Personal Injury Attorney in Springfield, Vermont

Serious personal injuries are those injuries that are long-lasting or permanent. Many accident victims make heroic progress with the help of surgery, rehabilitation, and prosthetics. But others will require decades of ongoing care and even extended stays in the hospital.

The Springfield personal injury lawyer at Sabbeth Law is fully prepared to help clients obtain the maximum compensation available to defray the cost of serious injuries. Contact our law firm today to get started.

Types of Personal Injury Accidents

Almost any type of accident can lead to a serious injury. However, they are more likely in some situations than others:

  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Truck collisions
  • Car accidents
  • Dog attacks
  • Medical malpractice
  • Workplace explosions or chemical leaks
  • Building collapse
  • Fires

A pedestrian struck by a speeding vehicle, for example, can be thrown 30 yards and strike their head or spine on a fire hydrant, vehicle, or curb. Dog attacks can be particularly brutal, leading to permanent nerve damage and disfigurement. In all cases, victims bear the brunt of the terrific force, and it is no surprise that few can walk away unharmed.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Some of the more common catastrophic injuries our clients have suffered include:

  • Brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Amputation
  • Burns
  • Nerve damage
  • Blindness
  • Loss of organ or critical function
  • Disfigurement

These injuries make it very difficult, if not impossible, to return to daily living. Instead, victims often need surgery and at-home help. They might have to use a wheelchair and reconfigure their homes so that they can get around. Family members might feel overwhelmed trying to care for a loved one who is bedridden or suffering from constant pain.

There is also an emotional side to many injuries. For example, someone who suffers a bad burn can experience intense psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and fear of the future. Burns on visible parts of the body might cause a person to withdraw from family and friends, leading to a life of isolation. The emotional side of any injury should not be minimized. Therapy and psychoactive drugs can help, but many internal scars are very slow to heal.

Economic and Non-Economic Damages in Vermont

Vermont law recognizes two distinct categories of damages in personal injury cases. Understanding these classifications helps victims maximize their compensation potential.

Economic damages represent quantifiable financial losses with clear monetary values. These include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, prescription medications, and assistive devices like wheelchairs or prosthetics. Lost wages form another major component, encompassing both past income loss and future earning capacity reduction.

Property damage, transportation costs for medical appointments, and home modification expenses also qualify as economic damages. These losses require detailed documentation through receipts, pay stubs, and expert testimony to establish their full value.

Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses that significantly impact the quality of life. Pain and suffering represent the most common non-economic damage, covering both physical discomfort and mental anguish. Emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement fall into this category.

Vermont doesn’t impose caps on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. Loss of consortium allows spouses to recover compensation when injuries damage their marital relationship. This includes loss of companionship, affection, and intimate relations. The subjective nature of non-economic damages makes experienced legal representation essential for proper valuation.

We Fight for Full Compensation for Our Clients

A serious injury differs from run-of-the-mill car accident injuries that heal within months. A catastrophic injury not only requires more medical care, but victims often cannot work. Some will be permanently disabled with no viable means of financial support. Others might need to go into a skilled nursing facility for an extended period of time.

Our Springfield injury lawyers work carefully to document how much your case is worth, including:

  • he cost of past, present, and future medical care.
    Some of our clients require an at-home health aide to help with daily living, such as bathing, cooking, and getting dressed. They might also need periodic surgery in the future to stabilize their health condition.
  • Past, present, and future lost wages, including diminished earning capacity. 
    A person with a disabling physical or psychological condition might be unable to work, or they might need to take a different job. A surgeon who loses an arm, for example, might find employment as a desk clerk, but she will suffer a dramatic drop in income through no fault of her own. We fight for our clients to receive fair compensation for their lost income.
  • Pain and suffering, including emotional distress and negative effects on a person’s marriage. 
    Suffering a permanent disability often impairs a person’s emotional well-being, and this loss also deserves compensation. Even if your spouse suffered the injury, you might find yourself victimized as your marital relationship deteriorates. Though not economic in nature, these losses are covered under the law. Estimating a fair amount is difficult, however, so contact our Springfield catastrophic injury lawyers for assistance.

Representation in Wrongful Death Cases

When catastrophic injuries prove fatal, families face unimaginable grief alongside mounting financial pressures. Vermont’s wrongful death statute allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for their devastating losses. These cases require immediate legal action since evidence can disappear quickly.

Wrongful death claims encompass both economic and non-economic damages. Economic losses include funeral expenses, lost future earnings, and medical bills incurred before death. Non-economic damages cover the loss of companionship, guidance, and emotional support that the deceased would have provided. 

Our Springfield wrongful death attorneys understand that no amount of money can replace your loved one. However, financial compensation helps families maintain stability during their darkest hours. We work diligently to hold negligent parties accountable while allowing families time to grieve.

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Vermont

Vermont law imposes strict deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. Most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the accident date. This timeframe applies to car accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, and product liability cases.

However, certain exceptions can extend or shorten this deadline. Medical malpractice claims have a two-year statute of limitations, while claims against government entities require notice within six months. The discovery rule may extend deadlines when injuries aren’t immediately apparent, particularly in cases involving toxic exposure or latent medical conditions.

Missing the statute of limitations typically results in permanent case dismissal. Insurance companies often delay settlement negotiations, hoping claimants will miss crucial deadlines. Early legal consultation protects your rights and preserves important evidence before it deteriorates or disappears.

Sabbeth Law Has Your Back

We have experience making claims for personal injuries. Our legal team can fully examine the circumstances of the accident to allocate fault between the correct defendants. We can also work with experts, if needed, to establish the probable cost of future medical care and lost income. This is difficult work, and courts will not accept speculative claims that are not backed up by solid evidence.

Avoid negotiating a claim alone. Insurers understand that considerable money is on the line, and they have no incentive to make generous settlement offers right out of the gate. Instead, they typically try to minimize their liability or the seriousness of your injuries.

Our Springfield Injury Lawyer Will Come to You

This is a stressful time. But with Sabbeth Law by your side, you can make the strongest claim possible for compensation. Please contact us today.