Common Characteristics of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are severe and demand greater compensation than other injuries. The legal community does not have a single definition of catastrophic injury; the circumstances of an injury determine whether it qualifies as catastrophic.



However, catastrophic injuries have a few common characteristics that you can use to evaluate your injury. Read on to learn about some things catastrophic injuries have in common.

Severe Scarring, Disfigurement, or Deformation

Severe scarring, disfigurement, or deformation affects a sizable part of the body, is easily noticeable, or affects prominent body parts. For example, a scar across the forehead is more severe than a similarly sized scar across the back.

Injuries that extend deep into your tissues, take a long time to heal, or extend over large body parts typically cause severe scarring and disfigurement. Injuries that affect the musculoskeletal system usually cause deformation. For example, a third-degree burn is more likely to cause catastrophic injuries than first-degree burns that may not even blister the skin.

The Loss of Limbs

Most courts will agree that injuries that cause loss of limbs are catastrophic. Loss of limb can occur in three different ways.

Severance During Accident

Some accidents, such as those that occur at high impact or involve sharp objects, can sever your limbs. For example, you might lose a limb if your car rolls during an accident and crushes your arm.

Post-Accident Amputation

You can also lose a limb in an amputation, for example, if the limb's injuries are so severe that doctors don't expect you can ever use it again despite the best treatments. A post-accident infection can also damage your limb to the point where the doctor must amputate it.

The loss of a limb is a catastrophic injury for several reasons. For one, a limb is a major part of the body whose loss can affect the rest of your life. For example, an athlete who loses a limb might not perform at their pre-accident level for the rest of their life. Secondly, a limb is a part of the body that is easily noticeable if it is missing.

Hearing or Vision Impairment

Vision and hearing are some of the most critical senses for most people. Many people use their senses of hearing and vision to:

• Communicate with their loved ones
• Study or learn things
• Execute their work duties
• Interact and socialize with other people

Thus, losing hearing or vision can affect multiple aspects of your life and qualify as a catastrophic injury.

Cognitive Problems

Catastrophic injuries are not always physical; some are mental or psychological. For example, traumatic brain injury (TBI), which occurs due to bruising of brain tissues, can cause psychological effects. One of these psychological effects is cognitive impairments, such as:

• Memory impairment
• Concentration difficulties
• Decision-making difficulties
• Language problems

Cognitive impairment is not a visible injury, but that does not make its effects less damaging. For example, you might struggle to hold jobs if you have severe cognitive impairment.

Long-Lasting or Permanent Effects

Lastly, injuries with long-lasting or permanent effects also qualify as catastrophic. Most of the characteristics above automatically lead to long-term or permanent injuries, but there are more. For example, spinal cord injuries usually last long, even without extensive physical symptoms. Internal organ injuries can also create long-term health problems.

Every personal injury deserves adequate compensation. However, the stakes are high with a catastrophic injury since its effects can affect your life more than other injuries. Wegner & Associates can help you value your injury claim, gather the necessary evidence, and collect the damages you deserve. Contact us to evaluate your case and determine the next steps.