Catastrophic injury claims require attorneys with the experience and financial resources to become your dedicated advocate, fighting for your rights. At Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC, our Omaha catastrophic injury lawyers have 268 years of combined experience.
We understand how devastating such injuries can be, and we work with physicians, life care planning specialists, and economists to make sure that your needs are properly assessed and compensated.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
“Catastrophic injury” is a legal term for an extremely serious, life-altering injury that often requires extensive medical treatment, long-term care and causes significant financial and emotional trauma. The Omaha catastrophic injury lawyers at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop can help victims of any catastrophic injury, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Amputation injuries
- Burn injuries
- Airbag injuries and other consequences of car accidents
Catastrophic injuries can occur in many ways, including car wrecks, semi-truck accidents, nursing home abuse, defective products, premises accidents and many other types of tragedies. Catastrophic injuries change not just the lives of victims, but those of their families as well.
Why You Need a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
The Omaha catastrophic injury lawyers at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC have the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to handle catastrophic injury claims through settlement or trial. When you hire our firm, we will:
- Investigate the circumstances of your injury to determine exactly what happened and preserve critical evidence.
- Identify every responsible party so all available sources of compensation can be pursued on your behalf.
- Build a strong claim supported by medical records, expert testimony, and other evidence demonstrating the full extent of your losses.
- Calculate the true value of your damages, including medical bills, short- and long-term medical care, nursing care, job retraining, lost income, and loss of companionship.
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to pursue a settlement that fully reflects the impact your injuries have had on your life.
- Take your case to trial if necessary and advocate tirelessly for the best possible outcome.
Catastrophic injuries often have lifelong consequences. We carefully consider every aspect of your current and future losses and work diligently to pursue the compensation you need to move forward.
Accidents That Cause Catastrophic Injuries
The personal injury attorneys at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop have helped many people in Omaha who have suffered catastrophic injuries due to the negligence of others. Many different types of accidents could cause catastrophic injuries to their victims including but not limited to the following:
Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents
The head and spinal structure are often at risk of injury in high-speed impacts. A rider who is thrown from their motorcycle in a high-speed accident can be at-risk for serious brain and spinal cord injuries. These injuries can lead to surgeries, long-term rehabilitation and in serious cases, death.
Pedestrian Accidents
People who are walking or riding their bike garner no protection against the vehicles on the road. When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, serious and even fatal injuries can occur. Common injuries in personal injury cases involving pedestrians and bicyclists include brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and death.
Dangerous Conditions on Properties
Examples of these accidents include a child who falls into a pool and suffers a traumatic brain injury due to oxygen deprivation, or a slip and fall accident that causes someone to hit their head and suffer permanent brain damage. Property owners may be held liable for injuries caused by unsafe property conditions that were not adequately addressed.
Defective Products
Many types of product defects can lead to serious injuries. Whether it’s an improperly designed ladder that causes someone to fall off or a product that malfunctions and burns someone, dangerous products can end up inflicting someone with tremendous pain and anguish for the rest of their lives.
Medical Malpractice
Surgical errors and birth injuries can deprive their victims of a normal life moving forward. Anesthesia and medication errors can also produce serious brain injuries. Malpractice during childbirth can cause an infant to endure lifelong complications of all types.
Regardless of what kind of negligence causes a catastrophic injury, the victims who have to endure the consequences are entitled to pursue compensation for their damages.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
A catastrophic injury is defined as one which prohibits someone from maintaining gainful employment. Essentially, this means that if someone suffers a catastrophic injury, they will be unable to work. Car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and others can cause a myriad of catastrophic injuries. The personal injury lawyers at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC have represented victims of catastrophic injuries across the Omaha area and are experienced in obtaining compensation for them.
The most common types of catastrophic injuries that we see include:
- Amputations
- Severe burn injuries
- Blindness
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
No matter what sort of catastrophic injury you have suffered, it is important to note that if it has affected your ability to earn a living, you need to contact us right away. We will represent your best interests and work to ensure that you obtain the compensation your case deserves.
Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries
At Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC, our personal injury attorneys will work hard to recover maximum compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Rehabilitation and treatment expenses
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death
Paralysis, blindness, amputation and other catastrophic injuries can all have significant life-changing consequences and the emotional impact this leaves on a person is of significant importance. Proving emotional damages can be a difficult task, making it very important to have one of our experienced personal injury lawyers on your side.
Our personal injury lawyers use their knowledge to obtain maximum compensation for our clients. This includes personal injury damages, workers’ compensation benefits, and permanent disability benefits.
Contact an Omaha Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today
Omaha’s personal injury attorneys at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC are experienced in catastrophic injury cases. If you have a loved one who has suffered a life-altering injury caused by another individual or organization, contact an Omaha catastrophic injury attorney at our law firm today for effective, knowledgeable representation on your catastrophic injury matter. Initial consultations with our attorneys are always free so that you can explore your options without cost or obligation. We handle injury claims on contingency, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
For your convenience, we offer home, hospital, and nursing home visits. Our team of professionals at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC will provide you with the experience, strategy, and commitment that protect your rights and claims.
Call us today at (402) 241-5020 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catastrophic Injury Claims
How Long Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, most catastrophic injury claims fall under the state’s statute of limitations, which generally allows four years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit (Nebraska Revised Statute § 25-207). While this may seem like ample time, delays can weaken your case as evidence fades and witnesses become harder to locate.
At Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, we encourage clients to act promptly so we can begin preserving critical evidence and building a strong claim. Early legal guidance often makes a meaningful difference in the final outcome.
What If Multiple Parties Are Responsible for My Injury?
Catastrophic injury cases often involve more than one liable party, especially in complex accidents. Nebraska follows a modified comparative negligence rule (Nebraska Revised Statute § 25-21,185.09), which allows recovery as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault.
Our personal injury lawyers carefully investigate all angles of liability, which may include:
- Employers, contractors, or third-party vendors
- Manufacturers of defective products
- Property owners or managers
- Drivers or other negligent individuals
Identifying all responsible parties can significantly increase the compensation available to you.
How Are Future Medical Needs Calculated in a Catastrophic Injury Case?
One of the most critical aspects of these cases is projecting long-term care needs. Catastrophic injuries often require lifelong treatment, and underestimating these costs can be devastating.
At Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, we collaborate with specialists to assess:
- Ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation needs
- In-home care or assisted living requirements
- Future surgeries, medications, and therapies
- Adaptive equipment and home modifications
This comprehensive approach ensures your claim reflects the true scope of your future needs, not just immediate expenses.
Can Family Members Recover Compensation for Their Own Losses?
Yes, in certain situations, close family members may be entitled to compensation for the impact the injury has had on their lives. This is often referred to as loss of consortium, which can include loss of companionship, support, and shared life experiences.
Our attorneys understand that catastrophic injuries affect entire families, not just the injured individual. We take care to evaluate these damages and advocate for compensation that reflects the full emotional and relational toll of the injury.
What Should I Bring to My Initial Consultation With a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?
Preparing for your consultation can help us better understand your situation and provide more precise guidance. While you do not need to have everything organized perfectly, bringing relevant documentation is helpful.
Our legal team recommends gathering:
- Medical records and bills related to your injury
- Accident reports or incident documentation
- Photos or videos of the scene and injuries
- Insurance correspondence or claim information
Even if you are missing some of these items, do not worry; we can help you obtain what is needed to move your case forward.
