When a severe injury transforms your life or takes away your ability to work and enjoy daily activities, you need attorneys who understand both Nevada law and the complex medical realities you face. At Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman LLP, our trial-ready attorneys help catastrophically injured clients throughout Reno and Northern Nevada pursue the compensation needed for medical care, lost wages, and the significant life changes ahead.
Since 1998, our Reno catastrophic injury attorneys have represented individuals and families dealing with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and other life-altering harm. We take a limited number of catastrophic injury cases to provide personalized attention while building comprehensive claims, backed by solid evidence.
Contact our office at (775) 284-8888 to schedule your free consultation.
Reno Catastrophic Injury Accidents - Key Takeaways
- Catastrophic injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, severe burns, and paralysis that permanently affect your ability to work and live independently
- Nevada law allows two years to file most catastrophic injury claims, though government entity cases require notice within 180 days
- Compensation may cover past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and costs for ongoing care and home modifications
- Our attorneys work with medical experts and life-care planners, when necessary, to document the scope of your needs
- We handle catastrophic injury cases on contingency, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation
Why Choose a Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman LLP Attorney?
Our firm brings unique strengths to catastrophic injury cases in Northern Nevada. With decades of litigation experience and AV® Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, we've built a reputation that leads other law firms to refer their most complex cases to us. This peer recognition reflects our commitment to thorough case preparation and willingness to take cases to trial when insurers fail to offer fair settlements.
We maintain strong relationships with Nevada's leading medical experts, vocational specialists, and life-care planners who help document the true impact of catastrophic injuries, when necessary. Our attorneys also understand how facilities like Renown Regional Medical Center, Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, and Northern Nevada Medical Center treat severe trauma cases. This local knowledge helps us gather critical medical records and coordinate with your healthcare providers throughout your case.
Unlike other firms with a high volume of cases, we limit our caseload to provide direct attorney access and personalized service. When you call our office, you speak with your attorney, not a paralegal or case manager. While you are healing and adjusting to life post-accident, you can trust that your lawyer is managing your claim and advocating for your rights to compensation.
HEAR FROM OUR CLIENTS
What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury in Nevada?
Catastrophic injuries differ from typical personal injury claims because they create permanent disabilities or long-term medical needs that fundamentally alter how you live. Medical professionals and legal standards generally classify the following as catastrophic injuries that may warrant compensation:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Damage from vehicle crashes, falls, or workplace accidents that affects cognitive function, personality, and physical abilities
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Complete or incomplete damage resulting in paralysis, loss of sensation, or permanent mobility limitations
- Amputations: Loss of limbs requiring prosthetics, ongoing therapy, and home modifications
- Severe Burns: Third or fourth-degree burns causing permanent scarring, mobility restrictions, and psychological trauma
- Multiple Fractures: Complex bone breaks requiring multiple surgeries and resulting in permanent limitations
These injuries share common characteristics that distinguish them from standard personal injury claims. They typically require extended hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and ongoing medical treatment. Many catastrophic injury victims never return to their previous employment and need assistance with daily activities. The psychological impact extends beyond physical limitations, affecting relationships, independence, and quality of life.
How Catastrophic Injuries Happen in Reno
Northern Nevada's unique geography and economy create specific risks for catastrophic injuries. While there is no single cause of severe injury, some accidents are more likely to cause it than others. Understanding these patterns helps build stronger cases by identifying liability and preventable factors.
Vehicle Crashes on Regional Highways
The intersection of I-80 and US-395, along with mountain passes and high-speed corridors, sees severe crashes that cause catastrophic harm. Commercial trucks navigating Donner Pass or speeding through Sparks create devastating collision forces. Motorcycle riders face particular risks on winding roads near Lake Tahoe or during Reno's tourism season.
Construction and Industrial Accidents
Major projects and factories expose workers to falls, equipment strikes, and electrical hazards. We understand OSHA regulations and Nevada construction standards that employers must follow. When safety violations lead to catastrophic injuries, we hold contractors and property owners accountable.
