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WHAT’S CONSIDERED A CATASTROPHIC INJURY?

On Behalf of | Dec 1, 2020 | Personal Injury, Spinal Cord Injuries

Any injury can be difficult, especially when it impacts your entire life, including the ability to work and the possibility of needing long-term medical treatment. In the world of personal injury law, some injuries are more serious than others, and these are labeled catastrophic injuries.

The injuries are some of the most difficult injuries for someone to experience. More often than not, they are the result of negligence in different ways, but no matter the cause of the injury, if you or a loved one is injured you should be able to seek damages from the party responsible for your injuries to help cover any expenses associated with the harm that was caused.

If you have a good understanding of what catastrophic injuries are, that can help you with legal action should you or a loved one be hurt due to the negligence of someone else’s actions. Here are some common catastrophic injuries and what you can do to move forward with an injury claim.

SPINAL CORD DAMAGE

Imagine being at work and slipping and falling on the staircase. Or worse, imagine being on a construction site and falling from a high scaffolding, and landing on your back. Falling on your back and neck could potentially cause serious damage to your spinal cord.

Spinal cord damage can have catastrophic results such as problems with discs, nerve damage, and in some worse situations, paralysis, meaning the injured individual could lose complete mobility due to their injuries.

The lifelong costs associated with a paralysis diagnosis is upwards of $1 million, making it imperative for the injured party to take legal action against the responsible party and seek compensation for their damages through the civil justice system. Doing this can help with physical therapy, continuing medical expenses, and any customizations that may be required to their homes and vehicles.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

A lot of people have had or seen forms of traumatic brain injuries such as a concussion, but too often brain injuries can be more severe that a simple concussion. The Glasgow Coma scale is used to determine the severity of the brain injury and is based on a person’s cognitive abilities and functionality.

Some of the more serious brain injuries can result in the injured party falling into a coma, or worse, dying. Long-term results of traumatic brain injuries can include cognitive and developmental delays, such as difficulty swallowing and speaking, communication problems, behavioral issues, and more.

The following are different situation in which traumatic brain injuries can be sustained:

  • Car accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Slip and falls
  • Assault

Any of these situations could be a result of negligence, so it is important for the injured parties to understand their rights to pursue compensation against the negligent party.

SERIOUS BURNS

Some causes of burns include flames, scalding hot water, contact with hot items, and more. These types of burns can come from different businesses and industries in which negligence can result in an individual making contact with the heat source.

If this is the case, the negligence could have caused a significant burn, which would be categorized as first, second, or third-degree burns. Depending on the seriousness of the burn, the injured party may experience severe damage to the upper and lower layers of their skin, muscles, nerves, and more.

TAKING LEGAL ACTION WHEN IT’S NECESSARY

It is unfortunate that there are many types of injuries that result in catastrophic injury due to negligence. You deserve the right to hold the negligent party accountable and seek compensation for damages if this has happened and someone else is responsible for the harm that was caused to you or your loved.

At Hardee, Massey & Blodgett, we understand just how serious these matters are, and we are dedicated to protecting the rights of the injured. You can trust that we will work hard for you and to prove that your injuries were caused by the negligence of another party and hold them accountable.

Our Greenville, North Carolina catastrophic injury lawyers are just a phone call away. When you need us most, you can be assured that we make your best interest our top priority and our team will be dedicated to helping you navigate the complicated legal process that lies ahead of you.

Call us today at 252-378-2525 and speak with an experienced team committed to your needs.