Catastrophic Injury Attorney Los Angeles

What does “catastrophic injury” mean?

When we discuss catastrophic injuries, it is important to distinguish them from other injuries. Catastrophic injuries are those that result in permanent impairment to the victim. These injuries often significantly alter a person’s ability to lead the life they are accustomed to. Consider the following injuries:

• Spine or spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Skull or spinal fractures
• The loss of a limb
• Internal organ damage or failure

The medical costs associated with these injuries usually goes far beyond the initial emergency medical care they require. In many cases, these injuries require lifelong medical assistance. Catastrophic injury victims often need permanent medical devices in the aftermath of an injury, particularly if the victim is left paralyzed partially or completely.

• The first-year medical care costs for a spinal cord injury victim ranges from $359,000 to over $1.1 million according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.
• About 30% of catastrophic injury victims are re-hospitalized one or more times a year due to complications from their injuries.
• Around 185,000 people lose a limb each year in the US.
• According to the CDC, around there are around 2.53 million traumatic brain injury ER visits a year. Around 800,000 of those occur among children.

However, the costs associated with these injuries are not limited to medical expenses. These injuries have enormous hidden costs. This can include lost wages, travel costs to and from medical specialists, emotional and psychological damages, and more.

Common causes of catastrophic injuries include:

• Vehicle collisions
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
• Workplace incidents
• Medical mistakes
• Falls from height
• Sports incidents
• Faulty products