What are catastrophic injuries? We hope you never have to experience a severe injury, but to be safe, here are a few things you should know about how such an injury could affect your case.
Accidents happen all the time. An accident can happen when you are driving, when you are shopping, while you are at work, or in many other circumstances. When you are in an accident, you can find yourself in a difficult situation—in pain, in danger of permanent disability, in a dire financial situation.
If your injuries are catastrophic, your accident could determine the course of the rest of your life. Here are four ways that a catastrophic injury might affect the compensation you could receive.
But First, What Are Catastrophic Injuries?
In Florida, an injury is often considered catastrophic when it results in permanent disability. According to the Florida Statutes, spinal cord injuries, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, and several other injuries all fall under this definition. Such injuries usually cause permanent damage to a person’s organs and impair their quality of life in some way.
Because catastrophic injuries are severe, they are usually marked by extensive medical treatment and long recovery times.
Medical Bills
What are catastrophic injuries if not expensive? When injuries are severe, they require more medical expertise, time, and treatments to heal as much as possible, which means they usually cost more than a non-catastrophic injury. From life-saving procedures, to medication, to rehabilitative therapies, the medical support that catastrophic injury victims require is considerable.
Lost Wages
Catastrophic injuries also often leave victims unable to work, which means lost wages on top of potentially high medical debt. These lost wages can leave individuals and families without many options.
Reduced Earning Potential
In addition to losing out on wages that they could have earned during recovery, victims of catastrophic injuries may also lose the ability to work and earn a living because of permanent disability. In some cases, the injured party may have a diminished ability to perform their work duties, which can lead to fewer hours or even reassignment. In other cases, the injured person may be unable to work at all.
Pain and Suffering
Catastrophic injuries can be extremely painful, and that pain can last a lifetime, even with proper treatment. Whether suffering from burns, trauma, or other painful conditions, the victim may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering. It is also critical to understand that not all pain is physical. Catastrophic injuries also cause significant psychological pain that can develop into mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
What Are Catastrophic Injuries Going to Mean for Your Case?
When you are the victim in an accident that causes catastrophic injuries, you may be entitled to financial compensation to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering. Contact us today.
Are you ready to pursue your case? Contact us today and set up an appointment to speak to an attorney. Call us at 1-800-24-7-CRASH or write to us at [email protected].
