A Catastrophic injury is unplanned. The mere thought of sustaining a personal injury under any circumstances can be traumatizing. Asides from visiting your health care providers for medical treatment, you may experience property and wage losses too. Getting justice will also require you to brief a Charlotte personal injury lawyer to handle specific complexities on your behalf. It can be a very draining process.
That’s why you must consider several numerous factors before deciding on a personal injury claim or lawsuit. For example, the strength of the evidence you can gather is an essential factor in determining your case’s outcome. In addition, the severity of your injuries will also significantly affect the number of damages you will receive.
Generally, we classify personal injuries as minor, serious, and catastrophic. While minor injuries may not necessarily require significant compensation, serious and catastrophic injuries are different. We’ll let you in on all you need to know about catastrophic injuries in this article.
What Is a Catastrophic Injury?
When an injury is catastrophic, it means that it’s life-altering and can cause significant and permanent health/physical challenges. Catastrophic injuries make victims deal with physical disabilities or health challenges every day for the rest of their lives. They can also be life-threatening.
Apart from overwhelming health challenges, catastrophic injuries will affect your ability to sustain gainful employment. You may also be unable to enjoy your hobbies and social life to the fullest. They may also require extended and intensive medical treatment/support.
Are There Any Differences Between Serious and Catastrophic Injuries?
Serious injuries may require urgent medical attention and cause significant medical bills. When you sustain a serious injury, you may need to take some time off work to recuperate. However, you will get better and resume your normal activities with time.
On the other hand, catastrophic injuries have more far-reaching consequences than serious injuries and lead to permanent life-altering changes. Therefore, you will typically get more damages for a catastrophic injury than for serious injuries.
Common Types of Catastrophic Injuries in Charlotte
Personal injury victims in Charlotte are at risk of these catastrophic injuries:
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Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are due to blunt force trauma or violent blows to the head. Common severe TBI symptoms include persistent headaches, seizures, memory loss, slurred speech, and coma. Traumatic brain injuries can also lead to death.
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Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injury or damage causes severe physical trauma to the victim and has no cure. Since the spinal cord sends messages to and fro the brain, any injury affects the whole body.
Spinal cord damage can result in immobility and loss of sensation below the injury site. Victims with this condition may also experience varying degrees of paralysis and emotional and psychological problems.
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Severe Burns
Third and fourth-degree burns are among the most common catastrophic injuries in Charlotte’s personal injury cases. Asides from skin damage, catastrophic burns can also affect tissues, organs, muscles, and bones. They can also result in nerve damage, permanent disfigurement and scarring, excruciating pain, etc.
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Internal Organ Bleeding/Damage
Injuries that affect your organs (like the heart and lungs) and cause internal bleeding are difficult to diagnose quickly. Sometimes, victims may not even be aware of their injuries. That’s what makes them so dangerous. In many cases, full recovery from internal organ damage is impossible.
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Vision and Hearing Loss
Specific accidents can affect the eyes or ears and result in blindness or loss of hearing. Such conditions make it difficult for victims to carry on daily tasks.
Causes of Catastrophic Injuries That May Result in a Lawsuit in Charlotte
Catastrophic injuries could result in personal injury lawsuits and claims if someone else caused them. Such situations can be a result of:
- Car accidents and other types of auto crashes
- Boating disasters
- Workplace accidents
- Vicious dog or animal attacks
- Medical negligence
- Defective products or drugs
- Slips and falls
- Negligent security cases
Get in Talks With Your Charlotte Personal Injury Attorneys ASAP!
When you suffer catastrophic accident injuries, your case may develop numerous complexities. In such situations, hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent your interests is always a wise choice. Regardless of the type of accident, the legal experts at our law firm will strive to get you maximum compensation.
Our North Carolina personal injury attorneys understand how devastating a catastrophic injury can be. From evaluating your case to negotiating with insurance companies, we will help you recover ample damages quickly. We will also represent you in a lawsuit when necessary. So, schedule a free virtual consultation with us at Ted A. Greve and Associates immediately.