How a Catastrophic Injury Affects Your Personal Injury Claim

Whether it occurred through a car accident, slip and fall or in the workplace, a personal injury affects every aspect of life; from the ability to move comfortably, chronic pain, and even the need for regular professional care.

What is a Catastrophic Injury?

Although there is no technical definition, a catastrophic injury usually is referred to do to the level of debilitation caused by the injury. A personal injury is normally classified as catastrophic when it is so severe that it leads to long-term or even permanent disfigurement and/or disability. These types of injuries require a grueling recovery process, often multiple surgeries and sometimes medical treatment for a lifetime with many unable to return to work.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Personal injury claims can vary, depending on the severity of the trauma to the body.

Here are a few types (but not limited to) of injuries that would be considered catastrophic:

• Multiple broken or fractured bones
• Severe burns that require things such as skin
• An injury that requires amputation
• Work-related exposure to harmful substances and chemicals
• Trauma or damage to brain tissue
• Wounds of any kind to the spinal cord

How Does This Affect My Personal Injury Claim?

A catastrophic injury can often permanently prevent the injured from performing any type of physical work in their chosen field of employment or sometimes any other field. This can leave an individual, not only suffering from the injury but also the weight of how to support their family. Although many states have a cap for personal injury claims, catastrophic injuries are covered with much higher limits of compensation. Your payment should include enough funding to cover the expenses needed for the future.

This should include no less than:

• Regular health care for the injury
  For example, if you hurt your back or neck, to function in day to day life you will need regular visits to the chiropractor or steroid injections to allow you to walk.
• Future surgeries that may be needed
  Often after an injury, it can be fixed quickly to save the person’s life, however, will need future repairs in the years to come.
• Lost wages from inability to work
  When seriously injured, we have no ability to function as an employee, no matter what our profession. This means that no paychecks are coming in, so the bills begin to pile up.
• Pain and suffering
  Any catastrophic injury comes with lengthy healing time. As our bodies recover, we must push ourselves to the limit of strength so that we may return to our usual self. This involves a lot of painful exercises.
• Treatment to ensure the patient’s return to health
  From physical therapy to regular doctor visits for medication, these things are necessary after an injury so that we may survive.

A catastrophic injury will affect your entire life. You will need a team of support to ensure that you get the help that you need.

Serving Houston and the surrounding areas for over two decades, the law firm of Goldenzweig Law Group, PLLC are a team of full-service accident and personal injury lawyers. We are committed to ensuring that you get the compensation you deserve.

If you think you have a catastrophic injury and need a lawyer, call us today at (713) 609-1930.