Victoria Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

A catastrophic injury strips away your independence and financial security in an instant. You face surgeries, rehabilitation, and medical equipment costs that insurance companies fight to minimize. The physical pain combines with mounting bills while you cannot work, creating overwhelming pressure on your family’s future.

These cases require aggressive legal action from the outset. Insurance companies assign adjusters and attorneys to manage complex or high-value claims. Evidence vanishes, medical costs compound, and settlement offers arrive that fall dangerously short of covering your lifetime care needs. 

You need an attorney who understands both the medical complexity of your injuries and the tactics insurers use to avoid paying full compensation.

DeHoyos Accident Attorneys brings the resources and experience necessary to secure your financial future after a catastrophic injury. We coordinate with medical experts to document your long-term care requirements, calculate lost earning capacity, and build cases that force insurers to pay what you actually need. 

While you focus on medical treatment and adapting to your new reality, we handle every aspect of your legal claim to maximize your recovery.

Why Hire a Victoria Catastrophic Injury Lawyer?

Catastrophic injuries are life-changing events that permanently alter your ability to work, care for yourself, or enjoy everyday activities. These cases require millions of dollars in compensation to cover a lifetime of medical care and lost income. 

Insurance companies know the stakes are high and will deploy their most aggressive tactics to minimize what they pay you.

The legal complexity of these cases goes far beyond typical personal injury claims. You’ll need expert testimony from medical professionals, life care planners, and vocational specialists to prove your future needs. 

Without an experienced Victoria catastrophic injury lawyer, you risk accepting a settlement that won’t cover your lifelong expenses.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury in Texas?

A catastrophic injury is any trauma that causes permanent disability, prevents you from working, or requires ongoing medical treatment for the rest of your life. Texas law recognizes these injuries as fundamentally different from temporary harm because they create permanent changes to how you live.

Common examples include:

Defining Features of Catastrophic Injuries

The key factor used to define a catastrophic injury is permanence. If your injury will never fully heal and affects your ability to earn income or care for yourself, it likely qualifies as catastrophic.

Permanent Spinal and Neurological Damage

This category encompasses injuries that affect the nervous system, resulting in life-altering consequences.

Complete or partial paralysis resulting from spinal cord damage is a primary example. This also covers severe brain injuries (TBI) that permanently affect memory, personality, cognitive function, or motor skills.

Loss of Function and Amputations

Injuries that result in the loss of a body part or the ability to use a limb are considered catastrophic due to the permanent physical impairment.

This includes the loss of limbs requiring prosthetics, specialized equipment, and extensive, lifelong rehabilitation. It also covers severe multiple fractures that cause chronic pain and permanent mobility problems.

Extensive Thermal and Tissue Trauma

Injuries that damage large areas of the body or internal organs typically qualify as catastrophic due to the intensive, long-term care required.

This encompasses third-degree burns over large areas of your body, which necessitate multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and lifelong care to manage scarring and mobility issues.

The key factor is permanence. If your injury will never fully heal and affects your ability to earn income or care for yourself, it likely qualifies as catastrophic, even when pre-existing conditions may complicate your claim.

Do You Have a Catastrophic Injury Case in Victoria, TX?

Three elements must exist for a valid catastrophic injury claim. 

First, you must have suffered permanent harm that affects your daily life or ability to work. 

Second, someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions must have caused your injury. 

Third, your damages must be substantial enough to justify legal action.

Permanent Impact: 

Your injury requires ongoing treatment, prevents you from working, or limits your daily activities

Apparent Fault: 

Another person or company acted carelessly, recklessly, or violated safety rules

Significant Losses: 

Your medical bills, lost wages, and future care needs create substantial financial hardship

If these three factors apply to your situation, contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys for a free case evaluation. We’ll determine if you have grounds for a catastrophic injury claim.

What Compensation Can You Recover for a Catastrophic Injury in Victoria?

Catastrophic injury settlements must account for your entire lifetime of needs, not just current expenses. Texas law allows you to recover both economic damages with precise dollar amounts and non-economic damages for personal suffering. 

Unlike medical malpractice cases, most catastrophic injury claims are not subject to damage caps.

Economic Damages (Financial Losses)

Economic damages refer to all financial losses that can be precisely calculated and proven through documentation.

Lifetime Medical Costs

Compensation covers all aspects of past and future healthcare necessitated by the injury.

Current and Future Treatment

This includes emergency care, hospitalizations, surgeries, specialized rehabilitation, medications, and the estimated costs of all future treatments for the rest of your life.

Loss of Earning Capacity

You are entitled to compensation for the income you will be permanently unable to earn due to your injuries.

