A catastrophic injury can completely change your life, especially if it results in permanent disability. These cases can also take years to resolve. Some of the most prevalent types of catastrophic injuries include burns, spinal cord damage, amputations, and more.
When you have been through a catastrophic event, the emotional impacts of injury, the financial burden of injury, and long-term injury costs can add up. The Veterans Administration even notes that catastrophic disasters can cause symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in many individuals, similar to those who have experienced combat.
What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
A catastrophic injury is an injury resulting from a life-changing event. Catastrophic injuries often result in months or years of therapy to resolve, and sometimes, they are even lifelong, meaning that they cannot be cured or fully resolved.
Some catastrophic injuries will not show their full effects until years down the road. Many injuries do not show up in initial physical consultations, so they might not bother the victim at first.
What Are Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries?
What types of injury are defined as catastrophic? Here are some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries.
Burns
While most burns are mild and only penetrate through the top layer of skin, some burns are extreme. Third-degree burns in particular count as catastrophic injuries because they are extremely painful and can cause permanent problems for victims, such as nerve damage and disfigurement.
The recovery time for third-degree burns is extensive as well. Many victims have to undergo multiple treatments, such as skin grafting surgeries, to replace the outer skin layers and potentially restore nerve function.
Spinal Cord Damage
Spinal cord injuries directly impact the nervous system, so they are catastrophic most of the time. One of the most severe results of spinal cord damage is paralysis, and often, the function does not come back to the affected areas of the body.
The extent of the damage depends on the location of the injury. A spinal cord problem in the lower back could cause the victim to lose function of their legs, while a broken neck could paralyze their entire body.
Equipment needed for spinal cord damage can be anything from a wheelchair for waist-down injuries to breathing equipment if the victim loses lung function.
Amputations
Sometimes, the damage is too great to save a limb, and amputation is the only option. Often, catastrophic injury patients suffer from infection, or there is not enough tissue left to save the joint.
Doctors must make the difficult decision to amputate as a life-saving procedure.
Amputees often have to adjust to an entirely new lifestyle, with physical therapy sessions to learn how to operate without a limb. Additionally, prosthetics can be a major expense, especially finding models that fit correctly and feel comfortable for the user.
The Financial Burden of Injury
Though many personal injury victims receive settlements, the money might still not cover the full extent of the long-term injury costs. Victims might have to take out extensive debt or even file for bankruptcy while waiting on settlement funds, which could add to their financial woes.
Additionally, job loss or setbacks can impact future financial health in untold ways. Victims might not be eligible for promotion or other benefits due to absence from work because of a catastrophic injury.
Injury Recovery Challenges
Recovering from a catastrophic injury requires mental, emotional, and physical fortitude. Victims must focus on healing their bodies while also navigating the complex legal landscape of a personal injury lawsuit.
It is important to let professionals, such as catastrophic injury lawyers in Pasadena, do the heavy lifting. This way, you can dedicate yourself to your recovery, rather than factors that are out of your control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Hardest Injury To Prove?
While there are some injuries that are obvious following a catastrophic incident, others may be "invisible." It is incredibly difficult to prove damages caused by these injuries, as they may not show up on an X-ray or any other type of standard medical test.
Some patients deal with intense pain from conditions like fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome. While the pain is very real, there are no tests for these conditions at the moment, so patients must communicate with their doctors and rely on expert witness testimony in court to help their cases.
Mental health conditions are also notoriously difficult to prove. Conditions such as depression and anxiety need psychiatric diagnosis, and even then, there are no concrete tests that can definitively prove the conditions.
Some of the methods that victims can use to strengthen their cases for invisible injuries include:
- No gaps in treatment
- Doctors giving expert witness testimonies
- Extensive symptom documentation
How Much Is a Good Settlement for Pain and Suffering?
A settlement for pain and suffering largely depends on the extent of the injury. It can be difficult to define a "good" settlement due to the variety of external factors that influence the decision.
Ideally, a good settlement should cover all of the victim's necessary expenses and allow them some breathing room as they try to resume normal life. It should also be able to cover future complications resulting from the injury, especially if it will cause chronic pain or never fully heal.
How Long Do Most Personal Injury Cases Take To Settle?
The timeline for a personal injury case relies on how long it takes the victim to heal from the initial trauma, as well as whether they want to settle outside of court. Negotiating a settlement can take a few months, while going through a trial could take several years.
Learn More About Catastrophic Injuries
A catastrophic injury is devastating on many levels, from putting the patient in pain to affecting every other area of their life. Use this guide if you or a loved one has a catastrophic injury to determine the next steps to take.
Would you like to learn more about common legal issues and how to resolve them? Take a look around our website for the latest updates.
This article was prepared by an independent contributor and helps us continue to deliver quality news and information.
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