A serious accident can change your life in an instant, and when it results in a severe injury, the path forward can feel uncertain. If you are dealing with the aftermath of an accident that caused Pittsburgh catastrophic neck and back injuries, you are likely facing immense physical, emotional, and financial challenges.
The profound disruption to your life can affect everything from your ability to work to your capacity to enjoy simple daily activities, like walking through Point State Park or spending time with family.
Pribanic & Pribanic understands the challenges you face under this predicament. We can fight to get your life back on track.
The attorney at Pribanic & Pribanic represent people who have suffered catastrophic neck and back injuries in Pittsburgh. We build comprehensive legal claims to pursue full compensation for medical care, lost income, and the profound impact on your quality of life.
Pittsburgh Catastrophic Injuries Guides:
- How Do These Types of Injuries Happen in Pittsburgh?
- What Should I Do After a Severe Neck or Back Injury?
- What Compensation Can You Seek for Pittsburgh Catastrophic Neck and Back Injuries?
- Why Choose Pribanic & Pribanic for Your Catastrophic Injury Case?
- Your Path Forward
- Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Neck & Back Injuries
- A Final Word on Your Fight for Justice
What Defines a Catastrophic Neck or Back Injury?
A catastrophic neck or back injury is a severe injury to the spinal column, spinal cord, or the surrounding nerves and tissues, resulting in long-term or permanent disability, disfigurement, or a significant loss of function.
The term "catastrophic" refers to the devastating impact the injury has on the victim's life. Think of it as a life-changing event, not just a medical problem. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, ongoing rehabilitation, and can prevent someone from ever returning to their previous job or lifestyle.
Here are a few examples of injuries that are often classified as catastrophic:
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI): Damage to the spinal cord that can lead to partial or complete paralysis. This includes conditions like paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body) and quadriplegia (paralysis of the entire body from the neck down).
- Severe Herniated or Ruptured Discs: When the soft cushions between your vertebrae are badly damaged, they can press on spinal nerves, causing debilitating pain, weakness, or numbness that requires complex surgery and may never fully resolve.
- Vertebral Fractures: A break in one or more of the bones of the spine can lead to instability and potential damage to the spinal cord, requiring surgical fusion and long-term bracing.
How Do These Types of Injuries Happen in Pittsburgh?
Catastrophic neck and back injuries are almost always the result of a sudden, traumatic force that impacts the body. In a busy area like Western Pennsylvania, these devastating events can happen in several common scenarios where another person's or company's carelessness is to blame.
From navigating the congested traffic in the Fort Pitt Tunnel to working on a construction site downtown, the risk of a serious accident is a daily reality. The immense force from these incidents can place unbearable stress on the delicate structures of the neck and back.
Common causes of Pittsburgh catastrophic neck and back injuries include:
- High-Speed Car Accidents: Collisions on major highways like I-376 or the Pennsylvania Turnpike can cause violent whiplash and direct impact trauma to the spine.
- Commercial Truck Accidents: The sheer size and weight of a semi-truck means that any collision is likely to have devastating consequences for those in a smaller passenger vehicle.
- Falls from Heights: Common in construction or industrial settings, a fall can easily result in fractures and severe spinal damage.
What Should I Do After a Severe Neck or Back Injury?
Once you are home from the hospital and the immediate medical emergency has passed, you enter a new phase of recovery that is just as critical. Your focus should be on your health, but it is also a time when taking a few simple steps can help document your journey and protect your rights for the future.
The most important thing you can do is follow the treatment plan laid out by your medical team. Beyond that, keeping track of how your injury impacts your life is invaluable.
- Attend all your follow-up appointments with doctors, surgeons, and physical therapists.
- Keep a simple journal to track your daily experience.
- Gather and organize all paperwork related to the accident and your injuries.
Why is it important to track my expenses?
A catastrophic injury creates a significant financial burden, and every single cost should be documented. These expenses are known as "economic damages," which refers to the specific, calculable financial losses you have suffered because of the injury.
A thorough record of these costs is fundamental to understanding the full financial impact. Start a folder or a box where you can keep every bill, receipt, and statement. This organized record is crucial for demonstrating the true cost of your injury.
Make sure to track expenses such as:
- Medical Bills: This includes hospital stays, surgeries, ambulance rides, doctor visits, and prescription costs.
- Future and Ongoing Care: Keep records of costs for physical therapy, rehabilitation, necessary medical equipment like a wheelchair, or home health care.
- Lost Wages and Lost Earning Capacity: Keep all your pay stubs from before the accident and track all the time you have missed from work. If you cannot return to your job, this documentation is essential for calculating lost future income.
What Compensation Can You Seek for Pittsburgh Catastrophic Neck and Back Injuries?
When you pursue a legal claim for a catastrophic injury, you seek financial compensation, or "damages," to cover the immense losses caused by the accident. The goal is to provide the required financial resources for you to live the fullest life possible after your injury.
This compensation is typically divided into two main categories.
It is about securing the stability you need to pay for a lifetime of care and making up for the profound, personal losses that a receipt cannot measure.
The two primary types of damages are:
- Economic Damages: These are the tangible financial losses mentioned earlier. They are the costs with a clear price tag attached, such as all past and future medical bills, lost income, and the cost of home and vehicle modifications to accommodate a disability.
