When a person suffers a serious injury in a California accident, it is referred to as a catastrophic injury. You might wonder: what makes an injury serious enough to qualify for this label and what effect does the label have? Get answers by continuing to read, then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation if you require additional help.
An Insurance Company’s Definition of a Catastrophic Injury
When a person is injured, even a seemingly minor injury can feel catastrophic to them. However, the insurance company that you are going to be requesting damages from will have specific criteria to classify an injury in this way. They consider a catastrophic injury to be one that causes long-term disability or debilitation. Another way to put it is that a catastrophic injury is an injury that prevents a person from being able to work for the rest of their lives.
Catastrophic injuries can include physical or mental loss of capacity or deformity such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury that leads to paralysis, and amputation and dismemberment injuries.
There Are Many Causes of and Types of Catastrophic Injuries
A person can suffer a catastrophic injury in just about any way, but there are some causes that are more common than others. Motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, are one of the top causes of catastrophic injuries. People on construction sites or hazardous worksites are common victims of these injuries.
Catastrophic injuries can also occur in swimming pools, slip and fall accidents, sports games, due to defective products, and as a result of medical malpractice. Types of catastrophic injuries include spinal cord injuries, traumatic head injuries, and burn injuries.
Your Attorney Can Help You Recover Expenses Related to Your Injury
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, there are several types of expenses you might be able to recover, including medical costs, prosthetics, lost wages, lost future earning capacity, required assistive devices (such as a wheelchair or walker), the cost of home health aides, loss of consortium, counseling for emotional distress, and more.
Your attorney will determine the specifics of your injury and your damages to provide the facts on what you can expect. If you are in need of advice from a legal expert, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707. We are here to offer a free legal consultation so that you can better understand your options. Call us now and let us get to work for you right away.
