People sustain injuries every day. Most of them are minor, with short recovery times and little need for medical care. Some of them are moderate—you might need medical care and more time to recover, but are likely to return to full functioning. Others are severe, requiring lengthy recovery periods and often extensive medical care. Catastrophic injuries are their own category. There is no single definition of a catastrophic injury, but they are life-changing and usually leave people with lingering physical or cognitive disabilities.
If you have experienced a catastrophic injury, you probably realize that your life will never be the same as it was before the accident. It may impact your ability to care for yourself, impact your ability to work, and alter your family and romantic relationships. A Modesto catastrophic injury lawyer can help. Reach out to Valero Law Group today to begin working with a compassionate personal injury attorney who is not afraid to take your case to court and advocate aggressively on your behalf.
Examples of Catastrophic Injuries
Several types of injuries can be catastrophic. To determine whether an injury fits into that category, it is essential to look at the long-term consequences of the injury and the impact it has on a person’s life.
Crush Injuries
Crush injuries are one type of catastrophic harm. They happen when two heavy objects squeeze some part of the body. The greater the pressure and the more of the body involved, the more severe the injury is likely to be. Crush injuries can lead to damage to internal organs, neurological issues, amputations, and other long-term complications.
Bone Fractures
A broken bone—on its own—is rarely a catastrophic injury. People can heal from even severe breaks with surgery, therapy, and other treatments. However, when a person has multiple bone fractures, recovery time gets much longer. People may also be immobilized during recovery, which can lead to loss of strength and muscle capacity. Some people may never recover from these cumulative injuries.
Burns
Second or third-degree burns over extensive parts of the body can lead to disfigurement, the need for multiple surgeries, lung damage, restricted muscle movement, and more. In some instances, burns can have a lifelong impact on quality of life and even shorten the person’s lifespan.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a relatively common type of catastrophic injury. Some TBIs are mild—these are known as concussions. An individual concussion is unlikely to result in lifelong changes, but a series of concussions can lead to tremendous cognitive disruptions. Moderate or severe brain injuries may never heal. They can impact everything about a person, from the ability to physically move their body to their personality and cognitive abilities.
Spinal Cord Damage
Spinal cord injuries can also lead to lifelong trauma. When an injury compresses the spinal cord, it can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis, substantial back pain, and limited movement. If an accident severs the spinal column, the paralysis is permanent.
A Modesto attorney can review the details surrounding an injury in more detail to let a person know whether it qualifies as catastrophic and what their claim could be worth.
Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
Multiple events can lead to catastrophic injuries. Some of these include:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle wrecks
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Sports accidents
- Workplace accidents
A Modesto attorney can gather evidence to prove the relationship between an event and a catastrophic injury, as well as ensure any settlement offers or award amounts adequately reflect the full extent of an injured person’s needs. Our team is also available 24/7 and can arrange transportation for an injured person or travel to them if needed. We also work on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not get paid unless we are successful in winning compensation.
Get the Help of a Modesto Catastrophic Injury Attorney
When you have a catastrophic injury, the aftermath is often overwhelming. You have to juggle the loss of work with physical pain and invasive and painful medical procedures. You do not have to do it alone. Call us to set up a consultation with a Modesto catastrophic injury lawyer.