What You Need to Know About Catastrophic Injuries

Here’s what you need to know about catastrophic injuries, and what your next step should be.

In Indiana, there is no clear law that defines a catastrophic injury.

Generally speaking, a personal injury can be considered catastrophic when it permanently injures, disables, or disfigures an individual.

Many people who are catastrophically injured are disabled for life and may even require assistance with basic living needs. In-home nursing assistance may be required for injured individuals who need help with bathing, eating, dressing, and grooming.

In other cases, catastrophically injured individuals are unable to stay at home and must be relocated to an assisted living facility.

In most catastrophic injury claims, the damages that are required to be paid by the defendant to the plaintiff are much higher than in traditional personal injury claims.

This is because the level of injury is much more severe and, as a result, the plaintiff’s medical expenses and loss of enjoyment of life are greater. Usually, the defendant is required to pay enough damages to “make the plaintiff whole.”

Catastrophic injury claims can easily climb into the hundreds of thousands, and even millions, of dollars. Generally, all of the plaintiff’s actual medical expenses will be covered.

However, there may be limits on the amount of non-economic damages, such as damages that are awarded for emotional pain and suffering, as well as punitive damages. How much is awarded varies greatly from case to case, and there’s no true cap on the amount of the final settlement.

If you or a loved one have suffered a catastrophic injury through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for compensation.

At Sarkisian Law Offices, we understand how devastating these types of accidents can be, and we are committed to providing you with aggressive legal representation to help you get the full and fair financial restitution you deserve.