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What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

Federal law defines “catastrophic injury” as an injury with direct and proximate consequences that permanently prevent an individual from performing any gainful work. In other words, a catastrophic injury is so serious that it leaves the victim with permanent damage. These types of injuries, which often involve damage to the brain or spinal cord, can have a severe impact on an individual’s functional capabilities. In this article, we discuss catastrophic injuries and the ways that they impact people’s lives. 

Overview

Suffering a catastrophic injury means losing a vital part of your person. This can include losing a limb, losing the ability to walk, or even losing the ability to form a complete thought. In other words, catastrophic injuries are life changing. When a person suffers a catastrophic injury, he or she can file a lawsuit and pursue financial compensation from the party responsible for the injury. 

Compensation Available

Any time a person suffers a catastrophic injury, he or she may be entitled to financial compensation. Common types of financial compensation for catastrophic injuries include:

  • Medical bills: People who suffer these kind of injuries often require surgery, rehabilitation, and even the permanent use of a medical device or medication. All of this can be extremely expensive. 
  • Lost wages: Compensation for both past and future lost wages may be available to catastrophic injury victims.
  • Emotional damages: These injuries may cause severe psychological consequences. The legal system recognizes this and compensates catastrophic injury victims for the emotional damage they have suffered. 

Types

There are three primary types of injuries:

(1) Physical injuries: Physical injuries generally include all injuries that aren’t related to the spine or brain. Common physical injuries include:

  • Fractures
  • Amputation
  • Burns
  • Damage to orthopedic function or tissue

(2) Spinal cord injuries: As the name implies, spinal cord injuries affect the spinal cord, creating permanent mobility issues for those who suffer them.

(3) Cognitive injuries: Cognitive injuries affect the brain, and they can take away a person’s ability to speak, work, or even form new memories.

The Impact of Catastrophic Injuries

These kinds of injuries impact accident victims and their families on a financial, emotional, and physical level. Therefore, everyone who suffers an injury due to another’s negligence deserves compensation for the pain they have suffered.  

Contact a Georgia Injury Lawyer 

If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury in Georgia, you need an experienced Georgia catastrophic injury lawyer on your side. At Griffin Durham Tanner Clarkson LLC, our attorneys will work hard to ensure that you and your family obtain the compensation you deserve by taking even the toughest cases and winning a large verdict. We understand the physical and emotional pain that these injuries cause, so we will treat you with dignity and compassion as we fight hard on your behalf. Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.

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