Yes, you can sustain a severe injury in a car accident. But, what exactly is considered a catastrophic injury?
The Lawyer's Monthly states that there is no definition of catastrophic injuries in any law book or legal journal. Instead, they are defined by the legal and insurance community on a case-by–case basis. If you or a loved one sustained a severe injury, after you seek medical treatment for the injury, consult with an accident lawyer, because they will be able to take into account many factors including:
- Was your injury severe enough to require a long hospital stay?
- After your hospital discharge, did you require extensive physical or occupational therapy?
- Was your injury a partial or complete disablement?
- It was necessary to use a prosthesis or wheelchair for the rest your life?
- It left you with disfiguring scars on your face, especially if it was a permanent one?
- It had an impact on your ability to find or keep employment.
This is just one of the many benefits to getting an experienced accident attorney to represent you in your claim against the responsible party. When interviewing potential injury firms, be sure to ask the right questions before hiring the services of an accident lawyer.
Examples of catastrophic injuries
Experts agree that the following are all considered catastrophic injuries.
- Paraplegia and quadriplegia can be caused by spinal cord injuries
- Amputations of one or more limbs can result from crush injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries can cause a variety of ongoing problems such as cognitive issues and mobility issues.
- Eye injuries that cause complete or partial blindness or substantial loss of vision
- Traumas to the ear that cause hearing loss or total deafness.
- Severe burn injuries resulting in lasting disfiguring scars
If your life is forever changed by the injury, then any car accident injury qualifies for catastrophic injury which will certainly impact the value of your claim. A catastrophic injury is something that you cannot fully recover from and this is what your accident attorney will take to the courts and argue to increase your due compensation. Sadly, one of your greatest challenges will be adapting to your new normal. Feel free to contact Beharry Law to help get the compensation you deserve and need to get you through this easier.