Accidents occur in a myriad of ways and therefore can leave different types of personal injuries. Sometimes, these injuries can be more serious than others, resulting in what’s referred to as a catastrophic injury.

Catastrophic injuries are those that cause serious physical harm, such as permanent disability, disfigurement, or dismemberment, loss of bodily function, as well as psychological damage. These injuries are considered severe because they lower your quality of life and might affect your ability to make a living or perform other activities as effectively as you could before.  

Recovering from a catastrophic injury is physically, mentally, and financially draining, especially if it was caused by someone else’s negligence. Getting legal support from an injury attorney can significantly alleviate your problems as you focus on getting better. 

Examples of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries generally fall into these three categories:

  • Physical Injuries – Includes injuries that impair physical condition. They include burns, broken bones, amputation, loss of eyesight, organ damage, and so on.
  • Cognitive Damage – Injuries that affect your mental state and proper brain functioning, such as permanent memory lapses or the inability to speak. The most common cognitive injury after a personal injury is traumatic brain injury (TBI). 

A Catastrophic Injury Affects You and Your Loved Ones

Catastrophic injuries are so disastrous because they significantly impact both the victim and their loved ones or family members. 

Most injuries of this type require round-the-clock care within the first few months after the accident or even forever. And even after healing, the victim might need help performing even the most basic of tasks for daily survival.

If your loved ones don’t have sufficient funds to employ a professional caregiver, they might be forced to quit work and take care of the victim. This creates a new set of problems because it means less income coupled with high expenses.  

What’s the Average Compensation for a Catastrophic Injury? 

When your injury attorney is calculating the right settlement for your catastrophic injury, they’ll look at the impact of the injury on both your current and future life. This is because the damages from such injuries tend to stay for longer or even for a lifetime. 

For economic damages, you’ll need compensation for things like medical bills, lost income and the ability to earn one, and property damage, if any, among others. Non-economic damages for your case will include pain and suffering, reduced ability to enjoy life, loss of consortium, and more, depending on the accident and its impacts on your life.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Besides the physical pain and emotional distress that a catastrophic injury leaves, it can also disrupt both your current and future financial well-being. This is why it’s crucial to start the compensation process as soon as the circumstances allow while remaining aware of the statute of limitations. 

Get started with a free consultation for your injury claim when you call Craig Swapp and Associates at 1-800-404-9000. You can also send a brief message through our contact form for someone to get back to you.

Written By: Ryan Swapp     Legal Review By: Craig Swapp