Premises Liability Incidents
Casino properties, retail centers, and apartment complexes throughout Washoe County must maintain safe conditions. Negligent property maintenance leading to severe falls, swimming pool accidents, or structural collapses may result in liability for catastrophic injuries.
Pursuing Compensation for Life-Changing Injuries
Catastrophic injury cases require comprehensive documentation of both immediate harm and lifelong impacts. Nevada law recognizes several categories of damages, and our attorneys work to pursue compensation from those liable for your injuries.
The compensation available in catastrophic injury cases typically falls into two distinct categories that address different aspects of your losses:
- Economic Damages: These measurable losses include all medical expenses, from emergency treatment to future surgeries and therapy. Lost wages encompass not just time missed from work but reduced earning capacity over one's lifetime.
- Non-Economic Damages: These address pain, suffering, and lost enjoyment of life. While harder to quantify, these losses profoundly impact catastrophic injury victims. The inability to play with children, pursue hobbies, or maintain independence carries real value under Nevada law.
Our attorneys present compelling evidence about how injuries affect every aspect of daily life, working with medical experts and economists, if necessary, to document the scope of damages. This comprehensive approach helps insurance companies and juries understand the true cost of catastrophic injuries beyond just medical bills.
Life Care Planning and Future Needs
Catastrophic injuries require thinking beyond immediate medical bills to lifetime needs. Life care planners can help evaluate medical requirements, therapy schedules, medication costs, and equipment replacement over decades. These professionals consider inflation, advancing medical technology, and changing care needs as victims age.
Planning extends beyond medical care to practical life adjustments. Young adults with spinal cord injuries may need vocational retraining for careers compatible with physical limitations. Parents of brain-injured children must plan for lifetime supervision and support.
Home modifications represent significant but necessary expenses for catastrophic injury victims. Beyond basic accessibility features, severe injuries may require hospital-type beds, ceiling-mounted transfer systems, or backup power for medical equipment. Vehicle modifications for wheelchair access or hand controls enable independence but cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Our attorneys account for these future damages when making a claim and during negotiations. Our catastrophic injury lawyers present compelling arguments to isnurance adjusters and juries to show the extent of the losses you have and will suffer as a result of the accident.
The Legal Process for Catastrophic Injury Cases
Building a strong catastrophic injury case follows a strategic process designed to protect your rights and pursue fair compensation. Each phase requires careful attention to detail and experienced legal guidance.
Phase 1: Immediate Investigation and Evidence Preservation
Our attorneys move quickly to secure critical evidence while it remains available. If necessary, we coordinate with accident reconstruction experts, photograph scenes, and preserve physical evidence before it disappears. For construction accidents, we document safety violations and equipment failures. In vehicle crashes, we analyze black box data and driver logs. This early action prevents defendants from destroying or altering evidence.
Phase 2: Medical Documentation and Expert Consultation
Medical documentation provides the cornerstone of catastrophic injury claims. When needed, we work with your treating physicians and independent medical experts to fully document injuries, treatment needs, and prognosis. This may include neurologists for brain injuries, orthopedic specialists for spinal damage, or burn specialists for severe burns. Expert testimony can help establish the permanent nature of injuries and ongoing care requirements.
Phase 3: Legal Filing and Discovery
Nevada's statute of limitations generally provides two years from the date of the accident to file personal injury lawsuits, but exceptions exist. Claims against government entities require notice within 180 days. After filing, the discovery phase allows both sides to exchange information, take depositions, and build their cases. We use this time to strengthen evidence and expose weaknesses in the defense.
Phase 4: Settlement Negotiations and Trial Preparation
Many catastrophic injury cases resolve through negotiation, but Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman LLP’s trial readiness can strengthen settlement positions. Our willingness to present cases before Washoe County juries in the Second Judicial District Court can motivate more serious settlement discussions. If fair compensation isn't offered, we prepare for trial with mock juries, witness preparation, and compelling visual evidence.
