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Last Modified on Jul 04, 2026
It takes more time to resolve a catastrophic injury claim compared to other personal injury claims, which can be very frustrating when you need that financial settlement to cover your bills and losses. You should know why catastrophic injury claims take longer to settle in Georgia, and why it’s important not to rush a case and end up with less than you deserve.
An Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyer knows the many factors that impact potential case timelines, including your injuries, the evidence in your case, and damage calculations.
Catastrophic Injuries in Georgia
Catastrophic injuries are injuries that have a long-term impact on an individual and may be permanently disabling. They can include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputations
Many different accidents lead to these injuries. In Georgia, car accidents led to 141,755 injuries in 2025, and 6,373 of those were suspected serious injuries. Serious injuries are especially likely on I-75 and I-85. Workplace injuries in the state led to 430 hospitalizations in 2024.
What Makes Catastrophic Injury Cases Take Longer in Georgia
There are several reasons that catastrophic injury claims take longer to settle:
Disputes Over Future Damages
In the U.S., hospitalization costs for various unintentional injuries in 2024 ranged from $71,835 to $323,197 per person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These are the immediate costs from medical treatment and work loss, but do not consider the long-term and future costs.
When negotiating a settlement, it can be hard to get an insurer to agree to reasonable and fair damages for your future financial needs. They may dispute the existence of long-term injuries or claim that not as much support is needed. Some effects, like vision problems that show up weeks after a head injury, are easy for an insurer to dismiss even when they turn out to be permanent.
More time is needed to argue against these disputes and gather documentation.
Medical professionals can provide information about permanent consequences of injuries and future care needs, but this takes time to properly assess. Additionally, your injuries need to be closer to fully healed for a true assessment.
This time is crucial to help show what compensation you truly are owed, rather than accepting a settlement and then finding out too late that you have significant medical complications you can’t afford. There is still a firm deadline for filing an injury lawsuit in Georgia, so building a case carefully is not the same thing as waiting.
Planning for Life Care
It takes time to create a plan in Georgia for your long-term care before calculating those damages. When you hire a catastrophic injury lawyer, you can work with them to assess an in-depth plan for future needs and the care you will need throughout your life because of your injury. Without taking this time to plan, you may be negotiating for much less compensation than you need.
Multiple Involved Insurers
Catastrophic injuries are more likely to involve multiple insurers from a complex accident. This might include multiple car insurance companies in a car accident, or a construction site accident where property owners, contractors, and other parties are partially liable.
When multiple insurers are liable, it can make the process take longer. However, it may also increase your chances of securing full compensation, as each insurance company will not be responsible for the full and significant total of your damages, but only a percentage of it.
Hire a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
At Stephen T. LaBriola, PC, we can help you navigate a catastrophic injury claim and build leverage against insurance companies by fully assessing your injuries and damages. Reach out to us today.
