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Individuals who are involved in serious motor vehicle collisions, slip and falls, and work-related accidents are prone to suffering serious and catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic injuries often require long periods of medical treatment and sometimes complicated surgeries and other medical procedures to recover. Injured individuals may also have to undergo physical and occupational therapy and may have to miss long periods of time from work in order to recover from their injuries. In some serious cases, catastrophic injuries than an individual suffers in an accident may be permanent and may even prevent him or her from being able to function.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, then you may be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the at-fault person or entity. Even though money is a poor substitute for the loss of use or permanent impairment to a body part, it can still help to lessen the costs associated with your injury and bring you some form of closure. The knowledgeable legal team at the Montee Law Firm is ready to help you pursue the compensation that you need for your serious injury or injuries from which you suffered.
Please give us a call today at (816) 364-1650 or contact us online to learn more about how we can assist you with pursuing monetary compensation for a catastrophic accident and injuries.
Serious accidents have the potential to cause innocent victims to suffer severe injuries. In many instances, catastrophic injuries result from the following types of accidents:
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury resulting from one of these occurrences, an experienced St. Joseph catastrophic accident lawyer can review the facts of your accident and explain all of your legal options in clear and easy-to-understand terms.
Serious accidents, including accidents that occur on the job, can lead to catastrophic injuries and other damages. In addition to requiring significant medical treatment and therapy, victims of catastrophic injuries may also have to miss significant amounts of time from work in order to recover from their injuries and receive the treatment that they need to get better. Some common types of catastrophic injuries that individuals may suffer in a serious accident include the following:
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In order to recover compensation for catastrophic injuries suffered in a serious accident, the accident victim must ordinarily prove that the defendant was negligent (i.e., that he or she acted unreasonably under the circumstances), that he or she was injured, and that the injuries resulted from the negligent act or acts of the defendant. In addition to recovering medical expenses, surgical costs, and lost wages associated with a catastrophic injury, accident victims may also recover compensation for:
If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injured in a serious accident, the knowledgeable lawyers at the Montee Law Firm are here to help. To schedule a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a St. Joseph catastrophic accident lawyer, please call us at (816) 364-1650 or contact us online to learn more about how we can assist you with pursuing monetary compensation for your serious injuries.
James Montee, founder and managing partner of the Montee Law Firm, has dedicated his career to representing accident victims across Missouri and Kansas. Since establishing the firm in 1996, he has recovered more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements, including numerous million-dollar cases. Recognized as Missouri’s Winningest Lawyer in 2013, James brings decades of experience and a strong commitment to maximizing results for his clients.
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A catastrophic injury is generally one that causes permanent impairment or long-lasting medical consequences that significantly affect a person’s ability to function in daily life. These injuries often involve the brain, spinal cord, or other critical body systems and may require ongoing treatment or lifelong care.
In Missouri, catastrophic injuries are commonly associated with severe trauma such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, or injuries that result in permanent physical or cognitive limitations. The focus is not only on the initial harm, but on how the injury alters a person’s ability to live independently, maintain relationships, and perform everyday activities over time, often requiring ongoing medical support and assistance.
Catastrophic injuries are most often caused by high-force or high-risk incidents. Serious car and truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, construction site accidents, falls from elevated surfaces, and incidents involving heavy equipment are among the most common causes. These accidents typically involve sudden trauma and often result from negligent conduct, unsafe conditions, or failure to follow established safety standards.
In the St. Joseph area, these matters often depend on careful documentation, medical records, and a thorough investigation that explains what happened and why it could have been avoided.
Compensation in a catastrophic injury case accounts for both financial losses and the personal impact of the injury. Recoverable damages may include medical care, rehabilitation, assistive equipment, necessary home modifications, and loss of income or earning capacity.
Non-economic damages address the physical pain, emotional strain, and loss of independence caused by the injury. Because these cases often involve long-term medical needs, future care and financial planning commonly consider conditions such as traumatic brain injury and the lasting limitations they may create.
When a catastrophic injury limits or eliminates the ability to return to work, the financial impact can extend well beyond missed wages. Compensation may reflect the loss of future earning capacity, taking into account how the injury affects long-term employment prospects.
This evaluation often takes into account the injured person’s age, education, prior work history, and the physical or cognitive restrictions caused by the injury. For many individuals, the inability to return to meaningful work represents one of the most disruptive consequences of a catastrophic accident.
Missouri law places time limits on filing personal injury lawsuits. Most catastrophic injury claims are subject to Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120, which generally allows five years from the date of the injury to bring a claim.
Failing to act within this period can affect the ability to pursue compensation, making it important to address potential claims without unnecessary delay and to preserve evidence that may be critical to the case.
Liability in a catastrophic accident depends on the circumstances surrounding the injury and the parties responsible for creating unsafe conditions or engaging in negligent conduct. Depending on the facts, liable parties may include drivers, employers, property owners, contractors, or product manufacturers.
In more complex cases, responsibility may be shared among multiple parties, particularly when poor supervision, unsafe practices, or defective equipment all contribute to the injury.
Catastrophic injury cases are typically handled on a contingency fee basis. At Montee Law Firm, this means legal fees are only collected if compensation is recovered, and there are no upfront costs to begin a claim. This arrangement allows injured individuals and their families to pursue legal options without adding financial strain during an already challenging period.
It also supports building the claim correctly, including gathering records, consulting professionals when needed, and documenting how the injury affects day-to-day life.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney James Montee, who has spent his legal career helping injured individuals and their families.
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