Lost Wages and Benefits

This includes wages you have missed and the full stream of income, salary increases, and lost employment benefits you cannot earn due to your inability to work.

Care and Accessibility Expenses

Catastrophic injuries create significant new living expenses related to personal care and housing.

Ongoing Care and Assistance

Compensation covers necessary expenses for in-home nursing, personal assistance, and the purchase of specialized medical equipment required for daily living.

Home and Vehicle Modifications

This includes the costs for necessary changes to your residence, such as installing wheelchair ramps, renovating bathrooms for accessibility, and modifying vehicles for transportation.

Non-Economic Damages (Personal Suffering)

Non-economic damages compensate you for the intangible, personal losses that severely impact your quality of life.

Physical Pain and Mental Anguish

These damages address the direct, subjective suffering caused by the injury.

Ongoing Pain and Discomfort

Compensation is provided for the ongoing physical discomfort, suffering, and impairment resulting from your severe injuries and painful medical treatments.

Emotional and Psychological Distress

This covers the severe mental anguish, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and other forms of emotional distress caused by your permanent condition.

Impact on Quality of Life

Compensation is provided for the irreversible loss of your pre-injury lifestyle and relationships.

Lost Enjoyment and Activities

This encompasses your inability to enjoy hobbies, sports, and recreational activities, as well as participate in the normal aspects of life you once loved.

Relationship Impact

Damages extend to the severe impact on your family, compensating your spouse for the loss of intimacy, companionship, and services within the relationship (loss of consortium).

How DeHoyos Proves Liability and Lifelong Damages

Building a winning catastrophic injury case requires immediate action to preserve evidence and long-term planning to prove your future needs. We deploy investigators within hours of being hired and work with medical experts to document every aspect of your condition. 

Our approach treats every case as if it will go to trial, which maximizes settlement value.

Evidence We Secure Fast

Critical proof disappears quickly after an accident. We immediately send legal notices to prevent the destruction of evidence and dispatch investigators to document the scene. Time-sensitive evidence includes surveillance footage that gets deleted, witness memories that fade, and physical evidence that gets cleaned up or repaired.

Critical Evidence Secured Immediately

Our rapid response team understands the urgency required to preserve your claim.

Digital and Surveillance Records

We work fast to secure digital evidence before it is lost forever. This includes obtaining security camera footage from nearby businesses and traffic cameras, which is often deleted or recorded over within days. We also secure vehicle data recorders and electronic logs from commercial trucks involved in truck accidents.

Human and Physical Documentation

Witness accounts and physical markings at the scene are volatile and must be captured immediately. We take detailed witness statements while memories remain clear and accurate. We also take comprehensive photographs of the accident scene before conditions change, vehicles are moved, or debris is cleared.

Digital Communications

Our team secures essential cell phone records and other digital evidence that may be relevant to proving driver distraction or the events leading up to the collision.

Experts We Bring In for Catastrophic Injury Cases

Proving your need for millions in compensation requires credible expert testimony. We maintain relationships with top specialists who can explain your condition and future needs to insurance companies and juries. 

A Victoria personal injury attorney with access to these experts gives you a significant advantage.

Life Care Planners: 

Medical professionals who calculate every future treatment, therapy, and equipment need over your expected lifetime

Economic Experts: 

Specialists who determine your total lost earning capacity and the present value of future income

Medical Specialists: 

Doctors who explain your diagnosis, prognosis, and why specific treatments are necessary

Vocational Counselors: 

Experts who assess whether you can return to any type of work, given your limitations

What If You Are Partly at Fault in Texas?

Texas follows the modified comparative negligence rule, which allows you to recover compensation even if you share some blame for the accident.

Your percentage of fault reduces your award, but you can still recover damages as long as you’re less than 51% responsible.

For example, if you’re awarded $3 million but found 30% at fault, you receive $2.1 million. However, if you’re 51% or more at fault, you get nothing. This makes it crucial to work with an attorney who can minimize your assigned fault percentage through thorough investigation and expert testimony.

How Long Do You Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Claim in Texas?

Texas gives you two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, but waiting hurts your case. Evidence disappears, witnesses move away, and your memory of events becomes less reliable. Some claims against government entities have even shorter deadlines, as short as six months.

Critical deadlines include:

Two Years: 

Standard deadline for personal injury lawsuits

Six Months: 

Claims against cities, counties, or state agencies

Immediately: 

Best time to preserve evidence and begin investigation

Don’t risk losing your right to compensation by waiting. Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys at (832) 743-2104 today for immediate case review and evidence preservation.

Who Pays When Insurance Is Not Enough?

