Dedicated Catastrophic Injury Attorneys Serving New Jersey
U.S. law defines a catastrophic injury as one that “permanently prevents an individual from performing any gainful work.” Catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries, are sudden events that dramatically alter the mental or physical capacity of a person.
Catastrophic injuries can be caused by car accidents, workplace accidents, medical malpractice, or a number of other events. By definition, catastrophic injuries often require long-term medical care, prolonged absence from work (or inability to work altogether), huge medical bills, and serious mental or emotional effects.
Key Takeaways
📄 Scope & Legal Framework
- Catastrophic injuries—such as traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations, paralysis, severe burns, disfigurement—dramatically alter victims’ lives, often leading to permanent disability and lifelong financial and emotional burdens.
- In New Jersey, victims can pursue full compensation in civil claims, including treatment, rehabilitation, future care, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma. There is no cap on compensatory damages; punitive damages may apply in cases of extreme negligence.
🔗 Cases We’re Currently Accepting
- Severe injuries arising from:
- Motor-vehicle collisions, including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Construction site incidents, like scaffold collapses or trench cave-ins
- Serious premises accidents, such as structural failures or negligent security
- Medical malpractice leading to life-altering harm
- Workplace accidents, including electrocution, caught-in machinery, or crushing injuries
📅 Recent Legal Trends & Notable Results
- Increased reliance on neuropsychological testing, life-care planning, and rehabilitation cost modeling in proving future injury impact.
- In Fort Lee/Bergen County and across NJ, jury verdicts and settlements for catastrophic injuries are on the rise.
- Recent high-value recoveries include:
- TBI and motor vehicle incidents with settlements in the mid-seven-figure range
- Scaffold collapse and crush injury verdicts often exceeding $1M
⚖️ The Parties’ Legal Positions
- Plaintiffs: Argue that defendants were negligent, exposing claimants to catastrophic harm—highlighting permanent disability, lifelong care costs, and diminished life quality.
- Defendants/Insurers: Frequently challenge causation, severity, or argue comparative negligence; sometimes argue regulatory compliance to limit liability.
💰 Settlement Potential
- Severe fractures with disability or single-leg amputations: Typically settle $500K–$1.5M+
- Spinal cord injuries or paralysis: Settlements often exceed $1M–$3M+
- Traumatic brain injury with permanent impairment: Common settlements fall between $1M–$5M+
- Wrongful death from catastrophic accidents: Typically exceed $1M, depending on earnings and family impact
⚠️ Critical Considerations
- Immediate documentation of injuries, including imaging, therapy reports, incident photos, and expert reports, is vital.
- Expert-driven evidence—neurologists, life-care planners, vocational assessors, economists—is essential to validate long-term impact.
- NJ’s 2-year statute of limitations is strict; missing the deadline usually bars recovery.
- Comparative fault reductions may apply in shared-responsibility cases, but Fort Lee juries tend to award strong verdicts when negligence is clear.
- Multiple liable parties (e.g., property owner, employer, equipment manufacturer) can significantly increase potential recovery.
Calculating the full cost of a catastrophic injury is a large undertaking, and it often requires the help of many professionals. The skilled attorneys at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi work with doctors, physical therapists, and vocational counselors on a daily basis to help assess our clients’ injuries.
Our attorneys have decades’ worth of experience working with insurance companies in personal injury cases, and that expertise will help ensure you receive just compensation for your claim. Our vast resources and experience allow us to focus on you and your needs, giving your claim the best chance of success.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury because of someone else’s recklessness, carelessness, or misconduct, you could be eligible for compensation. Call (201) 585-9111 or contact us online to schedule your free, confidential consultation with Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
A number of injuries can qualify as catastrophic injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Severe burns
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
- Amputations
- Vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
In some cases, the life-changing injury from an accident is not apparent immediately. For example, a traumatic brain injury may take several weeks—or even months—to show its severity after the initial incident.
Catastrophic injuries can come from a wide variety of situations. Car accidents are one of the most significant causes of catastrophic injuries, accounting for approximately 2.36 million injuries and 33,500 fatalities in 2012. Whether caused by a distracted driver, driving under the influence, negligent driving, or defective car parts, a motor vehicle accident can result in a number of catastrophic injuries.
Workplace accidents can also contribute to catastrophic injuries, particularly on construction sites, where the chance of being injured on the job is nearly three times higher than average. More than 800 construction workers were killed on the job in 2013, and construction accidents make up nearly 20 percent of all work-related fatalities. Falls are the No. 1 cause of construction accidents, most of which could be prevented by complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s fall protection regulations. The pressure to keep costs low and keep projects on schedule causes supervisors, contractors, and engineers to cut corners and neglect important safety requirements, leading to serious and catastrophic injuries.
If your catastrophic injury was work-related, you are most likely entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This no-fault program is designed to compensate injured workers for medical expenses and lost wages, as well as provide death benefits to the workers’ dependents. An experienced personal injury attorney can guide you through the workers’ compensation and ensure you are receiving fair compensation, as well as help you pursue a civil case against a negligent third party.
We hired Chris DiGirolamo as our attorney after Mike suffered a life changing injury at work. From the time we met Chris we felt we can trust him to work in the best interest for Mike’s needs. Chris is very down to earth and we felt comfortable whenever we met with him. He spoke to us so we always understood what was going on. He never threw around legal jargon that we would not be able to understand. He was always willing to ensure we knew exactly how our case was proceeding. Chris showed humanity in dealing with Mike’s Injuries and understanding of Mike’s unwillingness to accept some of the changes in his life.
