Catastrophic Injury Attorneys in Austin

What Are Catastrophic Injuries?

In particularly severe cases, an individual may suffer catastrophic injuries after an accident. Catastrophic injuries are classified as injuries that are disabling in nature. This can include traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries, paralysis, accidental amputations, severe burns, or internal organ damage. In most cases, the medical treatment required for these types of injuries is extensive and ongoing. The cost of care, coupled with the loss of income/wages can prove a serious financial burden for the victim and his or her family.

Catastrophic injuries are also different from other types of injuries in that they can render the victim unable to perform any type of gainful work. In other words, a person who has suffered a catastrophic injury is not only unable to return to his or her previous employment, he or she is unable to work at all.

To find out how an Austin catastrophic injury attorney can help you take legal action, contact Howry Breen & Herman at (512) 430-4844 for a free consultation.

How Catastrophic Injuries Occur

Just as there are countless different types of accidents, catastrophic injuries can occur in any number of ways. Unfortunately, such injuries are often the result of another person, company, or entity’s negligence.

Catastrophic injuries commonly occur as a result of:

Car, truck, or motorcycle accidents
Sporting accidents (especially football and cheerleading)
Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
Golf cart and utility vehicle accidents
Construction and oilfield accidents
Defective products, including defective drugs and medical devices
Medical malpractice
Dangerous or defective premises

This list is not exhaustive; any type of severe accident can lead to catastrophic injuries. At Howry Breen & Herman, we assist victims of catastrophic injuries in their fight for a fair recovery.

While we regularly handle all types of catastrophic injury claims, we particularly focus on:

Brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often result in significant, permanent damage and limitations. Our firm has successfully represented victims of all types of TBIs—from concussions to coup-contrecoup injuries to skull fractures—fight for fair compensation for their current and future damages.
Burn injuries: Severe burns are not only physically disfiguring, but they also leave lasting emotional scars. Our attorneys fight to help burn injury victims recover fair financial compensation for their ongoing medical expenses, future care, pain and suffering, and other life-altering damages.
Spine injuries: A spinal cord injury can have numerous, long-lasting effects, from limited mobility to total paralysis and lifelong disability. At Howry, Breen & Herman, LLP, our attorneys fight to help victims of serious spine injuries recover the compensation they need to heal and move forward with their lives.

No matter how difficult or complex your case may be, our team is here to provide you with compassionate, one-on-one legal counsel and uncompromising representation from start to finish. With nearly 25 years of experience, including extensive litigation experience, we are well-equipped to try even the toughest of cases.

Collage depicting lawyers involved in a case that would have to do with injury.

Fighting to Recover the Full and Fair Compensation You Are Owed

Catastrophic injuries have lasting, life-altering impacts, both for victims and their loved ones. Often, a close family member of the victim will have to take off work, either temporarily or permanently, in order to care for their loved one. The cost of mounting medical bills can be staggering, and the physical and emotional strain on victims and their families is often immense.

At Howry Breen & Herman, we understand just how difficult it is to move forward after a catastrophic injury. Our team strives to ease your stress in any way possible. Our Austin catastrophic injury attorneys can handle every aspect of your case so that you can focus on healing, and we always seek to recover the full settlement or verdict you are owed.

Did you or a loved one suffer severe, life-altering injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence? Call our firm at (512) 430-4844 for a complimentary case evaluation with our legal team.

Our Victories

$53.9 Million Verdict
HBH won a 53.9 million dollar verdict against Oncor Electric Delivery. Following a two-week trial, a Dallas jury has awarded $53.9 million in damages to victim James Stacey Taylor of Graham, Texas, after finding that actions by Oncor, the state's largest electric delivery power company, caused the tragic 2015 incident that left Mr. Taylor a quadriplegic.

The case is Taylor v. Oncor Electric Delivery Co. Inc.,Case No. DC-16-01615 in Dallas County.

Catastrophic Injury
$15.8 Million
HBH won a record-setting 15.8 Million Dollar jury verdict for a client and her family after she was rendered quadriplegic when she was struck and run over by a defective runaway E-Z-GO golf cart/utility vehicle. It is the largest personal injury verdict in the history of that federal district. HBH also protected the verdict on appeal, winning that too. After a $7,367,684 reduction for credits and offsets, $4,038,316.00 net to client, $600,000 case expenses; $3,794,000 attorney’s fees.

Product Liability
$12.4 Million
HBH won a record-setting 12.4 Million Dollar jury verdict for a young man paralyzed in a diving accident in an apartment swimming pool. The verdict was the largest premises liability verdict in Texas at the time and led to changes in pool safety at apartment complexes that catered to college students. After a $7,578,417 reduction for contributory negligence and settlement on appeal, $2,475,000 net to client; $321,583 case expenses; $2,025,000 attorney’s fees.

