What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

After experiencing any type of accident, it is important to check yourself for signs of injuries, seek immediate medical attention, and determine the severity of your injuries. One of the reasons why this is recommended is because your attorney will likely need to know whether you have a catastrophic injury. It is crucial to know this information early on because you need to make sure that you seek an accurate and fair amount of compensation to cover the life-changing and permanent losses that may affect you for the rest of your life.

According to Neulife Rehabilitation Inc., there isn’t a “universally accepted” definition for a catastrophic injury. However, these injuries usually occur suddenly, are very severe and life-threatening, and result in permanent and devastating consequences. When an individual suffers a catastrophic injury, they will most likely need continuous medical treatment, around-the-clock care, multiple surgeries and procedures, and extensive rehabilitation. Unfortunately, accident victims with these types of injuries may spend months or even years healing and recovering, but they will never have the same quality of life as they had before the accident.

Examples of catastrophic injuries

When a catastrophic injury occurs, it is usually because the accident was very serious, causing severe injuries that turn into lifelong and debilitating disabilities that affect the victim for the foreseeable future. Here are some examples of catastrophic injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations or loss of limbs/ body parts
• Skull fractures
• Loss of eyesight or hearing
• Burn injuries
• Organ damage
• Multiple crushed or broken bones
• Paralysis
• Disfigurement

What are common causes of catastrophic injuries in Huntsville, Alabama?

Almost any type of accident or incident can lead to a catastrophic injury. The following are common causes of these types of injuries:

• Car accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Construction accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Fires and explosions
• Defective products and devices
• Deliberate or intentional violence

What differentiates a personal injury from a catastrophic injury?

A personal injury can be a minor or moderate injury that occurs when a person experiences an accident. While these injuries can be severe, they usually do not reach the ultimate level of severity like a catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries typically consist of permanent disabilities, impairments, and even incapacitation.

When a person has a catastrophic injury, they will likely never be able to return to work, need to make major adjustments to adapt to their new reality, and never reach the same condition they were in before their injuries.

However, with a personal injury, accident victims may be able to make a full recovery, may eventually be able to stop going to medical and rehabilitation appointments, and may even return to work and live independently again. These are a few common personal injuries:

• Bruises
• Cuts, lacerations, or puncture wounds
• Muscle sprains or strains
• Tissue injuries
• Broken or fractured bone
• Whiplash
• Scrapes and scratches
• Concussions

What should I do if I suffer a catastrophic injury?

Victims of catastrophic injuries should follow these five steps:

1. Seek medical treatment: The first thing you should do after suffering a catastrophic injury is to seek medical treatment. This not only makes sure that you receive the necessary tests, procedures, and medications to help you recover, but it also shows that you were severely injured in the accident and immediately sought medical treatment for your injuries.
2. Hire a catastrophic injury attorney: After you have begun recovering, you should hire a catastrophic injury attorney right away. These legal professionals will help you navigate the complexities of these types of claims, answer any of your questions or concerns, and advocate for the financial recovery you need and deserve to pay for your losses and rebuild your life.
3. Provide medical records to your attorney: Give the catastrophic injury attorney you hired all of your medical records related to the case as well as the contact information for the doctors who have treated your injury. This makes sure that your attorney has access to all of the information necessary to build your case for the most compensation possible.
4. Review evidence collected by your attorney:  Your attorney will gather strong evidence to support the claim. This is very important as you want to prove to the insurance company that your injuries are catastrophic, and that the defendant is liable for them. A few pieces of evidence that may help prove the severity of the injury are photos, video footage, medical records, accident reports, doctor notes, and more.
5. File a catastrophic injury claim: After your attorney has gathered enough evidence, you should have your attorney file a catastrophic injury claim. This usually involves completing a lot of paperwork and submitting documents, records, and other information, which an attorney will handle on your behalf. By filing this claim, you are requesting that the at-fault party be held accountable for their negligent behaviors and reckless conduct and that you receive compensation to help you pay for your damages.

Is compensation different for a catastrophic injury?

Accident victims with catastrophic injuries usually seek and receive more compensation than those with ordinary injuries. The reason for this is because they typically have more severe and permanent injuries, which means that they also have long-term medical problems, loss of income, disabilities, pain and suffering, and more. The compensation you can claim for a catastrophic injury includes:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Loss of earning capacity, benefits, retirement, etc.
• Physical therapy and occupational therapy costs
• Medical equipment and device fees
• Psychiatry and counseling bills
• In-home assistance and aide
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of enjoyment of activities
• Loss of companionship
• Chronic pain
• Mental anguish
• Emotional distress
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Disability

Did you recently suffer a catastrophic injury in an accident? If so, the Huntsville catastrophic injury lawyers at Martin & Helms are here to legally assist you. These types of legal cases are often complex and challenging, but with the help and guidance of our team, you will be able to get through the process as quickly and stress-free as possible while also potentially securing the maximum compensation based on your injuries and long-term damages. Please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation today. Although we have offices in Huntsville and Decatur, we also serve clients in Athens, Madison, and other areas for your convenience.