Accidents happen every day throughout our lives, some affecting us more than others. While some only cause small injuries that create little to no consequences, other accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. The United States Code Service defines a catastrophic injury as an injury, the direct and proximate consequences of which permanently prevent an individual from performing any gainful work.
Injuries such as these, no matter how small they may seem, cause huge consequences for the injured. We all have our own duties and bills that we are responsible for, but when you are unable to work these responsibilities can become overwhelming very fast.
What types of injuries can be catastrophic?
Really, any injury can be catastrophic if it causes a person to be unable to work, but here are some common examples:
- Physical injuries including burns, organ damage, or amputation;
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Paraplegia or quadriplegia;
- Cognitive injuries including traumatic brain injuries;
- Vision loss;
- Hearing loss; or
- Wrongful death.
Any type of catastrophic injury can turn your life upside down. It can be an extremely stressful and financially draining experience. After suffering this type of injury, you may be much more dependent on others than you were before. You may need a higher level of care around the clock, need to change your environment to suit your new needs, you may have to give up hobbies that you loved, or may have to find ways to cope with new chronic pain.
What causes a catastrophic injury?
Catastrophic injuries can be the result of an accident, or simply someone else’s negligence. These injuries can happen on the road, in a car, or motorcycle accidents. They may be caused by someone’s negligence leading to a slip and fall accident or a dog bite. The injury could be the result of medical malpractice or a defective product.
Accidents happen all the time for different reasons, some just happen to be worse than others. Regardless of your specific circumstances, there may be compensation that you are entitled to, you should reach out to an attorney to speak about your options.
What can an attorney do?
An attorney can talk to you about your or your loved one’s situation and help decide what the best course of action is. An attorney can help you recover damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings, discomfort, mental suffering, loss of quality of life, and more.
It’s important to know that, generally, there will only be one chance to get compensation. During the lawsuit an attorney advocates for all past, present, and future damages, so it’s important to have a skilled personal injury attorney at your side.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury and would like to know more about how we can help, please contact one of our personal injury attorneys at Jetton & Meredith.