If someone is injured in such a way that immediate, significant wounds are suffered, or wounds that are never expected to fully heal, medical journals and legal cases will refer to them as catastrophic injuries. It is not uncommon for someone who is catastrophically injured to become disabled for life or debilitated for many years, depending on the injury. However, there is nothing about a catastrophic injury’s definition that makes them rare, and many are actually unfortunately common.
Different examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis or chronic pain.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that cause vegetative states or learning disabilities.
- Amputation of entire limbs or portions of a limb.
- Permanent disfigurement in a publically viewable body area, such as the face.
- Burn injuries that cover large portions of the body, causing discomfort or pain.
Situations or accidents that tend to cause catastrophic injuries to varying, such as:
- Car accidents: A violent car accident can be absolutely devastating to all parties involved, even when they use all safety equipment available. Whiplash, a neck injury that causes severe pain and may never fully fade, is quite common in rear-end accidents.
- Trucking accidents: Commercial trucks and tractor-trailers operated negligently place great hazards on the highways for all other vehicles. The result is often a truck accident that causes catastrophic injuries to drivers in smaller cars.
- Motorcycle accidents: People who ride motorcycles are statistically much more likely to suffer a catastrophic in a low-speed collision than those in automobiles. This probability skyrockets at higher speeds.
- Construction accidents: Workers in the construction industry and other fields with heavy equipment can be catastrophically injured in most accidents, such as a scaffolding collapse. It is the duty of the foreman and the construction company to ensure the utmost safety is being exercised at all times at a construction site.
- Dangerous drugs: Some catastrophic injuries are not immediate but develop over the course of many years instead, such as debilitations and illnesses caused by dangerous pharmaceuticals. Big pharma companies can be held accountable for putting drug users in unreasonable danger, especially if there is evidence of a lack of testing before the drug was placed on the market.
Catastrophically Injured? Contact Our Attorneys Today
People who suffer catastrophic injuries in Missouri can turn to The Simon Law Firm and our St. Louis personal injury attorneys for trusted legal counsel and representation. For more than 17 years, we have been standing up to the toughest of defendants and securing major case victories. To date, we have collected more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients through successful recoveries.
To learn more about our law firm and your rights after a catastrophic or serious injury, you can request a free case evaluation by contacting our offices. We look forward to hearing from you.
