The term “catastrophic injury” has no one-size-fits-all umbrella definition. In general, however, the injury you sustained qualifies as catastrophic if it was severe enough that it will affect you long-term or permanently.
In other words, as reported in Lawyer Monthly Magazine, a catastrophic injury is one that leaves you permanently disabled, either partially or permanently, or one that leaves you with such disfiguring scars that your quality of life becomes compromised.
Types of catastrophic injuries
While many injuries can qualify as catastrophic, some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries that paralyze you
- Crush injuries that result in the amputation of one or more of your limbs
- Burn injuries that leave disfiguring scars
- Any injury that causes you to suffer severe organ damage
- Any injury that blinds you
Causes of catastrophic injuries
Any of the following can cause you to sustain a catastrophic injury:
- Motor vehicle accident
- On-the-job accident
- Slip-and-fall accident
- Medical malpractice
- Defective product accident
- Intentional tort, such as an assault, battery, etc.
Personal injury lawsuit
If someone’s negligence or wrongdoing caused the event which, in turn, caused your catastrophic injury, you could sue that person for the losses, both economic and non-economic, you sustained and will sustain in the future as a result of it. Admittedly, no amount of money will adequately compensate you for the life-changing injury you or loved one suffered, but winning your personal injury lawsuit may help you gain acceptance and closure, plus give you a sense of justice that the law held the responsible person accountable for their negligence or wrongdoing.