Sustaining a catastrophic injury is a life-altering event. You may never be able to return to the job you had and the lifestyle you enjoyed. You may need extensive medical follow-up care including a stay in a rehabilitation facility or long-term physical and occupational therapy. Your daily needs have changed. You may require help with things you used to do independently without a second thought, such as getting dressed or cooking dinner. A catastrophic injury is likely to lead to major changes in the way you live. The expenses associated with care for a catastrophic injury can be astronomical. Aside from the cost of healthcare and medical equipment, you are likely losing income due to an inability to work. You are likely worried about how you will afford to meet your needs while you are not working or have been forced to take a lower-paid position. You may be able to recover these costs and more by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries. 

Types of Compensation for Catastrophic Injuries 

There are many categories of compensable damages associated with an accident that leads to a major injury. You may be able to recover compensation for: 

• Medical costs - Compensable medical costs include your hospital visit, any follow-up care ordered, surgeries you need, medical equipment you may need at home, and the cost of a home health aid. 

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Modern vehicles are designed to keep the occupants as safe as possible and avoid serious injuries and fatalities during a collision. Unfortunately, some car accidents still result in injuries that change the course of a person's life forever.

If you or someone close to you suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis during a car crash, you may be unsure what to do next. One of the most important things to do at this time is to speak with a personal injury attorney who can help you determine whether you may have a valid claim for damages.

Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis have a massive impact on an individual’s ability to earn a living and function on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, the cost of medical care can be astronomical. A personal injury claim against the at-fault party may allow for the recovery of financial compensation for these and other expenses.

In a split second, an accident can irreversibly change the course of someone's life. Whether an injury is caused in a car crash, work accident, sudden fall, or another type of accident, it is likely to have a profound impact on the victim. This is especially true of catastrophic injuries that result in permanent disability. Someone who is permanently disabled in an accident may be unable to fulfill the career plans he or she intended.

Individuals who suffer severe injuries that impact their ability to earn a living may be entitled to compensation for lost earning capacity. Read on to learn more.

Reduced Earning Capacity Caused by a Catastrophic Injury

Personal injury claims are used to pursue financial reimbursement for damages. Lost income and lost earning capacity are two categories of damages that are common in catastrophic injury cases. Lost income or lost wages refers to the income a person misses out on while he or she is recovering from an injury. Lost earning capacity, on the other hand, refers to the loss of a person's ability to earn an income.

Car accidents, falling, and countless other forms of trauma can cause someone to suffer a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can have long-lasting, significant consequences. Physical, mental, and psychological symptoms of TBI can exist for months or years after an injury.  Fortunately, new treatment options may provide brain injury victims the relief they desperately need.

Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries

If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in a car crash or other incident, you know just how far-reaching the effects can be. Many people are left with painful headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and hearing and vision impairment. Others suffer from cognitive impairments that reduce their ability to concentrate, pay attention, or remember past events. Severe TBIs can cause seizures, slurred speech, constant fatigue, and problems sleeping. Psychological problems, including depression and anxiety, may also be caused or worsened by brain trauma.

Fortunately, experts are constantly looking for better ways to treat TBIs and reduce these symptoms. Surgery may be used to remove hematomas and relieve pressure inside of the skull shortly after a TBI. Medicines including anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants may be used to mitigate convulsions and seizures. Antidepressant medicine and anti-anxiety medicine may help lessen the psychological effects of TBI. Doctors are even testing the use of ADHD medication in TBI sufferers with the hope of combatting fatigue and brain fog.

Compared to something like a car accident, a fall may not seem likely to cause severe injuries. Certainly, many people are able to escape from a fall with no injuries or only minor scrapes, bruises, and sprains. However, there are times when fall injuries can have much more serious consequences, sometimes affecting a person for the rest of their life. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic, life-altering injury in a fall, an experienced personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover substantial compensation.

Common Factors in Severe Fall Injuries

Depending on how a person lands, any fall could result in serious injuries. However, severe injuries tend to be more common in situations involving:

• Falls from heights - The greater the distance of the fall, the greater potential there is for a catastrophic injury. Serious injuries are common when a person falls down stairs, from an upper story of a building, or from a ladder or scaffolding on a work site.
• Older injury victims - Even a simple slip and fall can lead to serious injuries for an elderly person because of their reduced muscle and bone strength, and those who do suffer injuries often take much longer to recover.

Some catastrophic injuries that may result from a fall include: