Well, when it comes to defining a catastrophic injury in court, you need a lot more than that. You put down the life-altering trauma you or your loved one have been through in legal papers. When you first got into an accident, you might have imagined the worst: death. However, you successfully came out alive.
In most cases, people who go through severe or potentially fatal accidents might have a sort of catastrophic injury. This can lead to severe and life-altering traumas that inflict lasting consequences on a person’s physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities.
While a universally accepted legal definition doesn’t exist, there are common characteristics that paint a picture of what constitutes a catastrophic injury:
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Catastrophic Injuries Defined: 5 Ways To Identify
You need to understand what defines a catastrophic injury. You can’t put every injury into this spectrum because all the legal work or claims are based on it. When you claim in court about your loss, you have to mention under what category this personal injury falls. It is best for you to take the support of legal experts. However, it is also good for you to understand the complex structure:
Defined By Severity & Permanence Of Injury
Well, you need to know that these injuries are not just “bad breaks” or temporary setbacks. They are defined to cause extensive and often permanent damage. They are bad and they significantly impact a person’s ability to function and live independently.
For example, think of severe spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis, traumatic brain injuries with lasting cognitive impairments, or devastating burns causing disfigurement and chronic pain.
Long-Term Medical Needs
Catastrophic, as the name suggests, causes a catastrophe to your otherwise normal life. Even if you are rich enough to afford the medical needs, you will be exhausted by the constant medical dependency.
These kinds of injuries leave a longing mark on your course of life, as they necessitate extensive and prolonged medical care. These long-term needs often involve multiple surgeries, rehabilitation programs, and ongoing therapy.
You are done with the financial burden of these ongoing needs, placing a notable strain on the injured individual and their family.
Loss Of Earning Capacity
The worst thing to ever happen to a breadwinner is catastrophic injury. What if the person is the sole earning member of the family? What tension would they go through? The severity of these injuries often makes it impossible for the victim to return to their previous employment.
It can be defined by how a person is left useless for themselves or the family by not being able to engage in any meaningful work. This loss of a person’s earning ability can have a devastating effect on their financial security and independence.
Emotional & Psychological Trauma
Rubbing salt to the wound, a catastrophic injury can be defined beyond the physical impact, as these inflict deep emotional and psychological scars. The pain, disability, and loss of independence can lead to depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adding another layer of suffering to the victim’s ordeal.
For example, the person is so traumatized that they are scared to leave their home. This is known as agoraphobia.
Impact On Quality Of Life
Ultimately, catastrophic injuries drastically alter a person’s quality of life. Daily activities become challenging, relationships are strained, and the future becomes uncertain. These injuries cast a long shadow, affecting every aspect of the victim’s existence.
A nearly fatal accident can have a huge impact on your life as it completely changes the dimensions of your life. On the worst side, if you are going through a catastrophic injury, you are deprived of quality life.
We hope no one has to go through such events in life. In any unfortunate event you are suffering from any of the above-mentioned atrocities, consult your legal expert. Personal injury victims can get good compensation to make their lives easier.