The at-fault party’s basic insurance policy typically does not cover catastrophic injury damages. We investigate all possible sources of compensation to ensure you receive full value for your claim. 

This process involves identifying multiple defendants, uncovering hidden insurance policies, and pursuing personal assets when necessary.

Multiple Policies and Parties

Most catastrophic injury cases involve several sources of recovery. We examine every potential defendant and insurance policy to maximize your compensation. This includes primary liability coverage, umbrella policies, commercial insurance, and your own underinsured motorist protection.

Work Injuries and Third-Party Claims

Workplace injuries may give rise to two separate claims. You can file for workers’ compensation benefits while also pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against non-employer parties who contributed to your accident. This dual recovery approach often provides significantly more compensation than workers’ comp alone.

Catastrophic Injury Cases We Handle in Victoria, TX

Our firm has extensive experience with all types of catastrophic injuries. Each case type requires specialized knowledge of medical conditions, legal standards, and calculations of damages.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord damage often causes permanent paralysis requiring lifelong medical care and assistance. These injuries typically occur in vehicle crashes, falls, or workplace accidents and create some of the highest damage awards due to extensive care needs.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain injuries range from concussions with lasting effects to severe trauma requiring constant supervision. We work with neurologists and neuropsychologists to document cognitive changes, personality alterations, and hidden symptoms that affect daily functioning.

Burn Injuries and Amputations

Severe burns and limb loss create both physical and emotional trauma. These cases involve multiple surgeries, expensive prosthetics, extensive rehabilitation, and significant scarring or disfigurement that affects self-esteem and relationships.

Wrongful Death

When catastrophic injuries prove fatal, surviving family members can pursue compensation for their losses. We handle these sensitive cases with compassion while aggressively pursuing full compensation for financial support, companionship, and emotional trauma.

Why Choose DeHoyos Accident Attorneys for a Catastrophic Injury in Victoria?

Catastrophic injury cases demand attorneys with specific experience, substantial resources, and personal dedication to your success. We provide direct access to your lawyer, unlimited case funding, and trial-ready preparation that forces maximum settlements.

Personal Attention and Direct Access to Your Attorney

Ryan DeHoyos is in charge of your case from the first meeting to the last settlement. You will receive his direct phone number and regular updates on the progress of the case. You work directly with an experienced lawyer who is familiar with your case, unlike large entities that often assign cases to junior staff.

Proven Results and Deep Resources

We prepare every case for trial to pursue maximum recovery for injured clients. This approach demonstrates to insurance companies that we’re serious about obtaining full value. We also advance all case costs without limit, ensuring you have access to the best experts regardless of expense.

What Should You Do After a Life-Changing Injury in Victoria?

The actions you take immediately after a catastrophic injury affect both your health and legal rights. Follow medical advice completely while protecting your claim through proper documentation and legal representation.

Get Medical Care and Document Everything

Prioritize your health by following all treatment recommendations and attending every appointment. Keep detailed records of your injuries, pain levels, and how they affect daily activities. Photograph your injuries and save all medical bills and reports.

Preserve Evidence and Reports

Obtain copies of police reports and incident documentation. Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies before consulting an attorney, especially when dealing with complex first-party and third-party insurance claims. Save all receipts, correspondence, and documentation related to your accident and injuries.

Call DeHoyos for a Free Consultation

Contact us immediately to begin protecting your rights. We handle all communications with insurance companies, initiate our investigation, and coordinate with your medical team. This allows you to focus entirely on recovery while we build your legal case.

Time is critical in catastrophic injury cases. Call DeHoyos Accident Attorneys at (832) 743-2104 now for immediate assistance.

Catastrophic Injury FAQs

Do I pay attorney fees if I don’t win my case?

No, we work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We also advance all case expenses, including expert witness fees and investigation costs.

How long will my catastrophic injury case take to resolve?

Catastrophic cases can take a significant amount of time to resolve due to their complexity, often following a longer settlement timeline than typical injury cases. We can usually secure interim financial assistance while pursuing full compensation for your lifelong needs.

Will my health insurance company take money from my settlement?

Yes, health insurers and Medicare have the right to recover payments they made for your treatment through subrogation. However, we negotiate these liens to minimize what you must repay.

What happens if the person who hurt me doesn’t have enough insurance?

We investigate all potential sources of recovery, including umbrella policies, business coverage, and your own underinsured motorist protection. Multiple defendants may also be liable for your injuries.

Can I still file a claim if my injury happened at work?

Yes, you may be eligible for both workers’ compensation benefits and a separate personal injury claim against third parties whose negligence contributed to your accident.