A catastrophic injury is considered a physical injury or internal illness regarded as extremely severe that has the potential to impact the daily life of a victim. There is no exact definition or delineation line between what is considered a regular injury or a catastrophic injury. Here, we want to go more in-depth into the overall explanation of a catastrophic injury as well as give some examples of what catastrophic injuries look like in real life.
How a Catastrophic Injury is Defined
A car accident can cause a concussion. A car accident can also cause a severe traumatic brain injury. However, only one of these injuries would potentially be considered catastrophic. Defining what a “catastrophic injury” actually is involved looking at varying degrees of severity. The mechanisms that cause relatively minor to moderate injuries are the same mechanisms that cause catastrophic injuries, so the degrees of severity matter.
The impact a catastrophic injury has on an individual is much different than the impact an individual experiences due to a much more minor injury. Catastrophic injuries typically lead to various types of lifelong consequences, including the need for extended medical care, medical devices, permanent in-home help, and more. A catastrophic injury can lead to significant physical and cognitive disabilities.
These injuries are likely to affect every aspect of a person’s life, including their ability to work and their ability to carry out typical day-to-day activities. Some of the most common injuries that could be considered catastrophic include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord trauma
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
- Amputations and crush injuries
- Severe infections
- Extensive burn injuries
This is certainly not a complete list of what may be considered catastrophic injuries, but it does give an idea of the types of injuries that are classified as such. Catastrophic injuries can affect many bodily systems, sometimes all at once. This can include the central nervous system as well as the urinary, gastrointestinal, circulatory, excretory, respiratory, reproductive, and other systems.
Securing Compensation for a Catastrophic Injury
Catastrophic injury victims may be able to recover compensation if their injury was caused by the careless or negligent actions of another individual or entity. Just like a traditional personal injury claim, recovering compensation in these scenarios can be challenging. The at-fault party or their attorney will have to prove that the other party’s negligent actions caused the incident. Securing compensation involves gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance carriers, and maybe even filing a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. Getting legal advice from an experienced Phoenix personal injury attorney can help determine the best options to secure compensation for your injury case.
One aspect of catastrophic injuries that is often overlooked is the need for long-term compensation. These types of injuries often leave short- or long-term disabilities, and if the final settlement or jury verdict does not take these long-term expenses into account, then the injury victim will end up suffering financially in the long run. When you work with a skilled catastrophic injury lawyer in Arizona, you will have an advocate ready to help you through this entire process.
If you think you have sustained a catastrophic injury caused by the negligence of another party, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney for a free consultation as soon as possible. Our Phoenix car accident attorneys know how a catastrophic injury can impact your life and work to secure maximum compensation for injured victims.