Altoona
Serious & Catastrophic Injury Lawyer

On This Page

1. What Is a “Catastrophic” Injury?
2. We Represent Clients Injured Due to Negligence or Wrongdoing
3. Serious & Catastrophic Injury Damages
4. Our Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Will Build Your Blair County Case
5. Reach Out to Berger and Green Today Regarding Your Altoona Case

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

August 08, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Under the law, catastrophic injuries cause permanent harm, disability, or death. Catastrophic and serious injuries also lead to significant medical treatment and may require a lifetime of medical care. If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, Berger and Green can help.

An Altoona serious & catastrophic injury lawyer with our firm can pursue compensation for your current medical bills, future medical expenses, and other losses. You should not get saddled with a lifetime of expenses from an accident you did not cause. We can fight for the resources you need so your injury does not endanger your family’s financial stability. 

What Is a “Catastrophic” Injury?

The term “catastrophic” is subjective, but when it comes to personal injury law, it usually refers to injuries that occur suddenly, are severe, and significantly interfere with a victim’s life. Examples of serious and catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal injuries
• Severe back, neck, and shoulder injuries
• Injuries resulting in loss of mobility or paralysis
• Severe burns
• Injuries resulting in disfigurement and scarring
• Loss of a limb, body part, or bodily function
• Injuries resulting in a permanent disability 
• Severely broken or crushed bones
• Injuries affecting the internal organs or a bodily system (i.e., reproductive system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system)

We Represent Clients Injured Due to Negligence or Wrongdoing

Berger and Green has more than 40 years of experience helping the injured seek justice. Our attorneys can fight for you if you suffered a serious or catastrophic injury due to someone else’s wrongful, reckless, or negligent behavior. We handle cases involving:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), more than 4,400 suspected serious motor vehicle crash injuries occurred in Pennsylvania in 2020. Furthermore, PennDOT reports that fatal vehicle accidents increased statewide in 2021, including collisions involving motorcycles and heavy trucks. Our Altoona injury lawyers can assist with damages arising from:

• Car accidents
• Truck and commercial vehicle collisions
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bus accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Collisions caused by a drunk driver
• Train accidents
• Uber and Lyft accidents
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist claims

Premises Liability

Premises liability cases deal with injuries caused by negligent or dangerous property conditions. They include injuries resulting from:

• Slip and falls 
• Fire and burn injuries
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Elevator and escalator accidents
• Swimming pool accidents
• Hotel accidents
• Building collapses
• Amusement park and stadium accidents

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider or medical facility injures a patient due to a medical mistake, failure to act, or incorrect treatment. Examples of malpractice that may result in serious and catastrophic injuries include:

• Botched or wrong-site surgeries
• Unnecessary surgery
• Unnecessary or wrongful amputation
• Adverse drug events (ADEs) caused by medical errors
• Anesthesia errors
• Falls caused by a failure to monitor patients

Workplace Injuries

We can assist with work-related injuries, including falls, burns, electrocutions, and heavy equipment accidents. We handle workers’ compensation claims, personal injury claims, and lawsuits against liable third parties. 

Serious & Catastrophic Injury Damages

Catastrophic injuries require extensive and ongoing medical treatment while preventing the injured individual from working. Furthermore, serious injuries affect the sufferer physically, mentally, and emotionally. You deserve compensation for tangible and intangible losses related to your accident and injury. Our Altoona serious & catastrophic injury lawyers will fight for fair recovery for:

• Current medical bills, including ambulance fees, hospitalizations, surgeries, doctor bills, and medications
• Future medical expenses, including physical therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, follow-up procedures and care, medical equipment and devices, prescription drugs, in-home health services, long-term nursing care, and lifecare costs
• Current and future lost wages, including back pay and compensation for lost earning capacity if you must change jobs, reduce your workload, or retire because of a disabling injury
• Pain and suffering, including awards for depression, anxiety, physical pain, scarring and disfigurement, inability to work, attend school, or participate in hobbies or activities, loss of ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), and changes in the way you interact with friends and loved ones
• Wrongful death of a loved one, including compensation for funeral and burial, lost income, and lost services, support, and guidance

Our Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Will Build Your Blair County Case

If you are recovering from a catastrophic injury or caring for a seriously injured loved one, the idea of pursuing an insurance claim or lawsuit may seem overwhelming. However, a severe injury can quickly lead to significant medical bills and loss of income, which can negatively impact your family and finances. 

Let us build your case and fight for the awards you need to aid in your recovery and ongoing care. Our team can:

• Locate and interview eyewitnesses
• Obtain medical records, police reports, and accident reports
• Collect physical data from the scene of your accident
• Track down available cell phone or surveillance video of your accident
• Work with medical professionals to prove the severity of your injuries and estimate your lifetime medical costs
• Consult with vocational experts about how your injuries affect your ability to work
• Speak with economists about the overall economic impact of your accident
• Calculate your damages
• File your insurance claims or lawsuits
• Represent you during negotiations
• Handle case paperwork, deadlines, and communications
• Provide you with regular updates

Pennsylvania’s Statute of Limitations

We must file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. According to Pa. C.S.A. § 5524, you have two years to take action for personal injury. If you do not pursue your case within the deadline, the court will likely bar you from recovery. Additionally, an expired statute can hurt your chances of an advantageous insurance settlement. 

Reach Out to Berger and Green Today Regarding Your Altoona Case

Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about how our Altoona serious & catastrophic injury lawyers can secure compensation for you and your family. We work on contingency, meaning our services cost you nothing up front or out of pocket.