Catastrophic Personal Injury

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Overview

Catastrophic personal injury occurs when you experience a life-changing injury where you are unable to recover to the point you were prior to the injury. The common element of a catastrophic personal injury is that you have to make a significant adjustment to your lifestyle, which comes at a cost. This might mean you are unable to continue working, or you may incur long-term medical expenses to heal.

Some examples of injuries that have been deemed catastrophic include:

  • Paralysis and quadriplegia

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Spinal cord damage

  • Amputation or disfigurement

  • Severe burns

  • Vision or hearing loss

There is no specific list of injuries that are classified as catastrophic, but any injury that is life-altering or leading to long-term disability could be in this category.

Personal Injury vs. Catastrophic Personal Injury

A key difference between a claim of personal injury and a claim of catastrophic personal injury comes in the level of injury. For example, being in a car accident and sustaining whiplash may see you off work for a few days or weeks, but eventually, you will be able to return to work and resume your life as it was before the injury. This could be a personal injury. This could be a catastrophic injury if you sustained a traumatic brain injury that made it impossible for you to continue to work.

Damages Sought in Catastrophic Injury Cases

When someone sustains a life-altering injury, there are financial and emotional considerations to be evaluated. These may include:

  • Loss of income and earnings. This applies to both the person injured and to anyone who may have to leave a job due to caregiving responsibilities for the injured person.

  • Medical bills, immediate and ongoing. Severe injuries require care at the immediate moment of the injury, and also long-term care such as rehab and other therapies.

  • Assisted devices. Depending on the injury, the injured person may require certain types of medical equipment (i.e., a wheelchair) to help them with daily life.

  • Modified living needs. If someone suffers an injury that requires the permanent use of a wheelchair and their home is not set up to accommodate it, renovations may be necessary.

Negligence on Behalf of Another Party

In some situations, another person or corporation was negligent in their responsibilities, which contributed to the outcome of a catastrophic injury. If this is the case, the other party can be wholly or partially accountable for financial assistance.

How Our Attorneys Can Help

Always consult an experienced catastrophic personal injury lawyer if you are faced with a definite or potential life-changing injury experience. While it can be an emotional time to handle the immediate needs of the injured party, a consultation with a knowledgeable lawyer may be able to help you make decisions easier moving forward.

Do You Have a Case?

Contact us to review your experience prior to settling with an insurance company so you can be confident in how you handle the situation. This is a very challenging time, and maybe even the worst experience you will ever endure. Having good advice from a trusted firm can bring you peace of mind.

Contact us so we can advise you on next steps. Call 844-201-2929 or complete the short form below.

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