GeneralWhat is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury typically happens in an unexpected accident and leaves the victim with permanent or long-term consequences involving the spine, spinal cord, back or brain. Many people associate spinal cord injuries that can cause paraplegia and quadriplegia with catastrophic injuries but the list of problems related to these types of accidents is much longer. When a person loses their sight or hearing from an accident, for example, that would also be considered a catastrophic injury.

Defining a catastrophic injury can seem like a daunting task as the definition can be broad and covers a wide range of injuries. The best person to speak to about your particular case and injury is an injury lawyer that specializes in catastrophic injuries. These lawyers will be one of the best resources available to help you assess your injuries, determine the full cost of ongoing and future medical care, and any lost wages as well.

What is the definition of a catastrophic injury?

To begin, let’s go through the definition of a catastrophic injury. A catastrophic injury is defined as a severe injury to the spine, spinal cord, or the brain. It can also include injuries to the skull or spinal fractures.   The cause of a catastrophic injury is classified as a physical injury that will have a considerable impact on the victim since the injury will require a prolonged medical treatment.  These kinds of injuries are not always permanent, but the injuries can take months or years to heal.  In certain cases, the full extent of a catastrophic injury may be unknown for a long period of time.

The effects of these injuries can have long lasting effects, both mentally, physically and emotionally. Some examples of catastrophic injuries range and can include injuries such as extensive burns, loss of limbs, severe brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis. But catastrophic  injuries also take into account injuries that can affect many body systems like your central nervous system, gastrointestinal , urinary, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, reproductive and others. 

There can be a wide variety of events that can cause a catastrophic injury. There are not specific types of accidents that determine if an injury may be classified as catastrophic. Te only way to determine if an injury will fall into this category is through the severity of the injury itself.  Some examples of accidents that have caused catastrophic injuries include automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace accidents, defective or malfunctioning products, malpractice, injuries that are due to fires or other disasters and more.

What can cause a catastrophic injury?

What can cause a catastrophic injury is a long list that doesn’t necessarily have an end or a limit. Most often car accidents are the leading cause for catastrophic injuries, around 10,000 Canadians are severely injured from car accidents alone. There can be many different kinds of incidents that can cause a catastrophic injury, see the list below for a few potential causes of different classes of catastrophic injuries.

Potential causes of catastrophic injuries:

• Collisions with big rigs or semi trucks
• Boating accidents
• Backyard trampoline accidents
• Workplace incidents
• Car accidents
• Birth injuries
• Medical malpractice
• Neck and spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Loss of sight or hearing
• Amputation/loss of limb
• Facial injury
• Chronic pain
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Profound emotional or mental impairments
• Permanent or severe nerve damage
• Neurological issues
• Crushed or punctured bones or organs

Are certain catastrophic injuries considered more severe than other types of injuries?

This can be a little tough to answer, it’s important to realize that any kind of catastrophic injury is severe and although they can vary in terms of impairment and medical treatment. But generally speaking, neck and spinal cord injuries are most often referred to as one of the more serious kinds of catastrophic injuries. Since neck and spinal injuries can lead to paralysis and often requires long term medical care as well as physical therapy. On the other hand, an accident that causes TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) can leave victims facing cognitive and emotional problems that can have severe, debilitating lifelong impacts on their daily lives and activities. In specific instances, injured people with TBI have to re-learn how to do basic tasks such as feeding and dressing themselves as well as executing basic motor skills like walking and talking. TBI can also seriously impact the family of the individual, some victims also suffer from memory loss and can develop emotional issues which also take their toll.

Regardless of the type of catastrophic injury, most often victims are left living with the impacts and aftermath for the rest of their life.

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