A catastrophic injury sounds like something out of an action film or an action-packed novel. It probably doesn’t sound real, but catastrophic injuries are real and they are very serious. A catastrophic injury is among some of the most life-altering and devastating injuries that a person can face in their lifetime.

So how do we define a catastrophic injury? What causes a catastrophic injury? And when is a lawyer or attorney needed? All these questions and more will be answered below.

How is a Catastrophic Injury Defined?

There is no universal legal definition for a catastrophic injury as a catastrophic accident and the injuries that come with it might not always be the same. The definition that is mostly used is as follows- “A catastrophic injury is one where the consequences of the injury permanently prevent an individual from performing any gainful work.”

In simpler terms, a catastrophic injury is a very serious injury that changes the victim’s life in several ways. This means that the victim might have previously led a very active lifestyle full of work, exercise, and other activities that gave them a joy to not being able to work, exercise, or do much of anything else because of their catastrophic injury. And with these injuries being permanent, their life has been changed forever, causing psychological damage among other damages to their life as well.

What are Catastrophic Injuries? And How Do They Change a Victim’s Life?

The word catastrophe stems from the Greek word katastrophē, which means sudden turn or when everything changes. And that’s exactly what a catastrophic injury is- It’s an injury that changes everything for the victim.

Catastrophic injuries fall under three categories: Cognitive injuries, physical injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Each injury can impact the victim’s life differently, but each is just as bad as the next. Cognitive injuries are the most costly in terms of emotional health and financial loss. Cognitive injuries come from serious brain injuries that take away the victim’s ability to form new memories, speak, or work among other issues this injury can bring. Physical injuries include: Amputation, severe burns and fractures, organ damage, paralysis, and other physical damage or issues. Spinal cord injuries impact the spinal cord, which creates permanent mobility issues for the victim. This means the possibility of needing a wheelchair depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury.

The loss of our mental and physical health can seriously impact our lives. Losing one or both can severely impact our quality of life. The decline of our mental health can leave someone who once had a cheerful disposition and an impeccable memory feeling depressed, anxious, and having a hard time recalling facts and memories they previously had no trouble with. If you’ve ever forgotten something, you know how frustrating and stressful it can be, so imagine dealing with that on a daily basis- It takes a toll on a person.

With the loss of our physical health, it impacts every aspect of our lives. Work becomes harder or impossible to do. If the victim was someone who jogged or exercised regularly, they won’t be able to do those activities for a long time or possibly ever again. They might need crutches or a wheelchair in order to get around, meaning they won’t be able to move around like they once could.

This decline in mental health and physical movement can also impact the lives of their loved ones. Spouses or parents might quit their jobs to provide their loved one with 24/7 care, or they might have to take on extra work areas or an additional job to hire a caregiver for their injured loved one. Even if the person can partially recover from the injury, there is still a long road to get to that recovery, which can be frustrating for them. This person who was working hard and had a lively personality is now left to feel like a financial burden without purpose and those feelings can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts.

How Can I Be Compensated for My Catastrophic Injury?

If your catastrophic accident was caused due to the negligence or recklessness of another person, you may be entitled to compensation for any damages you suffered as a result of their actions. To do this, you must first determine what caused the accident and who the responsible party was. To prove the accident was caused by their negligence, you must show what duty the other party owed you and that they failed to do so, causing your injury.

If you are considering filing a claim and seeking compensation for your catastrophic injury, here are a few things you need to know:

• Keep a record of everything. Any photographs of the accident scene, testimonies from witnesses about the accident, your medical records and documents showing your treatments, etc, have a copy of all that on hand. Having all of this information strengthens your claim and may entitle you to a higher amount of compensation.
• If your injury puts you out of work for any amount of time or permanently, then you may be able to get compensation for those lost wages.
• If your injury caused severe emotional and psychological damage that required you to attend therapy, go on medication, etc, you may be entitled to compensation for that as well.

If you’ve suffered from an injury due to a catastrophic accident, here are some of the many damages you can seek compensation for:

• Medical bills & expenses related to this specific injury (current and future)
• Lost wages and career opportunities
• Any counseling needed to work through the emotional trauma of the accident
• The need for a temporary or permanent caregiver to help with everyday chores and life
• The need for disability services such as a mobile aid

With the help of an excellent catastrophic injury lawyer, you can receive the compensation you deserve for your catastrophic accident injury. Scott Senft, with his decades of experience and commitment to his clients, is the lawyer to help you receive that compensation. Call him today at 877 291 HURT (4878) and get your free consultation!

