What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

You know that you can call a personal injury lawyer when you have an accident—but what is a catastrophic injury? Are catastrophic injury attorneys different than personal injury attorneys? What’s the difference, and what does it mean for your case?

Here’s an overview of catastrophic injury and what it entails.

Catastrophic injury defined

Catastrophic injuries are more than broken bones. They’re the kind of injuries that you may never recover from: massive, painful burns that can never heal, traumatic brain injuries that leave behind cognitive and physical impairments or paralysis. When you suffer a catastrophic injury, your life is completely changed forever—there’s no going back to the way you were, or even close to it.

That’s an extremely difficult circumstance for anyone to cope with, especially if the accident was someone else’s fault. On top of the injury itself, there are associated medical, mental and emotional costs that ensure the victim will have difficulty struggling to survive for the rest of their life.

Obviously, if you have a catastrophic injury, it’s crucial that you get the help and support you need. One of the best ways to do so is to hire a catastrophic injury attorney.

Catastrophic injury damages

Personal injury lawsuits measure damages based on how much the plaintiff was injured, how much the defendant was at fault and what can be done to “make the plaintiff whole” again. In car accidents where the plaintiff has a broken leg, that’s easy to calculate. The defendant might need to pay for the damaged car and the plaintiff’s medical treatment until they heal.

When it comes to catastrophic injuries, the stakes change dramatically. People who have suffered catastrophic injuries are, by definition, unable to function normally as they once were. They may no longer be able to hold a job. That may mean that they can’t provide for their family, or otherwise contribute to their home. They may require lifelong medical treatment and around-the-clock care to deal with their injuries.

Catastrophic injuries are expensive to deal with. If you or a loved one has suffered from an injury which has drastically changed the course of their life, it’s important that you get compensation from the responsible parties. When an insurance company, judge or jury decides your catastrophic injury damages, they will take into account how dramatically the plaintiff’s life has changed. They will particularly consider what the plaintiff was once able to provide (such as companionship, income, childcare and more), as well as their medical costs. By examining all facets of the situation, they’ll eventually come to a number that should cover your costs.

Unfortunately, not every calculation is designed to benefit the plaintiff. That’s why you need a catastrophic injury attorney, especially in your time of stress. A good lawyer will ensure that you don’t accept lowball settlement offers.

To learn more about catastrophic injury attorneys, what they can do for you and whether your case qualifies, reach out to the Law Offices of Max G. Arnold, Inc. today.

Categorised in: Injury