When is a Personal Injury Considered Catastrophic?

At Dermer Appel Ruder, our Norcross personal injury attorneys know an injury is considered catastrophic when it results in severe and long-term or permanent effects on the victim’s life.

The severity of these injuries often necessitates extensive medical treatment and may have a profound impact on the individual’s ability to perform daily activities and enjoy a normal quality of life. This could mean something different for Georgia personal injury victims, so we assess our clients’ cases and how they impact their lives. This is essential when pursuing the best outcome for each client’s unique needs.

Here, we discuss some general characteristics of catastrophic injuries and how we can help injury victims and their families pursue the liable party for their damages.

Catastrophic Injuries

What are the Common Characteristics of Catastrophic Injuries?

Injuries that cause extensive damage to the body are often considered catastrophic.

Common types of catastrophic injuries may include, but are not limited to:

Catastrophic injuries also share many characteristics, including:

Significant Medical Treatment

Catastrophic injuries often require extensive medical treatment, surgeries, and ongoing rehabilitation. In turn, the medical costs associated with catastrophic injuries are usually substantial, including expenses for their overall treatment, but often additional costs related to specialized equipment, medications, and long-term care.

Long-Term or Permanent Disability

Injuries that result in long-term or permanent disabilities, including loss of function in one or more bodily systems, such as sensory or motor functions, impair the victim’s ability to perform essential functions independently.

Catastrophic injuries often significantly impact the victim’s daily life, limiting their ability to work, engage in recreational activities, or even perform routine tasks.

Psychological and Emotional Impact

Beyond physical harm, catastrophic injuries can also result in severe psychological and emotional trauma for the victim and their loved ones.

Classifying an injury as catastrophic often has significant legal implications, as the damages typically cover current and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other ongoing consequences of the injury.

Contact Our Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers at Dermer Appel Ruder Today

If you or someone you love has suffered catastrophic injuries because of another person or party’s negligence, contact our Georgia personal injury lawyers at Dermer Appel Ruder today by calling (404)-892-8884 or online to discuss your case during a free consultation to ensure that the full extent of the physical, emotional, and financial impact is considered when filing your claim.

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