While any injury suffered at the hands of a negligent party
can be immensely distressing, injuries which result in life-altering
debilitation are particularly devastating. Known by many legal professionals as
“catastrophic
injuries,” these injuries are so severe in nature that they permanently
prevent an individual from performing any sort of gainful work.
While there is no strict legal definition which determines
what a catastrophic injury is, it generally accepted that a catastrophic injury
is one that causes either permanent or long-term disfigurement or disability.
In many cases, catastrophic injuries require a lifetime of surgeries and
medical treatments and cannot be fully recovered from. Frequently occurring
without warning, these injuries can occur under a wide range of circumstances,
including car
accidents, motorcycle
accidents, construction
accidents, severe animal
attacks, medical malpractice, and accidents involving dangerous or defective
products.
Some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries
include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burn injuries
- Vision or hearing loss
- Severe back or neck injuries
Compensation for Long-Term Damages
Most personal injury
claims have clearly defined costs associated with them. For example, if a
person suffers a broken arm in a car accident, they will incur certain
measurable costs for their medical treatments, lost wages, and other
out-of-pocket expenses. Once these costs are added up, a multiplier of 1
through 5 will be applied to determine an appropriate amount of pain and
suffering.
On the flipside, catastrophic injuries have ongoing,
open-ended costs which can be far more difficult to associate with a specific
dollar amount. In these cases, compensation is based on the severity of a
person’s “residual injuries,” or any type of injury which cannot be fully
recovered from. Generally speaking, the more serious the injury, the higher
compensation they are entitled to receive.
Suffered a Catastrophic Injury?
At Cohn & Swartzon, P.C., our Orange County personal
injury lawyers have been fighting to protect the rights of catastrophically
injured individuals and their families for more than 30 years and have recovered
more than $50 million dollars on our clients’ behalf. If you or a loved one has
been left permanently injured due to another party’s carelessness, our powerful
advocates can protect your rights and maximize your chances of securing every
penny’s worth of your entitled compensation.
Call (888) 480-3883
or fill out an online form today to get started towards pursing
justice.
