When you suffer any type of injury, especially after a vehicle accident, the implications can feel devastating and life-altering. These feelings are valid, but the question remains as to what the law considers to be a catastrophic injury.
Distinguishing between mild and catastrophic injury matters in terms of pursuing compensation from the at-fault party and building a case for your personal injury claim. By knowing how to categorize your injury after an accident, you can proceed with confidence as you seek to recover what is rightfully yours.
Brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can permanently affect both your physical and mental health. TBIs may result from any type of trauma to the brain, either from a direct impact or even from the intense jostling or vibrations that can occur during a car accident.
Spine injuries
When people refer to spine injuries, they are typically talking about damage to the backbone or skeletal structure of the spinal column. Intense vehicle collisions can sometimes result in a fracture to these bones, possibly leading to numbness, weakness or even paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries are those that affect the cells and nerves connected to the brain. Herniated discs constitute one common type of spinal cord injury that can yield a loss of motor function or sensory function.
No one deserves to suffer from a catastrophic injury, especially when the damages stem from the negligent behavior of a careless individual. If you sustain a catastrophic injury in a motor vehicle accident or any other circumstance, you have the right to take action in pursuit of the justice you deserve.