A catastrophic injury is one that causes irreparable damage to major areas of the body, such as the spine, spinal cord or brain, as well as other vital parts of the body. Such injuries leave victims with lifetime disabilities, putting stress on family and loved ones who often need to provide financial, physical and emotional assistance to their loved one throughout his or her lifetime.
Such victims usually require medical care throughout their lifetimes, often including repeated reconstructive surgeries and extensive physical and occupational therapy. A catastrophic injury is usually one that occurs as the result of an unplanned and significant trauma, with long-term effects on the victim. If you or a loved one has experienced a catastrophic injury due to someone else's negligence, contact our Boston personal injury law office of Swartz & Swartz, P.C.
What is a Catastrophic Personal Injury?
The major factors that determine whether an injury is catastrophic are the nature of the injury, and how long it will take to heal. A catastrophic personal injury is one that can leave its victims with a permanent disability, current and future pain and suffering, loss of ability to work and remain gainfully employed, reduced life span, and even premature death. The victim is unable to do the things he or she could have done prior to suffering the traumatic event.
Recovery for a catastrophic personal injury may be slow, causing worry and undue hardship. A catastrophic injury transforms the life of its victims, their loved ones and family members. Such a transformation has a negative impact on day-to-day life, and often comes with enormous financial implications.
Catastrophic injuries are caused by many different types of activities or events, such as: sporting accidents, medical malpractice, acts of violence, defective pharmaceutical drugs and other defective products, toxic exposure, fires and explosions, workplace accidents, falls, industrial and construction accidents, and motor vehicle accidents, among others.
As stated earlier, the costs associated with a catastrophic injury can indeed be enormous, including prescriptions and medications, physical and occupational therapy, and other types of therapies such as counselling, home medical care, and follow-up surgeries.
A victim that suffers a catastrophic injury may need the care of one or more experts in the following areas: specialist surgeons (including neurosurgeons), specialists in prosthetics, neuropsychologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists. In some instances, even architects to advise on modifications to homes as well as specialty engineers to advise on modifications to motor vehicles may need to be consulted.
Catastrophic Injury Claims
Claims can be brought by victims of another person’s negligence or wrongdoing. Such catastrophic injury victims usually suffer injuries such as: quadriplegia, tetraplegia, paraplegia, the amputation of an arm, the amputation of a leg, brain injury, burn injuries, or any number of debilitating and life-altering injuries.
An injury lawyer that deals with catastrophic claims has as an in-depth understanding of the law relating to catastrophic injury claims, the needs of the victim, and the best experts address the complicated liability and medical issues necessary Personal Injury Lawyer Boston MA to advance the victim’s claim. In order to recover compensation for a catastrophic injury, and to prove that your injuries are due to someone else’s negligence, an experienced lawyer can assist with the intricacies of the often-lengthy legal process.
Those seeking to make a claim for a catastrophic injury must file a lawsuit within the limitation period set by the state with jurisdiction. Typically, the time of the limitation period begins to run from the date of the injury. In some jurisdictions, the law allows for the limitation time to run from the “date of discovery”, or the time that the injured person knew or should have known about an injury. Deadlines imposed by limitations statutes are strictly enforced, so it is important to get in touch with your lawyer as soon as possible after the injury occurs, so that all necessary steps to preserve your claims can be taken.
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