How Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers Helps After a Catastrophic Injury in Fort Worth
We build a claim around what the injury will mean for the rest of your life, not just what it has cost so far. Catastrophic injury cases are complex, heavily defended, and depend on careful proof of future needs.
When you hire us, we:
- Investigate the accident and identify every responsible party and insurance policy
- Gather evidence to meet the burden of proof
- Work with doctors, life care planners, economists, and other expert witnesses
- Document future medical care, therapy, home modifications, and lost earning capacity
- Negotiate with insurers, and take the case to trial if they won’t pay what it’s worth
Brad Parker’s practice has long focused on catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation. He personally handles significant injury cases and limits his caseload so serious cases receive his direct attention.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is a severe injury that causes lasting harm, often a permanent disability. It usually requires ongoing treatment, and it can change a person’s ability to work, care for themselves, and enjoy life.
Catastrophic injuries affect the whole family. Spouses and parents often become caregivers, household income drops, and the costs of care continue for years. A claim must account for all of that.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Many kinds of injuries can be catastrophic. Common examples in our clients’ cases include:
- Traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairment
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Amputation and loss of a limb
- Severe burns
- Partial or total loss of sight or hearing
- Crushing injuries
- Organ damage and failure
How Do Catastrophic Injuries Happen in Fort Worth?
Most catastrophic injuries are caused by someone’s negligence in a high-force accident. Common causes include:
- Truck accidents, where an 18-wheeler’s size and weight cause devastating harm
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Workplace and construction accidents
- Slips and falls on dangerous property
- Defective products
The responsible defendant may be a driver, an employer, a trucking company, a property owner, or a manufacturer. Many cases involve more than one.
How Do You Prove a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
You prove a catastrophic injury claim by showing someone else was negligent and that their negligence caused your injury and losses. That means showing they owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused your damages.
In catastrophic cases, proving fault is only half the work. The other half is proving the full cost of the injury over a lifetime. That takes medical records, treating doctors’ opinions, life care plans, vocational and economic analysis, and testimony from family about how life has changed.
If you are blamed for the accident, you can still recover as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Texas uses modified comparative fault, which reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault and bars recovery at 51% or more.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Fort Worth Catastrophic Injury Case?
Damages fall into three categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Depending on the case, you may recover:
- Economic damages: medical bills, future medical care, rehabilitation and therapy, in-home nursing care, medical equipment and home modifications, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and property damage
- Non-economic damages: physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, and reduced quality of life
- Punitive damages: Texas calls these exemplary damages. They may be awarded when a defendant acted with fraud, malice, or gross negligence.
What Is My Catastrophic Injury Case Worth?
No lawyer can tell you on day one. Value depends mostly on how the injury affects your health, work, and independence over time. Key factors include:
- The severity and permanence of the injury
- The cost of future medical care and support
- Your age, income, and earning capacity
- How the injury limits your daily life
- Shared fault
- Available insurance and other sources of recovery
Insurers often make early offers before the full extent of an injury is known. Don’t settle until you understand your long-term prognosis and costs.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in Texas?
You generally have two years from the date of the injury. If you miss the deadline, your case can be dismissed. Claims against a city or state agency may require written notice within six months or less. If a catastrophic injury was fatal, see our Fort Worth wrongful death lawyer page.
About Brad Parker
Fort Worth Catastrophic Injury FAQs
How much does a catastrophic injury lawyer cost in Fort Worth?
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers handles catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront, and you don't owe attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you. The fee is a percentage of the recovery agreed in writing before we start, and our fee will never exceed your recovery. We explain the exact terms during your free case review.
What is a catastrophic injury?
A catastrophic injury is a severe injury that causes lasting harm, often a permanent disability. It usually requires ongoing medical treatment and can keep a person from working or living independently. Examples include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, amputations, severe burns, and loss of sight or hearing.
How do catastrophic injuries usually happen in Fort Worth?
Any accident can cause a catastrophic injury if it is severe enough. Many happen in car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents. Others come from workplace and construction accidents, falls on dangerous property, and defective products. Most are caused by someone's carelessness, which is the basis for a negligence claim.
What compensation can I recover in a Fort Worth catastrophic injury case?
You may recover economic damages such as medical bills, future care, rehabilitation, in-home nursing, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. You may also recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, and reduced quality of life. Punitive damages may be available for gross negligence.
What is the deadline for filing a catastrophic injury lawsuit in Texas?
Most Texas injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury. If you miss the deadline, your case can be dismissed. Claims against a government entity may need written notice within six months or less. Because catastrophic cases need extensive investigation and medical analysis, it helps to start early.
Will my catastrophic injury case go to trial?
Most cases settle, but catastrophic cases are more likely to be contested because so much is at stake. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. Brad Parker has been Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1997 and has focused on catastrophic injury litigation for decades.
Visit Our Fort Worth Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
209 N Hampton St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed