Serious/Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
- Attorney Zach Herschensohn Fights for Injured Clients
- What is a Catastrophic Injury?
- Recoverable Damages in a Catastrophic Injury Case
- Evidence in Your Catastrophic Injury Case
- Filing a Serious/Catastrophic Injury Lawsuit in Washington State
- Discuss Your Catastrophic Injury Accident With Our Team for Free
Some accidents cause life-altering injuries. The victim’s life changes instantly, affecting their physical, psychological, social, and financial well-being. While no amount of money can change what happened, there are many benefits to recovering compensation for related expenses and holding the at-fault party accountable. A serious/catastrophic injury lawyer from our team can help.
Your personal injury lawyer from Herschensohn Law can investigate what happened, identify the negligent party, and pursue compensation to ensure you get the care and support you need to recover as fully as possible. Our team provides free initial consultations. Call (206) 588-4344 now to discuss your options and learn how we can help.
Zach Herschensohn’s case results show he fights for the maximum payout available for his clients. He takes the facts of the case, builds strong support for the claim or lawsuit, and aggressively pursues the money his client deserves. He has secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for clients hurt by someone else’s negligence.
At Herschensohn Law, we know how to develop a case, navigate the claims process, and secure compensation in negligence cases. We represent clients hurt in personal injury incidents in Kent, Bellevue, Auburn, and the greater Seattle metro area.
We are a contingency fee law firm and charge nothing upfront. Instead, our attorney’s fees come from the client’s financial recovery in the case. This makes it possible to hire our team even if you are in a rough financial situation right now. We only charge attorney’s fees if we win.
Catastrophic injuries include the most severe injuries possible. They take weeks or months of inpatient care and rehabilitation, and many leave the victim with life-long challenges. In general, the patient will arrive by ambulance or helicopter at a trauma center following an accident. They will require:
- Stabilization
- Treatment
- Hospitalization
- Rehabilitation
- Outpatient therapies
- Some level of support and care after their release
Some people with catastrophic injuries recover fully, but it takes time. Many do not regain their previous level of cognitive or physical functioning. Many also face depression and other emotional challenges during this difficult time.
Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe burns
- Traumatic amputation
- Multiple fractures
- Crushing injuries
- Serious internal injuries
How Do Serious and Catastrophic Injuries Occur?
Serious and catastrophic injuries can occur in many types of accidents and incidents. Our team represents victims hurt by someone else’s negligence. This means that another party acted carelessly or recklessly and caused the injuries. This could occur in:
- Car crashes
- Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle or scooter accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Truck collisions
- School bus accidents
- Construction site injuries
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Boating accidents
- Dangerous drugs and devices
- Medical malpractice
- Dog bite incidents
If you or a loved one suffered serious or catastrophic injuries in any of these incidents in Kent, Auburn, Bellevue, or Seattle, Washington, our team can help. We can discuss your legal options with you for free. You have rights, and we can help you hold the at-fault party accountable.
“Very knowledgeable and trustworthy. Zach Herschensohn provided me with excellent service. He kept me well informed and explained complicated issues in a way I could understand. He took the lead and guided me through everything necessary to achieve a successful outcome. Overall, I am very pleased with his service and would highly recommend him to anyone.”
“Herschensohn Law worked by my side for almost four years when I was in an auto accident and were outstanding in everything they did! They went above and beyond to make my lawsuit as easy and stress free as possible for me while consistently showing genuine care for my wellbeing. They even recommended amazing health care professionals for my injuries! Anything/everything I may have been confused/concerned about was addressed/explained so I felt comfortable with each move made in my lawsuit. Professional, courteous and attentive are just a few words I would use to describe this law firm and although I hope to never be in a similar situation again - if I do, Herschensohn Law will be my first call!”
“Zach and his team performed beyond my expectations! I couldn't have had a better firm in my corner!”
“This was such a great experience.”
“Zach will always take time and give you quality advice that you can trust. Highly recommended!”
