A personal injury occurs when an individual is harmed physically or emotionally. Sometimes it also results in damage to property. A catastrophic injury, on the other hand, is life-changing. Laws on personal injury vary from state to state, but most recognize that a catastrophic injury will prevent the victim from working or having sufficient financial stability. Read on if you’re wondering when a personal injury becomes catastrophic!
How One Can Sustain a Catastrophic Injury
If you sustain a catastrophic injury, you should seek medical attention immediately. These injuries can have severe long-term consequences. Some may even permanently alter a person’s life. Catastrophic injuries may result in medical bills that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. In addition to financial implications, a catastrophic injury can also impact a person’s mental and emotional state.
On the other hand, catastrophic injuries are the most severe and life-threatening types of injury. A person suffering from such an injury will likely need long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and physical assistance to live a full life. In some cases, a person may never be able to return to work or function at all. Even worse, some catastrophic injuries can render the victim permanently disabled.
Although calculating damages after a catastrophic injury can be difficult, it is important to understand that the victim will need a lifetime of medical care. The impact of such injuries can have a profound effect on a victim’s life, which is why it’s important to seek compensation for all your medical expenses. You should consult a personal injury attorney if you suffer a catastrophic injury.
How Catastrophic Injury Claims Are Different
Catastrophic injury claims differ from personal injury claims in many ways. For instance, catastrophic injury victims often suffer severe physical injuries and cannot work. These injuries may require medical adaptations and care that lasts for a lifetime. The compensation awarded for these injuries is also more extensive, requiring calculating interest rates and considering the victim’s long-term care needs. In addition to the physical injury, catastrophic injury victims often suffer significant emotional distress and loss of personal relationships.
In addition to physical injuries, victims of catastrophic injuries may also suffer long-term psychological consequences, such as depression or chronic pain. Many of these victims require daily care, rehabilitative treatment, and medical equipment. For those who have sustained such severe injuries, these conditions can cause permanent disability or require extensive, ongoing care. Ultimately, the financial impact can be disastrous. This is why determining what medical expenses will be necessary for the future is so crucial.
Because a catastrophic injury can leave the victim with long-term medical needs, determining the amount of compensation that the victim should be awarded is critical. The law firm that wins the case will have to consider the long-term care needs of the victim. Insurance firms will fight vigorously against these claims, as they may be facing hundreds of thousands of dollars. A catastrophic injury case will impact a victim’s life more than a personal injury claim.
Treatments For a Catastrophic Injury
A catastrophic injury is an extreme case of personal injury that results in permanent physical or psychological damage to a victim. This type of injury can affect all aspects of a person’s life, requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation. Catastrophic injuries are often permanent, requiring specialized medical equipment, nursing care, and ongoing rehabilitation. Catastrophic injuries can leave the victim with severe physical disabilities that prevent them from working or supporting themselves. Depending on the injury, the victim may be unable to do daily tasks, including driving or dressing themselves.
High-impact accidents often cause catastrophic injuries, so the first step in treating a catastrophic injury is calling 911. Once at the hospital, seeking medical attention for possible internal organ damage is essential. Treatment options for a catastrophic injury are determined by the nature of the injuries, including the extent of resulting internal organ damage. However, if the injury is not life-threatening, your insurance provider may cover a portion of the expenses or charge a higher deductible.
The treatment for a catastrophic injury is long and complicated. A victim may need hospitalization, immediate medical attention, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and counseling. Treatment for such an injury can be costly, and there is no guarantee that the patient will recover completely from it. However, the healthcare professionals who provide treatment for a catastrophic injury will make the recovery process much more manageable. They will help a patient determine what medical procedures are needed to get better.
What Are the Effects of Catastrophic Injuries?
Catastrophic injuries can change a person’s life for years. Not only are they painful, but they also leave a person unable to function normally. Such an injury can cause an individual to feel hopeless and depressed. Some catastrophic injuries can even prevent a person from pursuing certain careers. For instance, a person may never be able to work at a job that requires physical actions.
The aftermath of a catastrophic injury is often devastating for both the victim and their family. The victim may have to relearn how to move and can’t even care for a child or pet without help. Some injuries may not manifest their symptoms for days or weeks, leaving victims hopeless and unable to work. Many victims are also unable to support themselves financially, leading to depression and debilitating feelings.
A catastrophic injury lawsuit may involve several experts. A life-care planner, for example, is an expert in estimating the cost of long-term and permanent care. A life-care planner will help the attorney develop evidence and present it to a jury. An economic expert, a crash reconstructionist, and biomechanical engineers are often also necessary. In some cases, a person suffering from a catastrophic injury may also require vocational rehabilitation experts.
Damages You Can Seek From a Catastrophic Injury
When you’re injured, you may wonder what damages you can seek after a personal injury. While some injuries are obvious and straightforward, catastrophic injuries are not.
You can seek compensation for:
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Physical therapy
- Other expenses
In addition, you can ask for compensation for:
- Pain
- Emotional distress
- Even lost consortium if you and your spouse were married at the time of the accident.
Unlike typical personal injury claims, catastrophic injuries are often life-altering, requiring extensive medical treatment. A spinal cord injury, for example, can result in partial or permanent paralysis, sexual dysfunction, and loss of bladder control. If left untreated, internal organ damage can prove fatal. Catastrophic injuries should be handled by an attorney experienced in handling these cases.
The damages you can seek after a catastrophic injury depends on the nature of the accident. For example, if you lost an arm due to an accident, you could seek compensation for the cost of amputation. However, the damages will be more significant if you suffer a catastrophic injury. Losing an arm is a life-changing event, and you deserve compensation for your pain and suffering.
How Long Do I Have to File My Catastrophic Injury
The term catastrophic injury is used to describe injuries that are so severe that they require a lifetime of medical care. The most serious types of injuries are life-altering and require numerous surgeries. They also can cause unrelenting pain and make it nearly impossible to care for yourself. Some injuries are permanent and prevent you from working, while others leave visible physical scars and even a lifetime of depression.
When Can I File My Claim For a Catastrophic Injury? There are several different types of lawsuits that you can file. If the accident resulted from someone else’s negligence, you have two years to file a lawsuit. However, if you were killed due to someone else’s negligence, you have two years to file a lawsuit.
Because these cases are so complex, it’s important to consult with an attorney immediately. Injuries that cause permanent deformity or impairment of function are often considered catastrophic and deserve compensation. Injuries caused by medical malpractice, which are common, require the services of a qualified attorney to ensure a successful settlement. In these cases, the plaintiff’s team will have to prove the extent of their injuries.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Whether a personal injury is minor or serious, contacting a personal injury attorney is vital for winning your case. While most cases are settled before a lawsuit is filed, choosing a personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of success is crucial. It is important to note that an attorney will charge a fee only if they win the case for you.
Your lawyer will have a wealth of knowledge of the law. Not only will they fight your insurance company, but an experienced personal injury attorney will also fight ticket citations and establish accurate liability facts. The attorney will present the truth to the insurance company and the jury in court. The more knowledgeable a lawyer is, the stronger your case will be. So, if your case is serious, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
A catastrophic injury is a very serious case. It may require lengthy medical care and financial assistance. Because the case is so complex, it is important to retain a personal injury attorney with experience handling similar cases. They will know how to calculate long-term medical costs and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. A personal injury attorney with catastrophic injury experience is the best option for you and your family.