuing education. The severity and long-term impact of catastrophic injuries may include:
- A permanent disability that significantly changes a person’s ability to live their life as they did before the injury.
- Serious impairment of function, including injuries that severely limit the capacity to work, go to school, or perform activities of daily life.
- Disfigurement, such as amputations, severe burns, and other types of permanent scarring.
- The loss of basic bodily functions, including paralysis, cognitive impairments, and loss of sight, hearing, and other senses.
These injuries significantly affect a person’s overall quality of life and may require extensive, ongoing medical care.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Common types of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Permanent organ damage
- Severe bone fractures that cannot be properly fixed
- Injuries that cause loss or significant impairment of sight, smell, taste, or touch
Individuals and families looking for legal professionals who handle catastrophic injury claims, including brain injury lawyers or spinal cord injury lawyers in Calgary, can contact our team for a free consultation.
How Catastrophic Injuries Impact Daily Life
A catastrophic injury results in long-term effects that go beyond physical impairments. Examples of how these severe injuries can impact a person’s life include:
- A need for significant long-term medical care
- Fundamental changes to employment opportunities
- Challenges with performing most daily hygiene routines
- Dependence on others or medical devices for mobility
- Financial strain from medical bills and lost income
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health effects
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Some common accidents that often lead to catastrophic injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Distracted driving, impaired driving, or dangerous winter road conditions can cause serious truck, motorcycle, or car accidents in Calgary.
- Pedestrian accidents: Because pedestrians do not have protective gear, their injuries are often debilitating.
- Bicycle accidents: Cyclists face many challenges with distracted or careless drivers who ignore traffic rules. Even at slower speeds, cyclists can suffer a serious injury.
- Slip and falls: Slip and falls in Calgary can occur due to icy ground, wet floors, broken handrails, or other hazardous conditions that property owners fail to notice or fix.
Your Rights After a Catastrophic Injury in Alberta
Negligence occurs when a person or company fails to meet the level of care required of them in the circumstances. If this carelessness caused your catastrophic injury, you have the right to seek compensation.
While nothing can change what happened, you can work with a qualified Calgary personal injury lawyer to protect your rights. We know your injury may result in the need for long-term care, modifications to your home, or adjustments to your or your loved ones’ routines, and you deserve compensation for all these hardships.
Our team will stand up to insurance companies that may try to deny your claim, rush your settlement or make an offer lower than what you are legally entitled to in order to minimize your payout. We will do everything we can to make your life easier and ensure you get the maximum financial relief available to you.
Remember, the Alberta Limitations Act puts a strict two-year time limit on how long you have to file an injury claim, with some exceptions. Our serious accident lawyers in Calgary can review your situation and explore your legal options to pursue justice for what happened.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Serious Injury?
If someone else’s carelessness caused your catastrophic injury, you shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden alone. You may be able to claim compensation for financial impacts of your injuries, including:
- Medical expenses: Current medical bills, imaging, assistive devices, and rehabilitation
- Cost of future care: Expenses related to long-term care that are necessary over the course of your lifetime
- Lost income: Lost wages and future earnings capacity resulting from an inability to work
- Out-of-pocket expenses: Cost of childcare, housekeeping, transportation for medical appointments, and other related expenses
But the burden is not all financial. Your subjective pain and suffering should also be accounted for, including things like:
- Physical pain
- Mental trauma
- Cognitive impairment
- Emotional distress
- Loss of intimacy and other effects on personal relationships
Although every situation is unique, you may be entitled to significant compensation because of how the injury affects your future and quality of life. Our team can gather medical evidence which includes accessing expert reports that establishe the full scope of these losses.
What To Expect When You Contact Litco Law’s Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
Our legal team in Calgary offers free consultations to help those who may feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or confused about what to do. Along with free legal answers to your questions, we will explain your rights in a way that’s easy to understand and create a safe space for you to share your story. We’ll help you find a solution, even if we’re not it.
Seeking Justice for Negligence
Our team has an outstanding track record of bringing negligent parties to justice. Many of our clients are surprised when insurance companies do not always act fairly or in their best interest. We level the playing field between our clients and insurance companies by advocating firmly for fairness and accountability.
Legal Guidance Tailored to Your Needs
You will get your own personal legal team, what we call a “pod,” assigned to your claim, including lawyers, a case manager, a client care specialist, and a legal assistant. This way, you have the same group of legal professionals supporting and guiding you through the entire legal process.
We prioritize open communication, regular updates, and clear answers to help you feel confident in every decision you make.
We Only Get Paid When You Do
If you decide to work with our team, there is no upfront cost, and you won’t pay us anything while your claim progresses. We work on what’s called a contingency fee basis, which means our fee is a percentage of the settlement we recover for you, and you’ll know that percentage before you ever hire us. We never bill by the hour, and you don’t pay us anything if we don’t win.
Hear From Litco Law’s Clients
See what our clients are saying about their experience with our Calgary personal injury lawyers:
- “Litco Law assisted on a contingency basis for a personal injury claim of mine involving a car accident. The entire process was smoother than applying for a driver license even! Fantastic team and a wonderful professional experience.” – Jimmy Z.
- “From the beginning of my communication with them, right until the very end, I was greeted with professionalism, kindness and prompt responses. I genuinely have zero complaints.” – Sarah G.
Contact Our Calgary Legal Team
We know how devastating a catastrophic injury can be for you and your loved ones, but we’re ready to stand by you every step of the way. Our lawyers will go the extra mile and strive to give you the level of service you deserve.
Call (403) 273-8580 or contact us online for a free consultation with Lawyers You’ll Love.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injury Claims
Below are answers to some of the questions we often get about catastrophic injury claims. To get answers specific to your situation, connect with our team at any time.
How Do I Know if My Injury Is Considered Catastrophic?
Injuries that result in severe, life-altering long-term impairments or permanent disability are generally considered to be catastrophic injuries. Consider speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer to learn more.
Do Catastrophic Injury Claims Take Longer To Resolve?
In almost all cases, yes. Catastrophic injuries often take a long time to heal, including requiring multiple surgeries and much rehabilitation. Only once you have reached maximum medical improvement can we start to fully assess the extent and value of your losses, the potential cost of future care, and how your life is changed by your injuries.
Our team covers the costs of disbursements during your claim, so you won’t pay us anything while your claim progresses. Your only focus during this time is your recovery, while we handle the legal work.
What if I Cannot Return to Work?
If you’re permanently unable to work, future income loss is an important part of your legal claim. You may also qualify to receive benefits through Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability. Working with a knowledgeable lawyer can help you claim all available benefits to help support you and your loved ones.
How Do Experts Factor Into My Claim?
For catastrophic injuries, normally an entire team of experts is critical to proving the full extent of your injury and how it may impact your life. Expert witnesses helps to determine:
- Your permanent diagnosis and impairment (medical)
- Future medical care needs (medical)
- Your ability to work and function (occupational therapy)
- The psychological effects of your injury (psychology)
- The financial impact of the injury (economist)
What Should I Do if an Insurance Company Contacts Me?
If the at-fault party’s insurance company contacts you about your injury, we recommend speaking with a lawyer for guidance on your next steps. If you decide to work with a lawyer, they can communicate with insurance representatives of the at fault party on your behalf and give you a fair legal opinion on how to proceed.
Have questions about the Alberta government’s proposed shift to a no-fault (Care-First) system? Wondering how it will impact injured Albertans?
