A person who has suffered a catastrophic injury due to the negligent actions of a third party will need far greater compensation and medical attention than someone who suffers a less serious personal injury. However, what constitutes a catastrophic injury and how does that compare to other injury types? Is there even a reason to distinguish an injury as catastrophic in regards to filing a claim for compensation?
What is a Catastrophic Injury?
By most legal definitions and medical records, an injury is considered catastrophic if it causes immediate disability, or if it is never expected to fully heal. A person who suffers a catastrophic injury will most often need emergency medical attention as soon as possible, assuming the severe injury is noticeable. Some may be subtle or underlying, unfortunately delaying the time for it to be diagnosed and treated.
Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Many forms of birth injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Permanent scarring and disfiguration
- Chronic illnesses
Accidents and incidents that may cause a catastrophic injury vary, such as:
Seeking Compensation After a Catastrophic Injury
Someone living with a catastrophic injury likely has already seen thousands and thousands of dollars worth of medical bills for initial treatments and hospitalization. Yet there will likely be many more bills and costs to come due to the severity or permanence of a catastrophic injury. Rehabilitation is necessary in most cases, which can last for months, years, or the rest of the patient’s life, depending on the injury.
Brain injury patients in particular may need extensive rehabilitation to relearn motions, behavior, or knowledge lost due to the injury. People with catastrophic injuries may also find it extremely difficult to find or keep gainful employment. Any compensation given by the liable party must account for lost wages and the finances necessary to help them make ends meet.
Charleston’s Leading Team of Catastrophic Injury Lawyers
At Berthold Law Firm, PLLC, we proudly fight for every last penny our clients deserve after being hurt by someone else’s negligence or mistakes. When we take a case involving a catastrophic injury, you can bet that our already impressive tenacity and focus will be multiplied tenfold to best benefit our client. We genuinely want to see our clients through this harrowing time and let them know that the future can be better.
Talk to our experienced attorneys today by calling (304) 605-2040 or contacting us online.