Premises Liability
$10 Million
HBH won an Arbitration award for a client against an insurance company for bad faith non-payment of policy proceeds. The litigation spanned two years and involved witnesses from all over the world and with experts in numerous fields. Net to Client $6,890,665.62; Costs $364,545.90; Attorney Fees 2,744,789.48

Bad Faith Insurance
$10 Million
HBH secured a settlement for a multi-story building that was suffering damage due to construction defects. The recovery included all attorney’s fees and expenses to repair the building. $6,558,000 net to client; $745,000 case expenses; $3,597,000 attorney’s fees.

Construction Defects
Substantial and Confidential
HBH secured a recovery for construction defects to a multi-level condominium tower with systemic water damage. The settlement covered repairs, property damage, stigma, loss of use and attorney’s fees.

Construction Defects
SUBSTANTIAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
HBH won a settlement for victims of a multi-truck crash on the highway. Several trucks were involved in the crash and HBH secured insurance limits from all of them due to joint responsibility.

Truck Accident
$7.4 Million
HBH won a multi-party settlement for the family and young son of a woman tragically killed in a boating crash. HBH was the lead firm on the case. $4,400,000 net to client; $150,000 case expenses $2,900,000 attorney’s fees.

Wrongful Death
SUBSTANTIAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
HBH recovered a settlement for the family of a victim who was killed by 18 wheeler that was traveling at an illegally slow rate of speed in the highway. When the police initially investigated, the truck driver lied and claimed he was traveling at the speed limit. After HBH got involved and sued, HBH uncovered the truth that he was killing time driving slow because he was ahead of schedule.

Wrongful Death
$6 Million
HBH secured a settlement prior to trial for a client who was permanently injured by a premises liability and construction defect. Our client suffered spinal damage and other life-long injuries and required medical treatment the rest of her life. $3,365,000 net to client; $235,300 case expenses; $2,400,000 attorney’s fees.

