07/26/2023
Common Causes of Severe Personal Injuries
Injuries that are defined as catastrophic are severe enough to have long-term impact on the life of the person injured, as well as on their families. While death would be considered the most catastrophic event for a person and their family, other injuries can have a lifelong impact.
This includes the following:
- Brain injuries
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Loss, or limited use, of one or more limbs
- Damage to internal organs
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Severe burns
Catastrophic and severe injuries may be either permanent or temporary, but will require a much longer recovery period.
Common Causes of Catastrophic Injuries
A person can sustain a catastrophic or even permanent injury in many scenarios. Some situations, such as high-speed car/truck accidents or a fall from great height at work, medical malpractice are more likely to result in serious consequences.
Some of the most common severe injuries happen in vehicle accidents. These include not just cars, trucks, and SUVs, but other vehicles as well. Catastrophic injury accidents may involve any of the following:
- Motorcycle
- Bicycle
- Tractor-trailer
- RVs and buses
- Boats, jet skis and other water vehicles
- Pedestrians in a vehicle-related accident
The most common severe injuries in car accidents are brain trauma, and neck or spinal cord injuries. Damage to internal organs may be another result. Brain injuries can also occur from a fall. They are the most common injury in horseback riding accidents and from sports accidents in general.
In addition, injuries can result from the work environment, such as falls, being struck by an object or an accident involving a machine. A piece of equipment could malfunction, resulting in damage to an arm or leg – or even amputation. Even if the limb is still attached, nerve damage may reduce feeling and function to the point that the victim is no longer able to work in the same job.
Other scenarios which lead to severe injuries include violence, medical mistakes and infections. Defective products can cause serious injury, as can fires or an explosion, which can produce blindness, deafness or result in severe burns. Even playing sports or jumping on a trampoline could bring about a brain injury with long-term damage, which would be considered catastrophic.
A person cannot always predict or avoid situations that lead to severe injury. Even if you’re careful and follow all safety protocols, an accident can happen that leads to serious or even permanent damage.
If you’ve suffered a severe injury, you may be eligible to receive compensation in a catastrophic injury lawsuit. Many situations lead to these injuries, and another party may be responsible for the tragic outcome. While it’s important to understand the common causes and types of severe injuries, it’s even more essential to speak with an attorney who can help you file for – and win – the monetary award your situation deserves. Talk to us at the Deuterman Law Group for answers to your questions about how to properly bring a catastrophic injury claim.
