According to the legal definition, a catastrophic injury results in "direct, immediate and substantial consequences that prevent an individual from being able to perform any gainful work.”
Put simply, a catastrophic injury leads the victim to suffer from permanent impairment. If you or a loved one has suffered from a catastrophic injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
An individual's functional abilities can be severely impacted by catastrophic injuries resulting from damage to the brain or spinal cord. Regardless of the kind of personal injury you sustain, if you suffer debilitating long-term damage or if it causes a deformity that leaves you with permanent disabilities, you have suffered a catastrophic injury. To learn more about catastrophic injury, read on.
Here’s everything you need to know about catastrophic injury:
- Understanding Catastrophic Injury
- Types of Catastrophic Injuries
- Common Causes of Injury
Understanding Catastrophic Injury
When you suffer a catastrophic injury, you lose a vital part of yourself. Whether you’ve lost a limb, the ability to walk, or even suffered from an extreme brain injury that impacts your daily thoughts, a catastrophic injury will greatly impact yours or your loved one’s livelihood.
In the event of even one catastrophic injury, a catastrophic injury lawsuit and settlement may be pursued. Using the services of a personal injury attorney, you can be legally compensated for your wrongful and life-altering harm.
There are several reasons why you deserve a catastrophic injury settlement. The more serious the accident, the more medical expenses you'll incur. This can be difficult for anyone, but especially those who now must suffer with a daily disability, making it more difficult to work and sustain their life.
In turn, you may have had expensive surgeries, need rehabilitation, or you may require permanent use of a medical device or medication. If your catastrophic personal injury does put you out of work, you may also be entitled to compensation for those lost wages. Last but not least, you may also be entitled to compensation for the emotional damage you suffered.
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
When it comes to catastrophic injury, there are a variety of ways you could become impaired. However, catastrophic injuries are generally classified in three types.
Physical injuries tend to be identified as anything regarding amputation, burns, fractures, or damage to orthopedic function or tissue.
Secondly, catastrophic injuries can be associated with spinal cord injuries. Exclusively affecting the spinal cord, these types create permanent mobility issues for survivors.
Finally, cognitive injuries are considered to be the costliest of catastrophic injuries. Damage to the brain causes cognitive injuries, which affect a person's ability to work, speak, or even form new memories.
In the event of a catastrophic injury, both the survivor and their family are affected. Assisting someone with mobility or cognitive limitations can be emotionally draining, physically draining, and difficult without the right resources or assistance.
In some cases, this can cause spouses who work to quit their jobs and dedicate themselves full-time to caregiving. A spouse who is unable to leave their job will need to earn enough money to hire a caretaker, which is a very expensive proposition for most families. In the wake of a catastrophic injury, survivors and their families can expect a limited future. With the right injury lawyer, you can get the compensation you deserve.
Common Causes of Injury
A catastrophic injury can occur anytime, anyplace. With that in mind, liability can change as well. However, like we said, a qualified, experienced personal injury attorney can assist you in your unique catastrophic injury case.
Here are some instances where you could suffer a catastrophic injury:
- Car accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Delivery truck accidents
- Falls from height
- Sport and recreational activities
- Construction accidents
- Medical mistakes
- Defective medical devices or drugs
From understanding your options, to getting the compensation you deserve, a professional injury lawyer will have the resources you’ve been looking for.
If you find yourself or a loved one involved in an instance of catastrophic injury, it can be terrifying. With countless possible causes of catastrophic injury, it’s important to recognize where you may want to be more cautious.
While accidents can always occur, being mindful of these places can help to keep you or your loved one more aware of their surroundings, and in turn, potentially avoid a catastrophic injury.
