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What Does It Mean to Suffer Catastrophic Injuries in a Car Accident?

On Behalf of | Jul 19, 2017 | Catastrophic Injury

Sometimes car accident victims are able to walk away from a crash, no worse for wear. In other situations, people in car crashes may suffer emotional distress or temporary, albeit painful, injuries. However, there are times when the harm from a motor vehicle crash cuts much deeper, causing lasting harm to the individual, and likely to their families as well.

By definition, a catastrophic injury is a long-term or permanent disability or disfigurement. An injury would be considered catastrophic if it causes damage that prevents someone from performing the functions of everyday life or somehow prevents them from earning a living.

Common examples of catastrophic injuries include:

  • Brain injury or injury that results brain damage
  • Quadriplegia, paraplegia, or other severe spinal damage
  • Amputation
  • Eye damage, usually causing some degree of blindness
  • Injury leading to behavioral or mental impairment

Any type of motor vehicle accident could cause a catastrophic injury, but T-bone accidents and head-on collisions are the most common. High-speed accidents, especially those on freeways and highways, tend to be more life-threatening because when the vehicles do crash, the impact is more severe. The force of impact from high-speed crashes can whip passengers’ heads back, causing painful neck, back, or head damage that can sometimes be permanent or may lead to other serious issues.

Other car accident injuries may become catastrophic because of the type of vehicles involved in the crash. Accidents involving large vehicles, like semi-trucks, can make even minor accidents into deadly ones. Because of their weight and general size, big-rig trucks are extremely dangerous. There have been reported incidents where other vehicles were lodged under semi-trucks in an accident, which can possibly lead to spinal injury, head injuries, or loss of limbs.

Catastrophic injuries are usually very expensive to treat and require regular, sometimes constant, care and upkeep. If a person suffers severe brain damage, he or she may require a live-in caretaker, regular doctor visits, and funds to live off. Any catastrophic injury that robs a victim of his or her ability to earn a living is especially costly.

Catastrophic injury victims may also face severe mental and emotional suffering because of the damage they’ve sustained, and the traumatic crash they endured. If you or a loved one was catastrophically injured in a crash due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation for these types of damages. At Langer & Langer, we understand that catastrophic injuries are life-changing, and should be handled with due care and compassionate legal representation.

Start building your catastrophic injury case today and contact Langer & Langer to speak with one of our experienced car accident lawyers.