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When are injuries sustained in a car accident considered to be catastrophic?

There is no specific definition of a catastrophic injury. Generally, we consider an injury to be catastrophic when it upends your whole life. A catastrophic injury prevents an individual from living or working at the same level they once did. The injuries sustained completely alter the course of the survivor’s life, and those effects could last their lifetime. 

Some injuries considered to be catastrophic include:

  • Organ damage, rupture, or failure
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Amputations
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Third-degree burns
  • Paralysis, paraplegia, quadriplegia, hemiplegia
  • Neurological issues
  • Multiple fractured bones
  • Loss of hearing
  • Severe eye injuries
  • Loss of vision
  • Detached retina(s)

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another individual or caused intentionally by another person, speak to an experienced serious personal injury attorney

Any accident can cause serious personal injuries. However, some of the most common accidents that can result in catastrophic injuries:

  • Violent acts against the person
  • Car and other vehicle accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Medical malpractice

Catastrophic injuries lawsuits are filed under the personal injury umbrella. Filing a catastrophic injury suit is the same as filing any other personal injury lawsuit. However, with most catastrophic injury lawsuits, a plaintiff asks for compensation for a life’s worth of lost wages if it is appropriate.

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