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4 Examples of Catastrophic Injury Under California Law

The state of California has specific injuries that, from a legal standpoint, it considers to be catastrophic injuries. Keep reading to get four examples of this type of injury. If you or a loved one has suffered this type of injury and are in need of legal help, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation.

The Definition of a Catastrophic Injury

First and foremost, let us discuss what exactly the term “catastrophic injury” means. It refers to an injury that is so significant that the victim cannot resume the life they were living before the accident. Just about any type of injury could technically be a catastrophic injury if it were significant enough but these are four of the most common injuries that are catastrophic.

  1. Spinal Cord Injuries
  2. A spinal cord injury means an injury in which the nerves of the spin are damaged. The most common causes of this type of injury are motor vehicle accidents. A spinal cord injury can be complete, which means it leads to total paralysis, or incomplete, which means there is some movement in the body. These are truly catastrophic injuries that can result in an entirely different life than the victim had ever imagined.

  3. Brain Injuries
  4. Another common injury in serious vehicle accidents is a brain injury. It is often the result of the extreme force of the vehicle stopping suddenly. A person who suffers a brain injury can have lifelong issues with memory, bodily functioning, and much more.

  5. Loss of Vision and / or Hearing
  6. There are many types of accidents that can lead to the victim losing their sense of sight or hearing. In some cases, the loss is permanent while in others it may improve over time. When a person loses their hearing or sight, no matter how temporary, it can have a huge impact on their job, ability to live their life, and their relationships with their family and friends.

  7. Broken Bones
  8. It is true that broken bones are a relatively common injury, which leads some people to believe that they are not serious injuries, let alone catastrophic injuries. It is true that many broken bones heal without any long-term consequences. However, other bone breaks can result in life-long pain, issues with mobility, and other long-term consequences that leave them worthy of being considered a catastrophic injury.

If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, or your loved one has dealt with this type of injury, we encourage you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will carefully consider the injury, the evidence, and the at-fault parties to help you determine your best way to get the compensation you are owed.