What Are Catastrophic Accidents
While all accidents could act as a life-changing event, nothing quite compares to what is known as a catastrophic accident. A maritime accident lawyer is here to share:
- What a catastrophic accident is
- Common injuries caused by a catastrophic accident
- Common accidents sometimes deemed as catastrophic.
This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not meant to act as a substitute for legal advice. If you think you’ve been in a catastrophic accident, set up a consultation with a licensed and experienced personal injury attorney known for representing victims of catastrophic accidents.
What Is A Catastrophic Accident?
In plain English, a catastrophic accident is an accident that is so severe that it changes how you’ll live for the rest of your life. There are three key points that help you know if you’ve been in a catastrophic accident. These include:
- Severe injuries or trauma to the head, spine, or other important body systems
- They cause a long-term impact on the victim.
- There are significant expenses associated with care after the accident.
You may have significant injuries that last you for the rest of your life. In fact, you may be deemed as disabled after the accident. You may need to use assistive devices for a long period of time. For example, you may become wheelchair bound. You may need the wheelchair for the rest of your life. It may also be necessary to spend a length of time in a hospital or a rehabilitative center.
Common Injuries Caused By Catastrophic Accidents?
As our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC can share, some of the most common injuries caused by a catastrophic accident may include and not limited to:
- Spinal injuries, including but not limited to paralysis
- Serious traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation of limbs or digits
- Serious burns across the body
- Damage to internal organs
- Multiple bone fractures
- Loss of vision or hearing
- Major facial injuries
Common Accidents Likely To Be Dubbed Catastrophic
Some common accidents likely to be catastrophic include and may not be limited to:
- A vehicle accident resulting in paralysis
- Accidents that occur on a construction site, such as falling from height
- An on-the-job accident that results in serious burns
- An accident that causes the loss of a limb
- Any type of accident that causes an injury to the spine or spinal cord.
This is not a comprehensive list of accidents but rather a small sampling to give you an idea of how these injuries occur. Remember, a catastrophic injury is any injury sustained that changes the way you might live your life. Injuries that are major but are not necessarily catastrophic would be something like a broken arm which disrupts your life for a bit, but it heals on its own and you are able to return to your regular schedule. Catastrophic injuries are long lasting and mean you will never return to your regular schedule.
If you or someone you love has experienced an injury such as this, reach out to an attorney near you for help immediately.