What Differentiates a Catastrophic Injury from a Regular Injury?

In a personal injury case, any physical harm resulting from the accident is considered an injury. However, injuries can be minor and may include cuts, bruises, or contusions. While these minor injuries can cause damage, they typically do not cause permanent harm and often heal reasonably quickly.

Legally, a catastrophic injury is one that causes substantial or permanent harm. These injuries have a high risk of death and may cause permanent impairment of an organ or limb. They may also result in the person being unable to perform daily functions, including working. Many victims suffer from chronic pain that causes a loss of enjoyment of life.

You could collect compensation for your suffering if you or a loved one has experienced a catastrophic injury because of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. Please reach out to our talented personal injury attorneys at Shariff Law Firm, PLLC for help with your case by calling 713-244-8392 today.

What Are Some Common Catastrophic Injuries?

Catastrophic injuries can occur in many forms and for many reasons. We see clients who have received devastating injuries because of a car crash, truck accident, workplace injury, car bite, motorcycle crash, or pedestrian accident, among others.

Some examples of common catastrophic injuries are:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Traumatic brain injuries typically happen as the result of head trauma. Similar to concussions, traumatic brain injuries can cause symptoms like loss of consciousness, memory loss, dizziness, confusion, and more. However, traumatic brain injuries usually cause symptoms that last for years.

Limb Amputation

Severe injuries can lead to the loss of a limb, whether on impact or after the accident itself. Losing a limb can lead to medical expenses like surgery, prosthesis, and physical therapy. Losing a limb can also impact a victim’s physical ability to work or earn income.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Injuries to the spinal cord are often severe and can cause chronic pain, numbness, or even paralysis. Spinal cord injuries may require extensive surgery, which can be costly for the victims of a negligent accident.

Paralysis

Full or partial paralysis can require extensive medical care to recover from. In some cases, victims may never recover and could lose the ability to work or earn income.

Disfigurement

Burns, scarring, and other injuries can cause permanent disfigurement on the body. In this case, victims may have to seek expensive medical treatments to repair their skin. Disfigurement can also cause a loss of enjoyment of life.

Burn Injuries

Burns take a long time to heal and can require expensive medical treatments for a full recovery. Burn victims may have to get skin grafts or other surgeries to fully heal from their injuries, which can impact their daily lives.

Bone Fractures

Severe bone fractures may be unable to heal independently and could require surgery. Some severe cases require follow-up treatments and physical therapy to recover fully, costing the victims thousands of dollars out of pocket.

If you or a loved one has one of the above injuries or any injury that decreases their ability to live a normal life, you could receive damages in a personal injury lawsuit. Please get in touch with us right away to discuss the details of your case and see what we can do for you.

What Compensation Can I Recover For My Catastrophic Injury?

Victims of catastrophic injuries could receive compensation if another person was at fault in the accident. This includes workplace injuries, car crashes, trip and fall accidents, and more. Your lawsuit may cover a wide range of expenses, including economic and non-economic damages.

Some economic damages you could recover for your catastrophic injury include:

  • Past and future medical expenses, including ongoing treatment costs
  • Past and future lost wages, including money you would have been able to earn in your lifetime that you no longer can
  • Lost vacations and bonuses
  • Lost earning capacity

A personal injury claim can also cover non-economic damages such as:

  • Disfigurement
  • Emotional trauma
  • Past and future pain and suffering, including ongoing discomfort as the result of your injuries
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of companionship

Who is Responsible for a Catastrophic Injury?

If you were injured by someone else’s negligence or an intentionally dangerous act, you may be able to hold that individual accountable for your injuries. Similarly, if you were injured by a defective product, you may have a case against the product’s manufacturer or seller. However, when determining liability, it’s essential to weigh all of the factors of your case. In some instances, there may be more than one responsible party that you can request damages from.

For instance, if you were in a car accident, the liable party might be the owner of the motor vehicle that caused your accident. However, if the vehicle malfunctioned and the faulty part caused the accident, you could potentially sue the vehicle’s manufacturer instead. It’s important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer examine your case to determine who is liable for your injuries.

Should You Hire Our Catastrophic Injury Attorneys?

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligent behavior, you may feel frustrated and overwhelmed. Please let our legal team support you by getting you the fair compensation you are owed. We can give you and your loved ones the confidence to move forward following your catastrophic injuries.

You don’t need to suffer alone. You can rely on our experience, knowledge, and honesty to get the positive results you deserve in your personal injury claim. Call Shariff Law Firm, PLLC today to see how we can help by dialing 713-244-8392 to speak with our talented legal team.