Justice in a personal injury case comes from holding the at-fault party accountable and recovering fair compensation. Our attorney and team strive to do this for every client. We pursue the money they need and deserve based on the facts of their case. With catastrophic injuries, we consider many factors, including:
- The nature and severity of their injuries
- Their required level of care and support
- Ongoing and future medical needs
- Whether they can return to their job or work another job
- The effect on their relationships
- Whether they will face life-long impairment
The damages we seek and recover in these cases vary widely. However, they often include:
- Medical expenses and related costs to date
- Estimated future treatment, care, and support expenses
- Income lost because of time missed at work
- Diminished earning capacity if they cannot return to their previous career
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering damages
Sometimes we negotiate for expenses our clients might overlook. For example, imagine your loved one suffered a spinal cord injury and now requires a wheelchair, special bed, and other accessibility tools. You may need to renovate your home to build a ramp, widen doorways, and ensure your family member has a safe home to return to. We can seek compensation for these expenses for some clients.
Calculating the Fair Settlement Range
When we investigate our client’s accident and injuries, we also document their related expenses and losses. This allows us to calculate a fair settlement range for the claim and to gather the necessary evidence to show the judge and jury their damages if the case goes to trial.
In addition to receipts, bills, estimates, and other documentation, we can work with medical experts, economists, and others who can help us understand the client’s prognosis, limitations, and necessary care. This allows us to estimate future treatment and ongoing care needs.
We also estimate a fair range for current and future pain and suffering damages. Those who endure injuries and treatment in a negligence incident qualify to recover compensation for these intangible losses
What if My Loved One Passed Away?
When a victim passes away from their serious injuries, their family can pursue compensation in a wrongful death case. We represent families and the personal representatives of the estate in these cases. We can develop the case, file the claim or lawsuit, and fight for fair compensation.
When our attorney handles a catastrophic injury case, we must show the accused party acted negligently. Their carelessness or recklessness caused the incident in question and the client’s injuries. To prove this, we need evidence that shows the four elements of negligence exist:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Injuries and financial losses
In many cases, a law creates a duty of care. For example, in a collision case, traffic laws often outline what a driver should do in a given situation. The law creates a duty of care when it tells a driver to stop at a red light. When they fail to do so, they breach that duty. This breach leads directly to a crash, and the victim suffers catastrophic injuries.
To recover evidence that documents negligence, our team investigates what happened and each party’s role. The evidence used in these cases varies depending on the circumstances, but our team knows where to look. Some common evidence used in catastrophic injury cases includes:
- Witness interviews
- Official police reports
- Video of the incident
- Accident reconstruction
- Physical evidence
- An accident scene survey
- Relevant medical records
- Expert input, often from doctors and economists
- Documentation of damages
Using this evidence, our attorney builds strong support for an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. We can demand fair compensation from the insurance company representing the liable party or file a civil suit and prepare the case for trial.
Throughout this process, our team can keep in close contact with you and ensure you remain updated. We can represent your best interests and fight for the compensation you deserve. We are here for you.
Most personal injury cases settle without going to trial in Washington. We often negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer representing the liable party for a fair value. This prevents us from going to trial and compensates our client based on a total we negotiated for them.
However, we must be mindful of when a lawsuit might be necessary. Sometimes we sue and the case still settles before the trial date arrives. Other times we go to trial and present strong evidence to support our client’s allegations.
Per RCW 4.16.080, we generally have up to three years from the date of a client’s injuries to begin a lawsuit. Missing this deadline could prevent the victim from pursuing fair compensation in any form. Our personal injury lawyer can help you file before the time runs out.
“Zach will always take time and give you quality advice that you can trust. Highly recommended!”
Herschensohn Law provides free case consultations for those living with catastrophic injuries and their families. We can assess your legal options and offer our services and support to help you get justice. You could have a case against the negligent party who caused your accident and injuries. Let us help you seek compensation.
Call (206) 588-4344 now or use our online contact form to reach us today.
Our results speak for themselves
After a worker was electrocuted on a construction site and suffered life-changing injuries, we fought and won on their behalf.
When a retired man was killed in a truck accident, we made sure his grieving family got fair compensation.
When a defective medical device harmed our client, we fought to ensure they had the financial compensation needed to recover.
Hurt? Let our law firm handle the details
When you request your free consultation, Kent personal injury attorney Zach Herschensohn will listen to you, answer your questions, lay out your legal options, and give you down-to-earth legal advice.
When you work with our law office, there are no obligations, hidden fees, or fine print. It’s that simple.