Jackson Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

Steps To Take After A Catastrophic Injury

In the days and weeks after a catastrophic injury, it can feel as if everything is coming at you at once. Medical decisions, insurance calls, worried family members, and financial pressures may all arrive together. Taking a few key steps can help protect your health, well-being, and legal rights.

Prioritize Medical Care

After any injury, regardless of how serious it may first appear, your first step should always be seeking medical attention. If necessary, get immediate emergency treatment and follow through with any referrals to specialists or rehabilitation facilities. Catastrophic injuries are often complex, making careful documentation of your diagnoses, imaging procedures, and treatment plans critical, as such documentation can serve as invaluable evidence in your case.

Document the Incident & Preserve Evidence

When it is safe to do so, it helps to document the scene and the circumstances of the incident. That can include photographs of vehicles, machinery, worksites, accident scenes, or the surrounding area, as well as any visible injuries. If possible, it can be helpful to collect the names and contact information of witnesses. If you were unable to document the scene of your injury or gather other relevant evidence, our team can help.

Avoid Communicating with Insurance Adjusters

Insurance companies or corporate representatives may contact you soon after the incident, sometimes while you are still in the hospital. It is NOT in your best interest to give detailed or recorded statements before you have spoken with a lawyer who understands catastrophic injury cases. What may seem like a simple conversation can be used later to limit your claim.

Contact A Jackson Catastrophic Injury Attorney as Soon as Possible

Our firm places strong emphasis on early legal intervention in serious injury matters. When you contact us, we immediately begin working to secure critical evidence and documentation before it disappears. We also take over all communication with insurers, adjusters, representatives, and defense teams, allowing you to focus on your recovery and day-to-day needs.

How a Jackson Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Can Build Your Case

In a catastrophic injury case, the quality of the investigation and overall case preparation often determines the strength of your claim. We use a methodical approach, one that is shaped by decades of courtroom experience and our Jackson catastrophic injury attorney's years on the bench in Hinds and Yazoo Counties.

While each case is unique, our process often involves: 

• A Thorough Investigation of Fault: We typically begin by conducting an in-depth investigation into what caused your injury. This may involve visiting the scene, obtaining law enforcement and incident reports, interviewing witnesses, and/or working with accident reconstructionists and other experts when needed. In cases involving 18-wheeler collisions or industrial accidents, we may also request to review black box data, safety and maintenance records, company policies, and training materials to identify every party that may share fault.
• Documenting Injuries & Long-Term Needs: As we investigate your case, we also focus on documenting the full scope of your injuries and losses. This could include reviewing medical records, imaging test results, and treatment plans, as well as working with your doctors and independent medical professionals to understand your long-term prognosis. For many catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injury, the most serious impacts appear over time, not just in the first few weeks. We often work with lifecare planners and economists to calculate the costs of future care, including ongoing therapies, adaptive equipment, in-home assistance, and possible residential care. We also analyze how the injury affects your ability to work and earn income over the course of your life. Our goal is to present a clear, detailed picture of how the incident has changed every part of your life.
• Using Judicial Insight to Prepare for Court: Attorney Mark Sledge’s experience as a former circuit judge helps us evaluate liability and damages from the perspective of the court and the jury. He has heard arguments from both sides in complex litigation and understands the kinds of evidence and testimony that judges and jurors tend to find persuasive. We use that insight to anticipate defense strategies and build the strongest possible case we can for you. Throughout this process, we handle all communication with insurance companies and defense lawyers. We keep you informed, involve you in key decisions, and make sure you are prepared if your case moves toward mediation, settlement negotiations, or trial. With our reputation for earning life-changing results for our clients, opposing counsel knows that we are prepared to try catastrophic cases when fair offers are not made, which can influence how they approach negotiations.

Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries

After a catastrophic injury, families often find themselves worrying about both the immediate financial impact and their long-term security. Understanding the types of compensation that may be available can help you see why dedicated legal representation is so important in these serious cases.

In a catastrophic injury claim, recoverable damages can include:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs 
• Necessary home or vehicle modifications
• The value of in-home care or assistance 
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity 
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

No attorney can promise a particular outcome in any case. What we can do is point to our history in high stakes litigation, including the $100 million jury verdict in Bailey vs. Janssen Pharmaceutical and the $4.9 million verdict in Upton vs. Diamond Offshore Drilling, as evidence of our ability to prepare complex cases and present them effectively in court when necessary. Each catastrophic injury case is evaluated on its own facts, the applicable Mississippi law, and the evidence available.

Mississippi law guides how damages are presented and what juries may consider. Mark’s years as a circuit judge in this state makes him familiar with how courts approach serious injury claims. In your consultation, we walk through the specific circumstances of your case and discuss what categories of damages may apply, based on your injuries and your family’s situation.