Being involved in an accident can be scary and life-altering, especially if you suffer an injury. While all injuries can have a lasting impact on a person, catastrophic injuries are injuries that impact your long-term quality of life, job, daily life, and every aspect of your life. Below, we will discuss the common types of catastrophic injuries sustained in negligence-based accidents.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries
As we mentioned, catastrophic injuries are injuries that a permanent and prevent a person from having the same quality of life. Unlike whiplash, bruises, or broken bones, these injuries won’t be healed within a few weeks. Types of catastrophic injuries are:
- Amputations. Permanent disfigurement and the loss of a limb are considered catastrophic injuries. These injuries require constant rehabilitation and can lead to other serious health complications, and a person will have to learn to adapt to life without an extremity they’re used to having, which can impact their ability to work and aspects of their daily life. Amputations can occur in a variety of accidents, including but not limited to construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and explosions or fires.
- Birth injuries. Birth injuries are injuries to a mother and/or child during the pregnancy or birthing process. Many children suffering from birth injuries require specialized care and continued medical treatment and rehab. Child-related birth injuries include cerebral palsy, erb’s palsy, kernicterus, and spinal cord damage. Mothers can also sustain injuries, such as a ruptured uterus that can lead to other health issues and a need for ongoing care.
- Hearing and vision loss. The permanent loss of one of your sense is also a catastrophic injury. Accidents that cause head or facial trauma or traumatic brain injuries can also lead to damage to a person’s vision, sight, or other senses.
- Internal organ injuries. If a person suffers blunt force trauma to their body in an accident, their organs can be lacerated. In some cases, the organ can be repaired; however, in others, the organ may be damaged beyond repair, which is catastrophic and can have serious health implications.
- Paralysis. If a person is partially or totally paralyzed because of an accident, that is considered a catastrophic injury. Because of the spinal cord or brain damage sustained in an accident, a person may be permanently paralyzed.
- Severe burns. Third- and fourth-degree burns can damage a person’s bones, muscles, organs, and nerves, and in severe cases, the affected extremities may require amputation. Burns (as well as amputation) can affect a person’s mobility, daily life, work abilities, and appearance.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). While a concussion isn’t necessarily catastrophic, other TBIs or multiple concussions can have a serious impact on a person’s life. Specifically, they may struggle with their memory, reasoning, thinking, emotional outbursts, communication, etc. depending on the area of their skull/brain that is affected.
If you have been injured in a negligence-related accident,contact Fitzpatrick Mariano Santos Sousa P.C. to get legal counsel from our skilled personal injury attorneys by calling (203) 583-8299. Backed by over a century of experience, our firm is equipped to help you.