Arlington Heights, Illinois Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

What Makes an Injury Catastrophic?

A catastrophic injury is one that causes long-term or permanent impairment, significantly alters a person's ability to perform everyday functions, or requires ongoing medical care and support. These injuries typically involve major damage to the brain, spine, or vital organs, and they often result in a profound loss of independence or limitations that affect a person's quality of life.

Cases involving severe, catastrophic injuries are likely to involve financial, physical, and emotional consequences. The compensation a person receives will need to account for the immediate impact of an injury and the victim's future needs, including long-term treatment, in-home care, assistive devices, and the loss of future earnings.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

Severe injuries can occur in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other types of motor vehicle collisions. They may also be caused by slip and fall accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, or acts of violence. The serious, life-altering injuries that can occur in these situations may include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): A blow to the head or other issues that can cause damage to the brain can lead to ongoing physical, neurological, and emotional issues, including cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality changes, or seizures.
• Paralysis: Back injuries that result in damage to the spinal cord may limit a person's ability to use different parts of their body, or they may result in a total loss of movement and sensation. Depending on where an injury occurred, paralysis may consist of paraplegia, quadriplegia, or other conditions that will require ongoing care while limiting the activities that a person can perform.
• Amputations: The loss of a limb or other body part will affect a person's mobility and their ability to perform certain functions. These injuries may require prosthetics and other assistive devices, and extensive rehabilitation may be needed.
• Severe Burn Injuries: Fires or explosions can result in burns on different parts of the body. These injuries can lead to disfigurement, nerve damage, infections, and psychological trauma.
• Fractures: Broken bones may take a long time to heal, and they will restrict the activities that a person can perform while recovering. Serious fractures may require surgeries or implants, and they may never fully heal.
• Eye Injuries: Damage to the eyes or optic nerves in an accident can lead to partial or total vision loss. Blindness or other vision issues can dramatically alter a person's ability to live independently.

How Catastrophic Injuries Affect Victims and Their Families

The effects of a catastrophic injury extend well beyond the initial physical trauma that a person may experience. These effects may include:

• Loss of Independence: An inability to work, drive, or manage daily tasks without assistance can make it difficult for an injury victim to return to normalcy.
• Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, and psychological trauma are common for catastrophic injury victims, particularly when an injury causes permanent disfigurement or disability.
• Financial Pressure: Medical bills, lost income, and the costs of long-term care can place a tremendous burden on victims and their families.
• Strained Relationships: Spouses, children, and other family members may become caregivers for injury victims. The stress of attending to a person's needs can lead to emotional difficulties and conflict among family members.

Securing compensation that fully reflects these challenges can help ensure that a person will be able to move forward and avoid ongoing difficulties. A single injury can lead to a lifetime of expenses and hardship, and the compensation a person receives should account for every aspect of the victim's life that has been altered.