- Non-Economic Damages: These are the intangible losses that deeply affect your quality of life. They are meant to compensate you for things like physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
Why Choose Pribanic & Pribanic for Your Catastrophic Injury Case?
When your future is on the line, the law firm you choose to stand with can make all the difference. At Pribanic & Pribanic, we understand the immense weight you are carrying.
For decades, our family of attorneys has been dedicated to advocating for individuals and families across Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania whose lives have been forever changed by catastrophic injuries. We approach every case with the seriousness, compassion, and dedication it deserves.
Our commitment is to you and your family. We handle the complexities of the legal process so you can focus on the most important thing: your health and your recovery.
Why Choose Our Local Pittsburgh Law Firm?
Our roots in the Pittsburgh community run deep. We are not a distant national firm; we live and work here and have a profound understanding of the local landscape.
This familiarity with the region, from the Allegheny County Courthouse to the specific challenges of our local communities, provides a distinct advantage.
- We have a long history of representing clients in complex injury cases.
- Our catastrophic attorneys are familiar with the local judges, court procedures, and opposing counsel.
- Our reputation is built on hard work, preparation, and unwavering client advocacy.
How Do You Build a Catastrophic Injury Case?
A catastrophic injury case is not just a legal matter; it's a medical and financial one. We believe in a comprehensive approach, so we often work with a network of respected professionals to build the strongest case on your behalf.
We invest the resources needed to fully understand and present the extent of your injuries and future needs. This may involve collaborating with:
- Medical Professionals: To provide clear testimony about your injury's nature and prognosis.
- Life Care Planners: To create a detailed report outlining all of your anticipated medical and personal needs for the rest of your life.
- Economists and Vocational Analysts: To calculate the full extent of your lost income and diminished earning capacity.
We focus on your future
We know that a catastrophic injury impacts the entire family. The last thing you need is the added burden of navigating a hostile legal system alone.
We lift that burden from your shoulders.
- You can focus on healing: We manage the deadlines, the paperwork, and the communications with insurance companies.
- You pay no fees unless we win: We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee is a percentage of the recovery we obtain for you. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
- You get a dedicated advocate: We are here to answer your questions, provide updates, and stand by your side every step of the way.
Your Path Forward
When you are facing the consequences of a catastrophic injury, it is natural to have many questions. Here are answers to some common concerns.
Q: How long do I have to file a claim in Pennsylvania?
A: In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. This time limit is called the "statute of limitations." While that might seem like a long time, it is critical to begin the process much sooner.
- Evidence can be lost or destroyed over time.
- Witness memories can fade.
- A thorough investigation takes time to complete properly.
Q: What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
A: Pennsylvania follows a "modified comparative negligence" rule. This means you can still recover damages as long as you are not found to be 51% or more at fault for the accident.
- Your total compensation award would be reduced by your percentage of fault.
- For example, if you were found 20% at fault, your final award would be reduced by 20%.
- Determining fault is a complex process, and you should not assume you are barred from recovery without speaking to an attorney.
Q: How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for a catastrophic injury?
A: At Pribanic & Pribanic, we handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs or hourly fees for you to pay.
- We cover the costs of investigating and pursuing your case.
- Our payment is a pre-agreed-upon percentage of the financial compensation we recover for you.
- You owe us nothing if we do not win your case.
Q: Will my case have to go to trial?
A: Most personal injury cases are settled out of court through negotiations. However, insurance companies are often unwilling to offer fair compensation for the immense costs of a catastrophic injury.
- We prepare every case as if it is going to trial.
- This thorough preparation puts us in the strongest possible position to negotiate a fair settlement.
- If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to present your case to a judge and jury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Neck & Back Injuries
What evidence helps prove the full impact of a catastrophic injury?
Beyond medical records and bills, we use several forms of evidence to demonstrate the complete scope of your losses. This includes testimony from your doctors about your future medical needs, reports from economists to calculate lost earning capacity, and day-in-the-life videos that show how the injury affects your daily routines and independence.
What is a life care plan and why does it matter in my case?
A life care plan is a detailed, comprehensive report created by a certified specialist. It outlines all of your anticipated medical and non-medical needs for the rest of your life, along with their associated costs.
We use this document to calculate and demand the full value of your future care, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
Can I still seek compensation if my injury happened at work?
Yes. While the workers' compensation system typically provides benefits for workplace accidents, it may not cover all your losses.
If a third party—such as a negligent contractor, equipment manufacturer, or a driver in a work-related vehicle accident—caused or contributed to your injury, you may file a separate personal injury lawsuit against that party for damages not covered by workers' comp, including pain and suffering.
How will the firm communicate with me during my case?
We maintain open and consistent communication with you and your family. You receive regular updates from your dedicated legal team about the status of your case. We make ourselves available to answer your questions and inform and involve you at every stage of the legal process.
A Final Word on Your Fight for Justice
The road ahead after a catastrophic neck or back injury is long, but it is not a road you have to walk alone. You have rights and the right to seek justice and the financial resources necessary to rebuild your life with security and dignity.
Acting is not about seeking revenge; it is about taking control of your future and protecting your family. With a dedicated and compassionate advocate on your side, you can face the legal system with confidence.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in Pittsburgh or anywhere in Pennsylvania, we invite you to talk with our family. We are here to listen to your story and help you understand your options.
Contact Pribanic & Pribanic for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Pribanic & Pribanic - Pittsburgh Office
Address: 513 Court Pl
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (412) 281-8844