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2018. Though it’s the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work environment, the truth is that random incidents can happen to anyone at any time. Some of these incidents might have more or less serious consequences for both the injured party and the company. With that being said, it’s important that employees are cautious and responsible while at work. 

The workplace contains many safety hazards which can potentially cause accidental injuries to employees. These are some of the most common types of injuries that employees can suffer in work environments.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Employees may slip on a wet or slippery surface, causing them to land on another person, object, or the floor. They can also stumble and trip over inappropriately placed objects in a corridor or walking surface. Ladders, improper footwear, stairways or roofs are typical risk factors for falls in the workplace. 

As a result of any of these incidents, workers can break bones, sprain their wrists, hit their heads, twist their ankles or suffer other painful injuries. In order to prevent these from happening, managers must make sure all floors, carpeting, and mats are even. It is also important to ensure that cables are covered, employees are provided with proper footwear and protection gear when needed, and that safety measures are taken to ensure there are no obstacles in place while working.

Machine Entanglement

Machine entanglement is a workplace injury that can occur in factories, construction sites or farms where heavy equipment and machinery are used. Clothing, shoes, hair, and fingers can easily get caught in everyday equipment if no precaution is taken. If body parts get caught or struck by exposed moving parts or flying objects from machines without protective guards,  the injuries can be disastrous: crushed arms and hands, severed fingers, blindness or worse. These incidents can be easily avoided if employees are properly trained, have protective gear, and are attentive while operating machinery.

Repetitive Motion Injuries

Repetitive motion workplace injuries may be less obvious to the naked eye, but they are definitely harmful and painful in the long run. Everyday actions such as typing or clicking with the mouse can strain tendons and muscles causing wrist pain, backache, or carpal tunnel syndrome. These injuries can be severe enough to inhibit simple activities with debilitating and crippling pain; so much so that they can even permanently impair a worker’s ability to perform his or her job. 

These work injuries can be prevented with proper ergonomic equipment and by allowing employees to take short breaks and rests from their tasks.   

Vehicle-Related Accidents

Employees who drive for business purposes are often injured in car accidents and some of those accidents can be fatal. They can also be run over, crushed by, or get stuck under an overturned vehicle on their way to the office. 

In order to prevent them, it is important that companies insist on good driving policies and employees are well trained.

Overexertion Injuries

Overexertion workplace injuries are injuries caused by heavy lifting, carrying heavy loads, pulling and pushing heavy objects, etc. These injuries contribute to productivity loss and millions of dollars being spent on health benefit payout costs. 

Fire and Explosions

Faulty gas lines, improperly stored combustible materials, open flames, explosions, and fires can cause serious workplace injuries. These injuries can include damage to the respiratory system, varying degrees of burns and even potential disfigurement. 

Injuries in the workplace caused by explosions and fires are quite common and they account for 3% of all injuries. In order to prevent them, OSHA has established a number of hazard communication standards that companies who use chemicals and flammable materials or explosives need to comply with. In addition, they recommend that material safety data sheets are kept on hand for all chemicals and that employees are required to wear protective gear at all times.

Preventing Injuries In the Workplace

Diligence, proper equipment, and training are the most effective and efficient ways that companies can protect their employees and prevent injuries from occurring. But it’s not enough. Safety needs to be considered in a holistic way; employees need to have access to protective gear and receive adequate training just as the organization needs to comply with environmental and federal regulations as well. So when necessary, identify and be aware of hazardous practices, equipment or infrastructure. Replace and fix where possible and train employees about workplace safety.

In order to succeed in this holistic consideration of workplace safety, both employees and managers need to be engaged and mutually collaborating in ensuring that any safety programs implemented are maintained and improved properly. It’s equally important that your workplace and business operations are analyzed in detail. Managers need to review company equipment regularly, talk to employees about their safety concerns and analyze any potential risk that comes with adding new equipment or tasks.

What To Do When A Workplace Accident Occurs

No matter how many workplace safety programs you implement or how well trained your employees are, workplace accidents resulting in injury can occur. Apart from calling for medical assistance immediately and receiving the medical care you require, victims should also call a workplace injury attorney. A lawyer with a solid background in workplace injury accidents will ensure that you, as a victim, receive the medical and legal compensation you require.