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How Is a Catastrophic Injury Defined?

Millions of people each year are involved in accidents that cause personal injury. Although it’s in the same category as these, a catastrophic injury is quite different. The reason being is that a catastrophic injury is severe. It usually results in a long-term disability for the survivor and permanent damage to their person.

Survivors of catastrophic injuries go through a much higher level of pain and suffering due to their severe injuries. In many cases, they cannot return to work, significantly reducing (or completely removing) their ability to earn. Many survivors of catastrophic injuries cannot walk, run, see, smell or hear, or have those senses and abilities (and others) significantly impaired.

No matter the type of accident, if it leaves you with a long-term disability, causes some deformity, and/or substantially reduces your ability to earn, the injury you’ve suffered is deemed catastrophic.

What Are the Different Types of Catastrophic Injuries?

There are three basic types of catastrophic injuries;

  1. Physical Injuries to a specific part (or parts) of your body and the way they function.
  2. Spinal cord injuries affect your body’s biggest nerve, the spinal cord, and frequently the spine itself.
  3. Cognitive injuries. These are injuries that directly relate to your brain and brain function.

Some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries include;

  • A traumatic brain injury due to blunt force trauma to the head
  • An injury where a limb is traumatically amputated
  • Injuries that severely crush a bone or bones
  • Burn injuries that leave severe scars
  • Injuries that damage another vital organ like the heart, liver, lungs, etc.

Catastrophic Injury Affects The Survivor and Their Family

One of the most devastating effects of a catastrophic injury has to do with the survivors’ families. For example, if you need to take care of your spouse because they can no longer feed themself, your life will be completely upended. You may need to quit your job to care for them full-time or hire someone to do so at great expense to you.

For families, a loved one’s catastrophic injury can negatively affect everyone else in the family, limiting their abilities to earn. This can create an unsure and vastly different future for all, an unacceptable situation that demands remediation.

Are You Entitled To a Settlement?

Several reasons would qualify you to be entitled to a catastrophic injury settlement. They include:

  • A severe injury that requires multiple surgeries and long-term rehabilitation
  • An injury that puts you out of work long-term or permanently
  • The need for a permanent medical device like a walker, wheelchair, etc.
  • If the emotional damage was severe and traumatizing

If you would like to find out more and determine if you or a loved one qualify for a catastrophic injury settlement, please call the law offices of catastrophic injury lawyer Mike Mahone for a free case evaluation.

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Mike Mahone

Mike Mahone is a personal injury and business litigation lawyer located in New Orleans, LA, and the sole practitioner of The Mahone Firm.

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