What makes an injury catastrophic?

On Behalf of Holmes & Wiseley, P.C.

Unfortunately, many Grand Rapids area families have had the experience of dealing with a catastrophic injury. These injuries can affect a person for the rest of their lives. Many of these injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence and it is important for families to know that they may qualify for compensation.

You may have heard the term “catastrophic injury” before but what does that really mean?

The different types of catastrophic injuries

The following are four of the most common catastrophic injuries because of the impact they have on a person’s life.

• Amputations: When an injury to a specific body part causes the victim to lose one of their limbs in an amputation it is catastrophic.
• Burn injuries: Explosions, fires, electrocutions, etc. can all cause a person to suffer severe burin injuries. More severe burn injuries can impact a victim’s nerves, tissue and muscle. Long-term treatment is often required for burn injuries.
• Spinal code injuries: if a person’s spinal cord is damaged it can cause paralysis. Depending on the severity of the injury, the paralysis can be partial or total. A victim may be paralyzed in their lower extremities or their entire body.
• Traumatic brain injuries: When a victim has sudden impact or trauma to their head it can cause a brain injury. These injuries can result in loss of consciousness, cognitive issues, memory problems, and have many long-term effects.

Coping with the effects of a catastrophic injury

A legal professional who is skilled in catastrophic injuries can help a family who is dealing with the unimaginable trauma of an unexpected accident and injuries. An attorney understands that families who are dealing with major injuries caused by an accident have legal rights. They can identify the negligent party and negotiate to win maximum compensation for their client. This compensation can be for lost wages, medical bills, long-term hospitalization costs, therapy expenses, replacement of a vehicle, etc. Victims of catastrophic accidents have the legal right to hold the negligent party responsible for their mistake.

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