Catastrophic Injury Types, Causes, Treatments & Compensation

Definition: A catastrophic injury is a permanent or long-lasting debilitating injury that damages at least one body system, typically the central nervous system. Such injuries can result in the loss of movement, sensation, cognitive functions, or the ability to communicate. Catastrophic injuries are often severe enough to prevent someone from performing gainful work in the long-term.

Examples: Examples of catastrophic injuries include brain injury or other serious head trauma, spinal cord injury, loss of a limb, eye injury, foot injury, multiple bone fractures, and severe burns. If the catastrophic injury causes a disruption of the central nervous system, other bodily systems may become severely damaged as well, such as the respiratory system (which is used for breathing), the circulatory system (which pumps and channels blood), and the urinary system (which includes the kidneys and is used for balancing fluids).

Causes: Catastrophic injuries can occur as a result of many different events or causes: car accidents, the use of defective products, negligence, assaults or batteries, environmental or natural disasters, civil rights violations, wrongful death, medical malpractice, or workplace injuries.

Treatment: Because of the nature of catastrophic injuries, treatment is often expensive, complex, and long-term. The victim of a catastrophic injury may face hospitalization, immediate medical attention, surgeries, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and counseling. Often, unforeseen consequences of the catastrophic injury happen much later after the occurrence of the injury.

Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries:

If you have been a victim of a catastrophic injury, you can obtain the compensation that you deserve. You should, with the help of an experienced Orange County catastrophic injury lawyer, seek legal redress in the form of compensation for the injuries as well as future expenses that arise directly as a result of the injuries, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and the inability to work. Make sure to find an Orange County catastrophic injury lawyer with the expertise and experience in the field of personal injury claims that is pertinent to you. These fields include automobile accidents, products liability, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and employer liability.

An Orange County catastrophic injury lawyer can help you every step of the way and act as your strongest advocate: he or she can make sure there’s a proper plan in place for your treatment and rehabilitation, gather the information necessary to properly make your case, effectively argue your case before the trial court, or reach a  fair settlement with those who are responsible for your catastrophic injury.