Have you or someone you love been seriously injured and asked: “Are there lawyers who actually specialize in catastrophic injuries here in Florida?” The answer is yes — there are many — and finding the right one can be the difference between a lifetime of struggle and a future of dignity and security.
At Suarez & Montero Accident Attorneys, we’ve seen firsthand how these cases turn families upside down. A catastrophic injury isn’t a “typical” personal injury claim. It’s not a sore neck after a fender bender or a sprained ankle from a slip-and-fall at Publix. These are life-changing injuries that don’t go away when the cast comes off.
We’re talking about spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputations, severe burns, or injury to your organs. The kind of injury that will cause you to never go back to life as you once knew it prior to the accident. And if something this serious does happen, you need an attorney who knows how to fight for every last dollar you’ll need — not just today, but 10, 20, even 30 years from now.
What is “Catastrophic Injury” in Florida?
A catastrophic injury, in the context of personal injury law, is an injury that leaves the victim permanently disabled or significantly diminishes their quality of life.
Examples:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Loss of memory, personality, or independence.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Paralysis, loss of sensation, or mobility impairment necessitating lifelong care.
- Amputations: The loss of a leg or arm due to a crash or workplace accident.
- Severe Burns: Painful, long recoveries, infection risk, and permanent disfigurement.
- Organ Damage: Injuries that require transplants or leave you with permanent medical limitations.
- Multiple Fractures: Broken bones that never mend.
In short, these are the kinds of injuries that don’t just heal with the passing of time — they change forever the way you live, work, and interact with your family and friends.
Why Not Every Lawyer Can Handle These Cases
Here is the truth that most don’t know: not all personal injury attorneys are right for catastrophic cases. Some firms specialize in quick settlements for smaller cases — and that is okay — but catastrophic injury cases require more.
The damages are staggering. A catastrophic case can mean millions of dollars in lifetime medical treatment, lost income, and home modifications. Insurers know the stakes, and they fight even harder not to pay.
The evidence is sophisticated. You need medical specialists, life care planners, and economists to explain to a jury what the injury really means over the span of decades. Not every lawyer has access to that network.
The courtroom is unavoidable. Catastrophic cases typically make it to trial. A lawyer who is afraid of courtrooms or who only settles isn’t the lawyer you want with your family’s future hanging in the balance.
Consider it this way: would you have a general practitioner conduct brain surgery? Absolutely not. So why leave just any lawyer in charge of a case that will determine the rest of your life?
What Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Really Do
A catastrophic injury lawyer is not just pushing paper. They’re battling for your tomorrow. At Suarez & Montero, here’s what that looks like:
- Investigating the Accident
- We get to work right away — securing police reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements.
- Working with Doctors and Specialists
- We make sure that you’re seen by the right neurosurgeons, spine specialists, and rehabilitation specialists — not always the doctors the insurance company wants you to see.
- Life Care Planning
- We work with specialists who estimate the cost of care for years to come — wheelchairs, therapy, home nursing, medication, adaptive vans, and home modifications.
- Calculating Lost Earnings
- It is not just about the paycheck you didn’t get last week. It is about the work you cannot do anymore and the benefits you will never see.
- Preparing for Trial
- Insurance companies do not offer maximum value unless they fear losing at trial. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial — because many catastrophic cases do.
A Real-Life Example
Consider the following: a 28-year-old Hialeah laborer falls three stories because of faulty scaffolding. He damages his spinal cord and will never walk again.
It’s not just the hospital bill. It’s:
- Remodeling his Coral Gables home so that he can get through the door in a wheelchair.
- Buying a special van just to be able to leave the house.
- Hiring caregivers when his family isn’t around.
- Hiring therapy and medication for the rest of his life.
- Facing the reality that he’ll never be able to return to his previous job.
That is not a “settle quick and move on” type of case. That is a catastrophic injury claim — and it requires an attorney who can show the full cost of what the injury has lost.
Are There Catastrophic Injury Lawyers in Florida?
Yes. There are many attorneys in Florida who accept catastrophic injury cases — unfortunately, due to the fact that our state has a high volume of serious accidents each year. Whether they are I-95 multi-vehicle accidents in Miami-Dade, trucking collisions on the Turnpike, or on-the-job injuries in Broward County, catastrophic injuries do happen here.
At Suarez & Montero, we’ve built a reputation for going up against large insurance companies and corporations. We don’t accept pennies on the dollar. We don’t shy away from the courtroom. We make defendants pay the full value of the damage they’ve done. And that’s why insurance companies throughout Florida know our name.
What to Look For in a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer
If you’re searching for the right lawyer in Miami, Kendall, or anywhere in Florida, here are a few things to ask:
- Do they have real trial experience with multi-million-dollar cases?
- Can they point to actual catastrophic injury results, not just fender bender cases?
- Do they work with life care planners and medical experts?
- Will they personally handle your case, or pass it off to an associate you’ve never met?
You want a lawyer who treats your case like their own family’s future is at stake — because it is.
Suarez & Montero: Fighting for Florida Families
Here’s how we’re different:
- Experience. We’ve represented catastrophic injury clients all over South Florida.
- Resources. We bring in medical experts, economists, and life planners to prove your damages.
- Trial-readiness. Insurers know that we’ll try a case — and that influences how they settle.
- Personal touch. You will deal directly with Mr. 786 Abogado and our team when you call.
And remember — you don’t pay us unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Florida catastrophic injury attorneys accept upfront fees?
No. We work on a contingency fee basis at Suarez & Montero. That means you don’t pay a thing unless we win your case.
How much can I recover in a catastrophic injury case?
It depends on your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and your future care needs. These types of cases usually have claims in the millions of dollars because of the lifelong impact.
How long do I have to file a catastrophic injury lawsuit in Florida?
You generally have two years from the date of the accident under Florida’s statute of limitations. But waiting is risky — evidence can disappear quickly.
What if my loved one cannot speak for themselves because of the injury?
A family member or guardian can file on their behalf. We guide families through that process every day.
Final Word
So, are there catastrophic injury lawyers in Florida?
Yes, there are. And when the injury changes your life forever, you cannot settle for less.
At Suarez & Montero Accident Attorneys, we fight for families all over Miami, Hialeah, Coral Gables, Broward, and beyond. If someone else’s negligence has resulted in you or a loved one sustaining a catastrophic injury, call Jaime “Mr. 786Abogado” Suarez today to Get You Paid!