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| 11271 Ventura Blvd. |
| Suite 473 |
| Studio City, CA 91604 |
| Phone: 877-479-7970 |
| Fax: 888-509-8864 |
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| Warner Center Towers |
| Phone: 877-479-7970 |
| Fax: 888-509-8864 |
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| Watt Plaza |
| Phone: 877-479-7970 |
| Fax: 888-509-8864 |
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| Fashion Island |
| Phone: 877-479-7970 |
| Fax: 888-509-8864 |
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Types of Catastrophic Injury
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Brain Injuries
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Brain injuries are surprisingly common and can occur relatively easy. Affecting nearly 100,000 people in the United States, mild brain injuries can be caused by a majority of accidents (i.e. falls, car accidents, sport-related activities, etc.). Trauma to the head or neck region can cause the brain to bruise, bleed, tear, and/or swell. There are two general types of head injuries, open or closed. An open injury means the skull has been fractured, while a closed head injury does not involve a fracture. Both types of brain injury can cause paralysis, loss of vital body functions and death.
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Bruising of the brain is also a common injury. The impact of an accident can force the brain to shift forward and then backward, or vice versa. The force can cause bruising in some areas and bleeding in others.
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Another common effect of trauma to the brain is called tearing. Tearing is similar to what happens if a block of ice were to be struck with a hammer; small cracks form, yet the block remains intact. The nerve system of the brain is usually damaged and, depending on the areas in which this occurs, can cause serious impairment of bodily functions. Given the nature of this injury, it may take time to manifest itself.
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When the brain suffers the type of trauma, swelling usually occurs. The problem with swelling of the brain is that there is no room for the brain to migrate. What results is called intra-cranial pressure, which can be deadly or cause severe impairment of body functions.
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Spinal Cord Injuries
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A spinal cord injury can be one of the most devastating events in life because spinal cord injuries impose a tremendous burden on both the affected individuals and society at large, with costs that are staggering. Although the quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries has greatly improved in recent years, it has not made coping with spinal cord injuries easier.
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The type of activity giving rise to spinal cord injuries varies by age. Sport-related spinal cord injuries more common in children and teenagers, while work-related spinal cord injuries (especially from construction work) predominate in adults. According to data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), the most common causes of traumatic injury to the spinal cord are:
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Another common effect of trauma to the brain is called tearing. Tearing is similar to what happens if a block of ice were to be struck with a hammer; small cracks form, yet the block remains intact. The nerve system of the brain is usually damaged and, depending on the areas in which this occurs, can cause serious impairment of bodily functions. Given the nature of this injury, it may take time to manifest itself.
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When the brain suffers the type of trauma, swelling usually occurs. The problem with swelling of the brain is that there is no room for the brain to migrate. What results is called intra-cranial pressure, which can be deadly or cause severe impairment of body functions.
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- [Motor vehicle accidents (44%)]
- [Acts of deliberate violence (24%)]
- [Falls (22%)]
- [Sports (8%; two thirds of which are from diving)]
- [All other causes (2%)]
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When someone suffers a severe spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis or serious impairment of other body functions, it is very difficult to accept that there is no cure. One of the primary reasons there is no "cure" is because central nerves, damaged in such injuries, do not grow back or regenerate.
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Another reason spinal cord injuries are so often irreversible is because the spinal cord is one of the most complex parts of the human body. The spinal cord makes up the majority of the most specialized system in the body, the central nervous system. The central nervous system consists mainly of the brain and the spinal cord. The spinal cord carries messages to and from all parts of the body and the brain. Therefore, any impairment of its ability to function will have a profound effect on the body. A spinal cord injury can lead to any of the following:
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- [problems with the respiratory system;]
- [cardiovascular complications;]
- [urinary tract complications;]
- [gastrointestinal complications;]
- [metabolic changes; and]
- [neurological disorders;]
- [sexual dysfunction; and]
- [psychosocial and vocational issues.]
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The aftermath of spinal cord injury often results is restrictions of role fulfillment as a worker, student, parent, spouse, citizen, or other status. Sometimes these disadvantages are not due so much to the disability as to societal reactions to disability. The person with a spinal cord injury has to cope not just with a changed body image, new ways of doing things, and increased reliance on others for daily activities, but also with changes in his or her social roles and interactions.
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Burn Injuries
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On average, 2.4 million burn injuries are reported in the United States every year. Approximately, 75,000 of those injuries are so severe that they require hospitalization. Of the victims hospitalized, approximately 20,000 have first-degree burns covering 25% of their total body surface. Approximately 12,000 burn victims die, and one million are temporarily disabled.
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A major complication of severe burns is that they impair other vital systems of the body; this in turn makes victims susceptible to complications, including organ failure, limited use of limbs and severe restriction of the musculature system. Reconstructive surgery can also result in serious complications. Additionally, many complications do not manifest themselves for years after the original injury, making burn injuries one of the most expensive injuries to treat.
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A medical evaluation of the degree to which an individual has been impaired can have a huge impact on the level of compensation the injured individual will receive. In evaluating the degree of impairment, a medical professional will consider, but not be limited to the following:
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Contact us at 877-479-7970, or e-mail us at info@law-thomas.com, to arrange for a confidential complimentary consultation on your personal injury legal needs.
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Q: What is a "catastrophic" injury?
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A: Injuries are often called "catastrophic" when the physical injuries to a person are especially severe, and require extensive medical treatment. The injuries may involve damage to a the central nervous system, and this may affect other bodily systems or functions. Catastrophic injuries include, but are not limited to: Spinal cord injuries; Paralysis; Brain injuries; Amputations; Burns over a large portion of the body; Loss of an eye; Injuries to the nerves in the chest, shoulder, and arm (brachial plexus); and Multiple fractures.
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Q: Are catastrophic injuries permanent?
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A: Not all catastrophic injuries are permanent. Those injuries that are not permanent will usually take a very long time-months, or years-to reach a full recovery. In some cases, especially those involving children, the actual extent of the injury may not be known until much time has passed after the accident. Emotional injuries may also be a problem for a long time after the physical injuries have healed. The effects of a catastrophic injury may linger for a long period of time.
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Q: What may cause a catastrophic injury?
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A: Catastrophic injuries may be caused by almost any type of accident. Catastrophic injuries may result from: Motor vehicle collisions; Construction accidents; Fires; Sports injuries; Farm machinery accidents; Workplace accidents; and Defective products. Almost any accident can result in catastrophic injury. It is the misfortune of the victim that decides if an injury is catastrophic.
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