What Makes a Catastrophic Injury Different Than A Personal Injury?

Unlike a stiff neck or a broken arm after a car accident, catastrophic injuries are life-altering and make it difficult, or even impossible, to resume life as it was before. While personal injury lawsuits allow victims to receive a settlement to pay for medical bills, the money is usually for only a short period of time. Catastrophic injuries on the other hand last a lifetime, and so they require more compensation than your typical personal injury case.

What Is A Catastrophic Injury?

According to U.S. Code, a catastrophic injury is defined as an injury that prevents an individual from performing any gainful work. While this is a part of what it means, it doesn’t paint a complete picture of the reality of a catastrophic injury. Aside from their inability to work, victims usually suffer emotional and financial harm, and are unable to enjoy simple things such as travel, exercise, or even caring for themselves. As a result, many catastrophic injury victims suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Only a few types of injuries that disrupt the body’s central nervous system and create devastating consequences are considered “catastrophic” by experts. Common catastrophic injuries include brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, amputations, and exposure to hazardous chemicals and substances. While a catastrophic injury can occur in any accident, there are certain types that cause these injuries more than others, such as construction accidents, swimming pool accidents, pharmacy errors, commercial truck accidents and motorcycle accidents.

Damages in Catastrophic Injury Cases

Since catastrophic injuries are much more devastating than personal injuries, legal cases tend to involve much higher damages. You may receive compensation for emergency bills, the cost of a home healthcare worker, loss of income, pain and suffering, diminished quality of life and lost earning capacity for the future.

Have you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury? Contact our Montgomery County catastrophic injury attorneys at Morris Wilson, P.C. today.

Call (610) 825-0500 or contact us online to learn more about your case.