What is a Catastrophic Injury?
An accident like a car crash, fall or dog bite can cause a person to suffer a catastrophic injury. What exactly constitutes a catastrophic injury, though?
If you are involved in an accident, you may suffer a broken bone and some lacerations, but heal within a few months. That would not be considered catastrophic, since you only suffered a short-term disability.
A catastrophic injury, as the name suggests, is very severe. It affects a person for many years or even the rest of their life. It impacts their life in multiple ways. These injuries often result in permanent disability and may include blindness, amputation, spinal cord damage, burns and organ damage. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries. While most are mild, many lead to severe effects and even death. In 2014, an average 155 people died every day from TBIs. Most are caused by falls, although they can also be caused by sports and blows to the head.
In many cases, people do not ever recover from a catastrophic injury. They end up disabled for the rest of their lives. They are unable to work and earn income. They may not be able to dress or feed themselves. In some cases, they may suffer from paralysis and be unable to move their limbs or walk. They have lost their enjoyment of life because they cannot engage in sports or other activities. They may become dependent on someone for the rest of their lives.
Such an injury often requires a team of experts. A person may have doctors, surgeons, physical therapists, neurologists and psychologists working with them to help them recover or at least manage their injuries. It’s also important to have financial experts working with them as well. A catastrophic injury can impact someone for decades. A person can expect to spend millions of dollars in medical bills.
This is why it is important to seek legal help if your catastrophic injury was caused by someone else’s negligence. These injuries cause significant financial damage. A person is unlikely to be able to work, so it is crucial that their loss of income is factored into the other damages they have suffered, such as medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. While they may be able to receive some sort of disability income, this will likely not be enough to fully compensate them for all their damages.
Get Legal Help for Your Florida Catastrophic Injury Case
A catastrophic injury can impact you for the rest of your life. You may be unable to work, walk or engage in your favorite activities.
If your injury was caused by someone’s negligence, make sure you get the compensation you deserve. The Tampa catastrophic injury attorneys at the Pawlowski//Mastrilli Law Group can assess your case and help you get the best possible outcome so you can get high-quality treatment. Don’t settle for less. Schedule a free consultation today. Call our office 813-242-4404 or fill out the online form.
Resource:
cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html
