Justia Lawyer Rating
Justia Lawyer Rating
National Bar Association
Fort Bend County Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
HLA
United States District Court of Southern Texas
Texas Supreme Court
Avvo Reviews Badge
Texas Bar College
Expertise Best Divorce Lawyers in Houston

What Is Considered a 'Catastrophic' Injury?

Press play to listen to this article.

Catastrophic injuries include spinal cord injuries, especially if they're partial or total paralysis. Severe spine injuries. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Other severe head injuries. Loss of limbs. Severe burns. Disfigurement and significant scarred. Long-term disabilities. Any injury that results in a long-term or permanent disability that significantly disrupted the plaintiff's life, including the inability to work. Intensive medical treatments and/or long-term care.

"Severe" Harm In a Personal Injury Case Can Be Relative

Catastrophic injuries may be defined by the degree of damage done to a victim's body. A single mother of three might come away from a car accident with a head injury that prevents her ability to work or care for her children at home. A professional skier might break both of his legs in a skiing accident, and the strength and stability in his knees never recover to pre-accident levels.

Extra Payout (and Extra Challenges) In Cases Involving Severe Injuries

The most important thing when dealing with a personal injury claim is to understand how much money you're going to need to pay for medical bills and lost wages. The more serious your injuries are, the higher the cost of medical care will be. You'll probably need to hire a lawyer who knows about personal injury cases. On the non-economic side of things, the plaintiff's "pain and suffering", emotional distress, and other such subjective types of damages will require the plaintiff to provide evidence through his or her own testimony and that of various medical professionals.

Catastrophic Injury Verdicts and Settlements

Plaintiff suffered catastrophic injuries when the defendant ran a red light and crashed into his car. The defendant was found liable for $50 million. A construction worker suffered severe brain injuries after he fell from a scaffold. He received $27 million in damages. A physician failed to intubate a patient, causing the patient to suffer brain damage. He was awarded $17 million. Oil on the decking sheets caused this accident. Ironworkers should be careful when working on roofs because there are always risks involved. This man could've been saved if he had been more careful.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Most of us will experience a Car Accident at some point in our lives. Some of us will experience a serious car accident that leaves us with catastrophic Injuries. Catastrophic injuries cause a person to lose control of their body. A person could be driving to pick up her kids from school, and within a few short seconds, her life could change forever after suffering a catastrophic injury. During the 5 seconds, it takes for another driver to look down and check a text message, a devasting head-on collision can occur.

Catastrophic injuries can result after any type of car accident. Some injuries are more serious than others. The most common types of injuries include broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord injury, internal bleeding, brain damage, and death.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are serious because they can be fatal. Traumatic brain injuries occur when the brain slams into something hard or gets injured by a sharp object. A person who sustains a brain injury might lose consciousness or suffer seizures. Someone who dies after sustaining a brain injury was probably unconscious before he died. You should get a thorough medical exam after an accident. Your doctor will check your head for signs of trauma and see if you have any other symptoms of brain damage. This will help you prove that your accident was responsible for your brain injury.

Internal Organ Damage

Internal organ damage is another type of catastrophic injury that can result in car accidents. As with head injuries, internal organ damage is life-threatening. But, it can be difficult to detect immediately after the crash. Victims of car crashes who suffer from internal organ damage often pass away en route to the hospital. If victims survive, they may need multiple surgeries and lengthy hospital stays. When organs are damaged, people can develop permanent disabilities and impairments.

Severe Bone Fractures

Bone fractures are very serious injuries. Compound fractures are especially dangerous because they can penetrate the skin. Fractures caused by accidents must be treated surgically.A patient needs to be treated for a fractured hip bone. He/she may have to wait several months before returning to work or other daily activities. An elderly individual may experience difficulties moving around.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury can be devastating. Depending upon the location of the injury, it can result in quadriplegia or paralysis of both arms and legs. When the injury is located in the neck area, victims may suffer from quadriplegia. When the injury is lower down the spine, victims may only experience paralysis in their legs. A catastrophic spinal cord injury can cost millions of dollars in medical bills and lost wages over a patient's lifetime. You should consult an attorney in Harris County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, Texas at Thornton Esquire Law Group, PLLC, who specializes in personal injury cases before filing a claim.

Catastrophic Injury Claims

Catastrophic injuries are serious injuries that last long after an accident. These injuries often require surgery and other expensive treatments. A catastrophic injury lawyer knows what questions to ask about your injuries, and he also knows how to handle the insurance company. He will help you get the compensation you deserve. Compensation for injuries is available to you if you've been injured by someone else's negligence or carelessness.

Compensation You May Be Entitled to for a Catastrophic Injury

You may be able to get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Your lawyer should contact you as soon as possible. Our attorney has handled hundreds of catastrophic injury cases. We've seen many different types of injuries, including brain damage, spinal cord damage, traumatic amputation, broken bones, burns, and even death. We know how to handle these kinds of cases because we've been handling them for years. Call us today at www.thorntonesquirelawgroup.com to schedule your free consultation.

If You Have Suffered a Catastrophic Injury, Call Our Catastrophic Injury Attorney Today

At Thornton Esquire Law Group, PLLC, a personal injuries lawyer will discuss your options and fight for justice on behalf of you and your family. We will handle the litigation of your case so you or your loved ones can focus on healing.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Selecting an attorney can be one of the most difficult decisions a person has to make. In what seems like an overwhelming sea of attorneys who do you choose? Are they qualified, compassionate, and are they willing to fight for you without compromising their integrity? When faced with this decision in 2016 I received this and more when I retained Rahlita Thornton as my attorney. Since 2016 she has represented me on several court cases and I've never been disappointed. She is well versed and very knowledgeable on many aspects of the law. Attorney Thornton and her staff work diligently to ensure no stone is left unturned and justice is served. When I was crippled with fear, bullied, and felt like giving up she was my voice. She is highly recommend and I'm truly blessed to have her in my life. TTW
★★★★★
It was a divine power that drove me to call. There are ton of lawyers online but I knew this attorney was the one for me. C.B., Divorce Client
★★★★★
Attention & communication is very good when working with this professional legal team. They are here to help you whenever questions arise and explain details as they go. Thank you for taking the time to accept my case & working with me. P.L.