5 Types of Catastrophic Injuries

A serious or catastrophic injury is one that is often debilitating and will change a victim’s life forever. Some of these injuries require years of medical treatments, surgeries, agonizing pain, emotional distress, and permanent disability.

While you might think of paraplegia or another type of paralysis as a catastrophic injury, there are numerous other types that may not come to mind immediately. Any time a victim is left permanently disabled, disfigured, or unable to return to the way they were before the accident, it could be considered catastrophic.

What Causes Catastrophic Injuries?

Any type of physical trauma can lead to a catastrophic injury. Whether it is in the physician’s office, in a car accident, a boating accident, workplace accident, bicycle collision, or fire.

What are the Most Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries?

A brief list of common catastrophic injuries would include:

1. Brain Injuries – Brain injuries are especially devastating. The brain itself is by far the most important organ in the body. Most Importantly, it controls everything else in the body. Brain injuries involve many different levels of severity. Victims can fully recover, but more often a victim is left with some type of deficit after a brain injury. Some catastrophic brain injuries include amnesia, concussions, hematomas, edema, and penetrating injuries to the brain.
2. Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries are often from violent, traumatic impacts to the spine resulting in crushing, dislocating, compressing, or fracturing of one or more vertebrae. As the victim tries to recover, they may experience bleeding, fluid buildup, and swelling – which can lead to permanent complications. Catastrophic spinal cord injuries could leave a victim partially or fully paralyzed.
3. Burn Injuries – Burn injuries often leave behind permanent scarring – regardless of the advancements in reconstructive surgery. Furthermore, severe burns can take months to years to fully recover from – and require multiple painful surgeries.
4. Scars – Scarring from any type of accident, whether it be a dog attack, motor vehicle collision, or slip and fall, can leave a person permanently disfigured. These injuries can be debilitating both physically and emotionally.
5. Compound Fractures – Compound fractures are when the broken bones pierce through the skin. Often these types of breaks require surgical correction, and in severe cases may leave the victim permanently disabled.

Seeking Compensation for a Catastrophic Injury

After a catastrophic injury, you may find that the medical costs and loss of wages become unbearable. You did not cause your injuries, but you are shouldering the financial burden along with the resultant emotional and physical pain.

Shlosman Law Firm understands what you are going through. Our team is here to support you through this difficult time and seek the compensation you need to cover your losses. While no amount of compensation can ever make up for the pain you have suffered, we fight for our clients right to compensation that helps with medical costs, wages, pain and suffering, and much more.

Schedule a free case evaluation now by calling us at 504-826-9427 or request a no-obligation consultation.