Personal injuries tend to range in severity and nature. Of all these injuries, the most severe have the most significant impact on the victim’s life. They may cause chronic pain and require extensive treatment, rehabilitation, and aftercare. Below, we delve into the legal catastrophic injury definition. We also tell you how a personal injury attorney may help you recover financially.
The Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys with El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers are ready to help you seek compensation for your catastrophic injury. Please contact us to discuss your legal rights.
Legal Definition for Catastrophic Injuries
The 42 U.S. Code § 3796b defines a catastrophic injury as one that ‘permanently prevents an individual from performing any gainful work.’ Generally, it is any injury that derails your career, personal life, family life, and relationships. People with catastrophic injuries will often require extensive medical treatment, ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term assistance.
In extreme cases, the victim of a catastrophic injury may require a long period to recover from the injury and could struggle physically, emotionally, and financially for months or even years following the accident. The main purpose of compensation in such cases is to help the injured party support themselves.
Examples of Catastrophic Injuries
The federal law that deals with catastrophic injuries offer a definition that is used in all the states in the country. Basically, any injury that has a permanent effect on aspects of your life can be considered a catastrophic injury. Some common examples include:
- Spinal cord injury
- Permanent lung damage
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Amputations
- Severe comas
- Severe burns
- Internal organ damage
- Permanent cognitive impairment
- Multiple bone fractures
Besides establishing that your injury is catastrophic, your attorney will also work to link it to a liable party. This will allow you to recover compensation for your injury-related losses.
Damages in a Catastrophic Injury Case
Catastrophic injuries have life-altering and far-reaching implications on the victim. This, coupled with the significant financial losses they cause, means that claims tend to settle for higher payouts than the typical personal injury case. Some cases have even recorded multimillion-dollar verdicts
Despite the large numbers involved in catastrophic injury settlements, you would be mistaken to think that the victim received a windfall. These injuries cause enormous losses, including a lifetime of expensive medical treatment, therapy, aftercare, lost income, and pain and suffering.
The damage caused by a catastrophic injury is lifelong and crippling, which means the money only helps provide some degree of financial stability. Given a choice, most victims would trade their settlement for their life before the injury.
That said, a personal injury settlement can provide hope.
Talk to a Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney
The legal catastrophic injury definition bellies the impacts of a severe, life-altering injury on the life of a victim. In all honesty, no amount of money can take away the pain of a catastrophic injury but it can at least provide some financial stability.
At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, we believe in pursuing the best results. If you have been injured in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, we are ready to help. Contact us today at 888-544-1438 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys.