Catastrophic injuries are incredibly severe injuries which cause long term or permanent disability.
This classification of injury is so serious because it forces a person
to completely change how they go about living their life. Catastrophic
injuries lead to the loss of the ability to work, if not a total inability
to care for oneself without assistance.
In cases in which a catastrophic injury was caused by the negligence or
recklessness of another person or company, victims are entitled to
significant compensation in order to cover their lost wages, medical bills, and other lifestyle
changes they require. Taking care of a catastrophic injury is expensive
and taxing, and therefore requires significantly more effort to file a
personal injury claim, not to mention cope with. Here we look at the most common types of catastrophic
injuries and how they may affect your life.
Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury, also known as TBI, is caused by a severe blow to head. In the world of
personal injury, TBI often results from
car accidents,
slip and falls, and assaults in
premises liability cases. While they can be mild, a severe TBI can result in catastrophic
injuries. The resulting brain damage can cause lifelong cognitive difficulties,
personality changes, paralysis, and/or coma. While the damage varies wildly
depending on the cause and severity of the injury, victims of the worst
forms of brain injury can be permanently disabled, calling for a live-in
nurse or other caregiver to tend to them at all times.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can result in several painful and/or significant effects,
including respiratory problems and loss of bladder or bowel control. Paralysis
is one of the most serious and commonly recognized spinal injuries. Paralysis
can be full or partial, so it can affect people to different degrees.
The most serious forms come in two types:
- Paraplegia: Paralysis of the legs and lower body
- Quadriplegia: Paralysis from the neck down, which affects all four limbs
Both of the above would qualify as catastrophic and—especially in
the case of quadriplegia—can significantly limit a person’s
mobility and ability to perform daily tasks. A person disabled by paralysis
may be confined to a wheelchair and require at-home nursing care.
Burn Injuries
Third-degree
burn injuries completely penetrate a person’s skin down to the muscle and even
bone. Not only can these injuries cause disfigurement, but a bad enough
burn may lead to infection, nerve and/or muscle damage, lung damage, and/or
permanent disability. Severe burn victims may suffer loss of mobility
and function as well as psychological trauma.
Fortunately, regardless of what treatment and care a catastrophic injury
survivor requires, they should be able to recover enough in damages to
pay for whatever they need for the rest of their life. However, filing
and fighting for a personal injury claim can be incredibly taxing, especially
if you are suffering from catastrophic injuries. To ensure you or your
loved one receives the maximum compensation possible, hire a lawyer.
An experienced catastrophic injury lawyer
can fight to win you the maximum compensation you are owed. To learn more, contact us
to schedule a free consultation.