Chris’s high level of energy and desire to bring a case to the best possible results were evident from day one. Our case was settled but of court with the help of a mediator and Chris was by our side explaining what was going on every step of the way. His preparation throughout the case was evident as he spoke before the mediator. It was a pleasure to watch. Chris at work and know he was working for us. He is tough and stubborn when necessary. We were also impressed by the respect shown to Chris by the retired judge we worked with as well as other lawyers. Chris was only happy with this case when he knew we had a settlement that we were very impressed with.
I cannot thank Mr. Michael Maggiano and his staff enough for their handling of my case. My incident happened before the pandemic, but that did not hinder the performance of Michael, his Paralegal, Ms. Linda Reid, and his support staff. Ms. Reid remained in constant communication with me around the clock and she did her due diligence with gathering all evidence for my case. She left no stone unturned by recording every detail of the incident and my medical history. Every detail is important no matter how minuscule it may seem. Linda has the capacity to make you feel comfortable in one of the most uncomfortable moments of your life. Her explanation and assistance with the court proceedings put me at ease. Michael Maggiano and his Paralegal, Linda Reid will fight to win your case and get their clients what they are owed. Highly recommended!
I wanted to make sure that you were aware of my extreme gratitude to Chris DiGirolamo, and his law firm, for the work done on my behalf.
As a 33 year licensed motorcyclist in the state of NJ, I have seen a lot of friends/family go through the process of a personal injury suit, and many times the outcome is less than favorable. Let’s face it, there is a lot of bias against bikers out there… So when it was my turn to experience the process first hand, I didn’t hold a lot of hope that I would recover any of what I lost.
Chris DiGirolamo not only got me enough of a settlement to recover what was lost, he got the max available, allowing me to have a little piece of mind for the future as well.
He was patient when I sent endless emails full of questions and kind and understanding with regard to my case. I will ALWAYS refer my friends to this firm, and use them again myself, if the situation ever arises…
Thank you again for all your hard work!
What Can You Win in a Catastrophic Injury Claim?
There are two types of compensation in New Jersey personal injury cases: compensatory damages and punitive damages.
The vast majority of personal injury cases deal with compensatory damages. This includes compensation for:
- Medical treatment, including the cost of ambulatory services, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation. This includes reimbursement for treatment you have already received as well as compensation for future estimated medical costs, which are both significant in the case of a catastrophic injury.
- Income, including lost wages due to the injury and money the victim would have made in the future if not for the accident (i.e. decreased future earning capacity).
- Property damage, including damage to your vehicle, personal items, or clothing due to the accident.
- Pain and suffering, meaning the physical pain and discomfort caused by the accident.
- Emotional distress, which is essentially the mental pain and suffering caused by the accident. Emotional distress can include fear, loss of sleep, and anxiety.
- Loss of enjoyment or consortium, including inability to enjoy day-to-day activities, inability to pursue hobbies, inability to enjoy recreational activities, loss of companionship, and inability to maintain an intimate relationship with your spouse
There is no limit on compensatory damages in New Jersey. Therefore, so long as you can prove the extent of your injuries, you are eligible to recover the full amount.
Punitive damages are awarded only in cases where the defendant’s actions were particularly careless or egregious, or if the defendant caused the accident intentionally. Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant for his or her outrageous conduct and act as a deterrent to similar actions in the future. In the state of New Jersey, punitive damages are limited to $350,000 or five times the amount of compensatory damages (whichever is greater).
Why Hire Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi?
A catastrophic injury is a life-changing event. Holding the guilty party (or parties) accountable requires a great deal of commitment, resources, and experience. Without the help of an experienced personal injury attorney on your side, your outcome is often at the mercy of insurance companies, employers, and opposing attorneys. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi have a reputation for excellence and persistence in the courts of New York and New Jersey, causing competing lawyers and claims adjusters to take your claim seriously.
It is important to prepare for every case as if it is going to trial; with Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, you can rest assured your case will be trial-ready. Many attorneys claim to be “trial attorneys” but do not have the experience or skills to put that title to use. As certified civil trial attorneys, we are board-certified specialists in trial advocacy. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, and senior partner Michael Maggiano is a past president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of New Jersey. We are proud to have achieved a number of significant verdicts and settlements for our clients—both in and out of court.
Many of your immediate concerns after a catastrophic injury are financial: medical bills, lost wages, and insurance claims to pay for the treatment of your injuries. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi will discuss the details of your situation with you and explain the full range of options available to you. Successful negotiation with the parties at fault requires commitment, diligence, experience, and tenacity, and we are more than ready to handle your unique case. Call (201) 585-9111 or contact us online to schedule your FREE and confidential consultation. Work with a Korean-American attorney at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C.
Verdicts and Settlements
$1,478,000 - Tractor Trailer Accident
To a 41 year old police officer injured off duty in his own parked car when a tractor trailer hit the officer’s open driver’s side door, forcing the car up onto the sidewalk.
$325,000 - Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
To a nursing home resident who developed a Stage IV ulcer requiring surgery where the nursing home alleged the resident was non-compliant with recommendations to reduce pressure from excessive wheelchair use.
$2,800,000 - Trucking Accident
A man who suffered serious knee injuries when a truck pulled out in front of him
