Catastrophic Injury Claims
When thinking about personal injury claims, many people assume that the more severe an injury is, the easier it will be to recover compensation, especially if someone was clearly at fault for an accident. Unfortunately, the reality is that when it comes to catastrophic injuries, obtaining full and fair compensation for accident-related medical bills and lost wages can be an even greater challenge, so if you sustained life-changing injuries in an accident, you should refrain from signing any settlement agreements until you consult with a Fort Lauderdale catastrophic injury lawyer about the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
What are Catastrophic Injuries?
While there isn’t really a straightforward definition of a catastrophic injury in Florida’s civil liability-related statutes, the workers’ compensation code can provide some guidance on what state courts consider to be catastrophic injuries. According to these laws, catastrophic injuries are any injuries that involve permanent and total disability. Using this definition as a guideline, most courts define catastrophic injuries as any injury that results in:
- Severe and permanent functional disability;
- Incapacitation;
- A short period of intense pain and suffering followed by death;
- Severe damage to the head, neck, spinal cord, or back;
- Amputation;
- A serious injury to at least one of a person’s major body systems;
- Numerous bone fractures;
- Severe burns and subsequent scarring; or
- Internal injuries.
Individuals who suffer from these types of injuries are almost always forced to struggle with debilitating pain and disability for the rest of their lives, which can prevent them from returning to work, can alter their personal relationships, and can require lifelong treatment and caregiving services. While no amount of money can compensate a person for this type of life-altering trauma, recovering damages from the at-fault party who caused an individual’s injuries can help ensure that victims are able to pay off medical debt, obtain treatment, and stay on top of household expenses as they move forward with their lives.
Types of Accidents
A variety of accidents can result in catastrophic injuries, including:
- Car and truck collisions;
- Motorcycle accidents;
- Work accidents;
- Animal attacks;
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents; and
- Boating accidents.
These types of accidents are notorious for involving significant and traumatic impacts, which tend to result in the most serious catastrophic injuries like head trauma, internal injuries, and spinal cord damage. Vehicle collisions, however, also come with the risk of explosions and fires, which can cause severe burns, while animal attacks, such as dog bites, can result in scarring, disfigurement, and even amputation. To learn more about the types of catastrophic injuries for which you could recover compensation, please reach out to our office today.
Did You Suffer a Catastrophic Injury in Florida?
Recovering compensation after sustaining a catastrophic injury can be difficult, so if you are suffering from permanent disability as a result of someone else’s negligence, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced catastrophic injury lawyers at Boone & Davis for help. You can schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team by calling our office at 954-566-9919 or by sending us an online message.
