Rhode Island Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Catastrophic injuries change the way you navigate through life. When someone else’s negligence or intentionally harmful actions cause your life-altering injury, you deserve to be compensated. Our Rhode Island catastrophic injury lawyers can help you assert your legal rights and demand maximum compensation.

When you suffer a catastrophic injury because of someone else’s negligence, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences can last a lifetime. The Rhode Island catastrophic injury attorneys at Marasco & Nesselbush help victims pursue compensation for medical care, lost income, long-term rehabilitation, and future life changes.

As a result, we’ve won over $500 million in settlements and jury awards.

Benefit from a team of award-winning Rhode Island trial attorneys who are passionate about helping you get the compensation you deserve. Our law offices are conveniently located across the state in Providence, East Providence, Warwick, Wakefield, and Woonsocket, so schedule a free consultation today.

Why Catastrophic Injury Cases Are Different From Standard Injury Claims

Catastrophic injury claims are often far more complex than standard personal injury cases because victims may require lifelong medical treatment, rehabilitation, and daily assistance. Severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and severe burns can permanently affect a person’s ability to work, live independently, and perform everyday activities.

In many catastrophic injury cases, compensation must account for future surgeries, long-term nursing care, assistive medical devices, home modifications, and reduced earning capacity. These cases often require testimony from medical specialists, life care planners, vocational experts, and economists to fully calculate the long-term financial impact of the injury.

How Marasco & Nesselbush Can Help If You've Suffered A Catastrophic Injury In Rhode Island

Catastrophic injuries can be costly and overwhelming. Research suggests that a traumatic brain injury can cost, on average, between $85,000 and $3 million throughout a lifetime. Depending on the severity, it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to manage the costs of a spinal cord injury.

The responsible party, their insurance company, and others will challenge you along the way. They’ll make great efforts to control the conditions of your claim and restrict the amount of money you receive, if any.

Our Rhode Island personal injury lawyers have the experience, resources, and passion you’ll need to get the best possible results in your catastrophic injury case.

• Our attorneys have recovered over $500 million on behalf of seriously injured clients like you, including many seven-figure settlements and jury verdicts.
• Collectively, our litigators have 300+ years of experience handling complex personal injury disputes.
• We’ve been recognized as Super Lawyers, members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Best Lawyers, and Top Attorneys on Avvo for our client satisfaction and ability to achieve top results.
• Client reviews and testimonials reflect our commitment to helping seriously injured clients pursue meaningful financial recovery.
• There’s absolutely no cost to hire our top-rated Rhode Island catastrophic injury lawyers unless we win your case.

What Types Of Damages Are Available In Rhode Island Catastrophic Injury Claims?​

Catastrophic injuries can cause you to experience tremendous financial burdens and struggle with physical, emotional, and psychological trauma for years to come.

Fortunately, Rhode Island gives catastrophically injured accident victims the right to pursue damages to compensate for their losses.

These damages are classified as either “economic” or “non-economic.”

Economic damages are intended to relieve the financial stress and burdens associated with your catastrophic injury. When you receive a monetary award, you should be put back into the financial situation you were in before you got hurt.

Examples include:

• Medical bills
• Rehabilitation
• Nursing care
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Disability
• Reduced earning capacity

Non-economic damages are intended to compensate for the life changes and trauma you experience because you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury. They’re incredibly personal and, as a result, difficult to value.

Examples include:

• Pain and suffering
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Physical disfigurement
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Inconvenience
• Emotional distress

Our catastrophic injury attorneys in Rhode Island will fight to ensure that your damages are correctly valued. We’ll enlist the help of qualified and respected experts as we work to understand how your injuries have affected your life and how they’ll impact you in the long term. Taking the time to dig into the specific details of your story can help us secure a result that really represents what your catastrophic injury case is worth.

Is there a cap on catastrophic injury damages in Rhode Island?

There is no cap on catastrophic injury damages in Rhode Island. Juries reserve the right to award damages they feel are appropriate to compensate you for the life-altering injuries you’ve suffered.

Common Types Of Catastrophic Injuries In Rhode Island

Catastrophic injury is a term used to describe trauma that has the potential to change a person’s life permanently. While any injury has the potential to be catastrophic, certain injuries fall under the definition more often than others.

Amputation/Loss of Limbs

Amputation refers to the loss of a limb or body part, such as an arm, hand, finger, leg, or foot. An amputation can be traumatic, meaning that it is the result of a traumatic accident, such as a car accident. Alternatively, a limb can be removed surgically. Sometimes, surgical amputations are necessary when a body part becomes badly crushed or damaged in an accident.

Amputations are considered catastrophic because the victim must adapt to life without a part of their body, which can have a considerable impact on their ability to work, walk, perform daily tasks, or simply participate in activities they once enjoyed.

Burn Injuries

A burn injury occurs when the skin, underlying tissue, or muscle and bone become damaged due to exposure to heat, chemicals, or radiation. Severe burns can cause nerve damage and disfigurement and even result in amputation. Many severe burn victims suffer from excruciating pain and find that their ability to participate in their lives is compromised.

Internal Organ Damage

Internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, and liver, perform critical functions that help to keep us alive. When an internal organ is damaged as a result of violence or trauma or because the body is exposed to dangerous chemicals or toxins, it can be difficult for it to function correctly. When internal organ function is compromised, a person might experience difficulty in their everyday lives. Depending on the organ that is damaged, a victim might require around-the-clock assistance or rely on medical devices and equipment to help them breathe or regulate bodily functions.

