A life-changing injury can happen in the blink of an eye. Catastrophic injuries, like brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, can change the course of your life. You may find yourself having to adapt to a whole new way of living.
Depending on the nature of your injury and limitations, you may need to modify your home and vehicle and use mobility equipment. This may include things like widening doorways and adding a wheelchair ramp to your home, or purchasing a new vehicle to accommodate your wheelchair.
If your accident was caused by another person, our West Virginia personal injury lawyers will fight to get you maximum compensation to pay for these and other adaptations.
At Johnstone & Gabhart, we offer experienced legal representation to catastrophic injury victims in West Virginia. We won’t rest until we get you every penny that you are entitled to under the law, working tirelessly to get you the money that you need to live as full a life as possible after a catastrophic injury. Reach out to our law offices to schedule a free initial consultation with a West Virginia personal injury attorney.
Making Your Home Fit Your Needs After a Catastrophic Injury
Your home is where your recovery will truly begin after you are discharged from the hospital. Unfortunately, many homes in West Virginia simply are not designed for people with limited mobility, cognitive impairments, or other disabilities. Stairs, narrow doorways, high countertops, and inaccessible bathrooms can make your home feel like a daily challenge instead of a place of respite.
Adapting your home is often one of the first and most important steps towards regaining independence and keeping yourself safe. The principles of universal design can be helpful when considering how to make your home accessible. While the exact modifications will vary based on your specific disability and needs, some common home adaptations include:
- Entry and exit accessibility: Safe access into and out of your home is essential. To modify your home, you might need to consider adaptations such as wheelchair ramps or vertical platform lifts, widened doorways and hallways, zero-step entrances, and automatic door openers.
- Bathroom modifications: Bathrooms are one of the most hazardous areas for people with mobility challenges. Adaptations may include roll-in or walk-in showers, grab bars near toilets and showers, shower benches, raised or comfort-height toilets, and non-slip flooring.
- Kitchen adaptations: A modified kitchen can allow you to prepare safely and independently. You may consider modifying your kitchen to include things like lowered countertops and sinks, pull-out shelves and drawers, front-control stovetops, side-opening ovens, and touchless faucets.
- Bedroom and living spaces: Comfort and accessibility in living areas may include bringing in a hospital or adjustable bed, installing a ceiling-mounted lift system, and using an open floor plan.
Smart home technology can also be incredibly helpful for people who have suffered catastrophic injuries. Voice-activated systems and smart devices can help control lights, doors, thermostats, televisions, and even window coverings. These types of devices can reduce reliance on caregivers, such as by using voice-activated commands through Alexa or another system to turn lights on or off in a room.
While some of these adaptations are relatively simple and inexpensive, such as buying some Alexa devices, others require a significant investment. For example, if you need to widen your doorways and hallways to accommodate a wheelchair, that will require major construction. Our West Virginia personal injury lawyers will take these and other potential modifications into account when advocating for your right to full compensation.
Adapting Vehicles for Independence and Safety
For many people, the ability to drive represents freedom and autonomy. After a catastrophic injury, the ability to drive or even to ride comfortably in a motor vehicle may be temporarily or permanently affected. Adaptive vehicle options can help individuals reclaim mobility and independence.
Motor vehicles can be modified in a number of ways to meet your specific needs after an accident. This may include:
- Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) are designed to accommodate wheelchair users as drivers or passengers. Features of a WAV may include lowered floors, rear or side-entry ramps or lifts, and secure wheelchair tie-down systems.
- Hand controls and adaptive driving systems can be used by people who cannot use foot pedals and who have other limitations. A car can be modified with other features, such as spinner knobs for steering, extended or modified gear shifts, and touch-pad or joystick steering systems.
- Transfer aids can help people get from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat with assistance through swivel seats, transfer boards, and/or powered seat lifts.
Of course, not everyone will be able to return to driving after a catastrophic injury. In many areas of West Virginia, there are accessible transportation options, such as paratransit services, rideshare services with wheelchair accessible vehicles, and community or nonprofit transportation programs. These transportation alternatives can ensure access to work, medical care, and social activities while preventing isolation.
Just like home modifications, getting a specialized vehicle or even paying for rides can be costly. Any settlement for a car accident, slip and fall, or other type of catastrophic injury claim should include money for your transportation needs in the future. Our West Virginia personal injury lawyers will work with experts to make sure that you get the money that you need to move forward with your life after a catastrophic injury.
Mobility Equipment to Help You with Your Daily Life
Mobility equipment often plays a central role in a person’s life after a catastrophic injury. The right mobility tools can increase independence, reduce pain, prevent secondary injuries, and support long-term health. Importantly, mobility needs can change over time, so your equipment requirements might change as well.
There are many different types of mobility equipment that a person may need after a catastrophic injury. This may include tools such as:
- Depending on your limitations, you may need a manual wheelchair, a power wheelchair, a standing wheelchair, or a lightweight or custom-fitted chair. Each type of wheelchair serves different functional needs and lifestyles. Whatever wheelchair you require, a proper fitting is crucial to prevent strain and pressure injuries.
- Walkers, canes, and crutches can be used by people with partial mobility to provide stability and enhance confidence. As with wheelchairs, a proper fitting is important for safety and comfort.
- Prosthetics and orthotics, such as prosthetic limbs, braces, and orthotic supports, are often used by people with limb weakness related to a catastrophic injury. Advances in prosthetic technology have greatly increased functionality, comfort, and adaptability.
- Transfer and support equipment can be used to assist with daily activities. This may include tools like Hoyer lifts or transfer systems, gait belts, pressure relief cushions, and slide boards.
Of course, you might need other mobility equipment based on the nature of your injury and the limitations that you have. A settlement for a catastrophic injury should include enough money to cover the cost of this equipment, as well as maintenance and replacement expenses. Our team will help ensure that you get the money that you need to pay for the mobility tools that you need both now and in the future.
Help for Victims of Catastrophic Injuries in West Virginia
Adjusting to life after an accident can be challenging, particularly if you have been diagnosed with a permanent disability related to a catastrophic injury. Long-term planning is essential to ensure that you have the fullest life possible after such an accident. Our law firm will work with you to help you get the compensation that you need for home modifications, vehicle adaptations, mobility equipment, medical care, and more.
Based in Charleston, Johnstone & Gabhart advocates for catastrophic injury victims throughout West Virginia. We have significant experience handling catastrophic injury cases and work with a network of experts to build a claim for compensation that includes all future needs. We never charge a fee unless we recover money for you.
To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with a West Virginia catastrophic injury lawyer, give us a call at 866-808-2016 or fill out our online contact form.
