What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

According to the U.S. federal government, a catastrophic injury is any injury that permanently prevents an individual from working again. However, the definition of a catastrophic injury can differ from state to state. It is important to understand what this term means and what types of compensation are available for this serious injury. 

If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury due to negligence, our catastrophic injury attorneys can help you recover maximum compensation. We specialize in a range of personal injury cases and are here for you all the way. 

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

여기서 치명적인 상해 is a permanent or long-term injury that prevents someone from working. They are severe, permanent, and life-changing injuries, often resulting in permanent disability. 

The following injuries are considered catastrophic: 

• Brain injuries
• 척추 부상
• 심한 화상 
• 시력 또는 청력 상실 
• 사지 절단 사고
• 장기 손상
• Multiple broken bones 
• Severe nerve damage 

Such injuries profoundly affect an individual’s quality of life, livelihood, and ability to perform gainful work. They also strain the victim’s family, which must adapt to care for their injured or disabled spouse, parent, or sibling. 

중증 상해의 주된 원인

Serious motor vehicle accidents are typically associated with catastrophic injuries, but a serious injury can arise from many different causes. 

자동차 사고

Car accidents, motorcycle accidents및 자전거 사고, to name a few, are the most common cause of catastrophic injuries. They are also a leading cause of death in the U.S., with nearly 44,000 fatalities in 2022. 

Pedestrians accounted for over 7,500 of these fatalities, highlighting the extreme dangers of accidents involving those on foot. 

Victims of motor vehicle accidents commonly suffer broken bones and traumatic brain injuries, commonly referred to as TBI. 

Most accident victims who suffer a severe brain injury will need long-term care and rehabilitation to help recover as much normalcy and functionality as they once knew. Still, it’s a long and delicate process. 

Falls

Falls, particularly among the elderly, are among the biggest health concerns. According to the World Health Organization, 20 to 30% of older adults suffer moderate to severe injuries such as bruises, hip fractures, or head trauma in falls. 

For an older adult, one bad fall could lead to a catastrophic injury, such as a spinal cord injury, paralysis, or even death. While many falls occur in and around the home, some also occur in public areas like grocery stores. 

산업 현장 사고

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded over 2 million work-related injuries in 2023. Transportation accidents, such as truck accidents, were the most frequent cause of workplace injuries and fatalities, followed by construction accidents. 

Workers in factories, healthcare, and law enforcement expose themselves to dangerous conditions daily, leading to a significant number of serious or catastrophic injuries each year. 

How Much Are Catastrophic Injury Cases Worth?

The most important thing to understand is that every catastrophic accident is unique; therefore, each settlement amount will differ. 

As personal injury lawyers, our primary goal is to help you focus on your health and ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your injuries. 

Like any injury accident claim, keeping track of all your medical bills and doctor appointments from the beginning is very important. This type of information proves the severity of your injuries, and of course, it helps when you try to get paid for all your medical bills—don’t take this lightly.

We will seek fair financial compensation for the following: 

• 의료비용 – Ambulance ride, ER visit, physical therapy, etc.
• 신체적, 정신적 고통 – Emotional and physical trauma. 
• 재산 피해 – Damage to personal property or vehicle, etc.
• 임금 손실 – Loss of income following your catastrophic injury

Reasons To File a Catastrophic Personal Injury Lawsuit

Life after a catastrophic injury is never the same. Catastrophic injury victims will likely face new hardships and might be unable to work or work enough to support themselves and their families. 

In reality, getting compensation for your injury is crucial to any type of financial security in the future. The insurance company wants to avoid your claim altogether or pay as little money as possible. 

If you settle for less than you should, your financial future could be at risk. 

You could be left paying off enormous amounts of medical bills, and you never know what future surgeries or medical treatments you will need, so think years ahead before you decide to just settle.

Also, it’s worth noting that health insurance costs can increase dramatically once they know you have had a life-changing injury like a brain injury, amputation, or spine injury.

보험사 대응 안내

Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators. Their real goal is to minimize the amount of money paid out on your catastrophic injury claim, and they will even deny the claim or not recognize the full value of the settlement if possible. 

Don’t accept the first settlement they offer you. Sadly, after an accident, most people need money quickly to fix their car and pay for medical bills as they deal with a catastrophic injury. The insurance adjusters know this and usually offer a lowball settlement, hoping you’ll say yes.

Anything you say will most likely be used against you – the insurance adjuster’s goal is to make up their own version of the accident (to minimize it) and have you agree with them. Do not give a recorded statement or sign anything until you call a catastrophic injury lawyer. 

Speak to a Qualified Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, you may need legal representation to help you recover financial compensation from the at-fault party. If you believe you might have a case, you’ll need to act fast, as personal injury claims in California have a two-year statute of limitations.

Our experienced catastrophic injury lawyers handle all types of catastrophic injury cases, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and severe bone fractures.

DK Law is ready to fight for fair compensation and help you regain your livelihood. For a free consultation, please call (800) 719-9779 or fill out this form.