Top Causes of Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury typically happens in an unexpected accident and leaves the victim with permanent or long-term consequences involving the spine, spinal cord, back or brain. Many people associate spinal cord injuries that cause paraplegia and quadriplegia with catastrophic injuries but the list of problems related to these types of accidents is much longer. When a person loses their sight or hearing from an accident, for example, that would also be considered a catastrophic injury.

Common catastrophic injuries:

• Birth injury
• Neck and spinal cord injury
• Paralysis
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Loss of sight or hearing
• Amputation/loss of limb
• Facial injury
• Chronic pain
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Profound emotional or mental impairments
• Permanent or severe nerve damage
• Neurological issues
• Crushed or punctured bones or organs

What are the top causes of catastrophic injury?

Severe accidents can happen in all types of circumstances. These are some of the most common that lead to catastrophic injury:

• Cars struck by semi-trucks
• Pedestrians, motorcyclists or bicyclists struck by cars or trucks
• Boating crashes
• Trampoline accidents
• Sports accidents (youth football and cheerleading lead the pack)
• Falls from several feet up
• Fires and explosions
• Medical malpractice
• Horseback riding accidents
• Defective products
• Jet ski accidents
• Violent crime

What are the most severe types of catastrophic injuries?

Neck and spinal cord injuries are among the most serious type of catastrophic injury as they can lead to paralysis that often requires long-term medical care and physical therapy. An accident causing TBI, on the other hand, can leave victims facing cognitive and emotional problems or severe and debilitating lifelong impacts to their daily lives. In some cases the injured person must re-learn how to do basic tasks like feeding themselves and motor functions like walking and talking. TBI can be especially difficult for families because the victim may have memory loss and severe emotional issues which can be very difficult handle.

Whatever the type of catastrophic injury, victims are left with lifelong impacts and the need for ongoing care or rehabilitation and/or lost wages if the person is unable to work again.

Catastrophic injury lawsuits and settlements

Ongoing medical care or rehabilitation and lost wages are a tremendous financial burden on families. If your catastrophic injury was caused by medical malpractice or someone’s negligence, carelessness or willful misconduct, you should speak to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. He or she can help to fight for damages to cover your financial burden, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The Seattle personal injury attorneys at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC have years of experience representing families harmed by medical malpractice. We seek justice for patients who have been harmed by preventable medical errors including birth injuries, hospital-acquired infections and wrongful death in Seattle and across Washington State. There are no fees or expenses to file a personal injury case as we only receive payment if we recover damages on your behalf. Do not delay; personal injury claims come with a Statute of Limitations, which means they must be filed within a certain time frame of the injury.

Call us now at (206) 752-4366 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our compassionate, experienced attorneys.