Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury is defined as an extreme physical injury or illness that causes a life-changing impact to the victim. Such injuries prevent victims from living the lifestyle they were accustomed to pre-injury and being able to take care of themselves post-injury. A catastrophic injury can be the result of a wide range of causes, including auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall accidents, and much more.

If you or your loved one have suffered a catastrophic injury because of someone else’s negligence or misconduct, then you may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries and losses. Our Manhattan Beach catastrophic injury lawyers are incredibly skilled in recovering maximum compensation for injuries like this. Please get in touch with us for a free consultation and let's help you get back to where you need to be, physically, financially, and emotionally.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

The fact is that injuries are not pleasant – even the minor ones. They typically leave their victims in one form of discomfort or the other. However, catastrophic injuries are in a class of their own. They not only leave their victims in immense and long-term or lifetime discomfort, but victims’ families as well.

For example, a person who suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia will have to rely on external parties for the most basic needs. These external parties commonly include family, friends, and specialists, to name a few. This is not to talk of the mental and emotional anguish the victim will have to endure, primarily if they had always found fulfillment in being independent. 

The types of injuries that can cause these extreme impacts include:

• Severe spinal injuries, such as quadriplegia or paraplegia
• Any impairment that results in a permanent inability to walk independently, such as amputations, crushed limbs, severe burns, etc.
• Permanent inability to use both arms
• Loss of vision in both eyes
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• A combination of physical injuries that cause at least 55% whole-person impairment
• Multiple bone fractures
• Neurological injuries or disorders that happen due to a severe brain injury or closed head injury with severe sensory or motor skills disturbances leading to an inability to communicate or remain conscious
• Second- or third-degree burns that cover a quarter of a person’s body as a whole or at least 5% of the individual’s hands or face

Any injury that has the following results:

• Long-term, debilitating symptoms. 
• Demands a lengthy recovery process
• It cannot be recovered from
• Requires constant assistance or live-in care
• Results in a permanent loss of life quality

Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

A catastrophic injury can happen due to several different reasons. However, the common causes include the following:

• Medical malpractice
• Construction accidents
• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Train accidents
• Bus accidents
• Slip and fall accidents

Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries

When determining compensation for a catastrophic injury, the first things to consider are the nature and severity of an individual’s injuries. These factors will help determine the value of the damages payable to the person. 

As with all personal injury claims, damages payable include economic and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages typically pay for tangible losses a person incurs due to their injury. However, because of the devastating impact of catastrophic injuries on a person, the economic damages are usually unique. For example, they may require compensation for a life care plan.

A life care plan is generally established to meet the needs of a patient with a catastrophic injury. The document is customized per patient and describes the services, support, equipment and ancillary requirements for each patient’s recovery and/or care. Additionally, it is regularly updated to reflect any changes in the patient’s condition. 

A life care plan typically includes: 

• Architectural renovations to the patient's home, including tub, toilet, etc.
• Transportation, such as an adaptive van
• Assistive technology and adaptive equipment, including wheelchairs
• Case management
• Supervisory care and nursing
• Medication, medical supplies (such as catheters), and medical equipment
• Facility care and services
• Home care and services

Additionally, the life care plan includes information regarding necessary surgical procedures, treatments, tests, rehabilitative therapy, etc. 

Other damages recoverable with catastrophic injuries are loss of income, arising from an inability to work at all or do the same job or jobs in a similar paying bracket. 

Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses like 

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of wages

We Can Help You Recover Damages 

We have been obtaining results for injury victims and their families across the South Bay area, including Manhattan Beach, for more than 20 years. We are excellent at what we do, and we will not hesitate to bring our extensive experience to the table to ensure you get the results you need. Please get in touch with us today at 310-870-0369 for a free initial consultation.