Serious Injury Lawyers Serving Pittsburgh & Southwest PA
Get the compensation you deserve for your life-altering injury
Facing a personal injury is already a painful experience that often comes with many expenses. However, certain injuries carry an even heavier weight – they can be life-changing, making daily existence challenging. These serious injuries shape the way you live, feel, and interact with the world.
If you've suffered a serious injury in an accident in Pittsburgh or anywhere in Western Pennsylvania, contact Hal Waldman & Associates. Schedule a free consultation with our compassionate injury attorneys today.
What is considered a serious injury?
In legal terms, a catastrophic injury is an injury that has significant and lasting effects on a person's life. These injuries can lead to long-term pain, disability, or impairment, affecting the person's ability to work, enjoy life, and perform daily activities. These severe injuries often result in higher compensation because they cause substantial harm and change a person's overall well-being.
Broken bones and fractures
Broken bones occur when a bone breaks or cracks. These injuries can happen due to various accidents, such as falls, car accidents, or workplace accidents. The force applied to the bone is too much to handle, causing it to fracture.
Common types of fractures include simple (closed) fractures, where the bone breaks but doesn't penetrate the skin, and compound (open) fractures, where the broken bone pierces through the skin. Symptoms of a broken bone may include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Limited mobility
- Tenderness
- Discolored skin
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when a sudden blow, jolt, or impact to the head disrupts normal function and damages the brain. A concussion is a “mild” TBI, but no brain injury is truly minor.
In incidents like car crashes, the brain moves from its normal position within the skull, causing bruising, bleeding, or damage to brain cells. Symptoms of a TBI can vary widely, including:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Memory problems
- Confusion
- Mood changes
- Problems concentrating
Spinal cord injury (SCI)
A spinal cord injury refers to damage inflicted on the spinal cord. Severe cases can lead to paralysis, which is the inability to move or feel certain parts of the body. Accidents such as car crashes, slip and falls, and construction accidents can cause spinal cord injuries.
Symptoms vary based on the injury's location and severity but can include:
- Loss of sensation
- Muscle weakness
- Impaired coordination
- Issues with balance
- Potential loss of bowel or bladder control
Burns
Incidents such as house fires, work accidents involving chemicals or hot materials, car accidents with fires or explosions, and even electrical malfunctions can lead to serious burn injuries. These accidents can cause significant harm to the skin and underlying tissues, often requiring extensive medical treatment.
Burn injuries can be categorized into four types:
- First-degree burns: This level of burn affects the outer skin layer (epidermis) only.
- Second-degree burns: Second-degree burns damage the entire epidermis and upper dermis layers.
- Third-degree burns: This level of burn damages the entire dermis and extends into tissue.
- Fourth-degree burns: The most severe level of burn impacts muscles, tendons, joints, and even bones.
When someone suffers a severe burn injury, their skin can turn red, blistered, and swollen. In more severe cases, the skin might peel, and charring or discoloring could occur. This can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, weakness and confusion. These burn injuries can lead to lasting consequences, like disfigurement, scarring, and infections.
Amputations
Amputation, also known as the loss of a limb, occurs when a part of the body, such as an arm, leg, finger, or toe, is surgically removed or detached due to serious injury or medical necessity. Common accidents that can lead to amputation include construction accidents, car accidents, and traumatic injuries involving machinery or equipment.
The consequences of amputation extend beyond the immediate injury, often involving profound emotional and psychological impact. Additionally, individuals who undergo amputation may require extensive rehabilitation, prosthetic devices, and lifelong adjustments to their daily lives and routines.
Protect your rights after a serious injury with an experienced lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered a severe injury, don't face it alone. You deserve compensation so you can move on and rebuild your life. Our experienced legal team at Hal Waldman & Associates in Pittsburgh is here to protect your rights so you can focus on healing. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.
