Broken Bones, Burns and Catastrophic Injuries – Do I Have A Case?

Life can change in an instant. One second, you’re crossing the street, driving to work, or enjoying a night out. The next, a careless driver, a defective product, or a workplace accident leaves you with broken bones, severe burns, or catastrophic injuries that will alter your life forever. At Sansone & Lauber, we know how devastating these injuries are—not just physically, but emotionally and financially. Victims are left asking the same urgent question: “Broken Bones, Burns, and Catastrophic Injuries – Do I Have a Case?”

The answer depends on Missouri law, liability, and the facts of your situation. This blog breaks it all down so you know your rights, your options, and how a powerful catastrophic injury lawyer in St. Louis can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

What Counts as a Catastrophic Injury?

Not every injury is “catastrophic” in the legal sense. Catastrophic injuries are those that permanently impact your ability to live and work as you did before. These include:

• Broken Bones – Severe fractures, especially those requiring surgery, hardware implants, or causing long-term mobility issues.

• Burn Injuries – Second- and third-degree burns that lead to permanent scarring, disfigurement, or nerve damage.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – Head trauma that affects memory, speech, and cognitive function.

• Spinal Cord Injuries – Paralysis, partial paralysis, or chronic mobility limitations.

• Amputations – Loss of limbs or extremities.

• Organ Damage and Internal Injuries – Life-threatening harm requiring extensive surgeries.

Catastrophic injuries don’t just heal. They often require lifelong treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care. That’s why Missouri courts recognize that victims deserve substantial compensation when negligence causes these outcomes.

Broken Bones – Do They Qualify as a Case?

Some people assume that broken bones are “routine” injuries. But broken bones can be life-altering, especially if:

• The fracture is compound (bone pierces the skin)

• It involves joints (hip, knee, shoulder)

• Multiple bones are broken at once

• Surgery is required to install plates, screws, or rods

• Permanent loss of range of motion or chronic pain results

In these cases, broken bones absolutely qualify as catastrophic injuries, especially when caused by someone else’s negligence.

Example: A pedestrian struck in a crosswalk suffers multiple leg fractures, requiring multiple surgeries and months of rehab. This is not just an “ordinary accident”—it’s a claim worth pursuing aggressively with a St. Louis broken bones lawyer.

Burn Injuries – Among the Most Painful and Devastating

Burictims face not only physical pain, but also permanent scarring, disfigurement, and emotional trauma. Burn injury cases often involve:

• House or apartment fires caused by negligence

• Car accidents resulting in explosions or fuel fires

• Workplace chemical burns

• Electrical burns on job sites

• Defective products that overheat or catch fire

Missouri law allows burn victims to recover for pain and suffering, future medical procedures (such as skin grafts), and psychological harm caused by permanent scars.

Insurance companies often undervalue burn cases, but at Sansone & Lauber, we fight to ensure every long-term consequence is factored into your claim.

Catastrophic Injuries – Life Will Never Be the Same

Catastrophic injuries are those that forever change your way of life. They may prevent you from:

• Returning to work or pursuing your career

• Living independently

• Participating in hobbies and family activities

• Enjoying the same quality of life

Examples include spinal cord injuries, severe TBIs, and amputations. These cases often involve millions of dollars in damages over a lifetime.

Our role as your catastrophic injury attorney in Missouri is to prove the full impact of these injuries on your earning potential, quality of life, and future medical needs.

Do You Have a Case? The Key Factors in Missouri Law

Whether you have a case for broken bones, burns, or catastrophic injuries comes down to several factors:

1. Negligence

Was someone else at fault? Examples:

• A drunk driver runs a red light.

• An employer fails to provide safety equipment.

• A manufacturer sells a defective product.

2. Causation

Did their negligence directly cause your injuries?

3. Damages

Do you have documented medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, or permanent impairment?

If the answer is “yes” to these elements, you likely have a strong case.

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries in Missouri

At Sansone & Lauber, we handle catastrophic injury claims from many types of accidents, including:

• Car Accidents – High-speed collisions often cause severe fractures, burns, and spinal injuries.

• Truck Accidents – Due to their size and weight, commercial trucks cause catastrophic harm.

• Motorcycle Accidents – Riders are completely exposed, leading to devastating injuries.

• Pedestrian Accidents – Crosswalk and intersection collisions often result in broken bones and fatal injuries.

• Workplace Accidents – Especially in construction and industrial jobs.

• Defective Products – Dangerous tools, machinery, or household items that fail.

• Medical Malpractice – Surgical errors or anesthesia mistakes.

Each case requires aggressive investigation to identify every responsible party and maximize compensation.

Compensation in Catastrophic Injury Claims

Victims of catastrophic injuries may be entitled to recover damages such as:

• Medical expenses (past, present, and future)

• Rehabilitation and therapy costs

• Lost wages and loss of earning capacity

• Pain and suffering

• Loss of enjoyment of life

• Permanent disability or disfigurement

• Wrongful death damages in fatal cases

The stakes in these cases are enormous. That’s why you need a Missouri injury attorney who won’t settle for pennies on the dollar.

The Insurance Company’s Playbook

Insurance companies will fight catastrophic injury claims harder than almost any other case. Why? Because the payouts are often seven or eight figures. Their tactics include:

• Claiming the injuries were “pre-existing”

• Blaming the victim for their own injuries

• Arguing the treatment was “excessive” or “unnecessary”

• Dragging out the process to pressure victims into accepting less

Our firm’s approach is simple: prepare every case for trial from day one. Insurance companies know we are not afraid of the courtroom—and that pressure often results in maximum settlements.

Missouri’s Comparative Fault Rule

Even if you were partially at fault, you may still recover damages under Missouri’s pure comparative fault rule. For example:

• If you are found 20% at fault and your damages are $1,000,000, you can still recover $800,000.

Insurance adjusters will try to inflate your percentage of fault. Our job is to minimize their blame-shifting tactics and maximize your recovery.

Statute of Limitations – Don’t Wait

In Missouri:

• Personal injury claims generally must be filed within five years.

• Wrongful death claims must be filed within three years.

If you wait too long, you lose your right to compensation forever. Contact a St. Louis catastrophic injury attorney immediately to protect your claim.

Why Choose Sansone & Lauber?

We’re not just another injury firm. We are trial lawyers with a proven record of winning big cases. Here’s why clients choose us:

• Millions recovered for catastrophic injury victims.

• Aggressive courtroom presence that insurance companies fear.

• Personalized attention—you’re not just a case number.

• No fees unless we win—we work on contingency.

When your life has been turned upside down, you need a law firm that’s ready to go to war for you.

Conclusion: Broken Bones, Burns, and Catastrophic Injuries – Yes, You Have a Case

If you’re asking, “Broken Bones, Burns, and Catastrophic Injuries – Do I Have a Case?”, the answer is most likely yes—if negligence caused your suffering.

At Sansone & Lauber, we’ve stood up for victims across Missouri, recovering life-changing results for those whose injuries will never fully heal.

Whether it’s broken bones, burn injuries, or catastrophic trauma, we are ready to fight aggressively for you.

Call Sansone & Lauber at 314-863-0500 for a 100% free case evaluation.