Three Types of Catastrophic Injuries You May Be Able to Claim Compensation For

 Posted on May 07, 2021 in Catastrophic Injuries

Every day, people are injured for a variety of reasons. According to the National Safety Council, there were 48.3 million people who sought medical attention for unintentional injuries that they sustained. The majority of people who are injured from some sort of accident suffer things like broken bones or lacerations -- injuries that will eventually heal and go away. However, in some cases, injuries from an accident can be much more serious and can result in long-term or chronic effects. In many cases, these injuries are considered “catastrophic injuries” and can have devastating effects on a person and their entire family.

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

There is no statewide definition for a catastrophic injury in Illinois. However, according to the U.S. Code, a catastrophic injury is an injury that permanently prevents a person from performing any gainful work. This definition would mean that any injury that prevents a person from working enough or doing work that would financially support themselves and their family would be considered a catastrophic injury.

Examples of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are severe and usually result in more than losing the ability to work. If an individual is so severely injured that they are unable to work, they are also likely unable to do other things, perhaps such as walking or taking care of themselves. Some of the most common types of injuries that can become catastrophic include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): When a traumatic injury comes to mind, a brain injury is often the first thing we think of. A TBI can range in severity from a mild concussion to a brain injury that causes a coma or vegetative state.
• Burn injuries: Burn injuries can be extremely painful and can sometimes cause complications. People who suffer burn injuries covering a lot of skin area are more prone to skin infections, as well as permanent scarring or disfigurement.
• Spinal cord injuries: The brain may be the processing center of the body, but the spinal cord is the thing that connects the brain to everything else. When the spinal cord suffers an injury, serious complications could arise, such as losing the ability to move your limbs, altering sensations or losing the ability to feel sensations like hot and cold, and becoming paraplegic and being unable to walk.

Our Skilled DuPage County Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Can Help

In many cases, a person who suffers from a catastrophic injury will no longer be able to work, which can be problematic if they were the breadwinner or major contributor to their family’s income. At the Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C., we understand the difficulties that a catastrophic injury can cause for your family. Our Bloomingdale, IL catastrophic injury attorney will do everything necessary to secure you the compensation that you need and deserve. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 630-665-5678.

Sources:

https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/overview/

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2010-title42/pdf/USCODE-2010-title42-chap46-subchapXII-partA-sec3796b.pdf

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20377890

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557