Loss of Vision, Speech, or Hearing

Our senses play an instrumental role in our everyday lives. When our vision, speech, or hearing is impaired or lost because of a traumatic accident, it can be difficult or impossible to live life without assistance.

Spinal Cord Injury

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs from the base of the skull to the tailbone. Its primary job is to help relay messages from the brain to the rest of the body (and vice versa). When the spinal cord is damaged, the body’s ability to communicate is impaired, which can have catastrophic consequences. 

This can include paralysis, impaired respiration and breathing, inability to regulate body temperature, inability to control the bladder and bowels, and cognitive dysfunction. Many times, victims of spinal cord injuries rely heavily on medical devices, equipment, and personal care assistants in their daily lives.

Permanent Disfigurement

Disfigurement refers to permanent changes in external features and physical appearance, typically due to surgery or traumatic accidents. Permanent disfigurement can be physically disabling and cause victims to experience debilitating embarrassment and emotional distress.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries of any degree can be catastrophic. A bump, blow, or jolt to the head can change the brain’s ability to function properly, resulting in reduced cognitive function, memory loss, speech impairment, changes in emotional state, seizures, and other debilitating issues.

Many brain injury victims struggle with the long-term consequences of their TBI. As a result, it can be challenging to maintain a job, grow a family, and perform daily tasks unassisted.

Common Causes Of Catastrophic Injuries​

At Marasco & Nesselbush, we advocate for clients who have suffered life-altering injuries as a result of:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Boating accidents
• Construction accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Defective products
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home abuse
• Slip and fall accidents
• Dog bites
• Assaults and other acts of violence

Reach out to our Rhode Island catastrophic injury attorneys to discuss the specific details of your case. We’re always available to take your call and provide the immediate assistance you deserve.

Where Catastrophic Injuries Commonly Happen in Rhode Island

Catastrophic injuries frequently occur on some of Rhode Island’s busiest highways and high-traffic areas, including I-95, I-195, Route 146, and the Route 10 Connector. Serious collisions involving passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, motorcycles, and pedestrians are common in heavily traveled areas such as Providence, East Providence, and Warwick.

Life-altering injuries may also occur in construction zones, industrial workplaces, healthcare facilities, and waterfront areas throughout Rhode Island. Because catastrophic injuries often involve complex liability issues and significant long-term damages, it is important to begin investigating the accident as early as possible.

Steps To Take Immediately After Suffering A Catastrophic Injury

Remember, coping with a catastrophic injury can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate this challenging time alone.

Refrain From Signing Settlement Offers Without Legal Advice

• Insurance companies or liable parties may attempt to offer a settlement soon after the injury occurs. It’s crucial not to sign any settlement offers without consulting your lawyer first.
• Settlement offers may seem tempting, especially when facing mounting medical bills and other expenses. However, accepting a settlement without legal advice could result in receiving far less compensation than you deserve.
• Your catastrophic personal injury lawyer will review any settlement offers, negotiate on your behalf, and ensure that you receive fair and adequate compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses.

Act Promptly To Protect Legal Rights

• Time is of the essence when it comes to catastrophic injury cases. There are strict deadlines for filing claims and taking legal action.
• By acting promptly and seeking legal representation early on, you can protect your legal rights and maximize your chances of securing a favorable outcome.
• Delaying action could jeopardize your ability to obtain compensation and hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence or wrongdoing.

How Long Do I Have To File A Catastrophic Injury Claim In Rhode Island?

You’ll have just three years to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit if you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident in Rhode Island. 

The statute of limitations begins to run on the date you sustained the injury or when it’s diagnosed, whichever is later. There could be a delay in the discovery of a catastrophic injury in cases involving medical malpractice or when trauma is internal.

It’s important to meet the deadline for your catastrophic injury claim. Once the statute of limitations expires, you will give up the right to demand compensation from negligent or otherwise liable parties.

Catastrophic Injuries Resulting In Wrongful Death

Sometimes, victims of catastrophic injuries don’t survive. In these tragic situations, family members may file a wrongful death action if the catastrophic injury was the result of another person’s negligence, default, or wrongful act.

Through a wrongful death action, the victim’s spouse, child(ren), or parent(s) can potentially recover compensation for:

• Funeral expenses
• Medical bills incurred prior to the victim’s death
• Pain and suffering the victim experienced before their death
• Monetary losses, including loss of financial support and income
• Lost value of household services
• Loss of companionship

Punitive damages can also be awarded if a wrongful death action goes to trial and a jury finds that the defendant’s conduct was willful or grossly negligent.

Contact A Rhode Island Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today

You deserve time to recover from your catastrophic injury and figure out how to move forward with your life. That’s tough to do if you’re also fighting for compensation from a negligent party or an insurance company.

The experienced Rhode Island catastrophic injury lawyers at Marasco & Nesselbush are here to help.

We’ll take on your legal claim for damages, giving you the time and opportunity you need to get better.

Our team has 300+ years of combined experience handling tough personal injury cases like yours, and we’ve won over $500 million for seriously injured clients since our founding.

Call one of our Rhode Island law offices in Providence, East Providence, Warwick, Wakefield, or Woonsocket to arrange a free consultation to get started.