Someone who suffers a severe injury due to another person’s negligence might consider filing a personal injury lawsuit. In 2020 alone, the United States saw the cost of all injuries totals over $1.1 billion.
In some cases, the medical staff might refer to an injury as “catastrophic.” Such trauma can affect the outcome and proceedings of a personal injury case.
What constitutes a catastrophic injury?
A catastrophic injury is a trauma that permanently disables or disfigures a person. Such wounds often involve major damage to the head, spine or internal organs.
Examples of catastrophic injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, severe burns and organ damage. These injuries usually involve long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as extended periods of hospitalization or disability leave.
How does a catastrophic injury affect a personal injury claim?
Catastrophic injuries bring severe financial hardships due to expensive medical bills and lost wages caused by the inability to work. After an accident due to another person’s negligence, a person who deals with such intense harm may require compensation to care for themself adequately. Such compensation can cover treatment for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages related to the accident.
In addition to traditional damages, a plaintiff suffering from catastrophic injuries may also be eligible for punitive damages. Such damages are often the result of particularly egregious or reckless conduct. This compensation serves as a punishment for wrongdoers and deters similar behavior in the future.
Catastrophic injuries can devastate families and change the rest of a person’s life. Such events can lead to thousands of dollars in care for months or years.