Tallahassee Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Fights for Full Recovery for Those Suffering Tragic Injuries

When you or a loved one suffer a catastrophic injury, the effects often leave a tremendous impact for the rest of your life. Catastrophic injuries often prevent victims from working or even completing daily tasks most of us take for granted. Medical needs can be extensive as well as expensive—and they may continue indefinitely. 

A Tallahassee catastrophic injury lawyer cannot turn back the clock to undo tragic injuries and restore lost health. However, a personal injury lawyer who understands the long-term impact of catastrophic injuries could help recover compensation to cover the full range of future needs and offset some of the anguish caused by the experience.

What Makes an Injury Catastrophic?

Some people injured in car accidents, slip and fall incidents and other tragic events are not certain whether their injuries could be classified as catastrophic. Different medical sources have their own definition of a catastrophic injury, but what these definitions have in common is the concept that an injury is catastrophic when it causes serious damage to a vital component of the body.

Often a catastrophic injury results in permanent disability or disfigurement. Many catastrophic injuries involve damage to the brain or spinal cord, but injuries affecting other parts of the body can also be considered catastrophic.

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

A Tallahassee catastrophic injury lawyer sees many different types of injuries with catastrophic impact on the life of victims as well as their families. These include: 

• Traumatic brain injuries. TBIs occur when force, oxygen deprivation, or another cause damages critical brain tissue. Traumatic brain injuries often impact a victim’s ability to think, process emotions and sensations, and perform actions that require concentration such as reading.
• Spinal cord injuries. Frequently caused by fractured vertebrae, spinal cord injuries result in paralysis from the site of the injury downward because the injury disrupts the ability to communicate between the brain and other parts of the body. Paralysis is almost always permanent and can impact virtually every aspect of the victim’s life.
• Burn injuries. Considered the most painful type of injury, severe burns cause not only physical trauma but also emotional pain as well. Often burn injury victims suffer permanent disfigurement that affects their self-perception and interactions with others. Burn injuries also frequently limit mobility. 
• Amputations. The loss of a limb can make it extremely difficult to perform basic functions such as standing, walking or carrying items. Even with expensive prosthetics, amputations limit employment options and lifestyle choices. Moreover, the emotional trauma often never heals. 
• Severe fractures. Although fractures of the skull and spine may cause the most serious damage, severe fractures to other parts of the body can also limit or prohibit use of that body part and result in traumatic pain and disfigurement. 

Most catastrophic injuries never fully heal. Victims require not only long term medical treatment, but also expensive adaptive equipment and modifications to the home. Many victims of traumatic injuries also require caregivers to assist with the functions of daily living. The financial and emotional toll can be astounding. 

Causes of Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries can be caused by a wide variety of incidents. Often, a catastrophic injury lawyer in Tallahassee will see that because of the fragile nature of their bodies, the elderly and young children suffer catastrophic injuries in incidents that result in less serious harm to others. 

Common causes of catastrophic injuries include:

• Car accidents
• Slip and fall events
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck collisions
• Accidents on boats and cruise ships
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents

Because of the severity of catastrophic injuries, they may lead to an untimely death. An experienced attorney could help a family cope with the impact of this type of loss through a wrongful death claim. 

Our Tallahassee Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Answers Your Questions 

Families dealing with a catastrophic injury often have many concerns and struggle with a variety of questions. While the answers usually depend on the individual circumstances, we can offer some general answers to the most frequently asked questions. 

Can you recover from a catastrophic injury?

In most cases, catastrophic injuries result in permanent damage. Victims may recover some function in the injured body part, but usually suffer permanent disability. There are incidents where a victim recovers from a catastrophic injury over a period of years. Sometimes, children are able to make a greater recovery than adults would after a catastrophic injury, but in other cases, their tender age makes the impact of an injury even more debilitating

What are the long-term effects of catastrophic injuries?

A Tallahassee catastrophic injury lawyer knows that it is the devastating long-term effects that usually cause an injury to be considered catastrophic. Depending on the nature of the injury, a victim may be unable to perform basic self-care functions without assistance. They may suffer considerable memory loss and impaired cognitive function. Victims of catastrophic injuries also frequently end up in a fragile condition that increases their risk of suffering a stroke or seizure.

What kind of compensation is available after a catastrophic injury?

Like other accident victims, those who suffer a catastrophic injury may be entitled to compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future needs. It is crucial to properly calculate the costs involved in providing for future medical and life care needs as well as the impact on the ability to earn a living. An experienced Tallahassee catastrophic injury lawyer could help compile a realistic picture of the future impact of an injury so that victims are prepared to meet whatever lies ahead. 

Work with a Dedicated Tallahassee Catastrophic Injury Lawyer 

Dealing with a catastrophic injury can have a devastating effect on a family. Trying to meet immediate needs while also planning for the future is a daunting task. 

Assistance from a Tallahassee catastrophic injury lawyer who could anticipate and prepare for the needs in the days ahead could make the process easier to endure. For a free consultation to find out how the experienced and compassionate attorneys at Searcy Denney could help in your case, contact us now.