Catastrophic Injuries – What you Need to Know to Protect Yourself
Not all injuries are equal. Some injuries, like sprains and minor fractures, can be resolved relatively quickly with appropriate medical attention. Others, like broken vertebrae, can result in a lifetime of back pain and a significantly longer recovery period. When an injury affects the brain, spinal cord, or other area of the body where it will have a permanent impact on the victim’s life, it is considered to be a “catastrophic injury.” As a victim of an accident, it is important that you determine the severity of your injury and an appropriate treatment plan for it. You can do this with help from your doctor and any other healthcare professionals involved with your injury.
Some injuries, especially severe injuries, can create significant expenses for the victims who suffer them. These expenses can include medical bills, lost wages due to having to leave work, and other assorted expenses such as the need for psychological counseling and disability aids. If you are facing significant expenses related to your injury, you could be entitled to receive compensation for these expenses through a personal injury claim.
Examples of Catastrophic Injuries
Any injury that could potentially be life-threatening or result in permanent disabilities is considered to be a catastrophic injury. Examples of catastrophic injuries include the following:
- Severe burns;
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Injuries that require the amputation of a limb; and
- Spinal cord injuries.
These injuries can result in paralysis, permanent loss of cognitive ability, loss of sensation in parts of the body, and permanent disfigurement. All of these types of permanent consequence can change a victim’s life forever and potentially keep him or her from working again.
A catastrophic injury is not like other types of injury. Although timely medical attention is important in any case where a victim suffers an injury, immediate medical attention is critical for individuals who suffer catastrophic injuries. If you witness an accident where a victim is rendered unconscious, is bleeding profusely, has a limb caught between two or more objects, or has suffered a severe burn from a fire or from chemicals, call 911 immediately to have emergency medical personnel sent to the scene. By taking this action, you could potentially save a victim’s life.
Catastrophic injuries can happen in any type of accident. A car collision, a dog bite, an accident involving a pool or a bonfire, or even a simple slip on wet leaves or a broken sidewalk can leave a victim disabled for the rest of his or her life.
Winter Park Personal Injury Attorneys
If you have been involved in any type of accident that resulted in a catastrophic injury, you could be entitled to monetary compensation for your losses. To learn more about filing a personal injury claim, contact our team of experienced Florida personal injury attorneys at Hornsby Law Group today. We are here to advocate for you and help you get the money you deserve after your accident.
