Proving Negligence in Pittsburgh Catastrophic Injury Claims

A catastrophic injury can change nearly every aspect of a person’s life. These life-altering injuries often require extensive medical treatment and long-term care, and most people lack the resources to afford it. There are also substantial financial and emotional consequences to consider.

When another person’s carelessness causes a catastrophic injury, the injury victim has the right to pursue compensation through a negligence claim. If you have questions about proving negligence in Pittsburgh catastrophic injury claims, our team of skilled attorneys at Berger and Green is ready to help.

What Is Negligence?

Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. In other words, it’s the standard your catastrophic injury claim will be held to. In order for you to recover compensation for your injuries, you’ll need to show they resulted from someone else’s negligence.

To succeed in a catastrophic injury claim, you’ll need to establish several key elements. First, the defendant must have owed a duty of care. Second, the defendant must have breached that duty through some kind of action or omission. Third, the breach must have caused your catastrophic injury. Finally, you must have suffered damages as a result of the incident.

While these principles may sound straightforward, proving negligence often requires a detailed investigation and substantial evidence. Insurance companies frequently dispute liability, especially when a claim involves significant damages. This makes it crucial for you to seek help from a Pittsburgh attorney when proving negligence in a catastrophic injury claim.

Common Situations Where Negligence Leads to Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries can occur in many different circumstances. Some of the most common examples include the following:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Defective product incidents

These incidents often share a common factor: someone failed to act with reasonable care. When negligence contributes to a catastrophic injury, our attorneys can help prove who was at fault.

Evidence of Negligence in a Catastrophic Injury Case

Our attorneys use an array of evidence in catastrophic injury cases to prove negligence, including the following.

Medical Records

Medical records serve as some of the most important evidence in a catastrophic injury case. These records document the extent of your injuries, as well as the lengths you’ve taken to treat them. Your records also help establish the connection between the accident and the injuries.

Accident Reports

Police reports and other official accident reports frequently provide valuable information about how an incident occurred. These reports may identify involved parties, document observations made at the scene, and include statements from witnesses.

Witness Testimony

Witnesses can provide independent accounts of what happened before, during, and after an accident. Their observations may help establish how the incident happened and whether or not negligence was involved.

Photographs and Video Evidence

Photographs and videos can provide powerful visual evidence, especially when they depict the accident as it happened. Images of accident scenes and vehicle damage can also be powerful evidence at trial.

Expert Testimony

Catastrophic injury claims frequently involve expert witnesses. Medical experts may explain the nature of the injuries and future treatment needs, while accident reconstruction specialists may analyze how a crash occurred.

Employment and Financial Records

Catastrophic injuries often affect a person’s ability to work and earn income. You can rely on employment records, tax returns, and wage statements to demonstrate your lost earnings and diminished earning capacity.