While being involved in an accident resulting in injury can have far-reaching impacts on a person’s life, some injuries are so severe in nature that the consequences can be considerably devastating. Catastrophic injury law centers on those injuries which, even under the best of circumstances, will forever change a person’s life. The unique nature of catastrophic injury law can add another level of complexity to your personal injury case and should be handled with the utmost of care.
Injuries that Are Catastrophic
There is no universal definition of catastrophic injury and definitions may slightly vary. The general sense of what a catastrophic injury involves, however, is that such an injury permanently prevents a person from engaging in gainful employment. A catastrophic injury is usually an injury that leads a person with a permanent disability that deprives him or her of the ability to hold a steady job. While this is often a central, defining aspect of what is considered to be a catastrophic injury, these types of injuries have far-reaching impacts on a person’s life far beyond his or her ability to work.
Depending on the nature of and the level of severity, injuries that may be classified as catastrophic include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Internal/Organ damage
- Severe burns
Catastrophic injuries can be caused by a number of different incidences. Many times, a catastrophic injury is the result of devastating accidents such as:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Construction accidents
Defective medical devices and other consumer products as well as pharmacy and other medical errors can also lead to a person sustaining catastrophic injuries.
The damages involved in a catastrophic injury case can be particularly complex because the loss of a person suffering from such an injury is quite extensive. This is a person who will be losing out on a lifetime of wages and employment benefits. This is not to mention the fact that the inability to work can leave a person lacking a sense of purpose and way of contributing to the household and the world as a whole.
On top of the inability to work is the fact that a person who has sustained a catastrophic injury most definitely will have extensive medical expenses, both from treatment of the injury, but also in the form of follow-up care and medical assisting devices for home use. On top of all of these economic damages, there are also likely to be extensive non-economic damages, which include those very real, but more difficult to calculate, damages. A person with a catastrophic injury will not only be missing out on the ability to hold down a job, but is also likely unable to do things like travel, participate in sports, hobbies, and other activities, as well as care for themselves in the same way as others care for themselves on a day to day basis. This may all increase the chances of the person suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
Personal Injury Attorney
At the Hunt Law Firm, we are well versed in handling catastrophic injury cases and remain committed to fighting for our clients’ rights to receive a full and fair recovery for the extensive losses they have suffered. Contact us today.