Motor vehicle collisions and other serious accidents often result in severe injuries with long-term effects. Catastrophic injuries typically have significant emotional and financial consequences. At Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC, we firmly believe that no one should have to pay the price of injuries that weren’t their fault.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury for which someone else is to blame, we want to hear from you today. Our Indianapolis catastrophic injury lawyers have been advocating for injured people for more than 20 years. We want to use our legal experience to help you pursue compensation. Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC today for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer. We will review the details of your accident and discuss your legal options.
What Is Considered a Catastrophic Injury?
Broadly speaking, catastrophic injuries are those that cause life-altering harm. An injury does not have to be permanent to be considered catastrophic, but its effects must be long-term. Another factor that characterizes catastrophic injuries is that they are so severe as to cause significant emotional and financial harm. The impact of a catastrophic injury can leave an individual in a highly precarious position.
How Catastrophic Injuries Happen
Some of the most common causes of catastrophic injuries in Indiana include:
- Car accidents
- Semi-truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction site accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products
- Sports accidents
- Accidents at work
- Physical assaults and other acts of violence
Types of Catastrophic Injuries
Some of the most common types of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries– Traumatic brain injuries often have long-term effects on movement, coordination, personality, memory, and other bodily functions.
- Herniated disk in the neck– The vertebrae in the spine are cushioned by spongy discs. If these discs are injured, they can cause severe pain, weakness or numbness in the limbs, or nerve damage. Herniated discs in the neck often cause severe pain and weakness radiating into the shoulders and upper arms.
- Loss of a limb– Losing an arm or leg can severely limit the activities of a patient, including their ability to do physical work. While prosthetics can restore some functionality to those who have lost a limb, these medical devices cannot fully replace the original limb.
- Severe burns– Severe burns can result from exposure to extreme heat or toxic chemicals. They also carry a significant risk of infection and can result in disfigurement.
- Bone fractures– Not all fractures are catastrophic, but a broken hip, pelvis, or other major bone may require months of treatment. Movement and coordination can be permanently reduced if a broken bone is severely damaged.
- Disfigurement– Burns, external injuries to the head and face, lost limbs, and other injuries often cause significant physical and psychological distress.
- Loss of sight or hearing– Losing the sense of sight or hearing affects how a patient interacts with the world. It can severely limit their activities and prevent them from finding employment.
- Severe mental distress– Many people who suffer catastrophic injuries in accidents develop post-traumatic stress disorder or other severe mental health conditions. In many cases, patients deal with the mental health effects of their injuries long after the physical effects of their wounds have healed.
Financial Expenses from a Catastrophic Injury
Beyond their physical and emotional effects, catastrophic injuries have serious financial effects as well, including:
- Physical health expenses– Many people who have suffered catastrophic injuries require extensive surgery and rehabilitation afterward. They may also need physical or occupational therapy and ongoing treatment from specialist doctors.
- Mental health expenses– Because catastrophic injuries often have severe mental health effects, patients often need psychological counseling to process the trauma they have suffered and the limitations they are left with.
- Lost wages– With hospital stays and rehabilitation, a person who has suffered a catastrophic injury could miss out on months or years of income.
- Reduced future earnings– A catastrophic injury that leads to a disabling condition can significantly affect a patient’s earning potential.
- Home renovations– Catastrophic injuries may require significant renovations to a patient’s home to accommodate their impairment.
What To Do After a Catastrophic Injury?
Here is what you need to do if you have suffered a catastrophic injury:
- Seek medical treatment– If you have suffered a catastrophic injury, you need medical treatment immediately and should get to a hospital as soon as you can.
- Review your insurance coverage– Your health insurance or auto insurance policy should cover a portion of your expenses. Most insurance plans are required to cover catastrophic injuries up to a certain amount. If someone else is to blame for the injury, you may have grounds for a third-party insurance claim or lawsuit against the at-fault individual or business.
- Save all your medical records and receipts– Your medical records and receipts are evidence of the losses you suffered due to your injuries. Be sure to keep them in a file.
- Do not give any statements to insurance companies– Most insurers require you to report an accident within a few days or weeks of when it happened. However, you should keep the details in your initial report to a minimum. Do not agree to a recorded statement until you have spoken to a personal injury lawyer.
- Talk to a lawyer– Catastrophic injuries have serious physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If someone else was to blame for your injuries, they should be responsible for compensating you accordingly. An experienced lawyer can develop your case for compensation while you recover.
Contact a Catastrophic Injury Attorney in Indianapolis Now
Our catastrophic injury law firm is committed to advocating for the rights of injured Indianans and helping them demand the money they need to rebuild their lives after a serious accident. Call us today or visit our contact page for a free consultation with a catastrophic injury attorney in Indianapolis.
