In a moment, a life is changed forever. Even if the person is able to walk away from the incident, their life is forever burdened by the resulting catastrophic injury. Walking, talking, eating, sitting, reading, sleeping – nothing will ever be the same again.
A catastrophic injury is a severe injury, often to the spine, spinal cord, brain, or skull. These can be fatal and non-fatal. A person who suffers a catastrophic injury may have a severe lifelong disability or severe head or neck trauma without any permanent disability.
Here, we are going to share our insights on catastrophic injury cases. Cases will vary greatly, as will the injuries sustained, but this will provide a general overview. If you have questions about your specific case, contact our catastrophic injury lawyers.
What qualifies as a catastrophic injury?
Catastrophic injuries include a variety of injuries with different levels of severity and outcomes. In terms of a catastrophic injury lawsuit, these can include spinal cord injuries resulting in a form of paralysis, severe injuries to the spine, traumatic brain injuries or TBI, severe head injuries, loss of a limb or limbs, serious burns, disfigurement, scarring, and injuries that result in a long-term disability.
Often the details surrounding the injury, such as who was injured and how the injury impacts their life are taken into account for these types of cases. Even if your medical provider does not use the term “catastrophic injury,” you can speak to a catastrophic injury attorney to find out if your injuries are considered severe.
Can I sue for a catastrophic injury?
Whether you can sue for a catastrophic injury you or a loved one has suffered is relative to your particular case. Factors like who was injured, the severity of the injury, how the victim was injured, the effects of the injury, and the impact on the victim’s life are considered in settlements for catastrophic injuries. In many cases, yes, you can sue for compensation for the injury you have suffered.
There can be challenges when proving who is at fault in these types of cases, so it’s important to work with catastrophic injury lawyers who have experience in handling these cases and are well-versed in how to prove who is at fault.
What are catastrophic cases?
Catastrophic cases are evaluated based on the severity and nature of the injury, the details surrounding the injury, how the injury impacts the victim’s life, and the input from medical care providers.
Here are a few examples of personal injuries where the severity of the injury deems it as catastrophic:
- A single father of four suffers a severe head injury from an auto accident. The injury prevents him from working and providing for his four children. This injury has had a catastrophic impact on his life.
- A young professional soccer player suffers partial paralysis from an error made during a minor back surgery. Due to his paralysis, he can no longer play soccer so his injury would be classified as catastrophic.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury, it’s crucial that you speak to a catastrophic injury attorney who has an in-depth understanding of medical treatment and the medical recovery process. To discuss your case and potential compensation options, contact our attorneys today.