When a person is involved in a major accident, their whole world
changes. For some accident victims, the change is temporary, and life
begins to return to normal after a relatively short period. It may
take weeks or months, or in some cases a year, but after time their
lives, for the most part, are the same as before the accident. But for
the most serious of injury victims, also known as catastrophic
injuries, life will never look the same again.
Catastrophic Injuries – What are they?
Injuries that stay with a person long after an accident are often
referred to as “catastrophic injuries.” A person who suffers from a
catastrophic injury is left with permanent impairment. He or she
cannot return to their previous form of employment, and in many cases,
the person has a permanent disability that makes gainful employment
impossible. Injuries that are often considered to be catastrophic
include:
Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Loss of a limb
Damage to vital organs
Exposure to hazardous chemical substances
Multiple bone fractures
Severe burn injuries
What this means is that two people can suffer catastrophic injuries
that are very different in terms of injuries but what makes them both
catastrophic is the severe impact the injuries have on their day to
day lives.
How do catastrophic injuries occur?
Just like there is no one type of catastrophic injury, there is also
not a single cause of a catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries
often result from serious accidents, such as a car, truck, bus,
motorcycle, or even a bicycle accident. But other types of accidents
can also result in these severe injuries as well, including:
Construction site accidents
Workplace accidents
Fire or explosion
Swimming pool accidents
Sports or recreational related accidents
Violent crime
Falls from a significant height
Medical malpractice
Birth injuries
But accidents are not the only causes of these injuries. A
catastrophic injury can also be the result of a defective consumer
product, a defective medical device or drug, or even due to medical
negligence.
Why do catastrophic injury cases require an experienced personal
injury attorney?
Due to their very nature, catastrophic injury cases are very different
from other types of injury cases. Victims have extensive
injury-related expenses, and these expenses will continue for the rest
of their lives. For example, if a baby is injured at birth, the full
extent of his or her injuries may not be fully known for years to
come. Calculating an appropriate compensation award requires a skilled
attorney who can anticipate future expenses and losses. Expenses
related to a catastrophic injury can include:
Emergency medical expenses
Continued medical care (additional surgeries, etc.)
Medications
Physical therapy
Counseling services
In-home nursing care
Medical equipment such as a wheelchair, etc.
Costs related to retrofit a home for disability (wheelchair accessible, etc.)
Lost wages
Diminished earning capacity
In addition to the above expenses, an injury can also seek out
compensation for disfigurement, pain and suffering, emotional
distress, and a shortened life expectancy.
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury after being
involved in an accident, it is vital to your recovery to speak with
skilled Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys as soon as possible.
Only an experienced Injury Attorney can determine whether you may be
able to hold another party responsible for your injuries. The
attorneys at the Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injury
victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, obtain compensation. Our
compassionate team of attorneys will fight for your rights and hold
the wrongdoers accountable. To schedule an initial consultation with
one of our Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at
(816) 472-4673.
