What Are Catastrophic Injuries?

patient with a head injury

In personal injury law, insurance adjusters and legal teams consider some injuries more severe than others. Serious injuries, or “catastrophic injuries” in personal injury law, are those that impact someone’s entire life. If you suffer an injury because of someone else’s negligence and it is considered severe, you need to recognize your rights.

In these types of cases, you may be able to recover additional compensation for the long-term impacts you experience. Below, we’ll detail some of the catastrophic injuries and their impact they may have on your life, so you can recognize your rights.

These are the most serious injuries:

If you suffer a serious injury because of negligence, call our firm at (970) 292-7171 to learn your rights.

Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are some of the most severe you can sustain because they often result in mental and physical damages. You may experience cognitive problems among a number of other issues that impact your day-to-day tasks, your job, and more.

A brain injury can be minor – like a concussion or small bump – but in many cases, they leave you with long-term memory loss, balance and coordination issues, and more.

Spine Injuries

Spine and spinal cord injuries can be some of the most serious. While a spine injury can include something like a herniated disc, it’s possible that spinal cord damage can lead to paralysis. The long-term impact of a spinal cord injury is dependent on where the injury occurs along your spine. For instance:

  • A cervical spine injury (top portion of your spine) can result in quadriplegia that impacts all four limbs.
  • A thoracic spine injury (middle portion of your spine below the cervical spine) can result in paraplegia that impacts your lower limbs.
  • A lumbar spine injury (portion of your spine below your thoracic spine) can result in paraplegia or reduced hip function.
  • A sacral spine injury (lowest portion of your spine above your tailbone) can result in lost hip function, and bowel and bladder problems.

You may be able to walk with help after some spinal cord injuries, or it can impact your limb function completely.

Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are often diagnosed on a basis of first, second, third, or fourth degree. The severity of your burn injury often determines the symptoms and treatment options you may need. While many people sustain first and second-degree burns (such as sunburns or contact with hot liquids or items), those who sustain third and fourth-degree burns can experience lifelong damages.

The most severe burn injuries can result in nerve damage. These types of burns go deeper than the layers of skin and can impact your muscle, tissue, and more.

Broken Bones

Severe fractures can recover over time, but there are countless situations where they cause you to experience lifelong pain. Severe broken bones can heal incorrectly or create long-term problems, making them catastrophic. Broken bones can occur in car crashes, slip and falls, falls from heights, bicycle accidents, and several other issues involving negligence.

At Doehling Law, we’re committed to helping you understand your rights. We have spent our careers representing our clients in some of the most complex cases. If you have suffered a serious injury because of someone else’s negligence, you deserve the right to hold the liable party responsible for your damages.

Our Grand Junction serious injury attorneys go above and beyond when it matters most. When you need us most, we put your best interests first and pursue the maximum compensation possible. Let us be your voice and help you through the life-changing event you encounter.

For a free consultation and to learn how we put our more than 60 years of combined experience to work for you, we encourage you to call our firm today at (970) 292-7171.

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