Catastrophic injuries can be extremely traumatizing and expensive. They affect the victims and their loved ones financially, emotionally, and physically. Catastrophic injuries increase the compensable losses of the victim and the value of the case because it is life-impacting, may lead to a permanent disability, and may prevent the victim from engaging in any gainful employment.
If you’ve suffered catastrophic injuries while involved in any personal injury accident, you have the right to seek retribution and compensation for damages incurred as a result of the accident. We at Bojat Law Group are committed to giving you the best legal assistance you require to hold the at-fault party accountable and help you obtain maximum compensation for damages and losses incurred.
Learn everything about catastrophic injuries Camarillo, what is considered a catastrophic injury, types of catastrophic injuries, causes of catastrophic injuries, who is responsible for a catastrophic injury, impacts of catastrophic injuries, damage claim in a personal injury lawsuit, and why you need to employ the services of an experienced personal injury attorney.
What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
From a legal viewpoint, catastrophic injuries are personal injuries that deserve a higher level of compensation due to the considerable life-changing and long-term impacts they have on victims.
Generally, catastrophic injuries are injuries that may require long-term medical treatments, cause permanent disability, significant scarring, disfigurement, and disrupts the victim’s ability to earn a living. Catastrophic injuries may not always be lifelong, or permanent, but it may take longer periods to heal from one.
The Types of Catastrophic Injuries
The following are injuries that can be termed “catastrophic”. They are:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Eye injury
- Facial injury
- Crush injury
- Amputation
- Paralysis and nerve damage.
- Any injury that results in loss of sexual function
- Neurological damage.
- Severe burns
- Injuries that result in significant scarring, deformity, and disfigurement.
The Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
The causes of catastrophic injuries are endless. Here are a few causes of catastrophic injuries.
- Automobile accidents, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and so on.
- Defective products.
- Medical malpractice.
- Physical assault.
- Workplace accidents.
- Bicycle accidents.
- Violent crime.
- Fall from heights.
- Slips and falls.
Who Is Responsible for a Catastrophic Injury?
To file a personal injury claim, you have to determine the person responsible for the accident. If the injuries suffered were a result of negligence, caused by an intentional act, or a defective product, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit. Sometimes, more than one person may have played a role in the injuries suffered, and to determine who is responsible, specific factors have to be put into consideration, the situation and cause of the accident.
Depending on the situation and the cause of your accident, the party at fault could be your employer, your doctor, nurse, or hospital, the motor vehicle that caused your accident, a defective product, and so on. It is imperative to seek the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer to help investigate your case and determine the parties who may be responsible for your injuries.
The Impacts of Catastrophic Injuries
The impacts of catastrophic injuries on a victim’s life are numerous. It impacts the victim’s everyday life and ability to perform tasks or even earn a living. They usually result in long-term consequences such as;
Emotional trauma – catastrophic injuries may result in long-term emotional trauma, due to the substantial amount of physical pain victims suffer, disfigurement, and the effects of not being able to perform simple tasks. Emotional trauma may lead to alcohol or drug addiction.
Long-term medical treatments – catastrophic injuries usually result in long-term medical treatments, follow-up visits, and even the possibility of future surgeries.
Financial struggles – victims usually suffer financial struggles as a result of medical treatments, surgeries, adaptive devices needed, and lost wages. Treatments for catastrophic injuries are incredibly expensive and may add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Sensory complications – victims may suffer long-term sensory complications and defects, including loss of taste, smell, hearing, vision problems, and other motor sensory complications such as a lack of coordination, lack of balance, seizures, and even paralysis.
Long-term physical pain – victims usually suffer long-term physical pain.
Damage Claim in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
While catastrophic injuries deserve a higher level of compensation, the extent of damages claimed is based on the nature and seriousness of the victim’s injuries. Here are the damages that can be claimed in a catastrophic personal injury lawsuit.
- Economic damages – loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, coverage of medical expenses both future and present, and other costs.
- Non-economic damages – loss of quality of life and enjoyment, compensation for pain and suffering, disability, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, and other intangible losses suffered.
- Punitive damages – an additional amount serving to punish the party at fault, and to prevent others from engaging in similar behavior.
Why Do You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer?
You need to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you file a lawsuit for damages incurred, help investigate the parties that may be responsible for your accident, negotiate fair compensation on your behalf, and represent you in a jury trial when a favorable compensation cannot be agreed upon.
Insurance companies may tempt you with the promise of immediate funds, but it is important to know that they aren’t looking at your best interests or well-being. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is the best way to secure maximum compensation while putting your long-term well-being into consideration.
Conclusion
Though it may not be easy to calculate the full value of your personal injury claim, our experienced personal injury attorneys at Bojat Law Group, can help you obtain maximum compensation. Our legal team will assist you in calculating losses incurred, we have the resources to acquire expert analysis.