An injury is considered to be catastrophic when it causes an individual to suffer permanent, life-altering harm. Even though minor injuries can lead to significant pain, lost wages, and medical bills, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of catastrophic injuries often last for years, if not for the remainder of a person’s life. To help a catastrophically injured person receive adequate and proper medical care, treatment, and rehabilitation in addition to compensation for pain and suffering, losses, and various damages, a San Diego catastrophic injury attorney will gather evidence, witness testimony, and medical documents to ensure that negligent parties are held liable.
Types of Catastrophic Injury
Being involved in an accident that results in injury is never easy; however, a catastrophic injury accident presents many long-term challenges. Some of the most frequently experienced catastrophic injuries include the following:
Burn Injury – Though usually caused by heat from either fires or dangerous products, burn injuries are also the result of chemicals, electricity, or radiation. While the majority of burns damage the skin, others are capable of causing severe damage to deeper tissues like muscle, bone, and blood vessels. The most serious consequences of catastrophic burn injuries are disfigurement, disabling scars, amputation, infection, and respiratory distress.
Loss of Limb – Although limb loss can result from infection, diabetes, vascular disease, cancer, and other diseases, trauma is also a major cause. On top of significant pain, the loss of a limb such as an arm or leg can cause tremendous emotional distress as well as mobility, personal care, and livelihood limitations.
Neurological Disorder – Abnormalities on a structural, biochemical, or electrical level within the brain, spinal cord, and/or nerves leading to or from them, may be considered a neurological disorder. Some common types are seizures, paralysis, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, confusion, sensation loss, and distorted levels of consciousness.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – A bump, jolt, or blow to the head as well as a penetrating object can cause a mild or severe brain injury. A catastrophic brain trauma often leads to amnesia, behavior changes, or a long period of unconsciousness. A closed brain injury is brought about by movement of the brain within the skull and a penetrating brain injury is brought about by a foreign object entering the skull.
Spinal Cord Injury – Often resulting from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from injury to bones, tissues, and/or blood vessels, spinal cord injuries affect the functions of other body parts and systems. Cuts, bleeding, fluid accumulation, and swelling can damage and compress the spinal cord.
Causes of Catastrophic Injury
The above list of catastrophic injuries are most commonly the results of motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle crashes; slip and fall accidents; industrial accidents; and other causes ranging from assault to sports injuries. In many of these types of incidents, another person’s negligence or a group’s oversight is determined to be the cause. As such, a catastrophic injury victim has legal rights and options in their pursuit of justice and compensation from responsible parties.
Helping You Obtain Rightful Compensation
Our catastrophic injury lawyers in San Diego go above and beyond for our clients who have suffered debilitating injuries due to another’s negligent or reckless behavior. With our many years of experience protecting the rights of catastrophic injury victims in a wide range of accidents, you can focus on healing and rehabilitating while we work to obtain full and just compensation on your behalf. Contact our firm today for a free consultation and learn more about how we can be of assistance.