Catastrophic injuries are those that inflict significant physical harm to the body and are typically the consequence of an accident or intentional wrongdoing. They can cause long-term pain or disability and may result in permanent effects on the lives of the people who suffer from them. For example, an injured party might need to modify their house, car and place of employment to accommodate their disability.
Catastrophic injuries, in contrast to less serious ones, usually result in months, years or even a lifetime of medical treatment as well as personal difficulties, possibly including lost wages, stress and diminished quality of life with a shorter life expectancy.
What types of injuries qualify as catastrophic?
Even if an accident does not result in long-term damage or a permanent disability, someone’s injury can still be considered catastrophic if it requires significant and expensive medical treatment. These include:
- traumatic brain injury
- persistent injuries or abnormalities
- injuries to internal organs
- amputations
- severe burns
- spinal cord injury
- loss of hearing or vision
- nerve damage
In addition to requiring immediate care, many catastrophic injuries often result in drawn-out and challenging recovery periods. People who sustain injuries that prevent them from living independently may need long-term in-home care due to the high cost of recovery. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often develop following a catastrophic injury as well. An injured party may suffer from debilitating anxiety, social isolation and noticeable personality or mood fluctuations.
Who is liable in a catastrophic injury case?
Negligent behavior is typically the main cause of harm when catastrophic injuries occur and is the result of failing to act with the care that is required under the circumstances. A comprehensive examination of the circumstances surrounding an incident is necessary to determine who is legally responsible for a catastrophic injury, which is why it is generally wise for victims to seek assistance when pursuing compensation against liable parties.
