How Catastrophic Injuries Are Different

Suffering from serious injuries after an accident?

Catastrophic injuries are unique. Unlike minor injuries that may heal with time and treatment, catastrophic injuries take a much bigger toll. These injuries often result in more serious physical, emotional, and financial stress for the injured person and their loved ones.

If you or a loved one has experienced a catastrophic injury, it’s important to seek the help of a qualified personal injury attorney at The Jones Firm to explore your legal options for seeking compensation. Let’s talk about how catastrophic injuries are different when it comes to personal injury settlements.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is a severe injury that can cause long-term or permanent disability, often requiring extensive medical treatment and ongoing care. These injuries can impact a person’s ability to work and perform daily tasks and can have significant emotional and financial consequences for the injured person and their loved ones.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

• Severe traumatic brain injuries
• Multiple or complex broken bones or fractures
• Spinal cord injuries 
• Paralysis
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Loss of limbs
• Major burn injuries
• Heavy and permanent scarring
• Permanent injuries

Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries can result from a wide range of causes including:

• Car accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Slip and falls
• Dog bites

In many cases, the negligent or intentional actions of another person or entity cause catastrophic injuries. These injuries can result from a single traumatic event or develop over time due to repetitive stress or exposure to harmful substances.

Whatever the cause, catastrophic injuries can significantly impact a person’s life. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney is important to explore your legal options for seeking compensation if you have suffered a catastrophic injury.

How a Catastrophic Injury is Different

Catastrophic injuries are different because of the amount of suffering they produce. Catastrophic injuries affect the injured person and the victim’s friends, family, and colleagues. Catastrophic injuries are devastating. They cause intense and long-lasting pain, suffering, anxiety, distress, and mental anguish.

The Injury Is Permanent, Life-Long, or Long-Lasting

Catastrophic injuries are generally permanent, life-long, or long-lasting.

These injuries may lead to permanent partial or total disabilities such as:

• Spinal cord injury
• Loss of use of limbs
• Inability to walk or difficulty walking
• Cognitive and/or psychological/emotional changes
• Loss of sense of smell, vision, or hearing

The victim may be unable to enjoy activities they used to enjoy, such as sports and recreational activities, and even lose sexual function. In addition, catastrophic injuries may affect the victim’s future earning potential leaving them unable to work.

The Injury Affects Others

Catastrophic injuries affect not only the victim but also their friends, families, and colleagues.

The victim may require long-term medical care, ongoing medical treatment, or future surgeries. Family members may need to provide ongoing care for the injured person and may experience stress and guilt due to the change in circumstances for their loved one.

There may also be a loss of the primary earner or primary caregiver. This can put a lot of strain on the entire family.

They Are Difficult to Value

Because catastrophic injuries produce such great suffering, they are very difficult to value. How does one value the use of a limb? Loss of ability to walk?

These personal injury lawsuits will typically involve future medical care and loss of earning potential. Experts will be needed to determine these damages, which is as much an art as a science.

In catastrophic injury claims, damages are often tied to the wrongdoer’s conduct. Was the wrongdoer a trucking company? A Fortune 500 company? Have many people been injured as a result of the conduct? Was the conduct shocking? In some cases, punitive damages may be warranted. Damages can be useful as a deterrent to promote a safer society.

Greater Expertise Is Needed

Catastrophic injury cases are difficult and complex. They may require more investigation to uncover the wrongdoer’s identity or the nature of the wrongful act. The wrongdoer is more likely to deny that they did anything wrong and use tactics to prevent or delay justice for the victim.

A catastrophic injury claim may require a mountain of document review, and years of litigation. And after the case is over and a verdict is reached, your attorney may need to defend the verdict on appeal. The stakes are high for you or your loved one. Choosing the right attorney to protect your rights and get justice is imperative.

Contact an Experienced Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Today

Catastrophic injuries are different from other types of injuries in that they have a profound and long-lasting impact on a person’s life. If you or a loved one has experienced a catastrophic injury due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, consulting a qualified personal injury attorney is crucial to explore your legal options for seeking compensation and ensuring you receive the care and support you need.

For more information, contact the team at The Jones Law Firm today.