The severity of an injury that results from an accident can vary depending on individual circumstances, such as how the injury occurred and the physical health and condition of the victim prior to the incident. A minor fender-bender, for example, may only result in a few scrapes and bruises, whereas a severe head-on collision may have more tragic and devastating results. Catastrophic injuries typically occur after more serious accidents and often leave the injured victim disabled for the rest of their life. In extreme cases, catastrophic injuries can even result in death.

Not only do catastrophic injuries result in severe physical deformities and disabilities, but they are also expensive to treat, can leave you unable to work and earn an income, and can have a negative impact on your mental health. It’s important, for this reason, to make sure your injury is properly categorized and seen as catastrophic to ensure you get the compensation you need to move on with your life as best as you can.

If you experience a catastrophic injury as a result of an accident, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you seek justice and get the compensation you deserve. Proving the extent of an injury and how it has altered your life can be challenging. There is often more to it than simply showing proof of your injury. However, an attorney can advocate for your rights and help you gather all relative evidence to ensure you are awarded as much money as possible.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

It is not uncommon in personal injury cases for insurers to downplay a victim’s injury to avoid paying large sums of money. You will need to understand what constitutes a catastrophic injury if you want to be able to advocate for your rights and fight against insurance companies to get the full amount of compensation you deserve.

For an injury to be labeled catastrophic, it must meet a certain threshold that shows that the victim will suffer more than usual for a standard personal injury claim. Essentially, the injury must:

• Alter the victim’s quality of life
• Require long-term care or special accommodations
• Leave the victim permanently disfigured or disabled
• Impair the victims’ ability to make a living

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Common types of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries that result in permanent brain damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Amputation
• Loss of eyesight
• Loss of bodily functions
• Severe damage to internal organs
• Crushed bones
• Death

Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Life-altering injuries can happen in any number of ways. They can occur purely by accident but often result from someone else’s negligence. Some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries include the following:

• Severe car accidents
• Semi-truck accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Sporting accidents
• Slips and falls
• Medical malpractice

Pursuing a Personal Injury Claim for a Catastrophic Injury

If you are pursuing a personal injury claim or even a lawsuit for a life-altering injury, you will need an experienced attorney on your side to advocate on your behalf. Catastrophic injuries deserve the highest damages possible, but being awarded those damages is not always easy. You will likely have to fight against the insurance company to prove to them and the court that your injury has drastically altered your life, resulting in expensive medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of income.

Damages you can be awarded for a catastrophic injury claim include:

• Compensation for medical bills
• Compensation for ongoing treatments and therapy
• Compensation for loss of income if you are unable to work or work at full capacity
• Compensation for physical pain and suffering
• Compensation for mental and emotional suffering
• Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life

If the injury results in death, the family and loved ones of the victim can file a wrongful death claim for compensation. Damages awarded in wrongful death cases can help loved ones cover the cost of childcare, funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of income.

Poynter & Bucheri Accident Recovery — Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys

Personal injury attorneys play an essential role in catastrophic injury cases. They can fight for your rights and ensure that you and your loved ones are awarded the full amount of compensation you deserve. At Poynter & Bucheri, our team of compassionate attorneys is dedicated to helping injured victims and their families seek justice and get the money they need to help cover all injury-related expenses, including compensation for the emotional toll a life-altering injury can take on a person’s mental health and wellbeing.

Don’t hesitate — one of our experienced attorneys can assist you right away. Call 1-800-265-9881 for a free case review.