Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic
Injuries have a
Devastating
Impact on You and Your Family
When you or a loved one have suffered a catastrophic injury, the effects will be devastating both physically and financially. Your family will need the financial compensation that comes from a settlement or jury award. If the accident that caused your catastrophic injury was someone else’s fault, you and your family might be entitled to a significant amount of money. First, you need to take legal action. The insurance company will only give you the money if you fight for every dollar.
At Luschas & Naparsteck, LLP, we fight for every dollar that you deserve after you have suffered an injury by someone else’s carelessness. Call us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
What is Considered a
Catastrophic
Injury?
There is no set definition of a catastrophic injury. People use it in many different ways, and they may even overuse the term. What is not in dispute is that a catastrophic injury is a very serious one that will result in a widespread impact on your life or that of a loved one.
Some people define a catastrophic injury as one from which you may never recover. That is not entirely true. It is possible to recover from a catastrophic injury, but it can take a considerable amount of time and treatment. However, many catastrophic injuries will affect you for life.
A catastrophic injury will result in the loss of the use of a body part or a key function of the body, either permanently or for a considerable length of time. These injuries can require:
Multiple surgical procedures
Extensive time missed from work (or being unable to work again)
A lifetime of care for your personal needs
Months or years of physical rehabilitation
Catastrophic injuries can also involve emotional trauma and considerable pain. Not only are you suffering the physical effects of the injury, but you may also be dealing with significant anxiety and depression.
Examples
of Catastrophic Injury
Here are some examples of things that may be considered catastrophic injuries:
- The loss of a limb, whether you are unable to use it again or it has been amputated
- Burns that can leave you permanently scarred and disfigured
- Spinal cord injuries that can lead to quadriplegia or paraplegia (or those that are incomplete but can require a lengthy rehabilitation period)
- Loss of eyesight due to damage to the eyes
- Traumatic brain injuries that can cost you the ability to process, speak or perform other vital functions
Common
Causes
of Catastrophic Injuries
Catastrophic injuries occur most often when there has been significant trauma to the body. Usually they happen in an accident, but they can also happen over time when the body is subjected to stress or exposed to toxic substances.
You can suffer a catastrophic injury at work or in your own free time at any time of the day. Here are some examples of accidents that can lead to catastrophic injury:
- A fall on the job or in a store where you hit your head
- Burns from an explosion, fire, or a malfunctioning piece of equipment
- Car accidents where you have suffered serious trauma to your head and neck that caused a spinal cord injury
- A crush injury or contact with an extremely sharp object causes an amputation when the limb cannot be saved
- Defective drugs and medical devices
Regardless of how the catastrophic injury happened, the legal principle is still the same. If you can prove that someone else was to blame for your accident or injury through their negligence or recklessness, you will be legally entitled to financial compensation.
Compensation
in a Catastrophic Injury Case
Your financial compensation will depend on where and how you suffered the injury. If you suffered an injury on the job, you will need to file a workers’ compensation claim. If a third party injured you, or you suffered an injury off the job, you will file a lawsuit.
Your compensation may be considerable when you have suffered a catastrophic injury. Personal injury compensation is based on the scope and extent of your own injuries. Catastrophic injuries will have lifelong impacts on you and will require extensive medical care to treat. Therefore, it is essential to get the highest possible financial recovery because you will need the money in the future.
Your damages may consist of the following:
The cost of your medical care
Lost wages (a catastrophic injury oftem means that you can either never work again; or cannot perform the same job responsibilities that you once did)
Pain and Suffering (which will be considerable in a catastrophic injury case)
Loss of enjoyment of life
Scarring and permanent disfigurement
Our attorneys will fight for you to receive every dollar that you are due, because your present and future well being depend on it.
