Catastrophic Injury VS Personal Injury Claims

Injuries caused by car accidents can and do vary greatly. From whiplash to concussions, to broken bones, injuries may be fairly minor but there is always the potential that they could be drastic and life-altering.

While we here at Pipas see a lot of car accident injury cases, catastrophic injuries can occur in a number of ways. It is less important to focus on the cause category and more important to focus on the details of the injuries sustained to determine whether an injury qualifies as a catastrophic injury. 

Follow along below for deeper dive into differentiating catastrophic damages and injuries from typical personal injuries and any associated damages. 

How are catastrophic injuries different from personal injuries?

To answer this question, it makes a good comparison to remind you that a square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not a square. The same goes for our comparison here, a catastrophic injury is a personal injury, but a personal injury is not necessarily a catastrophic injury. 

A personal injury can be described as any injury sustained during an accident, no matter the severity. Catastrophic injuries, on the other hand, are much more serious and life-altering. It’s important to know the difference as you seek legal counsel and fair compensation.

Common Catastrophic Injuries

Brain Injury

If you’ve suffered a brain injury as a result of an accident, chances are, you may have permanent disabilities. This could carry consequences throughout your life, creating problems with working or completing normal, everyday tasks. 

Spinal Injury

Similar to any brain injury, spinal injuries are common to have adverse, lifelong consequences. From pain to physical impairments, spinal injuries are almost always very serious injuries that could have a severe impact on the victims life. 

Read More: Can You Switch Lawyers In A Personal Injury Case?

Any Other Serious Injury

While brain injuries and spine injuries maybe some of the more common types of serious injuries, almost any other injury does have the potential to be life-threatening and definitely negatively life-altering. 

Essentially, a catastrophic injury is one that has a prolonged negative effect on the victim’s life. It is best to work with an attorney to determine specifics regarding injuries and potential cases or settlements. 

How do settlements work?

Even if you did not experience permanent damage to your wellbeing as a result of any injuries listed above, you still could have lost out on wages for a significant amount of time as you healed from your accident and injuries. 

By working closely with an attorney, you’ll be able to truly account for how much you lost as a result of your injuries. Things like lost wages, medical bills, and being out of work will all be taken into account. There may be losses that will be difficult to put a price on, but this is where a skilled attorney will be crucial. 

In most catastrophic cases, settlements will likely be much larger than the typical personal injury case. Insurance companies will do everything in their power to lower the amount owed to victims. We urge you to speak with an attorney as soon as possible to get you the compensation you deserve.