What Types of Accident Injuries Are Considered Catastrophic?
Catastrophic injuries are aptly named because they’re more severe than typical injuries and generally have lifelong effects. Many catastrophic injuries cause permanent disability, significant disfigurement, and a loss of enjoyment of life that can never be regained. Individuals and families affected by a catastrophic injury deserve the maximum amount of compensation possible.
What Qualifies as a Catastrophic Injury?
There is no definitive explanation of what constitutes a catastrophic injury, however, it is generally assumed that an injury qualifies as catastrophic when it permanently disfigures or disables the victim and/or prevents them from obtaining gainful employment in the future. Additionally, an injury may be considered catastrophic if it requires multiple surgeries and extended hospital stays to correct, or the victim will have a lifetime of medical treatment ahead of them.
What Are Examples of Catastrophic Injuries?
Some common examples of catastrophic injuries that can occur in motor vehicle accidents or many other types of accidents include but are not limited to:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): These can result from head trauma during a car accident, leading to cognitive impairments, memory loss, personality changes, and motor function deficits.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause paralysis or loss of sensation below the injury site, resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Severe fractures: Fractures to the skull, spine, pelvis, or limbs can cause long-term disabilities and complications, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
- Internal injuries: Damage to internal organs such as the lungs, liver, spleen, or kidneys can be life-threatening and may require emergency surgery.
- Amputations: Traumatic amputations or severe limb injuries may necessitate surgical removal or result in permanent disability, affecting mobility and quality of life.
- Psychological trauma: Car accidents can cause emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, impacting overall well-being.
In many cases, victims of catastrophic injuries require some level of regular care or assistance with daily tasks.
Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries
Compensation for catastrophic injuries tends to be higher than traditional personal injury cases, however, these cases are also more difficult to prove. An attorney must present evidence not only for current medical expenses and lost wages, but also expected future medical expenses and future lost wages. What also must be calculated that is difficult to assign a monetary value is the loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, physical and mental anguish, and other emotional damages.
When to Contact a Lawyer
If you or a loved one have suffered a catastrophic injury, life will never be the same. A new normal must be achieved, and this is often difficult without adequate funds. At the Sarkisian Law Offices, we will zealously advocate for you and your loved ones to receive the full and fair compensation you deserve for your suffering, so you can focus on healing and learning how to live life again after a devastating injury. Call today for a consultation at 219-942-7171.
