What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in Kansas City?
Catastrophic injuries are injuries that will impact you long-term or for the rest of your life. Such injuries may be caused by tragedies such as workplace accidents, medical malpractice, and car accidents. Catastrophic injuries affect your life a substantial amount. If you’ve been left with a catastrophic injury, then you should consult a personal injury lawyer. Catastrophic injury claims often lead to large settlements for the victim.
What Are Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries?
Most people will likely think of a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury when they think of what a catastrophic injury is. However, there are many other types of catastrophic injuries. Car accidents, work accidents, and many other types of accidents can result in catastrophic injuries, such as those listed below.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Back and neck injuries may result in spinal cord injuries. This type of catastrophic injury can lead to paralysis, chronic pain, decreased function of one or more body parts, and more. A spinal cord injury may leave you with a lifelong disability.
Amputation
If you lose a limb or have to have a limb amputated, then you’ve sustained a catastrophic injury. Losing a body part impacts you for the rest of your life. This type of catastrophic injury can make it harder or impossible for you to work, and it may decrease your quality of life.
Hearing or Sight Loss
Losing one of your senses can severely impact your quality of life. Many people who sustain this type of catastrophic injury are left unable to take on gainful work again. This type of injury may also leave you reliant on others.
Facial Deformity
Facial deformities may severely impact your mental health. They might also make it harder to do some day-to-day tasks. Chewing is one function that may be severely impacted by this type of injury.
Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can lead to your child being disabled for life. Usually, these injuries occur due to medical negligence. A parent may make a claim on behalf of the child, or a child who sustained a birth injury may claim once they turn 18.
Severe Burns
Severe burns can lead to scarring and disfigurement. This may make it harder to live your life. Sometimes burn scars impact the function of the scarred limbs, making it difficult or impossible to work.
Nerve Damage
Injuries that impact your central nervous system can leave you with long-lasting damage. This damage may make it harder to function. If your motor function is impacted, then it can be harder to do day-to-day tasks and work.
Brain Injury
Sustaining head trauma can lead to a brain injury. Brain injuries may impact you long-term or for life. Both major and minor brain injuries can severely impact your functioning.
Organ Damage
Severe damage to one or more organs may impact your quality of life. You may need a transplant in the future, and you may require medical treatment for life.
What Causes Catastrophic Injuries?
Catastrophic injuries have many potential causes. They’re usually caused by some kind of accident, such as:
- Automobile accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Accidents at work, such as construction accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Accidents caused by defective products
- Medical negligence
- Defective products
A victim of a catastrophic injury may be left with long-lasting or permanent damage. Medical treatment and physical therapy may go on for years after the catastrophic injury occurs.
What Kind of Compensation Can I Get for Catastrophic Injuries?
Many people start looking into personal injury claims after a catastrophic injury. Several types of damages may be awarded in catastrophic injury cases. Below are just some of the things people may be compensated for in catastrophic injury claims.
Medical Expenses
Medical bills can be very high after a severe injury. Some catastrophic injuries can lead to medical problems that last a lifetime, leading to ongoing treatment. You may be able to recover compensation for any current and future medical expenses you have relating to your catastrophic injury.
Lost Wages
People who’ve suffered a catastrophic physical injury are often left unable to work again. You may be able to recover compensation for the wages you would’ve earned throughout your life if you’d been able to keep working. If you are only out of work temporarily, then you may be able to receive compensation for the period spent not working.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are intended to reimburse you for things you can’t place a financial value on. Things non-economic damages may be awarded for include:
- Mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Physical pain
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive Damages
The person liable for your catastrophic injuries may be ordered to pay damages intended to punish them. Sometimes these damages are used to make an example of the person who caused your catastrophic injuries, too. These damages aren’t awarded in every case.
If you or one of your family members have suffered a catastrophic injury after an accident, then you should look into making a personal injury claim. Contact Wendt Law Firm P.C. at 816-542-6734 to get in touch with experienced lawyers who regularly handle personal injury lawsuits.