Steps to Take After Returning Home from a Catastrophic Injury
Once you're home from the hospital, certain actions strengthen your legal claim while supporting your recovery. Taking these steps helps document the true impact of your injuries and provides evidence your attorney needs to support your injury claim.
Document Your Daily Challenges
Keep a detailed journal documenting pain levels, mobility limitations, and daily struggles. Note activities you can no longer perform – from work tasks to playing with children. Record emotional impacts like depression, anxiety, or relationship strain. This contemporaneous evidence proves more powerful than trying to recall details months later.
Follow All Medical Recommendations
Attend every medical appointment, therapy session, and follow-up visit. Insurance companies use missed appointments to argue injuries aren't serious. Keep all receipts for medications, medical equipment, and transportation to appointments. If you cannot afford recommended treatment, tell your attorney immediately rather than skipping care.
Organize Medical and Financial Records
Create a system for organizing discharge papers, test results, and treatment plans from facilities like Renown Regional Medical Center or Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. Track all injury-related expenses, including hired help, home modifications, and lost wages. Your attorney needs this documentation to calculate damages.
Connect with Support Networks
Join support groups through organizations like the Brain Injury Association of America or the United Spinal Association. These connections provide emotional support while demonstrating your commitment to recovery. Fellow members also share practical advice about living with catastrophic injuries and navigating the legal process.
Avoid Social Media and Recorded Statements
Insurance investigators monitor social media for posts that contradict injury claims. Avoid posting photos, updates, or comments about your accident or recovery. Never give recorded statements to insurance adjusters without your attorney present. Even innocent comments get twisted to reduce claim values.
Proven Results for Our Clients
FAQ for Reno Catastrophic Injury Attorney
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in Reno?
Our firm handles catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Initial consultations are free, allowing you to understand your rights without financial obligation. We also advance case costs for medical records, expert witnesses, and investigation, recovering these expenses only from successful settlements or verdicts.
What if the At-Fault Party Has Minimal Insurance Coverage?
Catastrophic injuries may exceed standard auto or liability policy limits, but additional compensation sources may exist. We investigate other potentially liable parties, umbrella policies, commercial coverage, and employer liability. In some cases, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage provides additional compensation.
What Happens if I Need Ongoing Medical Treatment during My Case?
Your need for continuing medical care won't delay pursuing compensation. Our attorneys work with your doctors to project future treatment needs while your case progresses. If insurance coverage runs out, we can also help arrange treatment on a lien basis, so you receive necessary care without waiting for case resolution.
What Should Family Members Do When Victims Cannot Make Legal Decisions?
Nevada law provides mechanisms for family members to pursue claims on behalf of incapacitated victims. This may involve guardianship proceedings or the appointment of a power of attorney.
How Do Structured Settlements Work for Catastrophic Injury Cases?
Structured settlements provide guaranteed income streams rather than lump sum payments, offering tax advantages and financial security. These arrangements work well for lifetime medical needs and lost income replacement. We can help clients evaluate whether structured settlements or traditional settlements better meet their specific circumstances and goals.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
Catastrophic injuries change everything. Your health, work, relationships, and future plans can all suffer as a result of these accidents. While legal action won't restore what you've lost, it provides financial resources for medical care, daily assistance, and family security. At Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman LLP, we combine Northern Nevada knowledge with proven litigation experience to help catastrophically injured clients rebuild their lives.
Don't wait to explore your legal options. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and statutory deadlines approach quickly. Our Reno personal injury lawyers offer free consultations to evaluate your case and explain Nevada law as it applies to your situation. We'll review medical records, investigate liability, and develop a comprehensive strategy for pursuing the compensation you need.
Contact our office at (775) 284-8888 to schedule your free consultation. We serve clients throughout Northern Nevada, including Washoe County, Carson City, Douglas County, and the Lake Tahoe region. Let our trial-ready team fight for your family's future while you focus on recovery and adjustment to life after a catastrophic injury.