Construction Defects

Our Attorneys

Howry, Breen & Herman is proud to have been named a Tier 1, 2 and 3 Austin “Best Law Firm” in 9 practice areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® (“U.S. News” and BL Rankings, LLC). Law firms are selected for inclusion in this prestigious ranking based on a series of quantitative and qualitative criteria. Our specialty and tiers are listed here: https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/profile/howry-breen-herman-llp/overview/36628
Howry Breen & Herman, LLP was selected the Top Personal Injury Law Firm in Austin by Texas Lawyer, “Best of 2020”. The annual special supplement contains the results of Texas Lawyer readers’ poll, wherein readers cast their votes for the best providers of services and goods to the legal profession.
Attorney Sean Breen and Attorney Chris Lavorato placed in California’s Top 100 Settlements for 2019, as tracked by The Recorder and VerdictSearch.
Our law firm is proud to have been recognized in the Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame. Texas Lawyer in conjunction with VerdictSearch, recognize attorneys and law firms for their verdicts of $10 million or more. In 2011 Sean Breen was a Hall of Fame Award Recipient for the #1 Premises Liability Top Texas Verdict, awarded by Texas Lawyer, for the jury verdict award in the case VanDusen v. Aspen Square Management. In 2016 Sean Breen was inducted into the Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame, awarded by Texas Lawyer, for an outstanding verdict in Nester v. Textron.
Selection to America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys® is by invitation only and is reserved to identity the nation’s most exceptional litigators for high-value personal injury, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, product liability, and medical malpractice matters. HBH is proud that Sean Breen has been selected for this award. Less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States will receive this honor — truly the most exclusive and elite level of attorneys in the community. (2017-2022)
Howry, Breen & Herman is proud to have been named a Tier 1, 2 and 3 Austin “Best Law Firm” in 7 practice areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® (“U.S. News” and BL Rankings, LLC). Law firms are selected for inclusion in this prestigious ranking based on a series of quantitative and qualitative criteria. Our specialty and tiers are listed here: https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/profile/howry-breen-herman-llp/overview/36628
Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year | Litigation - Trusts & Estates (by BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC)
Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year | Personal Injury - Plaintiffs (by BL Rankings, LLC d/b/a Best Lawyers and Co., LLC)
Lifetime Achievement selection to America’s Top 100 Attorneys® is by invitation only and is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional attorneys whose accomplishments and impact on the legal profession merit a Lifetime Achievement award. Selection is not achieved based on a single accomplishment or a single great year of success, but rather on a lifetime of hard work, ethical standards, and community enriching accomplishments that are inspiring among the legal profession. Both Sean Breen (2017) and Randy Howry (2018) are honored to receive this award.
America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® is reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional trial attorneys in high value, high stakes legal matters. To be considered for selection, an attorney must have litigated (for either plaintiff or defendant) a matter (1) with at least $2,000,000 in alleged damages at stake or (2) with the fate of a business worth at least $2,000,000 at stake. These minimum qualifications are required for initial consideration. Thereafter, candidates are carefully screened through comprehensive Qualitative Comparative Analysis based on a broad array of criteria, including the candidate’s professional experience, litigation experience, significant case results, representative high stakes matters, peer reputation, and community impact in order to rank the candidates throughout the state. HBH is privileged to honor Partners Sean Breen (2017- 2021) and Randy Howry 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021 for selection of this award.
Expertise - Howry Breen & Herman was recognized and featured in an article by expertisecommunity.com as one of the Best Real Estate Lawyers in Austin. 2020
America’s Premier High-Stakes Trial Lawyers®” – 7 Figure Litigators®, 8 Figure Litigators®, is meant to recognize the nation’s most respected and preeminent high-stakes trial lawyers based on their verifiable verdicts and/or settlements. It is a tremendous honor for Sean Breen (2019) and Randy Howry (2020) to be recognized among this elite group.
America’s Premier High-Stakes Trial Lawyers®” – 7 Figure Litigators®, 8 Figure Litigators®, is meant to recognize the nation’s most respected and preeminent high-stakes trial lawyers based on their verifiable verdicts and/or settlements. It is a tremendous honor for Sean Breen (2019) and Randy Howry (2020) to be recognized among this elite group.
The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100, a highly respected legal organization that limits its members to premier trial attorneys who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature and public profile measured by strict qualification requirements. Sean Breen Top 100 Civil Plaintiff, 2009 – 2020.
Top 10 Business Tort Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers. Randy Howry 2012-2013; Sean Breen since 2016.
The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes the top 5% of the most skilled attorneys in the nation. The robust selection process requires attorneys to nominate and review fellow lawyers based on their ethics, skill, knowledge, and ability to obtain results for their clients. The Best Lawyers in America® list is a way for plaintiffs to identify the leading attorneys in their region, known for their ability to get results with honesty, strength, and skill. Tim Herman, Sean Breen & Randy Howry have been featured by The Best Lawyers in America® (2006-2020) running alongside some of the most qualified firms in the nation. More info here.
Top Attorneys As Published In Texas Monthly
Sean Breen was honored by TopVerdict.com for recovering one of the Top 50 Verdicts in Texas in 2017. This is an honorable distinction, reserved for those attorneys that achieve the highest settlements and verdicts in the state.
Sean Breen is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a renowned legal organization whose membership is restricted to trial attorneys who have achieved seven-figured settlements and/or jury verdicts. 2011.
We are proud to have Sean Breen who is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In order to become a member, an attorney must demonstrate that he or she has successfully achieved at least one six-figure settlement or jury verdict. 2011.
Martindale-Hubbell® is widely regarded as one of the most renowned peer-review rating organizations in the legal field. Randy Howry (2018), Sean Breen (2001), Tim Herman (1998), Glen Wilkerson (2014) and Chris Lavorato (2014) at Howry, Breen & Herman have achieved the organization’s highest distinction of AV Preeminent®.
Each year, Super Lawyers® magazine publishes its list of peer-nominated/evaluated and independently reviewed attorneys. We are proud to have attorneys who have been selected for inclusion in the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers® List, by Thomas Reuters since 2003, running through 2020.
Membership in Top American Lawyers is limited to only 1% of all attorneys in the United States. Randy Howry is proud to be honored with a Lifetime Charter Membership in this exclusive organization (2017).

Contact Us Today

First Name:

Please enter your first name.
Last Name:

Please enter your last name.
Phone

This isn't a valid phone number.
Email:

This isn't a valid email address.

Please enter your email address.
Are you a new client?

Please make a selection.
Message

Please enter a message.

"They gave me hope and then delivered!"
- M.A.
"We are so grateful they believed in us and partnered with us to handle this case!"
- J.K.
"We were always one step ahead!"
- T.B.
"They were so fierce and tough with the other side while being so caring towards my family."
- L.P.
"I greatly admired their advocacy and professionalism!"
- S.O.
"It was like having true friends as my attorneys!"
- C.B.
"They are true trial attorneys!"
- G.N.
"I always felt confident in Howry Breen & Herman and knew I could trust them."
- J.M.
"Definitely recommend, they are the best."
- J.R.
"Thank you for helping my father through his case!"
- B.M.
"I could have not found more caring people!"
- M.A.
"Sean and his team were the breath of fresh air that we needed. Still thanking you guys, 9 years later!"
- A.L.
"Thank you for taking our case."
- L.M.
"They exceeded all expectations."
- T.R.