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What Constitutes A Catastrophic Injury?

A Introduction To Catastrophic Injuries In California

Unfortunately, some injuries are life-altering. When a victim suffers permanent injuries after an accident, they need all the support they can get. Medical bills, recovery expenses, and lost wages should be awarded to them as a way to get their lives back to some semblance of stability.


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What Does Catastrophic Injury Mean?

A catastrophic injury is one in which the repercussions of the accident permanently restrict an individual from performing any daily life activities. To put it another way, the person can no longer work and support themselves or their family after the accident.

An injury like this can be disastrous from a financial, legal, and emotional aspect. The victim has been robbed of a lifetime's worth of salary and benefits, as well as the sense of purpose and wholeness. Not to mention, they're often left with massive medical expenditures.

A person who has experienced a catastrophic accident may be able to afford costly retraining to learn new employment skills that are compatible with their current limits. Still, many victims may suffer from severe physical or cognitive disabilities that preclude them from working at all.


The Long-Term Consequences Of Catastrophic Injuries

The consequences of these injuries frequently extend far beyond the victim's professional life. For example, a person who is too disabled to work will rarely be able to travel, exercise, participate in favored hobbies or activities, or simply care for themselves on a daily basis as a healthy person would.


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In addition to the physical pain and suffering that undoubtedly accompany a severe and disabling injury, they may also suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that cause emotional torment.

And while there are already insurance payouts for situations like this, remember that insurance firms are—at the end of the day—businesses. It is in their best interest to give victims the lowest possible payouts for their cases.

To avoid getting intimidated into accepting a low payout, contact a California Catastrophic Accidents Attorney to get you the compensation you rightfully deserve.


Common Types Of Catastrophic Injuries

A few forms of injuries, in particular, tend to disturb the body's central nervous system, resulting in disastrous effects, according to most specialists. These injuries can include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Injuries to the spinal cord

  2. Injuries to the brain

  3. Severe, disfiguring burns

  4. Amputations

  5. Multiple fractures

  6. Permanent damage to the organs

  7. Hazardous chemical and substance exposure

Any incident that causes physical harm to the person can result in a catastrophic injury. However, certain types of incidents are more likely to result in these injuries than others. Vehicular accidents, for example, account for a significant fraction of catastrophic injuries, particularly those involving motorcycles or heavy trucks.

Which Accidents Are Most Likely To Cause Catastrophic Injuries?


Catastrophic injuries can happen in every circumstance. However, some accidents yield more unfortunate consequences than others.

Accidents that could result in catastrophic injuries include:

When you or a family member gets into any of these accidents, the medical expenses and overall income losses are significant. Therefore, you should find A California Personal Injury Lawyer as soon as possible.

Victim Compensation In Catastrophic Injury Cases


Because of the far-reaching consequences for victims' lives and the significant losses that follow from catastrophic injuries, the resulting lawsuits typically include much higher damages than a standard California Personal Injury Case.


Remember: When you factor in a lifetime's worth of lost wages, massive medical bills for ongoing and extensive medical treatment, and the victim's physical and emotional pain and suffering, these high-value verdicts merely provide the victim with some financial stability and security in the face of crippling lifelong losses.


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As mentioned, sometimes these damages aren't adequately taken into account by insurance firms. Wages, lost benefits, and medical bills are easy to prove with medical records and receipts, but what about future losses and emotional distress damages? Your California Personal Injury Attorney needs to be able to argue that these seemingly "intangible" losses have a monetary value to them.

Indeed, one undeniable truth from the realm of catastrophic injury law is that every sufferer would gladly trade any amount of money to return to the regular life they had before their injury. But, since that isn't an option, the legal system is their sole option for obtaining some form of justice and compensation.

Find A California Catastrophic Injury Attorney Near Me


No win, no fees! Gency.org can help you find a Contingency Lawyer for your Personal Injury Claims in California.

You can complete our submission form for a free case review.

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