A catastrophic injury is one that is life changing, and it can happen without warning. These injuries may cause permanent disability, pain and suffering, and/or a shortened lifespan. Such injuries can also directly affect the central nervous system, which can also disrupt or affect other systems in the body. This may result in bowel or urinary incontinence, movement paralysis, being unable to breathe on one's own, speak, or see, and/or the loss of cognitive skills or memory. Examples of catastrophic injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Multiple fractures
• Burn injuries
• Eye injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations

Causes

These injuries can be caused by several situations, including motor vehicle accidents, airplane crashes, animal attacks, boating accidents, dangerous or defective products, or property owner negligence.

Recovery

Some people who experience a catastrophic injury may improve their chances of recovery if they receive the correct medical treatment immediately. However, others will not recover in spite of the quality and quickness of the care received and will never have a full, healthy and normal life again. Such situations may include permanent physical or mental disability, which will likely require the use of ongoing help for day–to–day personal care.

Long–term Implications

Depending on the injury, a person may require ongoing, medical, nursing, and pharmaceutical support for a lifetime. This can include care received in the hospital following the initial injury, as well as follow–up surgeries, medications, mental health visits, devices such as wheelchairs, transportation assistance, and more.

If you or a loved one has experienced a catastrophic injury, receiving fair compensation can be critical to ensure that resources will be available for ongoing medical, nursing, and other care necessary for the person to live, possibly for many years. Contact Altman and Altman at 617.492.3000 or 800.481.6199 (toll–free) or contact us online for a free consultation.